Master of Psychology (Forensic)

Science

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The Master of Psychology (Forensic) integrates clinical, research and legal skills for work in the legal system at a school ranked #32 in the world in psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). Leading educators will guide you through assessment, law and ethical practice. Graduate with a research thesis and 100 hours of professional practice.

Commencing Terms: Term 1
Duration: 2 Year(s)
Delivery Mode: Face-to-face (includes blended), Research
Campus: Kensington
Codes: Program code 8257; CRICOS code 028068E


Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program 2025 Indicative CSP first year fee: $14,000*
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree: $26,500*
2025 Indicative first year full fee: $55,500*
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree: $116,000*

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Overview

Legal, investigative, corrective and policy agencies across Australia are looking for individuals with the psychological expertise to aid understanding and management of forensic issues. The Master of Psychology (Forensic) will prepare you to meet the increasing demand for professionals in this field.

This program - first offered in 1998 - focuses on the integration of clinical, research and legal skills. Your courses will cover psychological assessment, intervention in and applications of forensic psychology, law for psychologists and professional and ethical practice. In addition to coursework, you’ll complete a research thesis, in the form of a scholarly journal article, on a topic relevant to forensic psychology.

Forensic psychologists can be involved in all professional aspects of the interface between psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists work in a wide range of settings, including prisons, courts, police, probation and parole, juvenile justice, public policy, insurance, community services and child protection.

Pathways to Practice Psychology Infographic 2025

Key features

Professional accreditation
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), opens in a new window as the fifth and sixth years of study, leading to registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), opens in a new window. After completing a further two years of supervised practice, you can apply to the PsyBA for full membership and endorsement as a forensic psychologist.

Practical experience
You’ll undertake training in the assessment of people with a range of psychological disorders and disabilities. You’ll be equipped with knowledge and skills in a multitude of areas, including interviewing and intervention skills, civil and criminal law, expert testimony and investigative approaches.

Two industry-leading schools
This degree is unique among master’s programs in forensic psychology in that both a school of psychology and a law school are involved in its teaching.

Combined degree option
We also offer a combined PhD/Master of Psychology (Forensic), opens in a new window. This four-year, full-time degree includes a research component as well as coursework and professional placements.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

Study with the best
The UNSW School of Psychology is one of the best in Australia - we’re ranked #2 in Australia and #32 globally for psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). UNSW Law is ranked #1 in Australia and #12 globally (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and is a leading Australian centre of rigorous legal education and research. We have strong links with professional practitioners in the areas of clinical, neuropsychological and forensic psychology.

Prepare for professional practice
This program includes a professional practice component, where you’ll complete a minimum of 1,000 supervised practicum hours within the UNSW Forensic Psychology Clinic, opens in a new window and in at least two other field placement settings. This practical experience will ensure that you develop and demonstrate competence in a wide range of work undertaken by forensic psychologists.

Learn from industry-leading educators
You come to university to learn from the experts – researchers who are leaders in their fields, striving to create new knowledge. The School of Psychology is well known for its research tradition. Many of our staff have international reputations in their respective fields and a number are Fellows of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. Our staff attract several million dollars in external research funds per year.

Access cutting-edge facilities
Our teaching facilities include world-leading behavioural neuroscience laboratories and cognitive testing laboratories running specialist software that will allow you to design/implement your own psychological research and analyse/interpret the data you collect. You’ll also gain access to laboratories for the analysis of cognition and brain function, including electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and eye-tracking.

Program Code

8257

CRICOS Code

028068E

Campus

Kensington

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

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The minimum academic eligibility requirement is completion of a four-year APAC-accredited sequence in psychology, including a major research thesis/project, with Upper-Second Class Honours (75%), or international equivalent. Qualifications must have been completed within the last 10 years (exceptions may be possible in limited circumstances).

Psychology qualifications from overseas must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as equivalent to a four-year APAC-accredited sequence in psychology completed in Australia. Please note you must have your qualification assessed before you apply.

As the number of places available each year is limited, entry into the program is competitive. Selection is based on academic qualifications, two referee reports and performance at an assessment centre. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the assessment centre, which must be attended in person at UNSW (Kensington campus). Although work experience is not an admission requirement, applicants with a history of employment will be positively regarded, even if the employment is not necessarily clinically or forensically relevant.
Applicants must:

demonstrate their competency in speaking and communicating in English is sufficient to practise the psychology profession

satisfy both UNSW's English language requirements, opens in a new window and those required by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), opens in a new window.

