Program Overview

Master of Psychology (Clinical)

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree in NUS Department of Psychology is a two-year, 24-month full-time coursework programme based in Singapore. It provides entry-level training for graduates who seek a professional career in Clinical Psychology. This programme is based on the scientist-practitioner approach, builds on up-to-date theoretical and empirical knowledge, and aims to provide opportunities to develop core competencies necessary for clinical practice.

Overview

The programme aims to:

• Meet the psychological welfare needs of the healthcare service, community ministries, and private sector
• Provide entry-level training for graduates seeking a professional career in clinical psychology based on the scientist-practitioner model
• Strengthen clinical psychology as a professional discipline of psychology in Singapore and Asia
• Act as a hub for graduate-level training and research for local clinical psychologists

Why Pursue a Career in Clinical Psychology?

Clinical psychologists are psychologists with specialized training and knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis, biopsychosocial formulation, and psychological treatment of a range of psychological difficulties and mental health conditions. They work in different settings, including hospitals, general medical practices, community health centres, and other community or VWO services, private practice, universities, and other settings.

Clinical Psychology in Singapore

With mounting international awareness of the impact of mental health on public health, clinical psychology is a growing field in Singapore. There has been a widespread demand for clinical psychology services in the last 10 to 15 years. The Ministry of Health – through its National Mental Health Blueprints - has prioritized the development of mental health manpower as a key focus area for Singapore in the last 10 years and into the future.

Duration and Course Structure

• Duration: The normative (and minimum) period of study is two years on a full-time basis, and the maximum period of candidature is four years.
• Course Structure:
  • Coursework Component: Seven coursework courses will be required for all students. Coursework will be conducted over two semesters, each lasting 13 weeks.
  • Practical Component (Clinical Placements): Students will be required to undertake three placements under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists, with each placement lasting 6 months.
  • Research Component: The research component of the programme entails a graduate research methods course and the research thesis submitted towards the end of the second year.

Curriculum Summary

The curriculum includes:

• Psychological Assessment
• Adult Psychopathology
• Health Across the Lifespan
• Psychological Intervention and Therapy
• Child Psychopathology
• Ethics and Professional Issues
• Advanced Psychological Practice
• Graduate Research Methods and Statistics
• Research Project
• Clinical Placement 1
• Clinical Placement 2
• Clinical Placement 3

Clinical Placements

Students will undertake three clinical placements, with each placement lasting 6 months. The first placement usually takes place at the Clinical and Health Psychology Centre (CHPC) — our in-house training clinic. The remaining two placements will typically be undertaken externally with various hospitals, community agencies, or private practices in Singapore.

Research Components

Research is an essential part of professional development and practice. Applied clinical research is thus a key part of the NUS Master of Psychology (Clinical) Programme and constitutes around a significant portion of the curriculum. There are two research courses in the programme:

1. Graduate Research Methods and Statistics course
2. Research Thesis submitted towards the end of the second year

Graduation Requirements

• Coursework Courses: Interns must successfully complete all courses to graduate from the programme.
• GPA Requirements: The minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for fulfillment of this degree requirement is 3.0.
• Clinical Placement Requirements: Students who receive a failing grade for any clinical placement will need to repeat a placement of a similar nature.

Admission Procedures and Requirements

• General Academic Achievement: A good Honours degree or equivalent in psychology or a closely related discipline.
• Research Experience: Successful completion of an Honours research thesis, demonstrating evidence of core research skills and ability to complete a research project.
• Referee Reports/Letters: Two academic referee reports and one professional referee report are required.
• Highly Desirable: Direct clinical work experience, a minimum of one year full-time or equivalent part-time, of relevant psychology practical/applied and/or relevant clinical research experience.

Fees

• Tuition Fees: SGD 83,850 (inclusive of prevailing GST) for the 2-year full-time programme.
• Skills Future Credit: All Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their $500 Skills Future Credit from the government to pay for a wide range of approved skills-related courses.
• Scholarships: Applicants can apply for the MOH Holdings (MOHH) Healthcare Graduate Studies Award, Social Service Scholarship by NCSS, and NUS HWB Scholarship.

