Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia: Top Universities, Admission, Cost, Scholarships and Job Opportunities

| Updated On - Jun 27, 2024

Highlights

Academic Requirements: For most universities, you need a minimum aggregate of 75% - 85% in a 4-years bachelor’s program with Psychology major.
Cost of Living: The average living expenses in Australia range between AUD 1,400 and AUD 2,500 every month.
Standardized Tests: A GRE/GAMSAT test is not mandatory, but is recommended to enhance your application.
Practice in India: A masters from Australia does not allow you to practice as a clinical psychologist in India, you have to do an MPhil from an RCI-approved university (you can work as a counseling psychologist instead).

Masters in Clinical Psychology is a two-year course offered by 30 universities in Australia. The program typically has three key components: coursework, professional practice and research. Its popular specializations include adult, adolescent and child clinical psychology, neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation.

The course requires you to complete 17 years of education—as schooling in Australia is 7+4+2 years (compared to 10+2 in India), and there the students can do a year of Honors course (after three years of Bachelors). To be eligible for Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia, you need to do an MA/MSc here before you apply for the course. Your MA/MSc degree should include a research thesis/project, and you need an Honors Class 1 (85%).

The tuition fees for this course range from AUD 20,000 to 1,20,000 (INR 11 lakh to 67 lakh). Living in Australia costs between AUD 1,400 and 2,500 every month for an Indian student, depending on your locality and lifestyle.

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia isn’t cheap, but it comes with clinical placements, a rewarding career, and an average annual salary of AUD 100,000 to 125,000. There is a catch, though—if you wish to return to India after your degree, you’ll need to do an MPhil to practice here. If you have a long-term plan to stay in Australia, you need to apply for and be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia to practice as a clinical psychologist in Australia.

Table of Content

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia: Top Universities
Why Study Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia?
Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia Admissions
Cost of Studying Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia
Scholarships for Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia
Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia: Placements
Frequently Asked Questions

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia: Top Universities

Australia is home to a number of top-rated universities, six of them ranking among the top 50 universities in the world. Some of the popular universities for a Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia are tabulated below.

QS Ranking 2025	University	Course	Application Deadline
#13	University of Melbourne	Master of Science [M.S] (Psychology - Clinical Psychology)	Oct 31, 2024
#18	University of Sydney	Master of Science [M.S] [Clinical Psychology]	Oct 23, 2024
#19	University of New South Wales	Master of Science [M.S] [Clinical Psychology]	Jul 1, 2024
#30	Australian National University	Master of Science [M.S] [Clinical Psychology]	Jun 1, 2024 (Closed)
#40	University of Queensland	Master of Clinical Psychology	Sept 30, 2024
#82	University of Adelaide	Master of Science [M.S] (Psychology - Clinical Psychology)	Oct 16, 2024
#123	RMIT University	Master of Clinical Psychology	Jul 29, 2024
#167	University of Wollongong	Master of Psychology (Clinical)	Sept 22, 2024
#174	Curtin University	Master of Clinical Psychology	Sept 27, 2024
#197	Deakin University	Master of Psychology (Clinical)	Jun 30, 2024

Why Study Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia?

Masters in Clinical Psychology is an up-and-coming field, and Australia has been the epicenter of education and research in the field.

Australia has several high-ranking colleges: University of Melbourne (QSWUR 2025 #13), University of Sydney (QSWUR 2025 #18), University of New South Wales (QSWUR 2025 #18), etc.
Studying in Australia is comparatively more affordable than the USA (25,000 USD- 60,000 USD (20.88 lakhs - 50.11 lakhs INR), with almost equivalent degree value.
The average annual salary after a Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia is AUD 100,000 to 125,000 (INR 55 lakh to 70 lakh).
Australia's demand for psychologists is strong, with a 13.3 percent projected increase in job opportunities leading into 2026.

Australia has been the hub for research and innovation in the field. Australian psychologist Michael Kyrios developed treatments based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and hoarding disorder.

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia Admissions

The admissions and classes for the Masters of Clinical Psychology in Australia commence in a Trimester format—the academic session is divided into three parts: fall, winter, and spring. The intakes take place in February, July, and November, with major Indian students opting for February intake.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for admission to Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia, you need:

4-year bachelor’s with Psychology major, or MA/MSc in Psychology
Minimum aggregate of 75-85%
English Language Proficiency: IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL: 88 - 90
The GRE test is not always mandatory but a score of 305 (160 in Verbal and 164 in Quantitative Reasoning) is recommended to strengthen your profile
Graduate Australian Medical Admissions Test (GAMSAT) score of at least 50 in all 3 sections (recommended)
Documents: Transcripts | Statement of Purpose (500 words) | Updated Resume/CV | 2-3 LORs | Australian Student Visa | Passport

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia - Timeline for Indian Students

The time period required at different steps during your study of Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia is provided below.

Program	Time Period
Advanced Diploma	Four years
Master’s degree	Two years
Area of practice endorsement (AoPE)	The equivalent of one to two years of full-time practice with an approved supervisor

Cost of Studying Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia

The tuition fees for Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia range from AUD 20,000 to 1,20,000 (INR 11 lakh to 67 lakh). For an Indian student, living in Australia costs between AUD 1,400 and 2,500 every month.

