Key facts

Domestic students course information.

Entry requirements

Entry is based on a bachelor's degree qualification, or higher than bachelor's degree qualification, accepted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator.

Entry is based on higher education qualification. English language requirements must also be met.

View full entry requirements
Duration
  • 1.5 years full-time
  • Up to 5 years part-time
Number of Units (Subjects)
  • 10 units (60 credit points)
View course structure
Fees
  • Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply)
  • Full Fee
  • International
View more fees information
CRICOS code
  • 073213E
Start Dates and Campus
Trimester 1 – February 2024Trimester 2 – June 2024Trimester 3 – October 2024
OnlineOfferedOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusOfferedOfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
OnlineOfferedOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusOfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

Download course brochure
UNE psychology student meets with a 'client' in a professional experience setting

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.

2024 Health scholarships

Starting a UNE Health course in 2024? Get up to $12,000 towards your studies. For more information about the range of health scholarships and subsidies available, register your interest now.

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.

Entry requirements

Select the option that best describes you.

If you are an international applicant who wants to study on campus in Australia:

You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.

This course is offered under two admission rules.

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in any discipline.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule B: You do not hold a Bachelor qualification, but have completed a qualification which is a minimum of AQF Level 8 (or overseas equivalent). Applications on this basis will be assessed by the Course Coordinator for eligibility.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

In online mode, no units in this course have mandatory intensive schools, although some do offer non-mandatory intensive schools. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Visa Information

On-Campus study
If you would like to study full-time in Australia at one of UNE's campuses, you will need to have a visa that allows you to study. For most international students this visa will need to be a Student Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has further information about visa eligibility and conditions.

If you are an international applicant who wants to study online (overseas or in Australia):

You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.

This course is offered under two admission rules.

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in any discipline.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule B: You do not hold a Bachelor qualification, but have completed a qualification which is a minimum of AQF Level 8 (or overseas equivalent). Applications on this basis will be assessed by the Course Coordinator for eligibility.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

In online mode, no units in this course have mandatory intensive schools, although some do offer non-mandatory intensive schools. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Visa Information

Online study in your own country
If you would like to study online with UNE while you reside outside of Australia you do not need a Student Visa. If your course requires you to visit Australia to attend any mandatory study requirements, you would need to explore Visitor Visa options for a short-term stay.

Online study in Australia
If you would like to study online with UNE while you are residing in Australia, you will need to hold a visa (other than a Student Visa) that allows you to study. If you are unsure if your visa allows you to study, you can check with UNE's International Admissions team. If you hold a Student Visa you cannot study completely online; you must be enrolled as an on-campus student (although you can study a limited number of online units).

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification/s.
  • Proof of identity and citizenship. This can be a certified/notarised copy of the photo page of your passport, or another form of official photo identification that lists your full personal details including name and date of birth; for example, a foreign government identity card.
  • Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved English test within the past two years, you must provide a copy of the test results with your application. Please see UNE’s English Language Requirements above for further information.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.

Please note: You can apply for up to 30 credit points of Advanced Standing based on APAC-accredited Psychology units which are part of the qualification you used for admission. This Advanced Standing must be for units which are equivalent to PSYC101 Introductory Psychology I and PSYC102 Introductory Psychology II, and a further 3 units at 200/300/400 level. There is no maximum amount of Advanced Standing for Psychology units completed at UNE which have not counted towards a completed qualification.

You cannot apply for Advanced Standing for units completed more than ten years ago.

> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing

This course is offered under two admission rules.

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in any discipline.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule B: You do not hold a Bachelor qualification, but have completed a qualification which is a minimum of AQF Level 8 (or overseas equivalent). Applications on this basis will be assessed by the Course Coordinator for eligibility.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

English Language Requirements

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

In online mode, no units in this course have mandatory intensive schools, although some do offer non-mandatory intensive schools. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification/s.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.

Please note: You can apply for up to 30 credit points of Advanced Standing based on APAC-accredited Psychology units which are part of the qualification you used for admission. This Advanced Standing must be for units which are equivalent to PSYC101 Introductory Psychology I and PSYC102 Introductory Psychology II, and a further 3 units at 200/300/400 level. There is no maximum amount of Advanced Standing for Psychology units completed at UNE which have not counted towards a completed qualification.

You cannot apply for Advanced Standing for units completed more than ten years ago.

> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing

Course structure

To qualify for the award, a candidate must pass units to the value of 60 credit points including 18 credit points at 400-level.

60 credit points

Complete the following units:

See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:

Fee typeCost
Full Fee
$28,056*
International
$33,829*
Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply)
$14,033*
Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time$351
*The costs will depend on the units you choose to study as the cost of individual units vary. “Estimated fees” are provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking a study load of 48 credit points in the first year of this course. For courses that require less than 48 credit points the fees indicated are based on the total credit points required for completion of that course. For more information, please see fees and costs.

*Annual course fees only cover the cost of tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as text books, accommodation and living expenses. If you are successful in gaining admission to study at UNE, the Offer of Admission will list the exact tuition fees you need to pay for your course. Fees quoted cover full-time tuition for two full-time trimesters only. For more information, please see fees and costs.

What are the course fee payment options?

Full Fee places are mostly in postgraduate coursework degrees. In a full fee place you pay the tuition fee set for your course, however you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP Loan to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.

If you are enrolled in a Full Fee place and there is a direct connection between your work and your study, you may be able to claim your tuition fees as a tax deduction.

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government subsidised place in a university course. The government pays part of your tuition fees, and you pay the remainder.

If you have a CSP in either an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan, which allows you to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.

