Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)

What you will study

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced), you must pass eight credit points. This includes:

• Eight credit points of core units.
• This includes four credit points for an independent research project.

Entry requirements

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You must meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Please note that this course has limited places and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. If all places are filled, applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree (with an APAC-accredited three-year primary sequence in psychology) with a minimum of a mid-credit (65%) in a level-three psychology research methods unit and a minimum average of 65% overall level-2 and level-3 psychology core units.
• Completion of foundation Level 1 APAC-accredited psychology course or equivalent (for example, a 1-year bridging course – Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science) with a minimum of a mid-credit (65%) in a level-three psychology research methods unit and a minimum average of 65% overall level-2 and level-3 psychology core units.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
• Other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements).

Non-academic requirements

Applicants who have not completed their course by the application closing dates:

• Conditional offers may be granted to eligible students.
• Final assessment will occur when we receive your final results.
• You can allocate your timetable from the day you receive your offer and CONFIRM and ENROL in the units.
• If you have a conditional offer, the content will be available until a complete assessment occurs.

All Applicants

Applicants will be ranked based on the marks achieved in the level-2 and level-3 HPS core units completed at Deakin University (or equivalent units completed elsewhere). This rank may also consider marks achieved for level-2 or level-3 psychology core units (or their equivalent) completed at another institution and for which the applicant received recognition of prior learning. There is a quota for places in the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (advanced) program and meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (advanced). It is worth noting that the minimum mark average of Level 2 and Level 3 psychology core units (i.e. the mark 'cut-off') required for entry to the Graduate Diploma in recent years has been at or above 72%.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be able to get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you will need to provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge (theoretical, empirical and practical) in psychological assessment, counselling, advanced research methods and research practice.
• Demonstrate your written and oral communication skills in conveying complex psychological knowledge and ideas to laypeople and professionals.
• Apply advanced skills to select and apply appropriate digital tools to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate discipline-specific information in psychology to various audiences relevant to the pre-professional practice of psychology.
• Design and conduct research, critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence and apply this knowledge to assessment, counselling and case management, demonstrating evidence-based pre-professional practice in psychology.
• Respect and use critical thinking, sceptical inquiry and the scientific approach to solve research-related problems and apply skills in psychology.
• Display high-level self-management through reflection, continual improvement and learning that reinforces the importance of responsibility and accountability for pre-professional development in psychology.
• Communicate and collaborate with diverse partners and teams in various formats and contexts.
• Apply knowledge of ethical principles and self-reflective practice to work in diverse social and cultural contexts within the field of psychology in a culturally sensitive manner.

Career outcomes

This course is a pathway towards APAC-accredited master's and doctoral-level courses that lead to registration as a psychologist. Areas of practice endorsement in psychology include:

• Clinical Psychology (available at Deakin)
• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Organisational Psychology (available at Deakin)
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Counselling Psychology
• Community Psychology

Working as a Generalist Psychologist might involve:

• Family Therapy
• Rehabilitation Counselling
• Psychological Assessment

Are you not looking to become a registered psychologist? When you graduate from this course, you will still have a broad range of exciting career opportunities to explore. Your deep understanding of psychological assessment methods, combined with your client-centred approach to practice, will equip you for roles in:

• Community Welfare and Case Management
• Human Resources
• Mental Health Rehabilitation
• Public Health
• Youth Support
• Disability Services

Fees and FEE-HELP

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $32,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load (normally eight units) per year.

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.