Welcome Message
 |
Welcome to the School of PsychologyThe School of Psychology at TMC Academy was formed in 2009 with the intention of becoming one of the leading schools in the Academy. Over the coming years the School aims to offer a number of psychology programs that will equip graduates for a range of careers. In particular, it hopes to be able to offer programs that will enable students to apply for associate membership of the Singapore Psychological Society, and apply for postgraduate specialist training in psychology (see FAQ Tab above for more details). So as to be in a position to achieve these goals, the School has appointed a number of well-qualified and experienced teaching staff, some of whom have significant experience working as practicing psychologists. Furthermore, in this early stage of our development as a School, we are able to offer a high degree of individualised instruction and support. Therefore, the qualifications and experience of our staff and their approach to your learning, means that you are assured of a quality learning experience. The School offers a Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling (awarded by TMC Academy) and a BSc (Hons.) in Psychology with Counselling (awarded by the University of Greenwich, England, UK). The Higher Diploma course began in 2009 and had its first graduates in August 2010. The BSc (Hons.) in Psychology with Counselling had its first intake in September, 2010. If before embarking on the study of psychology, you would like to gain a fuller understanding of psychology and the work of psychologists, do have a look at the web sites of the various psychological societies in the English speaking world. The URLs are provided in the answer to the first question in the ‘frequently asked questions’ section of this site. You will be able to find out about all the different types of psychologists that there are. If you need any further advice don’t hesitate to get in touch and make an appointment to come and see us. Best wishes, Dr Gordon Walker |
Staff Profiles
 |
Academic staff
School of Psychology Staff (left to right): |
|
| School of Psychology Advisory and Planning Board | ||
|
Gordon Walker Dr. Walker completed a BA, BEd, and MEd at the University of Melbourne, and a PhD at La Trobe University. He is registered as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and is approved to practice in the areas of educational and developmental psychology and counselling psychology. He was formerly a member of the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria and, in 2009, he was appointed a member of the Hearing Panel (hearing complaints made against members of the registered professions) of the Registration Boards established under the Health Professions Act of Victoria 2005. Dr. Walker has served on a number of psychology and educational psychology course committees at various universities in Melbourne, including the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Deakin University, and Monash University. He also served for nine years on the Monash University Standing Committee on Ethics in Research involving Humans (SCERH) (1998 – 2007). His working life falls into two main phases. The first involved working as an educational and developmental psychologist in school systems, and the second working in tertiary education. As an educational and developmental psychologist, he worked at all levels of the school sector in metropolitan Melbourne, apart from an appointment for two years as an educational psychologist in the city of Leicester, UK and three years focusing on improvement in teaching and learning in a curriculum development project in Papua New Guinea. His tertiary experience has been at Rusden State College, Melbourne College of Advanced Education and Monash University. His research area is the psychology of men and masculinity, and most recently, he has focused on predictors of men’s helping behaviour. Having completed his PhD using qualitative methodology, he has pursued together with students further research using qualitative methodology. His supervision of student research has until very recently all been at honours research project level. All projects are designed together with the student and are not part of any established research program. He has supervised approximately 60 such research projects to completion. Dr. Walker currently holds the position of the Head of School of Psychology at the TMC Academy and is actively involved in teaching modules for the BSc(Hons) final year programme, as well as undergraduate research project supervision. |
|
| back to the top ^ | ||
 |
Claire Thompson Dr. Thompson has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Queensland, a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Bond University, and a PhD from the University of New South Wales. She is a registered psychologist as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Consortium of Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research. Dr. Thompson has over 20 years of professional experience in clinical, counselling, and research psychology, including provision of mental health services to children and to older adults. She has also worked in private practice, mental health service management, and supervision of psychologists. Her research interests, publications and conference presentations are in the area of clinical and counselling psychology, particularly mental health and functional cognition in older age. She has published her research regularly in peer reviewed journals, co-authored a book chapter and presented her work at numerous conferences and public education seminars. She is a reviewer for a number of highly-ranked academic journals. Dr. Thompson currently holds the position of the Principal Lecturer at the TMC School of Psychology. She is co-ordinator of the delivery of the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) program and is actively involved in teaching modules for both the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling and the BSc(Hons) final year program, as well as undergraduate project supervision in the BSc(Hons) final year program. |