All applicants, domestic and international, are encouraged to use AHPRA’s Pathways diagram for all professions, opens in a new window (under ‘Additional resources’) to guide their understanding of AHPRA’s requirements.
Term 1 is the only available intake, opens in a new window for this program.

International psychology qualifications must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), opens in a new window before an application is submitted. Note that the APS will only assess complete qualifications.

Enrolled students must register as provisional psychologists prior to program commencement and registration must be maintained for the duration of enrolment.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant registration standards, opens in a new window for the psychology profession. You must meet these requirements before an application for registration as a provisional psychologist can be approved.

Applicants should review the inherent requirements of the program before applying.

Applicants interested only in coursework should submit just one coursework application. An additional coursework preference can be nominated within the same application (i.e., apply for Forensic and nominate Clinical as a second preference).

Applicants interested in BOTH a Combined program AND a stand-alone Master program must submit ONE research, opens in a new window (Combined) application and ONE coursework (Master) application.

The School of Psychology requires applicants' fourth year sequence in psychology results to be graded out of 100 for assessment purposes. For transcripts not graded out of 100, applicants will need to request a letter from their respective Faculty or School that states the individual or overall grades out of 100.

For more information, please refer to our FAQs.

The minimum academic eligibility requirement is completion of a four-year APAC-accredited sequence in psychology, including a major research thesis/project, with Upper-Second Class Honours (75%), or international equivalent. Qualifications must have been completed within the last 10 years (exceptions may be possible in limited circumstances).

Psychology qualifications from overseas must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as equivalent to a four-year APAC-accredited sequence in psychology completed in Australia. Please note you must have your qualification assessed before you apply.

As the number of places available each year is limited, entry into the program is competitive. Selection is based on academic qualifications, two referee reports and performance at an assessment centre. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the assessment centre, which must be attended in person at UNSW (Kensington campus). Although work experience is not an admission requirement, applicants with a history of employment will be positively regarded, even if the employment is not necessarily clinically or forensically relevant.
Applicants must:

demonstrate their competency in speaking and communicating in English is sufficient to practise the psychology profession

satisfy both UNSW's English language requirements, opens in a new window and those required by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), opens in a new window.

All applicants, domestic and international, are encouraged to use AHPRA’s Pathways diagram for all professions, opens in a new window (under ‘Additional resources’) to guide their understanding of AHPRA’s requirements.
Term 1 is the only available intake, opens in a new window for this program.

International psychology qualifications must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), opens in a new window before an application is submitted. Note that the APS will only assess complete qualifications.

Enrolled students must register as provisional psychologists prior to program commencement and registration must be maintained for the duration of enrolment.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant registration standards, opens in a new window for the psychology profession. You must meet these requirements before an application for registration as a provisional psychologist can be approved.

Applicants interested only in coursework should submit just one coursework application. An additional coursework preference can be nominated within the same application (i.e., apply for Forensic and nominate Clinical as a second preference).

Applicants interested in BOTH a Combined program AND a stand-alone Master program must submit ONE research, opens in a new window (Combined) application and ONE coursework (Master) application.

For more information, please refer to our FAQs.

Program structure

The Master of Psychology (Forensic) will develop your knowledge and skills in ethics, critical thinking, clinical practice and research design and evaluation. You’ll learn these core skills in the context of criminal and civil domains. The program is made up of three key components - coursework, professional practice and a research thesis.

Full program structure

The Master of Psychology (Forensic) can be completed in two years of full-time study. Please note that this program of study is very intense and includes face-to-face requirements. Professional practice activities, in particular, are time consuming and not limited to particular hours. It’s not possible to complete the program part-time while working full-time.

