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Master of Mental Health

Overview

Develop the practical experience, knowledge, skills and attitude you'll need to thrive as a contemporary mental health professional.

UQ’s mental health programs provide systematic training designed to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to contemporary mental health practice. You'll receive advanced training in a variety of evidence-based interventions and the theoretical principles that underpin them.

Teaching will be provided by highly experienced practitioners and researchers, many of whom have national or international reputations for scholarship and professional practice. You'll have the opportunity to undertake both structured and independent learning assignments and study in a flexible environment that respects concurrent professional commitments.

This program is designed to meet advanced training standards for specialist mental health practice. Throughout the program, you'll spend a minimum of 750 hours in an appropriate practice environment (Art Therapy Stream only), which can include your current workplace. You'll also complete courses that will build and extend your knowledge and skills in mental health practice.

Location
Herston
Duration
1.5 Years (or part time equivalent)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (19 Feb, 2024)
Program Code
5151
AQF
Level 9
Location
Herston
Fees
A$41120
Duration
1.5 Years
Start Semester
Semester 1 (19 Feb, 2024)
Program Code
5151
CRICOS Code
031212J
AQF
Level 9

Program highlights

Program highlights

  • Choose to specialise in the art therapy or in the psychotherapy field.
  • Study with highly experienced practitioners and researchers, many of whom have national or international reputations for scholarship and professional practice.
  • Enjoy a flexible study environment that respects your concurrent professional commitments.

33 in the world for psychology

QS World University Rankings 2024

1 in Queensland for psychology

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

Watch Meet Lisa - a Master of Mental Health Graduate on YouTube.

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

  • Art Therapy
  • Psychotherapy

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Work placements
  • Online study
  • Workshops

What you'll study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

  • Human Development and Relationships Across the Life Span
  • Advanced Therapy Skills: Working with Complex and Non-traditional Clients
  • Advanced Therapy Skills: Working with Families and Groups
  • Mental Health Research Thesis 1

Career possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Art therapist
  • Counsellor
  • Mental health services manager
  • Community mental health practitioner
  • Mental health clinician
  • Psychosocial community support worker
  • Patient assessor
  • Health and well-being consultant

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in health or social work, plus 1 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting, or
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 year full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting, or
  • a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Mental Health from UQ, plus 5 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting. 

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
For the Art Therapy field of study, you'll also need:
  • to meet the Art Practice entrance standard, and
  • to meet the Clinical Experience entrance standard, and
  • to attend an interview, and
  • hold a current Blue Card (working with children check) or equivalent professional registration before commencing the program, and retain for the duration of your enrolment in the program.
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in health or social work, plus 1 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting, or
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 year full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting, or
  • a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Mental Health from UQ, plus 5 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience in a mental health setting. 

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
For the Art Therapy field of study, you'll also need:
  • to meet the Art Practice entrance standard, and
  • to meet the Clinical Experience entrance standard, and
  • to attend an interview, and
  • hold a current Blue Card (working with children check) or equivalent professional registration before commencing the program, and retain for the duration of your enrolment in the program.

Related programs

English language requirements

IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ

TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.

PTE Academic - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.

CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.

Other OET - A minimum grade of B for each sub skill (L,S,R,W).

BE is not accepted.

 

There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.

Learn how to meet the English language requirements

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Mental Health are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Additional application information

Applications for the Art Therapy stream (only) should be lodged by 31 October of the year prior to commencement, though late applications may be considered.


Art Practice

The art practice requirement can be met be the following means:

  • Possession of a recognised Visual Arts Degree plus evidence of demonstrated commitment to art practices in any medium; or
  • A recent portfolio of artwork which has been completed with or without formal art training but which demonstrates a commitment to continuing art practice in any medium

Art Portfolio and Written Art Statement

The Portfolio should be a selection of six to ten recent images and/or artworks that you have created over the last 2 years. This can consist of original work or reproductions (i.e. photographs or slide show) in a variety of media. The purpose of the Portfolio is to provide the selection team with evidence of your ongoing art activity, which is a prerequisite of professional art therapy training. Your portfolio should include:

  • A maximum of ten pieces of artwork, which may be presented through:
    • Original work
    • Photos
    • Video
    • PowerPoint
  • The portfolio can also include:
    • A description of an exhibition
    • Examples of media exposure
    • Community art projects

Additional application information

Applications for the Art Therapy stream (only) should be lodged by 31 October of the year prior to commencement, though late applications may be considered.


Art Practice

The art practice requirement can be met be the following means:

  • Possession of a recognised Visual Arts Degree plus evidence of demonstrated commitment to art practices in any medium; or
  • A recent portfolio of artwork which has been completed with or without formal art training but which demonstrates a commitment to continuing art practice in any medium

Art Portfolio and Written Art Statement

The Portfolio should be a selection of six to ten recent images and/or artworks that you have created over the last 2 years. This can consist of original work or reproductions (i.e. photographs or slide show) in a variety of media. The purpose of the Portfolio is to provide the selection team with evidence of your ongoing art activity, which is a prerequisite of professional art therapy training. Your portfolio should include:

  • A maximum of ten pieces of artwork, which may be presented through:
    • Original work
    • Photos
    • Video
    • PowerPoint
  • The portfolio can also include:
    • A description of an exhibition
    • Examples of media exposure
    • Community art projects

Fields of study

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Art therapy uses a combination of art activities and verbal interaction to support mental health by creating a positive environment for people and groups to express themselves through art.