|
| back to the top ^ | ||
 |
Jennifer Carpio Ms. Carpio has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Cum Laude Honors from Mindanao State University, Iligan Institute of Technology, and a Master of Arts in Psychology from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Prior to joining the TMC Academy in 2009, she worked as a Guidance Counsellor, as a Head Psychometrician and as a Human Resource Assistant handling Training, Policy Development and Employee Relations. Her research interests include counselling, burnout, stress, and current social issues. Ms. Carpio currently holds the position of a Senior Lecturer at the TMC School of Psychology and is actively involved in teaching modules for both the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling and the BSc(Hons) final year program, as well as supervision of undergraduate research projects. Among her other duties, Ms. Carpio co-ordinates the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling program and provides counselling to students of the TMC Academy. |
|
| back to the top ^ | ||
 |
Maria Schuchinsky Dr. Schuchinsky has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (First Class) in Psychology and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Before joining TMC Academy in 2010, she conducted supervised and independent research at the University of Otago, New Zealand and at the Duke-NUS Graduate School Singapore. Dr. Schuchinsky has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal publications and a book chapter. She has also presented her research at a number of international conferences, abstracts from which have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Her research interests span cognitive models of face perception and recognition, neurocognitive mechanisms of aging, and signal detection theories. Dr. Schuchinsky currently holds the position of Senior Lecturer at the TMC School of Psychology. Among other duties, she is actively involved in teaching two of her favourite subjects, cognitive psychology and research methods, and supervision of undergraduate research projects in the BSc(Hons) final year program. |
|
| back to the top ^ | ||
Courses
TMC Academy
University of Greenwich
- BSc(Hons) in Psychology with Counselling
Final year top-up degree
FAQ
- What qualifications do I need to be accepted into the Higher Diploma of Psychology with Counselling?
How can I find out more about psychology and what psychologists do?
The web sites of the major psychological societies in the English-speaking world are a good source of information here
- American Psychological Association, Topics | Help Centre
- Australian Psychological Society
- British Psychological Society
- Canadian Psychological Association
- New Zealand Psychological Society
- Singapore Psychological Society
How long will it take me to complete the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling?
The minimum time to complete the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling is 12 months full-time (4 modules each term for 3 terms) or 24 months part-time (2 modules each term for 6 terms). Of course, if you fail one or more modules it will take longer. Please note that international students must complete the course full-time under the terms of their student pass.
What qualifications do I need to be accepted into the Higher Diploma of Psychology with Counselling?
To be considered for admission to the course, in addition to demonstrating a good command of the English Language, you must satisfy ONE of the following requirements:
- Have successfully completed the TMC-CIE Diploma in Business Administration and Marketing
OR - Have obtained passes in either 3 ‘A’ levels or 2 ‘A’ levels together with a satisfactory interview.
OR - Possess other qualifications deemed equivalent (assessed on a case by case basis).
If you are over 21 years and do not meet the minimum entry requirements, you may apply through the Mature Student Entry Route (MSER). Such applications will be considered on a case by case basis, but of primary importance is being able to demonstrate a good command of the English language.
You are also expected to be able to at least use simple word processing tools, such as Word and Excel, the Internet and search engines.
If you are a citizen of another country (and therefore an international student in Singapore), you must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- English Language Pre-Requisites
- Victorian Certificate of Education ( Australia) prerequisites
Units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 30 in English ( ESL) or 25 in any other English. - International Baccalaureate subject prerequisites
A score of at least 4 in English SL or 3 in English HL, and - English requirements for international students
Gaining the required result in ONE of the following tests of English language:
◦ a minimum overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score of at least 6.5 with individual band scores required at 6.5 for Reading, 6.5 for Listening, 6.0 for Writing and 6.0 for Speaking.