UNE scholarships are open for all to apply and offer financial help while you are studying. There are scholarships for students with high academic achievement, from rural areas, studying specific degrees, in disadvantaged groups, experiencing financial hardship, who excel at sport or want to live in a UNE residential college.

UNE scholarship applications are free and confidential. You may apply for more than one scholarship.

Scholarships

UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.

The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 20%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2024. View detailed Bursary information.

UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying research-based degrees.

Your career

Career outcomes

Our Graduate Diploma in Psychology is the next step towards further studies in psychology. Alternatively, you can choose to apply your skills and knowledge to a career in one of the many fields in which an understanding of human behaviour is beneficial. This includes roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors where you are required to interact with people or provide services and care for others.  

The Graduate Careers Council of Australia reports a strong demand in Australia for people with psychology qualifications. Some of the wide-ranging career pathways that you could consider include:  

  • further fourth-year study in psychology 
  • family services and support work 
  • youth justice or youth support work 
  • learning support worker 
  • human resources  
  • management roles in health and social care. 
Professional recognition

UNE’s Graduate Diploma in Psychology provides you with an undergraduate psychology sequence, accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).   

After successfully completing the course, you may be eligible to apply for entry to an APAC accredited fourth-year program in psychology such as the Bachelor of Psychology with Honours at UNE, or at any university across Australia. A fourth year in psychology is a necessary step if you wish to undertake further training towards working as a psychologist or undertake further (research) study in psychology, including the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy. 

Course outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide an accredited major in psychology for students who have completed a bachelor degree or equivalent. Students who achieve the required grades will be eligible to apply for entry into fourth year programs in psychology.
  1. demonstrate advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge of the core topics of psychology, including: 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, and apply this knowledge in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate, and sensitive to the diversity of individuals;
  2. describe, apply, and evaluate different research methods used by psychologists and demonstrate practical skills in psychological research design, data analysis, and report writing using American Psychological Association (APA) structure and formatting conventions;
  3. critically evaluate psychological literature, question claims that arise from untested assumptions, recognise the link between theory and practical application of that theory in the world, and communicate these in written and oral formats;
  4. demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork;
  5. demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology; and
  6. demonstrate self-directed learning to sustain life-long personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology.
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will possess a body of knowledge in psychology through the study of the core units and have a well-developed understanding of the key principles, practices, and boundaries of the discipline. This knowledge will be taught in lectures, unit materials, and online activities, and will be assessed throughout the course with a range of different activities. Information provided within each unit embeds current global knowledge within the discipline of psychology.

Communication Skills

Graduates will have well developed communication skills which are taught, assessed, and practised through written assignments and face-to-face (or online equivalent) tutorial and laboratory sessions that are required in all psychology units.

Problem Solving

A number of psychology units include data collection in order to address an issue in the literature. The onus is then on the student to generate a research report providing a solution to that issue.

Information Literacy

Through the writing of essays, research reports, and other types of assignments, graduates will develop the skills with which to discover and process relevant information and to present it in a coherent fashion.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates will be taught to understand and practise the highest standards of ethical behaviour associated with the discipline. They will understand and be open-minded about social, cultural, and linguistic diversity in Australia and the world, and appreciate their ethical responsibilities towards colleagues, research subjects, the wider community, and the environment. The issue of ethics is explicitly integrated during data collection and a range of other activities within psychology units.

Lifelong Learning

All psychology units within this course develop the student's skills in identifying and accessing information that is relevant to their needs, through both library and internet searches. This skill empowers graduates to continue accessing new information as required.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will be encouraged to learn and work independently, and where appropriate, to work collaboratively. Graduates will have well developed group participation skills and the ability to work collaboratively achieved through on-campus and online interactive teaching strategies, where they will learn the importance of participating in discussions in a professional, respectful, and ethical manner.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian University.

As an international student you can take advantage of flexible online study from overseas or while you are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa. You can’t study fully online on a Student Visa.

To study online from overseas you need to consider that you may need to travel to Australia to attend a UNE campus for some mandatory intensive schools.

Studying on Campus

Whether you are an undergraduate student coming to study in Australia for the first time, a PhD student coming to live here with your family, or you only need short-stay accommodation whilst in Armidale for Intensive Schools, we have the perfect accommodation option for you.

Find out more about studying on campus

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Why study with us?

Bachelor of Psychological Science student Daina Sinozic in black jacket

I chose UNE because I had heard from previous cohorts that it is structured well and one of the best for online learning.

Daina Sinozic, Bachelor of Psychological Science

Why study with us?

UNE graduate poses on campus with camera

Studying at UNE was an amazing experience for me not only because of education but also because of the multicultural environment, the academic staff and resources and the international services.

Shyama Prashad Chakma, UNE graduate

How to apply

Applying to UNE is quick and easy. If you are an
you can apply at any time. Apply now and we'll get you started in the next possible intake.

Preparing to apply

You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.

The kind of documents you need will depend on:

  • Your preferred course/s
  • Your personal circumstances
Applying to UNE is quick and easy. If you are applying as a
, the application process may be a little different depending on who you are and what you want to study.

Preparing to apply

You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.

The kind of documents you need will depend on:

  • Your preferred course/s
  • Your personal circumstances

Important Dates

Different application methods and courses can have different closing dates. To find your correct application method click the Apply Now button below. Please check the appropriate application website for opening and closing dates.

If you are applying online direct to UNE please see below for application dates.

IntakeApplication Closing DateTrimester Start Date
Trimester 116 February 202426 February 2024
Trimester 214 June 202424 June 2024
Trimester 311 October 202421 October 2024

Important Notice for Prospective Students

For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.