Graduate Diploma in Psychology
- Commencing Terms
- Hexamester 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
- Duration
- 1.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Online
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 5331
- CRICOS code -
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2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $28,500*
-
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $47,500*
-
2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $41,500*
-
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $69,000*
Fees
Fees
-
Accredited program
-
Fully online
-
Broad career options
UNSW is introducing a new academic calendar from 2028.
What does this mean for my studies? UNSW is moving to a new ‘flex-semester’ calendar.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Psychology is a discipline of both scientific research and applied practice. As a science, psychology is concerned with the study of behaviour and its underlying mental and neural processes.
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology provides students who have already been awarded a bachelor's degree with the opportunity to gain an accredited psychology sequence (the equivalent of an undergraduate psychology degree for accreditation purposes) in under two years part-time.
You'll develop critical thinking and skills in analysis and research methods and gain an integrated and comprehensive education in the main discipline areas, including developmental, social, cognitive, biological, physiological, abnormal psychology and research methods. This program is delivered online and runs on the UNSW online hexamester calendar.
Key features
- Professional recognition
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and acts as the first step in your pathway to becoming a psychologist. Upon completion of the program you may be eligible for entry to honours, the minimum requirement for provisional registration.
- Flexible study
This program is fully online, allowing you to study when and where suits you. Part-time delivery means that you can study while you work. With six intakes throughout the year, you can start as soon as you’re ready, allowing you to achieve your goals sooner.
- Wide range of career opportunities
Psychologists deal with more than just mental health – they apply their knowledge to relationships, workplace stress and financial challenges. The modern-day psychologist may work across a range of environments including health, business, sport, marketing, human resources, education and more. Using your skills in psychology, you may be responsible for facilitating organisational change, exploring new ways of thinking or influencing marketing campaigns.
Why study at UNSW?
Study with the best
UNSW Science is ranked #2 in Australia and =#32 globally for psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). We attract award-winning staff and offer excellence and innovation in our teaching. The School of Psychology has strong links with professional practitioners in the areas of clinical, neuropsychological and forensic psychology.
Learn from industry-leading educators
You come to university to learn from the experts – researchers who are leaders in their fields, striving to create new knowledge. The School of Psychology is well known for its research tradition. Many of our staff have international reputations in their respective fields and a number are Fellows of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. Our staff attract several million dollars in external research funds per year. Our staff publications receive more citations than any other psychology department in Australia and we have one of the highest rates of PhD graduations in psychology of any Australian university. We earn more competitive research funding and publish more Tier 1 journal articles per academic than any other psychology school in Australia.
Want to see more from UNSW Science?
Entry requirements
For entry into this program, you must hold either:
- an Australian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
- a higher university qualification (Graduate Diploma or above)
Students may apply for recognition of prior knowledge if they’ve completed courses that are equivalent of PSYC5001 Introduction to Psychology 1 and PSYC5002 Introduction to Psychology 2, within 7 years prior to commencing Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
Please note that UNSW graduates holding a bachelor's degree in Psychology or Psychology major are not eligible to apply.
English language 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 English language competency for enrolment.
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
UNSW Global offers courses and programs designed to help you reach the English language level required for entry into your chosen degree. Different options are available depending on your current English language level. Learn more.
For entry into this program, you must hold either:
- an Australian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
- a higher university qualification (Graduate Diploma or above)
Students may apply for recognition of prior knowledge if they’ve completed courses that are equivalent of PSYC5001 Introduction to Psychology 1 and PSYC5002 Introduction to Psychology 2, within 7 years prior to commencing Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
Please note that UNSW graduates holding a bachelor's degree in Psychology or Psychology major are not eligible to apply.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do 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
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
What will I study?
Program structure
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (GD Psych) will provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of Psychology. The program will cover theoretical and contemporary issues in psychology, with a focus on current empirical research. Students will develop critical thinking and skills in analysis and research methods. Students will gain an integrated and comprehensive education in the main discipline areas, including developmental, social, cognitive, biological, physiological, abnormal psychology and research methods. The program will further prepare students with the research skills and methods required for their future career in Psychology.
Full program structure
Students must complete 60 Units of Credit (60 UOC) as a standalone program.
