Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology

What you will study

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology requires students to complete units of study to the value of 100 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Core units

• Forensic Psychology, Theory and Practice A
• Forensic Psychology Theory and Practice B
• Forensic Placement 1
• Forensic Placement 2
• Forensic Placement 3
• Forensic Placement 4

Elective units

Students must complete any two units from the list below:

• Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management
• Mental Disorder and Offending
• Working with Difficult Personalities in the Forensic Context
• Substance Misuse and Offending
• Trauma and Offending
• Problem Behaviours 1
• Development, Developmental Disability and Offending

Entry requirements

Qualifications

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology must:

• Hold an APAC-accredited postgraduate degree in clinical psychology, counselling psychology or clinical neuropsychology and be endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia in one of those Areas of Practice.
• The original postgraduate training must have provided at least 500 hours of supervised practice relevant to achieving graduate competencies in the specialty area of forensic psychology (e.g., direct assessment and treatment with clients; administration of psychometric assessments; case conceptualisation, etc.); and the original postgraduate thesis must be relevant to the area of forensic psychology. Students must attend a selection interview conducted by the Course Coordinator to assess the student’s suitability for the course.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Apply cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems within the forensic context, and to think critically to generate and evaluate complex ideas.
• Apply specialised and advanced technical and creative skills in the professional practice of forensic psychology.
• Use communication skills to demonstrate an advanced and broad understanding of theoretical concepts in forensic psychology practice and to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to make high-level, independent judgments in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised clinical and forensic contexts.
• Initiate, plan, implement and evaluate forensic practice within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts.
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for personal outputs and all aspects of the forensic work or function of others (e.g., supervises).
• Apply a broad range of theoretical models and skills in forensic practice at an advanced level in a range of professional contexts.

Career outcomes

• Work in private practice
• Senior Psychologist
• Youth Justice worker
• Manager, Public Forensic Mental Health Services
• Clinical coordinator

Fees and FEE-HELP

Average first-year fee in 2025: $37,360 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 50 credit points (normally four units) per semester 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.

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.