Bond University
Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Bridging)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Investigate the workings of the mind to understand individual behaviour and societal dynamics.
Course overview
Bond University’s School of Psychology has earned a reputation as an undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research leader. It offers the full psychology qualifications required to register as a practising psychologist, all accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council (APAC) and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Bridging) is the first step on that pathway for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than psychology (non-cognate). It is also an alternative for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology but have not met the entry criteria for Fourth Year programs (cognate).
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Bridging) equates to the first three years of the six-year psychology training pathway. With Bond’s accelerated three-semesters-per-year timetable, you can complete the cognate option in eight months (eight subjects taken over two semesters) and the non-cognate option in one year (10 subjects over three semesters).
Key facts
May, 2026
What you will study
Students must complete one hundred credit points for the subjects chosen from either structure below.
Students must complete the following seventy credit points for the subjects.
- Foundations of Psychology: Development, Learning and Social
- Statistics and Data Analysis 1
- Statistics and Data Analysis 2
- Psychopathology
- Statistics and Data Analysis 3
- Personality, Assessment and Individual Differences
- Research Methods in Psychology
Psychology Electives
Students must choose thirty credit points of subjects from the following electives.
- Biological Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Learning and Behaviour
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motivation and Emotion
Students must complete the following one hundred credit points for the subjects.
- Foundations of Psychology: Development, Learning and Social
- Statistics and Data Analysis 1
- Statistics and Data Analysis 2
- Biological Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychopathology
- Statistics and Data Analysis 3
- Personality, Assessment and Individual Differences
- Research Methods in Psychology
Entry requirements
Admission to this program is based on either the successful completion of a recognised Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in an unrelated discipline (non-cognate option) or successful completion of a three-year APAC-accredited undergraduate sequence (or equivalent), whereupon assessment for the fourth-year program, the GPA has not met the minimum entry requirements for entry (cognate option).
Recognition of Prior Learning
You can gain credit for earlier subjects if you have completed previous tertiary studies. To apply, you must submit your academic transcripts to the Office of Future Students, including detailed subject outlines or course descriptions for each relevant subject. We're here to help you through this process.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with a depth of understanding of the discipline's underlying principles, theories and concepts, using a scientific approach.
- Apply psychology knowledge and skills reflexively, culturally appropriate and sensitive to individual diversity.
- Analyse and critique theory and research in Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of cultural responsiveness, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Career outcomes
- Clinical Psychologist
- General Psychologist
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative total program fee in 2025: $46,720 (domestic full-fee paying place)
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
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.
