This postgraduate-level short course will provide strong introductory and foundational knowledge into psychedelic science from multidisciplinary perspectives. No prior familiarity with psychedelic science is required, and yet even those working in the field will have the opportunity to gain fresh insights and learn from leading educators in this masterclass series, covering both well-established and emerging areas of research.

This course is led by world-leading national and international experts in the field, in live teaching sessions. Students will explore historical and indigenous uses, trace the resurgence of psychedelics in contemporary science and therapy, and explore psychopharmacology, phenomenology, and clinical research methods and findings. The short course will cover the varieties of psychedelic science, ethical considerations, current debates, and future directions. Students will have the opportunity to deep-dive into course content during live seminars, and explore individual interests through assignments.

This exciting new short course is developed and delivered by the nation-leading Clinical Psychedelic Lab within the Dept of Psychiatry at Monash University. It features flexible, engaging, and convenient delivery with a mixture of live and asynchronous options, depending on student preference. By the end of this course, students will have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of psychedelic science, and will be prepared for further studies in this evolving field.

You may also be interested in the following short course: Foundations of Psychedelic Therapies.

For more information about our research and education offerings, please visit monash.edu/psychedelic-education or write to psychedelic-edu-PG@monash.edu

Please note: On its own, this short course does not comprise sufficient training to work as a psychedelic therapist, but may contribute to such training. The Clinical Psychedelic Lab plans to develop and deliver further clinical training programs, including a planned Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies (GCPT). Please note, the short courses listed above would be micro-credentialed to the planned GCPT, should the GCPT be delivered.

PLANNED CLINICAL TRAINING… 2026 AND BEYOND…

The Clinical Psychedelic Lab plans to develop and deliver further clinical training programs, including a planned Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies (GCPT). Please note, this short course would receive 6-credit points towards the planned GCPT (total of 24-credit points), should the GCPT be delivered.

Location: Online

Duration: 12 weeks

Key Dates:

Semester 1 (March) 2026

Delivery Mode: Live and asynchronous teaching sessions (flexible learning)

Eligibility: Available to any interested person, located anywhere, globally, who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree.

Please note: This can be taken as a standalone short course (available to non-Monash students based anywhere globally), or micro-credentialled to a Monash postgraduate degree (6 credit points), subject to approval from your Course Director.

Teaching Sessions:

• Tuesdays at 4:00PM - 6:00PM (seminar - includes time for Q&A)
• Thursdays at 9:00AM - 11:00AM (seminar - includes time for Q&A)
• Fridays at 9:00AM - 10:30AM (varied session - fireside chat, panel discussion, or interview)

Please note that not all sessions will take the full amount of time allocated. We have allowed extra time for Q&A. Also note that most sessions will be live with a few exceptions due to time zone constraints. The sessions that can’t be delivered live will be pre-recorded and released during the teaching session window. 

Time Commitment

• Approximately 8hr/week (this will vary between students, depending on how deep a student dives into the additional reading, viewing and listening materials.)
• A maximum of 5.5hr/week is allocated to teaching sessions (these can be viewed live or asynchronously.)
• An estimate of 2.5hr/week is allocated to personal reading and viewing materials, and completing assessment tasks.

Assessment Tasks

1. Discussion Forum Posts (Due Week 4 and Week 9)
2. Critical analysis (Due Week 7)
3. Essay (Due Week 12)

What are the key dates?

Teaching period: Monday 24 February – Friday 23 May, 2025.

Teaching break: Monday 21 April – Friday 25 April, 2025 (end of week 8).

What is the duration of the short course?

There are 12 weeks of teaching sessions, with a week's break at the end of week 8 (Monday 21st - Friday 25th April). The teaching period includes a combination of live sessions and flexible asynchronous learning. All live sessions will be recorded and uploaded to Moodle for those who cannot attend.

Are there any prerequisites?

There are no prerequisites for this short course. No prior knowledge is required. This short course is designed for both newcomers and experienced professionals.

Is the short course available online?

Yes, the course is entirely online and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. There are no face-to-face sessions.

Is the short course available to international students?

Yes, the short course is available to international students. Any person who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree can apply, regardless of their country of residence.

Will I receive a certificate upon completion?

Yes, participants will receive an official Certificate of Completion. Please note: there is no clinical training component to this short course, the content is educational only.

Will this short course prepare me to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapy?

This course provides foundational educational knowledge. It does not provide clinical training to prepare students to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapy. However, it may contribute to such training (for example, this would count as 6-points credit towards a planned Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies [24-points credit in total] at Monash University, should this award course be delivered).

What is the cost of the short course?

The course fee is $3,500.00 AUD (please check updated currency conversion rates if you are not based in Australia).

What kind of assignments will be included?

Assignments include interactive discussion forum posts, case analyses, and a critical literature review on a topic of interest to the student.

Will I get feedback on my assignments?

Yes, instructors will provide written feedback on the second and third assignment (case analysis and critical review) to help you understand your strengths and build on areas of weakness.

Is there an exam in this short course?

No, there is no exam.

Are there CSPs (Commonwealth Supported Places) for this Short Course?

No, the short courses do not qualify for CSP. CSP is allocated to university courses (e.g., a bachelor or masters degree), not units or short courses.

Are scholarships available for this course?

Scholarships are not available for this short course. We understand the importance of financial considerations, and we strive to keep our short course fees as accessible as possible.

How do I apply?

Please submit an Expression of Interest here. We will notify you of the outcome via email.