Transfer of Degree and Credit

Can I transfer my clinical masters to the University of Sydney?
It is possible to apply for transfer to the DCP/MSc if you are currently enrolled in a clinical postgraduate coursework degree at another University. However an entire coursework degree from another University cannot be transferred to the University of Sydney. There is some allowance for credit to be received for previously completed work.

Will I receive credit for my previous postgraduate clinical psychology studies?
Credit from other postgraduate clinical psychology training is granted only to applicants who are successful in the application process, who are offered a place on the DCP/MSc and are currently enrolled in clinical graduate study at another University. The University of Sydney Resolutions allow that credit may be received for no more than 48 credit points (equivalent to less than one year of the course) towards the requirements of the DCP/MSc. The completed graduate study must have been undertaken within the previous three years and must be considered by the Dean to be equivalent to the units of study prescribed for the DCP/MSc. Requests for credit are only considered once the student is successful in obtaining a place on the course. The student must apply for the DCP, and if successful and offered a place on the course, the student must submit a letter of request for credit to the Director of Clinical Training. The letter must outline in detail the units of study previously completed, and course descriptions provided from the University in question, in order to determine whether they are equivalent to DCP units of study. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis.

Will I receive credit towards the DCP/MSc if I have already completed a clinical psychology masters degree?
No. If you have completed and are awarded a masters at another university, you will not be able to receive credit towards the DCP/MSc, as it is not possible to count your completed studies towards two degrees. If successful in gaining a place on the program and you enrol in the DCP/MSc you will be required to complete a new research project and thesis. The DCP/MSc is a double degree, where students initially enrol in the DCP (coursework degree) and then in second year also enrol in a MSc (research degree). On completion of all requirements for both degrees, students will graduate with a DCP/MSc degree. The DCP can only be awarded upon completion of the MSc.

I am currently enrolled in a MSc by research, can I transfer to the University of Sydney?
It may be possible, in special circumstances, for a clinically relevant research degree to be transferred from another university to the University of Sydney after successfully applying for the DCP/MSc. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis.

I am currently enrolled in a PhD, can I transfer to the DCP&PhD?
It may be possible, in special circumstances, for a clinically-relevant project to be transferred into the DCP & PhD provided that the thesis has not already been submitted for another degree. Applicants will be required to complete and be successful in the application process for the DCP/MSc. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis.

I am currently enrolled in a PhD, what is required to transfer to the DCP&PhD?
If currently enrolled in a PhD and accepted into the DCP, you will be required to withdraw your PhD enrolment (LB000) in order to enrol full time in the DCP (LB001) in first year and PhD (LB003) in second year second semester. Once successful in obtaining a DCP place, you will need to contact the School Postgraduate Coordinator (Progress) and the Faculty of Science Postgraduate Advisor to process your PhD withdrawal. Clinical Psychology Unit approval is required to transfer your enrolment completed in the LB000 PhD to LB003 PhD component of the DCP&PhD. Approval is be sought from the Postgraduate Coordinator (Clinical Research). You will be required to schedule a meeting to determine the suitability and scope of your PhD topic, your progression with your PhD, and determine the processes to be put in place to allow transfer, timelines, exemptions etc. Noting the research milestones and assessments differ between a research only PhD and the DCP&PhD. That is, the timeline for the DCP&PhD is spread across four and a half years whilst undertaking coursework and clinical placements, whereas a research only PhD the requirements are spread across three years.

Research requirements
Course structure

Can I get credit for my previous/currently enrolled degrees?
If you have taken out either a Masters, Clinical Doctorate, or PhD degree from another University, you will not be able to receive credit for any of these degrees towards the DCP/MSc. As it is not possible to count your completed studies towards two degrees.
However, if you are currently enrolled in clinical graduate study at another University, and are successful in the application process and offered a place on the DCP/MSc, the University of Sydney Resolutions allow that credit may be received for no more than 48 credit points (equivalent to less than one year of the course) towards the requirements of the DCP/MSc. The completed graduate study must have been undertaken within the previous three years and must be considered by the Dean to be equivalent to the units of study prescribed for the DCP/MSc. DCP/MSc unit of study outlines are available with course descriptions.

Can I get credit for my Masters degree by research?
If at the time of application, a student is enrolled in a Master of Science (MSc) by research degree they may in special circumstances, transfer a clinically-relevant project into the DCP/MSc provided that the thesis has not already been submitted for another degree. Applicants will be required to complete and be successful in the application process for the DCP/MSc. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis.
If you are successful in gaining a place on the DCP/MSc program, and intending to transfer your MSc to the University of Sydney, you will be required to suspend your MSc enrolment until second semester of second year, in order to enrol full time in the DCP. As students are not able to be enrolled full time in two degrees. You may however continue working on your research during this time. Your previous MSc enrolment will be counted towards DCP/MSc enrolment and the earliest and latest completion dates updated accordingly.
If however, you have completed and been awarded the MSc, you will not be able to receive credit for this degree towards the DCP/MSc. As it is not possible to count your completed studies towards two degrees. The completion of the MSc though will be taken into account when assessing your application, for the purposes of selection and proceeding to interview, making your application more competitive.