FAQs

1. What are clinical psychologists?: Clinical psychologists are specialists in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological problems and mental illness.
2. How do I know if clinical psychology is for me?: Clinical psychology can be both a demanding and rewarding field. Clinical psychologists need to have excellent communication skills and an empathic understanding of others.
3. How is the NUS Clinical Psychology Programme structured?: The programme follows a scientist-practitioner model, requiring students to complete coursework, a thesis, and supervised clinical training practicum.
4. What are the entry requirements for the Master of Psychology (Clinical) Programme?: The minimum entry criteria are a good Honours degree and/or advanced graduate degree in psychology or a closely related discipline.
5. What would be considered as closely related disciplines?: Examples include Applied Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Psychotherapy/Psychological Therapies, and Social Work.
6. What can I do to improve my chances of acceptance?: Apart from meeting the minimum academic requirements, applicants can greatly enhance their applications through psychology, volunteer, or other clinical work experience.
7. What will happen after I submit my application?: All applicants will be evaluated to ensure minimum admission requirements have been met on a case-by-case basis. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for face-to-face interviews in Singapore.
8. If shortlisted, can the interview be conducted via zoom or must it be in person?: If you are an overseas applicant, the interview can be conducted via zoom. However, if you are residing in Singapore, then the interview should be conducted in person.
9. How many referees are needed?: Two academic referees and one professional referee are needed for applying to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) programme.
10. Can I go beyond 3 references?: No, the maximum number of references submitted via the system is 3.
11. If I cannot find 2 academic referees, can I replace them with professional referees instead?: Yes, you may, but the referee report may not be suitable for your professional referee as the questions are more geared towards academic performance.
12. Can I be exempted from TOEFL/IELTS if I studied in a university which uses English as a medium of instruction?: You need to satisfy both criteria in order to be exempted from TOEFL/IELTS, one of the criteria is specified above and the second criterion is you have to be a native speaker in your country of origin.
13. Can work experience be cumulative?: Yes, but they should be relevant to be counted.
14. Are the course tuition fees shown on the department website before or after rebate?: Before rebate.
15. Are there any scholarships or financial support for students in the programme?: There is the newly launched NUS Health and Well-Being Scholarship in 2021 for Singaporeans and PRs who have been offered a place in the programme.
16. Does the programme meet the requirements to practise as a clinical psychologist in Singapore?: Yes, the programme is designed to meet the forthcoming minimum standards for clinical psychology training currently being considered by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
17. Is the clinical programme accredited with the Singapore Psychological Society or other accrediting bodies?: Presently, there is no formal accreditation of clinical programmes via the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS).
18. Can I do the Master of Psychology (Clinical) programme part-time?: At present, the master's programme only admits full-time students.
19. What is the job market like for clinical psychologists after I graduate?: There is currently a need for trained mental health professionals, including clinical psychologists, in Singapore.
20. Is the programme eligible for the 40% tuition fee rebate for Singapore citizens and PRs?: No, it is eligible for the 10% tuition fee rebate for Singapore citizens and PRs (non-NUS alumni) and 20% tuition fee rebate for NUS alumni.
21. How many intakes are there in a year?: With effect from AY2025/26 onwards, there will be 2 intakes a year for the Master of Psychology (Clinical) programme.
22. When is the application period for each intake?: The same application period applies to both intakes, that is from 1 November to 15 January.
23. Do shortlisted candidates for admission need to pay an acceptance fee?: Yes, if the candidate has been offered admission and wishes to accept the offer, he/she would be required to pay the acceptance fee (SGD 5,000 without GST) by the acceptance of offer deadline.
24. Can I be considered for both intakes?: Yes, if you applied for the August intake, please indicate that you wish to be considered for the January intake too on the supplementary online application form. However, if you applied for the January intake, you will not be considered for the August intake.