Master of Applied Psychology
Course code: MC-AP
February
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available
Access Melbourne is available
February
AUD $62,976 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Student experience
Overview
- Acquire a sophisticated toolkit to apply psychological science across the corporate, government, advertising, and social policy sectors
- Learn from both academics and industry professionals, bridging theory with real-world action
- Join a specialist cohort at the forefront of the global behavioural insights movement.
The Master of Applied Psychology (MAP) offers you a unique experience and a special set of skills in applying psychological principles to the worlds of business, advertising, social research, government policy, and understanding consumer behaviour. You'll learn directly from both esteemed academics and seasoned industry professionals, discovering how to put psychological theory into action across a wide range of exciting career paths.
Highlights of the Applied Psychology experience
Academic rigour and industry intelligence
Our curriculum is defined by its ‘practitioner-scholar’ approach. Subjects are delivered through a blend of advanced theoretical coursework and real-world application, enriched by guest lecturers from industry and government agencies. This ensures your learning is always grounded in current industry demands.
A vibrant intellectual community
As a MAP student, you are part of a high-achieving, collaborative cohort. Beyond the classroom, you are integrated into the broader Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences community, gaining exclusive access to research colloquiums and a network of peers who will become your future professional colleagues. Many of our MAP subjects are taught in a small, seminar-style format. This creates an engaging and interactive learning environment where you can actively participate, ask questions, and truly deepen your understanding.
Strategic capstone options
In your final semester, you will select a capstone pathway tailored to your professional trajectory:
- Applied Research Project: Collaborate on a consultancy-style project to solve a live challenge for an industry partner. This pathway sharpens your ability to conduct rigorous data analysis and deliver actionable insights. This is an ideal foundation for those considering future (PhD) research or a research-focused career.
- Industry Internship: Gain immersive, on-site experience through a professional placement in your chosen field. Whether focused on behaviour change, market intelligence, or UX design, the internship provides a direct bridge into the workforce, allowing you to build a professional portfolio and establish a footprint in the behavioural science industry.
Read about Emma's experience studying the Master of Applied Psychology
Profile
Emma Leith
After completing the MAP in 2019, I began my career in Melbourne at Empirica Research, where I worked on social and consumer insight projects grounded in applied mixed methods research. I then (re)joined the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) in Sydney where I had completed my internship during the MAP.
During my 3 years at BIT, I honed my skills applying a behavioural lens to real-world problems and learnt how to generate robust evidence that resonates with policymakers to affect change. I was fortunate enough to transfer to BIT's headquarters in London where I am still living.
Today, in my role at Foundations – the UK's What Works Centre for Children & Families – I manage a multi-million pound portfolio of commissioned research that gathers evidence on how to support children and families. As a ‘what works’ centre, we work closely with policymakers and local leaders to embed evidence into policy and practice, together improving outcomes for the UK's most vulnerable children and families.
Across each role, I’ve stayed focused on using evidence and behavioural science to help services work better for the people who rely on them. I have the MAP to thank for the incredible foundation which has enabled me to land exactly where I'm meant to be
