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Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Take the first step to a new and rewarding career in psychology with a Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

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Postgraduate

Qualification

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2 years full-time

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Mar, Jul, Nov

Start Date

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12

Units

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100% Online

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$27,120*

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Jacob-BW

‘The flexibility to study at my own pace and my own time was perfect and allowed me to finish my degree in around 3 years, using every [teaching period] I could.’

Jacob, Swinburne Online graduate

22.8% ▴

Careers in psychology will be in high demand in the future, with a 22.8% increase expected in the next five years. 

GoodUniversity

Our psychology courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, teaching quality and graduate salary.

‘The flexibility to study at my own pace and my own time was perfect and allowed me to finish my degree in around 3 years, using every [teaching period] I could.’

Jacob, Swinburne Online graduate

22.8% ▴

Careers in psychology will be in high demand in the future, with a 22.8% increase expected in the next five years. 

GoodUniversity

Our psychology courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, teaching quality and graduate salary.

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If you have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, this course gets you started with the fundamentals of psychology. With this qualification you can then choose between ongoing study to qualify as a clinical psychologist, or employment in human services fields such as mental health, counselling, sports psychology or family therapy.

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology will teach you to analyse behaviour, disorders and cognitive processes to deepen your understanding of human nature. You will develop skills in research methodologies, and participate in psychology practice activities.

This course has received accreditation from APAC and is the first step to becoming a professional psychologist – that is, the equivalent of the APAC accredited three-year undergraduate program. Graduates who wish to practise as a psychologist will need further training in psychology, which will include an accredited fourth year of study and two additional years as required by the Psychology Board of Australia.

What will you learn?

  • Develop advanced psychological knowledge: Critically analyse the theories and evidence in psychology.
  • Research: Synthesise research from a variety of sources to develop your knowledge.
  • Interpret and communicate complex ideas: Develop strong professional communication for a range of audiences.
  • Ethical practice: Apply knowledge and frameworks to ethical problems.
  • Problem solving: Use creative solutions to solve complex problems in psychology.
  • Personal learning: Apply knowledge and specialised skills with responsibility and accountability for your own learning and practice.

Flexible study

What does flexible study mean for me?

Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to study how it suits you. Decide when and where it fits in with your life and tailor your study journey to your own needs. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.

Flexible study at Swinburne Online

Set a study pace that work with what’s going on in your life. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and the option of increasing your unit load as your progress. Interested in fast-tracking your studies? You also have the opportunity to complete up to 12 units per year.

You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners.

Start when it suits. Swinburne Online offers multiple intake dates and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or if you need to take a break.

Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with anything from tech support to research advice and dedicated online tutors in each of your units.

Structure

Your course structure

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology consists of 12 units and typically takes two years of full-time study to complete.

Your course will help you put theory into practice with the ‘Psychology Project’ unit, where you’ll select, design, administer and interpret psychological measures. You’ll apply your knowledge and practical skills while immersed in authentic professional activities, and develop employer-valued skills such as project management, teamwork, communication skills and reflective thinking.

Why study a degree in psychology with Swinburne Online? Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to success come graduation. View all units in this graduate diploma.

View All Units

How you'll learn

Learning designed for online

Your study journey with Swinburne Online is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment, interact with your peers in the custom-built social platform, and receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand studying online.

Your online study journey

You’ll complete each of your units in Canvas, your online classroom, and be guided through coursework by an online tutor with real-world experience in your field of study. Canvas is where you’ll access classes, assignments and discussion boards with your peers.

The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.

Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units and advisors to assist with anything from technical support to referencing and assignment tips.

Entry requirements

To gain entry into this course, applicants must have completed an undergraduate qualification.

  • Swinburne University English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70; or
  • Obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; or
  • A TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); or
  • A TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18; or
  • Equivalent levels of English language proficiency using other English language tests or measures as approved by the Senior DVC & Provost.

Fees

The estimated annual fee for this course is $27,120*. This is based on completing eight 12.5 credit point units in one calendar year.

Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.

Discover more information about HELP loans.

Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.

This course is offered to domestic and offshore international students. Depending on your citizenship, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.

Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.

Career Outcomes

Your future starts here

Taught by psychology professionals, you will learn how to situate your developing professional expertise in the context of psychological best practice, informed by a variety of social, cultural and historical perspectives.

Alongside your 12 core units, you may have the opportunity to gain additional real-world experience by participating in research studies. Participation will also gain you extra credit while studying.

Graduates who wish to practise as a psychologist will need further training in psychology, which will include an accredited fourth year of study and two additional years as required by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Become an essential part of the mental health support network and specialise in assisting people with a variety of complex needs.

Assess and evaluate the problems of patients and assist them in overcoming personal issues.

Help athletes and sporting teams deal with the psychological pressures of their sport.

Work as part of a treatment team to provide counselling and therapeutic support to families navigating crisis, who in many cases have experienced significant disadvantage.

Testimonial

‘This course will allow me to find more than just a job; it will enable me to keep pursuing my passion of working more comprehensively in the field of human behaviour and further understand the complexities that this area presents.’

Jola

Swinburne Online graduate

Jola-SOL
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FAQs
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For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you. There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.
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