Australian Catholic University
Graduate Diploma in Psychology
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 15 months
Designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any field and wish to obtain a psychology qualification to pursue a career in psychology.
Course overview
The course will provide graduates of non-APAC-accredited Bachelor's degrees with a pathway to obtain the same Level 1 qualification as the Bachelor's degree in Psychology in an accelerated time frame.
Graduates of this course will be able to apply for further studies in psychology that may eventually lead to registration as a psychologist.
If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner.
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Level 1) (ACU Online) bridging program is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia as an approved study pathway towards further training to obtain general psychology registration. Upon completion of this degree, graduates are eligible to complete a Psychology fourth-year/Honours degree. To be eligible for Psychology general registration, students need to complete a Psychology Postgraduate Coursework degree.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Diploma in Psychology, a student must complete 100 credit points of specified psychology units.
Part A: Specified Psychology Units
- Introduction to Psychology: Science and Practice
- Foundations of Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis
- Mental Health and Psychological Disorders
- Data Analysis for Multi-Variable Designs
- Mental Processes
- Behavioural Neuroscience
- Psychological Development Across the Lifespan
- Introduction to Therapeutic Approaches and Assessment in Psychology
- Individual Differences and Social Psychology
- Psychology of Learning and Behaviour Analysis
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Psychology, an applicant must have:
- Completed a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
- An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Applicants with higher education study
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Psychology, an applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of this program have pursued careers in:
- Community Work
- Counselling
- Further Studies in Psychology
- Human Services
- Market Research
- Welfare
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative first-year fee in 2026: $29,944 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 80 credit points (typically eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per semester.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Elective units.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
