**[Seeking Advice] Pathways to Clinical Psych Practice & Research—Honours vs Online Grad Dip vs Work Year?**

Hi everyone! Thanks for reading:
I’m hoping to tap the collective wisdom of this community about the best route to eventual practice (and research) as a clinical psychologist—ideally in Australia first, with the option to work or collaborate overseas down the line.

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### Quick background

* **Current study** – 3rd-year BSc (Psych), sitting on a ~75 WAM

* **Current goal ** – Clinical PhD (so I can combine practice + research and keep doors open internationally) (based on information I have gathered that Clinical PhD would enable me most possibility to work and do ,say postdoc overseas)

* **Upcoming coursework** – Adding three more 3000-level psych subjects next semester to nudge my WAM toward the 80 + Honours often needed at my school

* **Experience so far**

* Lifeline volunteer counsellor (since Jan this year)

* Volunteer at CALD psych organization ( translating assessment materials)

* Brand-consulting internship (second year)

* **Research**

* Second author on a paper just accepted (volunteered research from last year)

* Writing a potential first-author paper

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### Paths I’m weighing up
I would go to Honors at current uni, if I get in... would be first preference..
if not, I am a bit unsure between (if not considering the cost difference, which is big...):

1. Online Grad Dip (e.g., UNSW or anywhere else any suggestions) if I don't get in to Honours at current uni (Wondering does an online Grad Dip carry similar weight to Honours when applying for Clinical programs? Any first-hand experiences? grateful for any suggestions)

2.Doing Honours at a less selective uni in same city?

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3. Master of Professional Psychology at ANU and Uni Mel. (but need recommendation letter, I am bit afraid current person I am doing research with would be not very happy about this?) But I guess cannot then go do Phd then? and lower medicare rebate? and lower international recognition? maybe?

4.Working a year industry in HR relevant job.Then apply Honours again next year maybe ben mark a bit lower by chance?

5.Working +Online Grad Dip then apply to Clinical Phd?

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### Specific things I’d love input on

1. **Online Grad Dip quality** – Anyone done UNSW’s (or similar) and applied for Clinical PhD programs afterward? How was it perceived?

2. **Honours vs Grad Dip** – For APAC-accredited pathways, is there a clear advantage in research-heavy Honours over a Grad Dip if my end-goal is a Clinical PhD?

3. **WAM realities** – If I finish on ~78-79, is it still worth applying to competitive Honours cohorts, or better to via work + research and re-apply?

4. **Research weighting** – Does co-authorship (and a potential first-author paper) offset a slightly lower WAM in selection committees’ eyes?

5. **International portability** – Are Clinical PhD grads notably more mobile (e.g., UK, NZ, parts of Asia) than MPsych (Prof) grads?

6. **Anything I’m missing** – Hidden costs, placement availability, supervisor fit—whatever you wish someone had told *you* before choosing!
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Huge thanks in advance for any insights, anecdotes, or cautionary tales. Your advice will help me map out the next year or two with much clearer expectations!

*(Mods—let me know if any details need tweaking for the sub.)*