How do I obtain credit?
Requests for credit are only considered once the student is successful in obtaining a place on the course. The students must apply for the DCP/MSc, and if successful and offered a place on the course, the student must submit a letter of request for credit to the Director of Clinical Training. The letter must outline in detail the units of study previously completed, and course descriptions provided from the University in question, in order to determine whether they are equivalent to DCP/MSc units of study. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis. DCP/MSc unit of study outlines are available with course descriptions.

How much credit will I receive?
Requests for credit are only considered once the student is successful in obtaining a place on the course. Credit may be received for no more than 48 credit points (equivalent to less than one year of the course) towards the requirements of the DCP/MSc. Units of study with course outlines offered by the University of Sydney may be used to compare equivalence with the courses offered by your University. Any application for credit for clinical placements would need to meet criteria for a clinical placement under the supervision of a clinical psychologist in a clinical setting from an accredited clinical psychology course at a University.

Can I take out a Master of Psychology if I start on the DCP but then decide not to proceed?
No. The Master of Psychology degree will no longer be awarded.

Can I take out a Master of Science (research degree) if I start on the DCP but then decide not to proceed?
Yes. A student may under certain circumstances withdraw from the combined degree and complete requirements for the degree of Master of Science. The Master of Science degree would not provide a clinical qualification.

Can I take out a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree without the research component (Master of Science)?
No, The DCP will only be awarded upon completion of the MSc or PhD. The DCP/MSc and DCP & PhD programs are structured as double degrees.

Can I choose to study at the Master level qualification and later continue with the Doctorate level qualification?
The University of Sydney only offers a doctorate level clinical qualification, not a masters level clinical qualification.
The DCP will only be awarded upon completion of the MSc or PhD, as the DCP/MSc program is structured as a double degree. A student enrolled in the DCP/MSc may under certain circumstances withdraw from the double degree and complete requirements for the degree of Master of Science. However, the Master of Science degree would not provide a clinical qualification. A student currently enrolled in the Master of Science (MSc) by research degree may in special circumstances, transfer a clinically-relevant project into the DCP/MSc provided that the thesis has not already been submitted for another degree. Applicants will be required to complete and be successful in the application process for the DCP/MSc. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis.

Do you offer a top up Clinical Doctorate?
The University of Sydney does not offer any sort of top up Clinical Doctorate.
The Clinical Psychology Unit in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney offers one postgraduate clinical training program, the Doctor of Clinical Psychology/Master of Science (DCP/MSc) double degree. The DCP/MSc involves three years of full-time study and includes three components; academic course work, supervised clinical internships and research, and is based on a Scientist-Practitioner model, with a cognitive-behavioural approach. The two year Master of Clinical Psychology degree is no longer offered at the University of Sydney, being replaced by the DCP/MSc. The DCP/MSc encompasses of the requirements of the pre-existing Master of Clinical Psychology (MPsych), however, provides an additional year of advanced coursework, supervised clinical internships and requires the completion of a stand alone Master of Science research project and thesis.

Can I enrol directly in the DCP & PhD?
The Clinical Psychology Unit in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney offers the postgraduate clinical training programs, the Doctor of Clinical Psychology/Master of Science (DCP/MSc) and Doctor of Clinical Psychology & Doctor of Philosophy (DCP&PhD).
The DCP/MSc is a double degree, where students initially enrol in the DCP degree (the coursework component of the degree) and in second year also enrol in a MSc degree (the research component of the degree). In the third year, students who have made excellent progress and whose projects are of sufficient scope and merit may apply to upgrade to transfer to a PhD degree, subject to approval and satisfactory production of a thesis proposal. For students eligible to upgrade from a MSc to a PhD, the program will involve four and a half years of full time study. Students who demonstrate acceptable academic ability in their initial application and who meet the School’s requirements for acceptance into a PhD program (including having a supervisor who agrees to supervise the PhD project) may take the PhD research path, and in their second year enrol directly into a PhD. At the time of application, students are only required to submit a coursework application for the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Therefore through this pathway at the initial stage of application to the DCP/MSc or DCP&PhD it is not required to submit a research proposal nor arrange a research project or supervisor.

What is expected from the research component of each of the two degrees?
The extent of the research component of the MSc and the PhD are as prescribed in the Resolutions of the Senate relating to each of those degrees.
Originality – can not contain a simple replication, must add to the literature. MSc – 1-2 years Full time. PhD – 3-4 years Full time. MSc – Equivalent to one third to one half the size of a PhD. MSc – The quality of MSc is equivalent to a PhD. MSc – At least one publication. PhD – At least three publications.