Postgraduate Course

Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced)

If you’ve already completed an accredited three-year undergraduate degree in psychology, the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) will meet the fourth-year accreditation component required to register as a provisional psychologist in Australia. 

What type of student are you?

Murdoch code
G1096
Study mode
Part Time or Full Time
Duration
1
Selection rank
CRICOS code
052860C
First year fee (domestic)
$24,120
First year fee (international)
$37,080
Full course fee (domestic)
$24,120
Full course fee (international)
$37,080
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The fees provided are indicative and intended only as a guide. They are based on a typical full-time enrolment for a first year student at Murdoch University of 24 credit points. The indicative fee is based on the applicable Commonwealth Supported Fee.

Overview

If you’re working towards becoming a registered psychologist and have already completed an accredited three-year undergraduate psychology degree or equivalent, this course provides you with an alternative option to an honours year to satisfy the educational requirements needed to register and work as a provisional psychologist or further your studies with an application into a relevant master’s course upon completion of the course. 

If you're in your last semester of your undergraduate psychology degree, you can apply for an early conditional offer based on your results to date. Admission into this course usually requires a credit average or better in your undergraduate psychology units. 

Students in the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) must complete coursework at an advanced level as well as a group-based research project written up as an individual thesis. Hear how Katie's keen interest in psychology led her to pursue her thesis topics in pain research. 

On completion of this course, you can apply for a masters program in Psychology like the Master of Applied Psychology (Professional) or Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical)

3 reasons to study a Graduate Diploma in Psychology at Murdoch 

  1. Take the first step to becoming a registered psychologist through the coursework units, which are designed to enhance the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary for psychologists. 
  2. Equips you with essential skills in analytics, problem-solving, research, critical thinking, and communication while also providing a deep understanding of mental health issues and foundations of psychological assessment and intervention 
  3. Complete a research project in an area of psychology that interests you. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of a particular topic, collaborate with peers, and develop high-level writing skills by preparing an individual thesis   
  4. Take advantage of our scholarships such as the Murdoch University Academic Excellence Award. 

What you'll learn 

  • Analytics and problem-solving 
  • Research and information sourcing 
  • Critical thinking, judgment, and decision making 
  • The appreciation of mental health issues and how this impacts at an individual, family, and community level 
  • Interpersonal, oral, and written communication 
  • Foundations of psychological assessment and intervention 

Your future career 

After obtaining the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) degree, you can explore working in diverse areas both in the public and private sectors, because the skills and knowledge acquired throughout this course are highly versatile and applicable to many fields. You can be involved in policymaking, police and correction services, counselling services, market and consumer research, career guidance, and more. Graduate Careers Australia outlines some areas you might work in after graduating with a Psychology degree. 

Pathway information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants
Murdoch University aspires to be the first choice for First Nations peoples. We wholeheartedly welcome and encourage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to consider applying for our psychology programs. Across our psychology courses, places are reserved for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. While these applicants must meet the specified criteria for each course to gain admission, they will not go through the competitive selection process. These places are reserved under an exemption to the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, which is applied to promote equality and aligns with Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) guidelines for creating equity pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants. If you would like more information, please contact Dr Hak Fujiyama at H.Fujiyama@murdoch.edu.au.

Professional accreditation 

This course is accredited as a Level 2 course by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) for offerings delivered at both South Street and Singapore campuses. 

Professional recognition 

Graduates of this course are eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. To be eligible for registration as a psychologist, graduates will need to complete a minimum of either one additional year of study in an APAC-accredited 5th year psychology program and one year of supervised practice (internship), or two additional years of study in APAC-accredited 5th and 6th year psychology programs. 

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited as a Level 2 course by Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) for offerings delivered at both South Street and Singapore campuses.

Professional recognition

Graduates of this course are eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. To be eligible for registration as a psychologist, graduates will need to complete a minimum of either one additional year of study in an APAC-accredited 5th year psychology program and one year of supervised practice (internship), or two additional years of study in APAC-accredited 5th and 6th year psychology programs.

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Structure

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Total credit points: 24

Unit code Unit name Credit points
Course Core24 credit points
Required Units24 credit points
PSY536Psychology: Principles and Processes of Psychological Intervention3
PSY541Psychology Project12
PSY544Psychology: Practical Skills3
PSY598Advanced Psychological Assessment3
PSY599Graduate Seminar in Psychology3
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Entry requirements

A three-year Bachelor degree in Psychology accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council or Australian Psychological Society-approved alternative. Applicants with a >10yrs old Bachelor's degree in Psychology will likely be required to complete additional units to demonstrate their competencies required to enter the course. The Academic Chair will consider applications on a competitive basis and recommend students for admission based on an assessment of the student's preparedness to cope with the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced), and on current teaching resources available to the school. Normally, only students with a credit average or better in their undergraduate psychology units will be considered. In some cases, the Academic Chair may recommend a student for admission, but will likely require the student to demonstrate their readiness for the course by completing additional designated units offered in earlier years than the fourth year. The number of students accepted into the course will be determined on a semester-by-semester basis, and will depend upon available resources.

English Requirements

You must meet a minimum standard in English to study at Murdoch, which for most courses can be demonstrated by providing evidence that you have completed Year 11 and 12 in Australia at any level if you are a domestic student, or through either English proficiency tests, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study or vocational education.

Advanced Standing

Everyone has a different path to university so if you’ve already completed formal or informal learning, you could receive advanced standing. Also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing can reduce the amount of study needed to complete your degree by giving you credit for certain units.

Formal learning can include previous study in higher education vocational education or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning, various kinds of work and life experience.

Find out more

 

This information applies to courses offered at our Australian campuses only. Courses offered at our Dubai  and Singapore campuses or delivered by Open Universities Australia may have different requirements.

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Fees and scholarships

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Scholarships

Make the most of your university experience by reducing the financial costs with a scholarship.

Whether you’re a high achiever or have experienced hardship, we offer a wide range of scholarships and awards to students from all walks of life. Explore our scholarships to find the ones you could be eligible for as a new Murdoch student as well as what's available throughout your degree.

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How much will it cost?

Instead of paying an overall course fee, you pay for the individual units you enrol in. The total course cost will vary depending on the units you choose.

Following your successful application, you’ll receive a Letter of Offer which will contain specific course and fee information.

If you are applying for an undergraduate course, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place. Postgraduate programs are full fee paying, unless indicated otherwise in your Letter of Offer.

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All fees are indicative and are provided as a guide only. The actual fees will depend on the individual units you enrol in. You should refer to your Letter of Offer for specific course and fee related information.

The first-year indicative fee is based on a typical full-time enrolment at Murdoch University of 24 credit points.

For domestic students, including Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, the indicative fee is based on the applicable Commonwealth Supported fee.

Indicative fees for international students are based on applicable full fee paying rates.

The estimated, indicative fee covers tuition fees only, and certain additional fees and charges may apply, depending on the course and units you choose. It also does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries for which you may be eligible.

The estimated, indicative fee assumes no fee increases or indexation. Over time, fee increases or indexation may occur and will affect the estimate. If you are a full fee paying student, this may occur at the start of your second and each subsequent year of study. In the case of Commonwealth Supported students, this will occur for each new calendar year in line with Government policy.

All fee estimates are provided in Australian dollars.