Art therapy is not just a collection of techniques, but a planned intervention which attempts to create a safe environment for the client to express themselves.

Art therapy draws on psychodynamic theory, Jungian analytical psychology and developmental theory, cognitive and humanistic psychotherapies for its theoretical framework. It incorporates concepts about creativity as well as a range of contemporary therapeutic approaches and methods.

To meet ANZACATA and PACFA standards, you'll need to complete at least 750 hours of art therapy placement during the program. The ongoing commitment is approximately 2 days per week each semester. You'll also need to work with at least two different client groups throughout the program.

The Art Therapy field of study includes a compulsory 1 week residential full-time block of workshops. Remote students can attend weekly classes online with an art therapy tutor via Zoom.

We recommend that Art Therapy students have some experience of personal therapy, either prior to or during your Master of Mental Health – Art Therapy training. This enables you to become more aware of your personal motivation for becoming a therapist and to identify any potential areas of difficulty.

To enrol in the Master of Mental Health – Art Therapy, you'll need to satisfy entrance standards in the areas of Academic Capacity, Art Practice and Clinical Experience.

If eligible, you'll be invited to undertake an art making group experiential as the next step towards acceptance into the program. Potential applicants will be notified one week after attending the group art-making experiential session if you've been accepted in the program.

For more information about how to apply, visit the Faculty of Medicine website.

View

Modern psychotherapy started in the Western world with the ‘talking cure’ more than a century ago.

Through its history, psychotherapy has grown to be a diverse field of practice. Scientific evidence shows its effectiveness in treating people affected by different types of mental health disorders and helping people improve their wellbeing.

In this field of study, you'll receive advanced training in the use of psychotherapy techniques, with particular emphasis on psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural traditions. Courses also focus on the application of specific psychotherapy techniques to particular populations and on the treatment of specific forms of psychopathology.

Courses include attending weekly online tutorials and in-person attendance at workshops held at the beginning of each semester.

View

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Art therapy uses a combination of art activities and verbal interaction to support mental health by creating a positive environment for people and groups to express themselves through art.

Art therapy is not just a collection of techniques, but a planned intervention which attempts to create a safe environment for the client to express themselves.

Art therapy draws on psychodynamic theory, Jungian analytical psychology and developmental theory, cognitive and humanistic psychotherapies for its theoretical framework. It incorporates concepts about creativity as well as a range of contemporary therapeutic approaches and methods.

To meet ANZACATA and PACFA standards, you'll need to complete at least 750 hours of art therapy placement during the program. The ongoing commitment is approximately 2 days per week each semester. You'll also need to work with at least two different client groups throughout the program.

The Art Therapy field of study includes a compulsory 1 week residential full-time block of workshops. Remote students can attend weekly classes online with an art therapy tutor via Zoom.

We recommend that Art Therapy students have some experience of personal therapy, either prior to or during your Master of Mental Health – Art Therapy training. This enables you to become more aware of your personal motivation for becoming a therapist and to identify any potential areas of difficulty.

To enrol in the Master of Mental Health – Art Therapy, you'll need to satisfy entrance standards in the areas of Academic Capacity, Art Practice and Clinical Experience.

If eligible, you'll be invited to undertake an art making group experiential as the next step towards acceptance into the program. Potential applicants will be notified one week after attending the group art-making experiential session if you've been accepted in the program.

For more information about how to apply, visit the Faculty of Medicine website.

View

Modern psychotherapy started in the Western world with the ‘talking cure’ more than a century ago.

Through its history, psychotherapy has grown to be a diverse field of practice. Scientific evidence shows its effectiveness in treating people affected by different types of mental health disorders and helping people improve their wellbeing.

In this field of study, you'll receive advanced training in the use of psychotherapy techniques, with particular emphasis on psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural traditions. Courses also focus on the application of specific psychotherapy techniques to particular populations and on the treatment of specific forms of psychopathology.

Courses include attending weekly online tutorials and in-person attendance at workshops held at the beginning of each semester.

View

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative annual fee

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

$8,950

2024

$8,950

2024

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

AUD $41,120

2024

AUD $41,120

2024

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Government assistance

Financial aid

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

Learn more about financial aid

HECS-HELP

Domestic places in the Master of Mental Health are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Centrelink support

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:

How to apply

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in semester 1 - October 31 of the previous year (Art Therapy field of study); November 30 of the previous year (Psychotherapy field of study).

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in semester 1 - October 31 of the previous year (Art Therapy field of study); January 31 in the year of commencement (Psychotherapy field of study).

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

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