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Domestic Students

Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)

1.       Interpretation
          In these rules the committee shall mean the Higher Degrees Research Committee.
          Unless specifically stated otherwise in these rules, the Rules for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall apply to candidature in the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology).

2.       Admission to Candidature
2.1.         Admission to candidature shall be determined by the Committee on the recommendation of the head of school, in consultation with the course coordinator.
2.2.         To qualify for admission to candidature, an applicant shall have fulfilled the requirements for a degree of this University or have fulfilled the requirements for a degree or other qualification of equivalent standing of a university or other institution recognised by the Committee for this purpose, provided that the applicant either:
               (a)    has completed an honours degree in Psychology at the level of at least Second Class Honours Division 1; or
               (b)    has completed a qualification approved by the Committee as equivalent to that specified in Rule 2.2.(a).

3.       Course of Study
3.1.         Candidature shall comprise a program of course work and practicum experiences, approved by the Committee on the recommendation of the head of school in consultation with the course coordinator, and thesis research, in accordance with the following pattern of study:
               (a)    The first year of study shall comprise extensive course work study in clinical psychology, 100 hours of internal placement practicum, 40 days of external placement practicum and the completion of the proposal for the thesis.
               (b)    The second year of study shall comprise additional course work study in clinical psychology, 40 days of practicum placement and focused work on the thesis.
               (c)    The third year of study shall be devoted entirely to the thesis.
               (d)    The final year of study shall focus on completing the thesis and completion of a final 40-day practicum placement, which cannot be commenced until the thesis has been submitted for examination.
3.2.         The first and second years of study are available by internal on-campus study only. The third and fourth years of study are available by internal on-campus study, but may be available in external study mode with the approval of the head of school.

4.       Conditions of Candidature
4.1.         Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the candidate shall complete the requirements of the degree in not more than four years of full-time study from the date of admission to candidature. The degree is not available through part-time study.
4.2.         Supervisory arrangements for the course work and practicum components of the degree shall be determined by the head of school, in consultation with the course coordinator. Supervisory arrangements and conditions for the thesis component will be subject to the requirements set out in Rules 5, 6 and 7 of the Rules for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
4.3.         Where candidates have been granted advanced standing under Rule 8., the Committee may reduce proportionately the period of candidature.
4.4.         Unless good cause is shown to the School, failure in any component of the course work and practicum experience program shall result in a recommendation to the Committee to terminate the candidature.
4.5.         To be eligible for the award of the Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), a candidate must have:
               (a)    passed the prescribed course work program at the equivalent of Distinction-level or better;
               (b)    successfully completed all clinical practice or other field experience prescribed by the School; and
               (c)    successfully passed the examination of the thesis.
               The outcomes described in Rule 4.5.(a) and (b) are considered to be mandatory program hurdles. The final outcome for the award of the degree is determined entirely by whether or not Rule 4.5.(c) is achieved.

5.       Thesis
5.1.         The Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) is a research professional doctorate where the thesis comprises 67 per cent of the degree.
5.2.         The rules for the research thesis and its examination shall be as described in the Rules for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Rules 10, 11 and 12).

6.       Practicum
6.1.         The first period of practicum work shall be completed in the Clinic of the School of Psychology. The remaining practicum periods shall be completed outside the University.
6.2.         Candidates will be responsible for meeting all expenses arising from any practicum undertaken away from Armidale.

7.       Re-enrolment
7.1.         Withdrawal from any component of the program shall be deemed to be withdrawal from candidature.
7.2.         On the recommendation of the head of school, in consultation with the course coordinator, the Committee may readmit to candidature a person who has withdrawn from any component. The Committee, on recommendation from the head of school, shall decide what, if any, of the candidature completed prior to the withdrawal shall be counted towards the new period of candidature.

8.       Advanced Standing
8.1.         Advanced standing may be granted to an applicant who has completed the first year of the Master of Psychology of The University of New England or equivalent.
8.2.         Advanced standing may only be granted for first year course work or practicum components.

9.       Progression and Conduct
9.1.         Candidates may have their candidature terminated on the grounds of unsatisfactory progress or unprofessional or unethical conduct.
9.2.         Unprofessional or unethical conduct shall be determined with reference to the appropriate professional Code of Ethics.
9.3.         Before a candidate has his or her candidature terminated, he or she shall be given opportunity to show cause why such action should not be taken.
9.4.         Problems encountered with respect to progression through the thesis component of the course shall be dealt with in accordance with Rule 9 of the Rules for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
9.5.         Where the outcome of the thesis examination is likely to be unfavourable to the candidate, the conditions set out in Rules 13 and 14 of Rules for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall apply.