◦ a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) minimum test score of either:
■ in the written TOEFL, 580 with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5;
■ or in the internet-based TOEFL, an overall score of at least 90 with at least 22 in the written section and no less than 20 in any other section.
◦ Students who successfully complete relevant English Language Programme from TMC Academy - Hawthorn Language School
| Qualification | Minimum Entry Scores |
| International Baccalaureate | 28 |
| GCE A level | 9 |
| All Indian Senior Secondary Certificate | 75% |
| Hong Kong A level | 8 |
| ISC of the CISCE India | 70% |
| MUFY (best eight units made up from Parts A and B) | 265 |
| Ontario Grade 12 | 75% |
| RMIT & La Trobe Foundation Year | 80% |
| Sri Lanka A level | 11 |
| STPM Malaysia | 9 |
| Uni of Melbourne Foundation Year | 75% |
| UNIPREP Indonesia | 7.5 |
| UNSW Foundation Year | 7.5 |
| Australian Year 12 (ENTER AUSMAT) | 80 |
| Monash University Foundation Year | 290 |
| UEC | 4-4.9 |
| South African National Senior | 34 |
| Sunway University College Foundation Year | 70% |
| TMC Diploma in Business Administration & Marketing | 60% (Credit) |
| Relevant qualifications from other private institutions | 60% (Credit) |
Can I transfer from full to part-time or part-time to full-time during the course?
If you’re a local student, yes, you can as long as the modules that you need to take in the next stage of your study program are being offered in the term in question (not all modules are offered every term).
If you’re an international student, you can study only full time in accordance with the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority’s regulations.
What qualifications do I need to be accepted into the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling?
If you are a local applicant, you should possess ONE of the following
- TMC Higher Diploma of Psychology with Counselling
- Relevant Polytechnic Diploma
◦Ngee Ann - Diploma in Psychology & Community Services
◦Temasek - Diploma of Psychology Studies - Other qualifications deemed equivalent to the first two years of the University of Greenwich BSc. (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling.
How do I apply for the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling?
Contact TMC Academy on Tel. 6671 2788 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and complete an application form. Your application will be sent to the University of Greenwich to obtain approval to make you an offer of a place in the course.
How long will it take me to complete the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling?
If accepted into the program, you will be given credit for the first two years of the degree and so, if you are a full-time student you can complete the final year in one academic year. TMC Academy follows the same academic year as is followed in the United Kingdom for this degree, and so you would commence in September and finish the course in May the following year.
If you study part-time, you will take 3 semesters instead of 2, and so you would complete in December the following year. As a part-time student, it is also possible to commence the course in January, in which case you would complete course in May the following year.
In order to become a psychologist, what do I need to do next after the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling?
The next step would be to complete a master’s degree. As a holder of a UK honours degree in psychology you are eligible to apply for master’s degrees in psychology in the United Kingdom (that is if you obtained honours 2.1 or better). To do this you would need to apply to the British Psychological Society for Graduate Membership of the Society.
http://www.bps.org.uk/membership/grades/grades_home.cfm
If you are awarded the BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling you will be eligible for Graduate Membership and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is an entry requirement for British Psychological Society-accredited postgraduate training courses in psychology that form part of the qualification for Chartered Membership. The title of Chartered Psychologist is the benchmark of professional recognition for psychologists in the United Kingdom
If you want to explore the availability of programmes in the United Kingdom, you might start with the British Psychological Society
The profession of psychology in the United Kingdom is now regulated by the Health Professions Council
After completing the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling are there any masters programmes in psychology in Singapore that I would be eligible for?
Yes, there are some options here in Singapore. The programs available in Singapore that you would be eligible to apply for without further study are as follows:
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance) - Master of Arts (Applied Psychology)
There are 2 other masters programs in psychology in Singapore but a four-year sequence in psychology is necessary to be eligible to apply for those. They are:
- James Cook University, Singapore
Master of Psychology (Clinical) - NUS ( National University of Singapore)
Master of Psychology (Clinical) – two programs, one in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, whereby students spent the first year of study in Melbourne
After completing the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling will I be eligible to do a Masters Degree in Psychology in Australia?
