Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology)
Overview
Unlock the knowledge and practical skills required to work as an educational and developmental psychologist in diverse professional environments. From schools, to healthcare services, community organisations, and private practice, you’ll gain advanced, evidence-based skills to deliver assessment, diagnosis and intervention. Support clients across the lifespan with your expertise, from childhood to older adulthood.
Got questions about a course?
Join us for our 2026 Study Expo on Tuesday 11 November – the best place to chat with academics and teaching staff for answers to all your Swinburne questions, from entry requirements to graduation outcomes.
Upgrade your skills
- Performing advanced psychological tests and assessments
- Implementing evidence-based interventions
- Identifying and managing risks
- Critical reflection for ethical, culturally responsive practice
- Collaborative communication with clients and professionals
- Applied research skills for psychological practice
Stretch your career further
Graduates of the MA-EDPSY program can work across a wide range of settings as psychologists, such as:
- Community health or government services
- Research and universities
- Policy, advocacy, program design
- Schools, early childhood settings, special education, disability services
- Private practice doing assessments/interventions, consultation
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Professional accreditations
Why Swinburne?
Ranked Top 250 in Psychology
Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 20235-stars for overall student experience
Ranked top 20% in Australia for 5-star PG Overall experience
5-stars for teaching quality
Qualifications
Completion of an APAC approved AQF Level 8 fourth-year Australian qualification or equivalent (Australian Psychological Society assessed).
Completion of an APAC approved AQF Level 8 fourth-year Australian qualification or equivalent (Australian Psychological Society assessed).
This will be assessed at the time of your application. To check your eligibility for this course, visit our entry requirements for international students page.
Other requirements
Working with Children and Police Records Check
To be eligible to enter the course, applicants must provide a current Working with Children Check and Police Records Check.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Demonstrate English proficiency with one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 7.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 7.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 75%, all skills 75% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
-
Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
-
Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology
-
Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Swinburne Online delivered)
How credit points work
The masters program consists of 200 credit points. Students undertake a total of 13 units of study consisting of ten coursework units of study (125 credit points), and three placement units of study (75 credit points). This course requires students to complete 1000 hours of mandatory placement.
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Ethical Psychological Practice and Leadership
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80122 |
|
Contemporary Issues in Educational Settings
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80124 |
|
Psychological Assessment in Educational Settings
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80125 |
|
Therapy Across the Lifespan
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80126 |
|
Educational and Developmental Psychologist Interventions
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80128 |
|
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychopathology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80129 |
|
Assessment Across the Lifespan
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80130 |
|
Wellbeing in Later Life
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80131 |
|
Psychological Research and Evaluation A
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80137 |
|
Psychological Research and Evaluation B
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY80138 |
|
Internal Placement
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
PSY80133 |
|
External Placement A
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
PSY80134 |
|
External Placement B
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
PSY80135 |
Tuition fees
We're in the process of finalising fees for 2026 enrolments. Please check back in late October 2025 for the latest updates.
Fees are estimates only
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for FEE-HELP
You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:
- are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
- are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
- have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!
Last date to apply
The last date to apply for the Semester 2, 2026 intake is 5pm, Monday 20 October 2025.
For your application to be considered, you must provide the following documents:
- Academic transcript and completion certificate of all qualifications.
- A separate resume with position description, clearly detailing roles, as well as duties and duration of posts held.
- Resume and Statement of Purpose template. Note: All questions must be completed.
Résumé and Statement of Purpose
Please download and complete the résumé and Statement of Purpose template.
Note: If the above documentation is not provided by 5pm Monday 20 October 2025, your application will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered for the Semester 2, 2026 intake.
Next intake begins Semester 2, starting 6 August 2026.