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Selection

APPLICATION EVALUATION

Applications are evaluated by the Academics of the Clinical Psychology Unit under the coordination of the Academic Applications Coordinator, Dr Maree Abbott and Prof Alex Blaszczynski, in the first and second week of November. Applicants must meet the admission requirements to be considered. Applications are evaluated and scored according to the following criteria.

  • Undergraduate academic performance
  • Additional academic qualifications in Psychology: MSc, PhD in Psychology
  • Publications: published journal articles, published reports, conference presentations
  • Relevant clinical work experience: Paid work experience (Psychologist, Counsellor, clinically relevant research), Voluntary work experience (teaching, research, other). NOTE: Receptionist, Shop Assistant, baby sitting or similar work is not considered relevant work experience.
  • Referee Reports

SELECTION INTERVIEW

Interviews are usually held in the last week of November and first week of December.

For admission in 2010, interviews will be held on Friday 27 November and Wednesday 2 December, 9.00 - 11.30am. All applicants invited to interview are required to attend a half hour Interview information session 9.00am - 9.30am and then a 20 minute scheduled interview between the times of 9.30am - 11.30am. Applicants who are not available to attend in person on the scheduled interview session dates will not be able to considered for the offer of a place on the DCP/MSc program. This includes 'in person' for local students and 'via SKYPE' for international students.

The selection interview is an essential part of the selection process. Applicants must meet the admission requirements in order to be considered for the selection interview. Following the evaluation, scoring and ranking of applications, the most highly ranked applications are invited to the selection interview. Around 50 applicants are invited to interview. Interviews are approximately 20 minutes in duration. The interview panel consists of three staff, two Clinical Psychology Unit staff members and one School of Psychology staff member or an Honorary Associate Clinical Supervisor. Applicants are asked a standard set of questions. The selection process aims to identify students with a demonstrated interest in abnormal, clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology, an awareness of clinical issues, and experience related to the area. The selection interview specifically assesses relevant academic, research and work experience and performance, aptitude for clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology, and awareness of ethical issues relevant to clinical practice.

Local student applicants are required to attend the interview in person. Telephone interviews are not available for local students, even if they are interstate. If you are a local student and you will be overseas at the time interviews are held, it may be considered to offer a interview by a web based interface such as SKYPE.
International student applicants may be offered interviews by a web based interface such as SKYPE. International student applicants should provide on their application details of their SKYPE address, and contact telephone numbers during the period the interviews will be held.

APPLICATION RANKING

Applicants are ranked upon their interview performance and academic record. The top ranking applicants are offered places.

OFFER OF PLACES

The top ranking applicants are offered places by the end of the first or second week of December. Offers of places will occur informally by phone, followed by a formal letter of offer sent by the Faculty of Science. Applicants may have one week to accept the offer. If an applicant should decline the offer, the place is offered to the next applicant on the reserve list, who may have up to one week to accept. This process continues until all places have been accepted. Offers to applicants on the reserve list may continue into December and January, dependant upon acceptances and the week granted to each applicant for decision. Please note application is very competitive.
Applications which have not been successful will be advised in writing by the Faculty of Science in January.

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