Some popular universities and their course fees are provided below.

Cost of Studying Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia

University	Annual Tuition Fee (AUD)	INR Equivalent
University of Melbourne	57,984	32.30 lakh
University of Sydney	54,000	30.00 lakh
University of New South Wales	31,900	17.59 lakh
Australian National University	53,610	29.90 lakh
University of Queensland	42,656	23.75 lakh
University of Adelaide	46,500	25.89 lakh
RMIT University	32,640	18.17 lakh
University of Wollongong	35,280	19.64 lakh
Curtin University	36,000	20.00 lakh
Deakin University	35,032	19.51 lakh

Cost of Living in Australia for Indian Students

Australia is almost 6-7 times more expensive in terms of living expenses than India. It depends on a number of factors including university, program duration, accommodation type, location and others. A breakdown of the cost of living in Australia is provided in the following table:

Expense Type	Average Annual Expense (AUD)	Cost Equivalent (INR)
On-campus accommodation	5,280 - 13,440	4.3 to 11 lakhs
Rental	8,880 - 21,120	7.3 to 17.3 lakhs
Groceries	6,720 - 13,440	3.5 to 11 lakhs
Phone and internet	720 - 1,440	38,000 to 76,000
Entertainment	3,840 - 7,200	2 to 3.8 lakhs
Public transport	1,440 - 2,880	76,000 to 1.5 lakhs
TOTAL	~ 28,000	15.5 lakhs

Cost of Living in Australia

Scholarships for Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia

Studying in Australia can be expensive, but scholarships can help offset the cost. A list of the popular scholarships in Australia is provided below:

Scholarship	Eligibility	Award (AUD)
University of Sydney International Scholarship	Indian students pursuing Masters by research	Assistance with tuition fees and living costs
Griffith Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship	Indian student with 6 or above on a 7-point scale with an offer from Griffith	50% of tuition fee
UNSW International Scholarship	Must have an offer from UNSW as an international student	20,000 or full tuition fee for 2 years

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia: Placements

Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia can lead to a lucrative and rewarding career, with an average annual salary of AUD 100,000 to 125,000.

Recommended pathway to registration in Australia for Indian-qualified psychologists: Fill in application form APOS-76 and provide all required documents to AHPRA The Board will assess whether you meet the registration requirements Receive advice that you need to complete a specified period of supervised practice and the National Psychology Exam Use relevant form to submit a plan for your specified period of supervised practice to the Board for approval Receive approval of your supervised practice plan and granted provisional registration Complete specified period of supervised practice in accordance with your approved plan Pass the National Psychology Exam Apply for general registration Granted general registration

However, here are a few pointers to be aware of before you take the next step:

Admission Requirement: A 4-year degree from an APAC-approved college with Psychology major/honors is required for most colleges in Australia, which for us means doing a PG course in India before you apply.
Practicing in India: A masters from Australia does not allow you to practice as a clinical psychologist in India, you have to do an MPhil from an RCI-approved university in India (you can work as a counseling psychologist instead). Or;

You need to show five years of clinical experience and have to undergo examinations held individually by RCI.

Practicing in Australia: To work as a psychologist in Australia, you need to apply for and be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Once you get registered, your license is anchored to Australia (so register only if you are planning to stay long-term).

Some average annual salaries are provided below.

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (AUD)	Salary Equivalent (INR)
Psychologist	59,000 to 105,000	32.38 to 57.63 lakh
Clinical Psychologist	110,000	60.37 lakh
Therapist	90,000	49.39 lakh
Clinical Consultant	71,000 to 106,000	38.97 to 58.17 lakh
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Senior Clinician	102,000 to 125,000	55.98 to 68.6 lakh
Senior Clinical Psychologist	130,000 to 138,000	71.35 to 73.74 lakh

A Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia helps build a rewarding career along with a high return on investment. The tuition fee range for the course is AUD 20,000 to 1,20,000 (INR 11 lakh to 67 lakh), while the average annual salary ranges from AUD 100,000 to 125,000 (INR 55 lakh to 69 lakh). The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council accreditation ensures you graduate with the qualifications to register as a psychologist in Australia. You can opt for career paths in mental health settings, hospitals, private practice, and community organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. How much does it cost to do a Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia?

Ans. The tuition fee range for the course is AUD 20,000 to 1,20,000 (INR 11 lakh to 67 lakh), and the cost of living in Australia is 6-7 times more expensive than India, ranging to around AUD 28,000 (15.5 lakhs).annually.

Ques. Is a Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia worth it?

Ans. Masters in Clinical Psychology in Australia can lead to a rewarding career, and an average annual salary of AUD 100,000 to 125,000. However, consider these points before you commit:

You’ll have to do a PG course in India (along with research) to be eligible for universities in Australia.
After the completion of the course, if you wish to practice in India, you’ll have to do an MPhil from an RCI-approved university (you can work as a counseling psychologist instead), or show five years of clinical experience and have to undergo examinations held individually by RCI.