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Focus your studies within psychology by undertaking focused and collaborative research. You will develop valuable skills in research analysis and design, research ethics, and have access to a network of national and international experts in the field of psychological science.

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#1 in Australia

for median graduate salary 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Psychology

Learn from the best

Access world-class lecturers and tutors

Enhance your expertise

Build the skills to progress your career

Available to Australian students for inter-campus study in Singapore. Conditions apply.

Online: February
Townsville: February

$15,142.00⁺

$29,600.00^{^}

⁺estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load

^{^}estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

Fees currently displayed are indicative only. 2024 fees will be uploaded by October, 2023.

1 year full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council-approved three-year sequence in psychology with a credit average in all level 2 and 3 psychology subjects; or equivalent

15707

What to expect

Take the next step in your journey to becoming a registered Psychologist. This Graduate Diploma of Psychology provides fourth-year training for students who have completed an accredited three-year undergraduate psychology program, equipping you to pursue further postgraduate study, which can then qualify you for becoming a fully registered psychologist.

In this postgraduate psychology degree, you will study the methods and ethics of scientific investigations and evidence-based practice. You will systematically integrate and apply major theoretical perspectives and concepts, philosophical and historical developments, and an understanding of ethics and efficacy to the core areas of psychology and scientific research.

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology consists of six core subjects including a two-part, extensive group project; Ethics for Research and Professional and Evidence-Based Practice; Design and Analysis for Research; Operationalising the Scientific Practitioner Model; and Psychology: Now and the Future.

This JCU Psychology degree offers unique experiences. You will have access to JCU’s observation suites, where you’ll get to explore the workspace of a professional psychologist. You will get to engage and contribute to current research projects and attend annual seminars presented by national and international experts. In the two-part group project, you will devise and implement your own research project and communicate your findings to professional psychology experts.

JCU Psychology graduates are highly skilled and prepared for the future of science. Upon completion of this degree, you will be one step closer to becoming a fully registered psychologist.

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

If you are interested in studying psychology and have an undergraduate degree in a different field, JCU's online Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) is designed to introduce you to the study of psychology and help you prepare to progress into further study. Find out more about the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging).

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

Career Opportunities

JCU Psychology graduates are broadly-skilled and go on to study and work in various specialised health fields.

Graduates pursue careers in various areas including private practice and consulting firms, academic and applied research settings, human resources, advertising, research, sport, and education.

With further training, you could find employment as a clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, educational psychologist, forensic psychologist or occupational psychologist.

To become eligible for registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, you are required to complete a minimum 6-year sequence of education and supervised training. Visit the Psychology Board of Australia website for more information on registration requirements.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2024
Course code	15707
Course type	Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8)
Professional accreditation status	This course is fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Graduates of this course who wish to become fully registered as psychologists must complete an accredited Masters degree (e.g., Master of Professional Psychology, with one further year of supervised practice or a Master of Psychology [Clinical]). Please refer to the Pathways to Registration as a Psychologist on the APAC website for more information.
Owner	Academy
College	Healthcare Sciences

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Completion of an AQF Level 7 bachelor degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved three-year sequence in Psychology completed within the past 10 years; and a minimum program GPA of 5.0; or

Completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved bridging degree that achieves foundational competencies within the past 10 years; and a minimum program GPA of 5.0; or

Other qualifications recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine as equivalent to the above.

Special note: Applicants for the 2022 or 2023 intakes that have completed a JCU AQF Level 7 bachelor degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved three-year sequence in psychology within the past 10 years, and that do not meet the above–stated entry requirement, may be assessed as a transitional arrangement under the previous entry requirement of a credit average in all level 2 and 3 psychology subjects taken as part of that degree.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Additional selection requirements

Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

24 credit points as per course structure

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Psychology, graduates will be able to:

Systematically integrate and apply a coherent and advanced body of knowledge with depth in major theoretical perspectives and concepts, and philosophical and historical developments, in the core areas of psychology which inform the professional practice of psychology, and the conduct and evaluation of scientific research.
Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and evidence bases underpinning professional practice to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Review and reflect on the ethics and efficacy of professional practice, interventions and interactions with consideration of culturally diverse populations, including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Exercise high-level judgement, critical thinking and initiative to identify and solve complex problems, make informed, culturally responsive decisions
Apply advanced English language and technological and numeracy skills to generate, interpret and communicate knowledge, data, arguments and research findings appropriate for a diversity of audiences including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Apply knowledge and skills of research principles, methods and ethics to initiate, plan, execute and evaluate a piece of research and scholarship with some independence and creativity
Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for one's own learning and practice in collaboration with others.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Postgraduate Psychology.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

PY4106:06 Group Project Part 1 of 2

PY4107:06 Group Project Part 2 of 2

PY4112:03 Ethics and Evidence-Based Practice

PY4113:03 Design and Analysis for Professional Psychology

PY4114:03 Assessment in Psychology

PY4115:03 Psychology: Now and the Future

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Singapore
JCU Townsville
External

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	3 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Students may be required to undertake such tests and interviews as are considered necessary to assess their suitability to work in the helping professions.
Professional accreditation requirements	Graduates of this course who wish to become fully registered as psychologists must complete an accredited Masters degree (e.g., Master of Professional Psychology, with one further year of supervised practice or a Master of Psychology [Clinical]). Please refer to the Pathways to Registration as a Psychologist on the APAC website for more information.
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
Maximum allowed	6 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 13 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the candidate has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Nil

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF PSYCHOLOGY
Abbreviated title	GDipPsych
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD15,142.00

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD29,600.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Closing dates for applications: 31 October

Student

Jessica Thomasson

Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Studying the Graduate Diploma of Psychology at JCU has provided me with the opportunity to advance toward a career in psychology, while affording me the flexibility I needed as a mother of a very active toddler.
Dean

Dr Kerry McBain

College of Healthcare Sciences

Having an understanding of human behaviour - what motivates people, how they perceive the world, and why they make the decisions they do - is invaluable knowledge in business. The joint degree gives students a solid grounding in both the principles of business and of human behaviour.
Employer

Ann Nicholls

Manager Offender Development, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, Custodial Operations

It is great having JCU graduates on staff. The JCU school of Psychology clearly has experienced and knowledgeable lecturers, tutors and staff. The graduates bring a solid knowledge base, enthusiasm and energy to grow and build on their study, plus a genuine care to support the team around them.