• Study the science of wellbeing
• Learn from internationally recognised academics
• Evidence-based research and training
• Our research Centre for Wellbeing Science is globally renowned
• Apply positive principles in your professional and personal life
• Study on campus or online, granting you greater flexibility
• Entry and exit points available

This course has two intakes with different delivery modes. Semester 1 commencement is face-to-face delivery only and Semester 2 commencement is online only.

The online commencement offers the same outcomes as the face-to-face commencement. The online course is not available to international students who are holders of an Australian student visa, for study onshore in Australia. This online course is available to all other international students to study wholly online.

Australia’s leading Master in Applied Positive Psychology explores the science of wellbeing with an evidence-based approach. You will gain a scientific understanding of how humans flourish and communities and institutions can be strengthened through positive psychology. The course will equip you to apply positive psychology principles in your professional and personal life.

The course provides a deep and strong foundation of the historical developments of the field of Positive Psychology; explores key elements, theories, and perspectives from a range of scholars and practitioners; and introduces innovations within the field. Through experiential learning approaches, students explore applications of the positive psychology perspective and wellbeing science with individuals, organisations, and communities.

The course also addresses issues related to ethical and professional practice. As part of the learning and assessment processes, students are expected to engage in a range of conceptual, applied and research-informed tasks. The program draws on a variety of pedagogical approaches to promote deep learning, connection with others, and critical scholarship, providing students with skills to confidently apply their knowledge in the future.

Who is the course for?

The course is for students looking for a scientific approach to studying wellbeing and anyone in a professional setting wanting to increase productivity. The course aims to equip graduate students with the skills, knowledge and abilities to competently apply positive psychology and wellbeing science principles to a range of real-world contexts. Graduates with either professional experience or post-graduate study are welcome to apply. The program is ideal for teachers, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, consultants, health or law professionals.

Please note: the Master of Applied Positive Psychology does not carry professional accreditation and is not a pathway to professional registration as a psychologist.

Why choose the Master of Applied Positive Psychology with us?

On the Master of Applied Positive Psychology, you'll be taught by a number of internationally recognised education experts, including Professor Lindsay Oades, Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick, Associate Professor Aaron Jarden and Associate Professor Gavin Slemp. As students of Faculty of Education researchers, you'll experience evidence-based research and training with a rigorous scientific approach.

Our Centre for Wellbeing Science has a reputation as one of the best in the world, and the best in Australia. The research undertaken here feeds directly into your curriculum, bringing you a thought-leading program.

The course has a strong cohort experience and attracts students from varied backgrounds and experiences enabling experiential cohort learning and understanding.

Through this course, you will learn how to create and evaluate positive, meaningful change in a range of professional contexts – and build the skills to promote optimal leadership within organisations.

Learning and assessment takes place through a range of tasks including debates, case studies, role plays, videos and research. You’ll also be encouraged to apply positive psychology principles to your own life and critically reflect on these experiences. The program covers the different strategies that individuals and groups use to enhance and promote health, and the important factors that involve sustained behavioural change.

Study structure

The Master of Applied Positive Psychology requires the completion of 100 points of study and can be completed full-time for 1 year, or part-time. We offer two intakes:

• Start-year (February) intake for the face to face version (includes 75% required attendance at on campus intensives):
  • 4 x 3.5 hour sessions, Fri/Sat, approximately monthly
• Mid-year (July) intake for the online version (includes 75% required attendance at online intensives):
  • 4 x 3.5 hour sessions, Tues/Thurs evenings, approximately fortnightly

Subjects

• 6 core subjects (each worth 12.5 points), along with a capstone project (worth 25 points)
• Students must complete Principles of Positive Psychology subject in their first semester and can only undertake the Capstone in Positive Psychology subject after completing 50 points.

How will I study?

The Master of Applied Positive Psychology has been designed around the lives of working professionals.

• Face-to-face version: Subjects are generally delivered in 4 x three-hour, on-campus intensives on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Online version: Subjects are generally delivered in 4 x three-hour online intensives on weekday evenings and on some Saturdays.

Alternative Entry and Exit^* Points

There will now be entry and exit points available for students with our Professional Certificate in Positive Education. You can start with a professional certificate and gain credit into the master's degree. Or you can choose an early exit from the master's degree with a professional certificate qualification, giving you greater flexibility. For early exit, students may apply to graduate with one of the following awards:

• Professional Certificate in Positive Education, if they have satisfied the completion requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master's course (i.e., successfully completed the prescribed 25 credit points of study).

^{*Students must discontinue their enrolment in the MC-APP without completing the award, to be conferred the exit award.}

You will learn how to create and evaluate positive and meaningful change and promote optimal leadership within organisations. Through your enhanced ability to improve positive leadership in workplaces, you could be ideally set for promotion into a role that leverages this skill.

Positive interventions are being brought into schools, workplaces and communities to help people feel good, function better and be more productive – this central focus of the course can benefit you in a wide range of careers and fields.

Industry connections

Through your studies and research projects, you will develop strong professional and personal connections with community and industry that will open doors to an outstanding future.

Learning outcomes

This course will prepare you to:

• Understand the conceptual and theoretical foundations of positive psychology
• Synthesise different wellbeing frameworks from various disciplines
• Develop strategies for individuals, groups and systems to enhance optimal functioning and promote health
• Identify common positive interventions used in a wide range of contexts such as education, workplaces and community settings
• Critically reflect on your own professional strengths and weaknesses
• Take a professional and ethical approach to the practice of positive psychology
• Understand the important factors involved in sustained behaviour change.

Highly employable

Finish your course confident of gaining employment, thanks to the Faculty of Education's excellent reputation. We have been consistently ranked as #1 in Australia and in the global top 15 for Education, meaning a degree from us is a globally recognised achievement. Many of our graduates move into leadership positions or are successful in transitioning to a new career.

A bachelor honours degree or equivalent in a cognate area, OR A three-year undergraduate qualification in a directly related discipline AND at least two years of documented relevant work expe

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.