This component consists of weekly lectures and seminars with written forms of assessment.
Applications of Forensic Psychology, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 1, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 2, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 3, opens in a new window

Assessment in Forensic Psychology, opens in a new window

Forensic Interventions 1, opens in a new window

Forensic Interventions 2, opens in a new window

Law for Psychologists 1, opens in a new window or Law for Psychologists 2, opens in a new window

Professional Psychological Practice
Experimental Psychology and Law, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 4, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 5, opens in a new window

Professional and Ethical Practice (Forensic) 6, opens in a new window

Research Thesis (Forensic) 1, opens in a new window

Research Thesis (Forensic) 2, opens in a new window

Research Thesis (Forensic) 3, opens in a new window

Law for Psychologists 1, opens in a new window or Law for Psychologists 2, opens in a new window

Professional Psychological Practice
For this component, you’ll complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours. Over the course of the program, you’ll need to complete at least three placements. Placements are completed across various settings both internally and externally.

Internal: UNSW Forensic Psychology Clinic (UFPC) (formerly the Wentworth Forensic Clinic)

External: Forensic agencies and organisations
Your empirical project can be carried out in any area relevant to forensic psychology. The data may be collected in a forensic setting or be concerned with how people within the general population respond to issues of a forensic nature. Research into basic psychological processes (e.g., conceptual development, attitude change, social decision-making) is appropriate, provided the forensic significance of the research is clearly indicated. Other thesis topics may address forensic program evaluation, innovative approaches to forensic investigation, individual assessment, policy formulation and strategies for interviewing and counselling.

Go to the handbook

Future careers

Psychology is an ideal career path for people who enjoy working with and caring for others. At UNSW Science, our graduates demonstrate skills in assessment, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems at an individual and organisational level.

There’s increasing demand from legal, investigative, corrective and policy agencies across Australia to obtain psychological expertise to aid understanding and management of forensic issues. Forensic psychologists work in a wide range of settings, including:

prisons
courts
probation and parole
child protection
juvenile justice
insurance
mediation
private practice
public policy
legislative review.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, opens in a new window (APAC) as a fifth and sixth year of study. Graduates are eligible to apply for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society, opens in a new window (APS) and registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, opens in a new window (PsyBA).

Graduates are also eligible for Associate Membership of the APS College of Forensic Psychologists. After completing a Psychology Board of Australia approved Forensic Psychology registrar program, graduates are eligible to apply for APS College of Forensic Psychology Fellowship and endorsement as a Forensic Psychologist.

Our alumni

“The Masters of Psychology (Forensic) program at UNSW provided a well-rounded mechanism through which to enter the field of forensic psychology. Exposure to teaching by the Law faculty inspired consideration of the complex nature of the clientele and the issues they face from within the criminal justice system, which added to the empirical focus on the human condition which the UNSW School of Psychology built into me over my time there. Their dedication to ensuring all students have access to the skill-building and experience required to expose them to the reality of forensic psychological work was greatly appreciated.”

Sam Ardasinski

Senior Psychologist (High Risk Offenders) Serious Offenders Assessment Unit, Corrective Services NSW

How to apply

Applications open on 1 August and close on 31 October. The application process is the same for domestic and international applicants.

Before you apply, please:

Review the program entry in the University Handbook, opens in a new window
Review the "important information" under the "entry requirements tab" on this page
Review the program’s Inherent Requirements, available on the School’s website, opens in a new window
Review the postgraduate coursework FAQs, opens in a new window
Read the step-by-step guide to applying

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Applications open on 1 August and close on 31 October. The application process is the same for domestic and international applicants.

Before you apply, please:

Review the program entry in the University Handbook, opens in a new window
Review the "important information" under the "entry requirements tab" on this page
Review the program’s Inherent Requirements, available on the School’s website, opens in a new window
Review the postgraduate coursework FAQs, opens in a new window
Read the step-by-step guide, opens in a new window to applying

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

Commonwealth Supported Places

2025 Indicative CSP First Year Fee

$14,000*

2025 Indicative CSP Fee to Complete Degree

$26,500*

You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for this degree. Domestic students who receive a CSP will have a substantial proportion of their fees subsidised by the Australian government. Start your postgraduate application today with our guide on how to apply.

Commonwealth Study Assistance, such as Austudy and Youth Allowance, is available for some master’s degrees. For the most up-to-date information and list of degrees, visit UNSW Current Student Financial Support.

2025 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$40,000*

2025 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree

$82,000*

*The indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fees are an estimate based on the relevant student contribution band/s for a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a standard full-time load of 48 units of credit per year (1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load/1 EFTSL). To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.

Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fee listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).

You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

2025 Indicative First Year Fee

$55,500*

2025 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$116,000*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

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At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.

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