Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)

2027 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2027 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)
Deakin course code	H650
Course credit points	8
Course version	2
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Course information	For students who commenced from 2020 onwards
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course map - enrolment planning tool	The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS code	0101383 Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Supplementary information	NOTE: Online is available to Domestic students only, limited places available.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Build on your undergraduate psychology studies and take the next step towards becoming a registered psychologist with the APAC-accredited Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced).

Designed for students seeking a recognised fourth-year psychology qualification, this course deepens your understanding of human behaviour while developing advanced skills in psychological assessment, counselling and research. Learn from experienced academics, explore contemporary areas of psychology and gain the analytical skills needed to formulate psychological opinions in professional practice.

Accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), the course allows eligible graduates to apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). It also provides a pathway to further APAC-accredited postgraduate study required for general registration as a psychologist.

Study on campus or online and graduate with sought-after skills that can support careers across mental health, community services, public health and case management.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

This course is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist and for entry to APAC accredited master or doctoral level training programs that lead to registration as a psychologist.

Career opportunities

This course is a pathway towards APAC-accredited master and doctoral-level courses that lead to registration as a psychologist. Areas of practice endorsement in psychology include:

clinical psychology (available at Deakin)
clinical neuropsychology
organisational psychology (available at Deakin)
sport and exercise psychology
forensic psychology
counselling psychology
community psychology

Working as a generalist psychologist might involve:

family therapy
rehabilitation counselling
psychological assessment

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 practise will equip you for roles in:

community welfare and case management
human resources
mental health rehabilitation
public health
youth support
disability services

Participation requirements

At Deakin, we’re committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports all students to succeed. We work closely with students to identify and reduce barriers, and where possible, provide tailored support to help students engage with learning and assessment activities, ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong and thrive.

If you are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, and/or you live with the effects of a mental health condition, chronic health condition, or other condition that impacts your studies or participation in university life, we encourage you to reach out to our Disability Resource Centre for a collaborative and confidential discussion.

Mandatory student checks

There are no mandatory student checks required for this course.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Course learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
Apply and integrate advanced theoretical, empirical, and practical knowledge in psychological assessment, counselling, and research methods to inform evidence-based reasoning, research design, and pre-professional psychological practice.
Demonstrate clear and effective written and oral communication skills to convey complex psychological knowledge and ideas tailored to diverse audiences including laypeople, professionals, and researchers.
Apply advanced skills and ethical principles to select and use digital tools to collect, interpret, adapt, analyse, and communicate discipline-specific psychological information in the context of pre-professional psychology practice.
Critically evaluate, integrate, and synthesise complex scientific evidence, and apply this knowledge to assessment, counselling, and case management to support evidence-based pre-professional psychology practice.
Use critical thinking, sceptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to collaboratively interpret, analyse and respond to problems in psychological research and practice including psychological assessment, counselling, and case management.
Demonstrate professional reflexivity and self-management through critical reflection, self-care and purposeful learning, emphasising accountability for pre-professional development in psychology.
Work effectively and respectfully with others across diverse cultural, disciplinary, and professional contexts, in preparation for interprofessional psychological practice.
Apply ethical principles and cultural responsiveness to work collaboratively and reflectively in diverse social, cultural, and global contexts relevant to psychology.

Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
8 credit points of core units
- including 4 credit points of an independent research project.

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Core units

Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HPS715

Principles of Psychological Assessment

HPS742

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

HPY720

Research Project A

Trimester 2

HPY710

Applied Counselling Skills (Advanced)

HPY712

Psychology Research Methods (Advanced)

HPY721

Research Project B

Part-time students wishing to deviate from the recommended structure should consult the course director.

Karolinska Institute exchange students must enrol in:

HPY720X

Research Project A (Karolinska Exchange)

HPY721X

Research Project B (Karolinska Exchange)

Coursework and Thesis

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) consists of 2 components: coursework and a thesis.

The coursework component (consisting of classes and seminars) contributes 50% to the final grade awarded. Part-time students must complete the coursework component in the first year of their course. As required by the accreditation guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society, the coursework covers:

research methods;
issues in psychological assessment; and
Applied Counselling Skills (Advanced)

For further details of the coursework component, see the unit description for HPS715, HPS742, HPY710 and HPY712.

The thesis component (see HPY720 and HPY721) contributes 50% to the final grade of honours awarded. The thesis is a write-up of an individual research project based on an original piece of empirical research. A range of types of data (qualitative, quantitative, subjective, objective) and a range of data-collection settings and methodologies can be used as the basis of the thesis component. The Fourth Year Thesis consists of 4 components:

Research Project A in Trimester 1
1. Thesis literature review draft (1500-2000 words; 0% hurdle assessment)
2. Thesis proposal presentation (10-minute oral presentation; 0% hurdle assessment)

Research Project B in Trimester 2
3. Thesis poster (A0 research poster; 0% hurdle assessment)
4. Thesis (5500-6000 words; 4 credit points; 100%).

Students are encouraged to attend at the annual School Fourth Year Conference online.

Work experience

Not applicable

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Research and research-related study

The thesis component (see HPY720 and HPY721) contributes 50% to the final grade of H650. And these units are 2 credit points each.

The thesis is submitted in two parts:

A research proposal comprising a 1500 written piece covering rationale, methods, proposed analyses, and a 10 minute oral presentation (submitted in June)
A 5000-word report on the empirical component submitted early October and a Poster conference attended in late October

The thesis proposal and the written empirical report constitute the full assessment in the paired units HPY720 and HPY721. The thesis proposal and empirical report contribute 30% and 70% respectively to the final mark for the thesis component.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.

Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Estimate your fees

Further information

Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page .

Contact Student Central