Graduate Diploma in Psychology

Overview

Develop the skills you need to pivot in your career with UNE's Graduate Diploma in Psychology. Our course is ideal for people who have completed a degree in any discipline who are interested in a career in professional psychology, but who do not have an accredited undergraduate psychology major. Designed as a bridging course to fourth-year psychology programs and beyond, you can gain the knowledge you need to start on the pathway to a career in psychology today.

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Why study the Graduate Diploma in Psychology with UNE?

Do you have a passion for understanding human behaviour and are interested in pursuing a career in psychology? If you have already completed a degree in any discipline but do not have a psychology major, UNE's Graduate Diploma in Psychology is a bridging course that provides you with a fast-track to an accredited undergraduate major in psychology, without having to complete another undergraduate degree.

Our innovative teaching fosters a learning environment that is collegial and collaborative, and enables you to thrive. With excellent support from our experienced academic staff, our Graduate Diploma in Psychology can be completed wholly online. You will develop an understanding of the core aspects of the history and philosophy of psychology, motivation and emotion, psychological health and wellbeing, social psychology, neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour, cognition, language and perception, individual differences in personality, intelligence and behaviour, learning and memory, lifespan development, and psychopathology and evidence-based interventions.

What makes our course different?

UNE's Graduate Diploma in Psychology provides you with in-depth knowledge of human behaviour and gives you the foundation required to continue to fourth-year studies in psychology and beyond — completely online. The course also gives you the opportunity to:

Study flexibly. You can commence online in any trimester, with on campus options for study in Trimesters 1 and 2 at our vibrant Armidale campus. If you choose to study online, some units offer optional intensive schools on campus, giving you the opportunity to interact and engage face-to-face with your peers and academic staff.

Pace your studies by completing one unit at a time over 12 weeks. We know that our students need to balance study with existing commitments. Flexibility is key to our Graduate Diploma in Psychology, allowing you to tailor your program of study to best suit your needs.

Learn with the experts in online education. We are committed to providing equitable access to learning for students, including those from rural and regional communities, by offering our high-quality course content online.

Get recognition for study already completed. At UNE, our psychology students bring with them a wide range of experience. If you have completed introductory psychology units less than 10 years ago as part of your previous degree, you may be eligible for advanced standing for five units (maximum 30 credit points) of the Graduate Diploma, meaning that you can complete the course in as little as two trimesters.

Study with Australia's longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education. Year after year, students award UNE 5-star ratings in The Good Universities Guide for Overall Experience and Student Support.

After completing your Graduate Diploma in Psychology, you can pursue further study and progress towards a career as a registered professional psychologist. With our APAC-accredited course, you will be eligible to apply for fourth-year programs at UNE or elsewhere in Australia. Entry to the fourth-year programs at UNE is competitive, and quotas apply.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.