Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

The PhD in Clinical Psychology is a research-focused degree centred on an original thesis under the supervision of ACU academics. Candidates undertake a substantial empirical or theoretical research project that addresses clinical questions across areas such as adult and child mental health, neuropsychology, psychological assessment, intervention development, implementation science, and culturally informed practice.

While the programme is driven by the candidate’s research, typical components include:

• Development of a focused research proposal and refinement through ethics approval and pilot work.
• Advanced research methods and statistics training delivered through coursework units or research seminars, tailored to the project (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods).
• Regular supervision meetings, progress milestones and participation in research culture activities such as seminars and writing groups.
• Dissemination activities including conference presentations, peer‑reviewed publications and translation of findings for clinicians and policy audiences.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have completed a recognised postgraduate qualification in psychology with a substantial research component (for example a relevant master’s with thesis or an honours degree), demonstrating high academic achievement. Applicants must also show evidence of research potential through a research proposal, academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae, and academic referees.

Admission requires identification of a suitable supervisory team and alignment between the proposed project and ACU research strengths. International applicants must meet ACU’s English language requirements. Meeting minimum entry criteria does not guarantee admission, which is competitive and dependent on available supervision and resources.

Career prospects

Graduates of a PhD in Clinical Psychology at ACU typically pursue careers that combine clinical expertise with research leadership. Common pathways include:

• Academic roles in universities, including teaching and research positions.
• Clinical-research roles within hospitals, health services or research institutes, leading intervention trials, evaluation and service development.
• Leadership and policy roles in government, non-government organisations and professional bodies, translating evidence into practice and service planning.
• Consultancy and applied research positions in private and community sectors.

Note: professional registration as a clinical psychologist in Australia is governed by national accreditation and registration pathways; candidates should ensure they meet the requirements for any clinical accreditation or supervised practice they intend to pursue alongside or following the PhD.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

ACU offers a supportive research environment with experienced supervisors working across clinical psychology, mental health and allied health disciplines. Candidates benefit from access to multidisciplinary collaborators, clinical placement partners and industry links that facilitate applied research and translation into practice.

ACU emphasises ethical, person-centred and community-engaged research, including projects that address priority areas such as mental health service delivery, marginalised populations and culturally responsive practice. The university provides structured research training, peer networks and professional development to prepare graduates for both academic and applied careers.