Graduate Diploma
Follow your passion and explore a rewarding career change by studying the Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science. Designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than psychology, the course introduces you to the fundamentals of psychology and human behaviour while fast-tracking your journey to becoming a registered psychologist.
Ready for a career in psychology but don't want to start from scratch with an undergraduate degree?
If you are looking to move into psychology, but the idea of committing to a three-year undergraduate degree seems a bit daunting, the Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science is your perfect option. It allows you to reach your goals, faster. You will be studying the accredited psychology major sequence only, which means you can complete the degree in as little as one year (if you study full-time in trimesters 1, 2 and 3). Plus, the course can be studied on campus or online, giving you the flexibility to achieve your goals on your schedule.
The course may be short in duration, but you will be getting a comprehensive introduction to the human mind and the fundamentals of human behaviour. In your second and third trimester you will be covering more complex topics like child development, psychopathology, neural structure and social behaviour. Course content is industry-led and delivered by passionate teachers who are active contributors to the field - just one of the reasons why postgraduate psychology courses at Deakin rank #1 in Victoria for student satisfaction and have a reputation for teaching quality.*
Once you graduate, even more opportunities start to open up. The Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) - and is the equivalent of a three-year accredited psychology undergraduate degree - so once you graduate you can apply for an APAC-accredited 'fourth year' of study that allows you to seek provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Your options include:
Following the completion of a 'fourth year' of study, you will then be eligible to apply for the following APAC-accredited courses that lead to general registration as a psychologist:
If you are not interested in becoming a registered psychologist, you will graduate from this course with a deep understanding of human behaviour that allows you to solve more complex issues and build better relationships in your current role. The skills you will be learning are incredibly valuable across all fields of work and in all walks of life.
For those looking to switch careers, your experiences throughout the course will prepare you for new challenges in a variety of areas including community welfare and case management, human resources, public health, mental health rehabilitation and social work.
Learn more about psychology pathways and career outcomes
As it is the equivalent of a three-year accredited psychology undergraduate degree, this course a pathway to a fourth-year of study (e.g. Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)), which can then lead to an APAC-accredited master or doctoral-level course that enables general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Areas of practice endorsement in psychology include:
Working as a generalist psychologist might involve:
Not looking to become a registered psychologist? You will still have a broad and exciting range of career opportunities to explore when you graduate from this course. Your deep understanding of psychological assessment methods combined with your client-centred approach to practice will equip you for roles in:
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science students must attain 10 credit points. All units in the course are core (these are compulsory) and must be completed. There are no elective units.
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.