This program consists of 10 core courses, each course is worth 6 UOC. Students must complete all 10 courses to be awarded the Graduate Diploma. Each course is delivered 100% online for 6 weeks. There are 6 hexamesters per year, allowing for personalised and flexible program structure.
- Students must start with either PSYC5001 or PSYC5002 and must complete both of these courses before continuing to PSYC5003, then to PSYC5004.
- The four introductory courses (PSYC5001 – PSYC5004) have to be completed before proceeding to the advanced units (PSYC5005 – PSYC5010).
- The advanced courses PSYC5005 to PSYC5009 can be completed in any order that suits the student’s individual pattern of study.
- PSYC5010 must be completed as the final course in the program.
- Students who have completed course/s equivalent to PSYC5001 and/or PSYC5002 as part of prior degree within 7 years prior to program commencement, may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in the online application. RPL is also known as “credit transfer” or “advanced standing”.
- To be considered for credit transfer, please answer ‘yes’ for the question on whether you are seeking credit in your online application and upload the official transcripts as well as the official course outlines of the completed courses that you believe are equivalent.
- Maximum enrolment in one course per hexamester.
- The maximum time to complete the program is 5 years.
For more information on program progression and course details, please visit the School of Psychology website.
Future careers
A Graduate Diploma in Psychology can open doors to a wide range of career opportunities, including clinical, correctional, counselling, educational and organisational settings. You'll gain the skills, confidence and connections needed to advance your career in psychology, whether in research or applied settings.
This program allows graduates from other disciplines to complete APAC-accredited Level 1 psychology study, traditionally done through three-year psychology bachelor programs, in less than two years.
To become a registered psychologist in Australia, a minimum of six years of education and training is required. This Graduate Diploma is part of an accredited pathway that can help you progress towards becoming a professional psychologist.
Graduates can find employment in diverse organisations within both the public and private sectors. Potential fields include:
- Banking
- Business
- Community services
- Counselling
- Developmental care
- Human resources
- Industrial relations
- Journalism
- Management consultancy
- Marketing
- Occupational health
- Public health
- Recruitment
- Retail management
- Statistical and data analysis
- Training and development
With psychology influencing a variety of industries, job opportunities are on the rise. According to Job Outlook, over the next five years, job openings are expected to increase by 30%, resulting in approximately 7,600 new jobs annually.
Potential careers:
- Behavioural Therapist*
- Clinical Psychologist*
- Community Service Manager
- Counselling Psychologist*
- Educational Psychologist*
- Forensic Psychologist*
- Health Psychologist*
- Human Resources Specialist
- Industrial-Organisational Psychologist*
- Market Research Analyst
- Research Psychologist*
- School Counsellor*
- Social Worker*
- Sports Psychologist*
*Further training and/or qualifications required.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as Level 1 bridging sequence in psychology. It is the first step on the pathway to becoming a registered psychologist in Australia.
How to apply
- Submit application: Use the Apply Online portal to submit your application as early as possible.
- Choose start date: Indicate your preferred hexamester (start date) in the application. Check key dates for deadlines.
- Credit transfer (optional): If you want credit for previous courses, upload your official transcripts and course outlines.
- Receive offer: If eligible, you'll get an offer letter via email with your start date. If full, you'll be offered the next available session.
- Accept and enrol: Accept your offer online and enrol in your courses by the deadlines.
Ready to start your application?
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred start. You will indicate the hexamester in which you wish to commence as part of the application. See Key Dates for the application deadline of each hexamester.
If you wish to be considered for credit transfer, you can indicate this within your application. If you’re applying for credit you will need to upload the official transcripts as well as the official course outlines of the completed courses that you believe are equivalent in addition to the other required supporting documents.
Successful applicants will be emailed an offer letter which specifies the commencing hexamester and dates. If the session you are applying for has reached full capacity, you will be issued an offer to commence in the next available session. Ensure you accept your offer online and enrol into your courses by the relevant deadlines.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Please note that Commonwealth Supported Places are not available for this program.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025
AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025
Crunchbase venture capital start-up data, 2021
I chose psychology as I was interested in understanding the ‘whys’ that underlie human behaviour.