No, the Australian system of education in psychology is different to that of the United Kingdom. To be eligible to do a masters degree in Australia you would need to complete what in Australia is called a 4 th year in psychology. This is an honours year completed after a 3-year degree. In some cases it is possible to do an alternative 4 th year program called Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology. Details of accredited programs in Australia can be found on the website of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
If you click on ‘Search for courses in Australasia’ you will see that in Singapore you can complete a 4 th year of study in psychology accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council at James Cook University, Singapore. Of course there are many other options for 4 th year study in psychology in Australia itself.
If you decide to pursue an Australian option, you may need to have your degree assessed for equivalence to an Australian degree in psychology and for this purpose you would need to contact the Australian Psychological Society.
You may want to contact directly the programme coordinator at the university you are interested in to find out more about their programme’s entry requirements for candidates holding overseas degrees.
After completing the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling will I be eligible to do a masters degree in the USA?
Yes, you most likely will be eligible, but only the university to which you apply can tell you for sure. See the American Psychological Association site
American undergraduate degrees are of 4 years duration, but they are structured so that students have to complete a number of subjects from other disciplines as well as psychology. Therefore it is likely that you will have studied as much psychology in your 3-year degree as an American graduate will have in their 4-year degree.
Does the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling qualify me to be a counsellor?
Whilst you may be able to get a job involving some counselling, you need a further qualification if you want to become a fully qualified counsellor in Singapore and a member of the Singapore Counselling Association. See list of courses acceptable for membership
Does the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling enable me to become a member of the Singapore Psychological Society?
You will be eligible to apply to become an Associate Member of the Singapore Psychological Society.
If you click on “Membership” you will note that additional qualifications and/or experience are required to gain full membership.
What do I need to do to be a psychologist in Singapore?
The Singapore Psychological Society provides guidance to the public as to which of its members are thought to be appropriately qualified to offer psychological services to the community. It does this through the Singapore Register of Psychologists
Most members on the register have at least a master’s degree (and many have a doctorate). Therefore, if you are aiming to become a psychologist offering psychological services to the community you should aim to complete a masters program.
Nevertheless, there are graduates employed as psychologists in some organizations, e.g., the special schools sector, who do not have a master’s degree. Scroll down on this page of the Singapore Psychological Society’s site to see what the Society has to say about this issue
In the near future, the profession of psychology in Singapore is going to be regulated by Act of Parliament under the Allied Health Professions Act, 2011. Once this Act is implemented for the profession of psychology, the qualifications necessary to use the title psychologist will be specified and it will be against the law for those without these qualifications to use the title. If those administering the Act follow the lead set by the Singapore Psychological Society, it may well be necessary to hold a masters degree to become registered as a psychologist.
How does the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counseling at TMC Academy compare with the usual undergraduate degree at other Singaporean and/or overseas universities?
The course offered at TMC Academy is approximately equivalent to the first two years of a university degree in Singapore and overseas. Under the normal circumstances, though, the course does not take two years of full time study to complete, as you are doing only psychology modules. To see a list of modules covered in the course see the Course Introduction page.
What if I already have a (Higher) Diploma in Psychology and/or Counselling from a polytechnic or another tertiary education institution?
If you have successfully passed all of your modules and graduated with a (Higher) Diploma in Psychology and/or Counselling, you may qualify for entry to the BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling. For further information on the entry requirements for the BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling, please see What qualifications do I need to be accepted into the University of Greenwich BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling?
Who can I talk to about either the Higher Diploma in Psychology with Counselling or the BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling programme?
You can contact the Sales, Recruitment, and Marketing department at (+65) 6671 2788. If you wish to talk to one of the psychology lecturers, you can contact the student services at (+65) 6337 0922 and ask for an appointment.
Share
