MASTERS BY COURSEWORK (PROFESSIONAL MASTERS)
To practice Psychology in South Africa and legally generate income from consulting clients, individuals must complete a professional Master’s level qualification that includes both a practicum and mini dissertation. Coupled with this, students must also complete an accredited internship programme, after completing the coursework component of their training. Both the university and the internship institution must be recognised and accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Master’s programmes typically take 1 to 3 years of full-time study to complete, depending on the specific requirements of the university and the programme. These programmes are designed to:
- Explore psychological concepts in greater depth than at the Undergraduate and Honours levels.
- Integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application.
- Develop ethical competency and sensitivity.
- Equip students with the skills required for professional registration as a Psychologist in their chosen domain.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Structure of Master’s Programmes
Master’s programmes in Psychology typically include the following components:
- Coursework: Intensive theoretical modules covering advanced topics relevant to the specialisation. This can range between 1 and 2 years of training, depending on the university (UCT, UNISA, & SMU are all 2 year coursework programmes).
- Research Dissertation: Students undertake an independent research project, contributing to the psychological body of knowledge, typically in the form of a mini dissertation. This aligns with the Scientist/Practitioner model followed by all universities in South Africa.
- Practicum: A critical component that ensures students gain real-world experience. Practicums are completed in settings such as hospitals, schools, community centres, organisations, or private practices, depending on the field of specialisation.
- Accredited Internship: In addition to the practicum completed during the coursework years of training, students must also complete an accredited internship in their 2nd or 3rd year of professional training.
- Community Service (Clinical Only): Finally, students that opt to study Clinical Psychology must also complete 1 year of community service before they can register for independent practice.
Professional Registration
After completing a Master’s degree, students are required to:
- Complete the required internship hours as per HPCSA guidelines.
- Pass the HPCSA board examination for their field of specialisation.
Once these requirements are met, individuals can register with the HPCSA as professional Psychologists in their domain and begin practicing.
APPLICATIONS
Due to the extensive number of students applying for these programmes and the limited amount of spaces available for professional training, the universities are forced to conduct rigorous interviews as part of their selection process. Find out more about the APPLICATION PROCESS by clicking this link.
SELECTIONS
Once the application deadline has past, the universities will begin to narrow down the applicant pool through a process of paper selection; deciding which students to invite to interviews according to the strength of their application. Find out more about the SELECTION PROCESS by following this link.
INTERVIEWS
Once potential candidates have been selected, they will be invited to interview in front of a panel of HPCSA registered Psychologists. Interviews are made up of a number of different processes which include Individual Interviews, Group Interviews, Case Studies, Role Plays, Research Tasks, etc. These are outlined here: INTERVIEW PROCESS.