Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health

What you will study

You must complete four units (24 credits):

• Law and Mental Health
• Psychiatry and Criminal Law
• Violence
• Forensic Mental Health Systems

Students must take 12 units of credits from prescribed electives. See the list of electives here: https://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate/programs/2025/7312

Entry requirements

Entry into this program requires an undergraduate degree in health (medicine, nursing and other allied health), law, psychology or criminology AND

• Honours or postgraduate qualification in health, law, psychology, criminology: or
• At least two years full-time professional or volunteer experience in health, law, psychology or criminology

English Language Proficiency Requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW, depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments, and examinations. This is why UNSW requires a minimum level of English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• English Language Tests and University English Courses
• Prior Study in the Medium of English
• Other Qualifications

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 effective communication skills, particularly written communication skills, vital to the professional and academic practice within the field of forensic mental health.
• Develop a foundational disciplinary knowledge and critical understanding of the research literature relevant to the professional and academic practice that underpins the field of forensic mental health.
• Develop a foundational disciplinary knowledge of professional practice in the field of forensic mental health based on acquisition of knowledge and skills relevant to such practice.
• Develop a foundational disciplinary knowledge and awareness of the role of a forensic mental health professional in the context of a field which is international and interdisciplinary; a field which involves the assessment and management of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and often suffering social disadvantage.
• Develop a foundational disciplinary knowledge and understanding of the impact of issues relevant to forensic mental health and the professional practitioner in the field, as well as society as a whole and the ethical implications of such practice.

Career outcomes

With a rapidly growing need for a skilled workforce in forensic mental health both in Australia and internationally, this degree opens career opportunities in a variety of settings, including:

• Departments of Corrections
• Departments of Community Services
• Fire Brigades
• Police Forces
• Judiciary and Legal Agencies
• Departments of the Attorney General
• Juvenile Justice Service
• District Mental Health Services
• Private Practice in the areas of Health, Law and Criminology.

In New South Wales, the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (JH&FMHN) are the primary providers of forensic mental health services in criminal justice settings. They require increasing numbers of qualified professionals to support their work in improving Forensic Mental Health.

Fees and CSP

Average first-year fee in 2025: $7,000 (Commonwealth Supported Place).

Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $17,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)

The prices listed above are indicative only.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of units.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
• Depending on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this course. CSPs are competitively awarded and are not guaranteed.