Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Pre-Practice)
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Pre-Practice) |
| Deakin course code | H664 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
^Students enrol at Waurn Ponds (Geelong), however the second year of the course is taught at Waterfront (Geelong). Students commencing in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3 must start their second year in Trimester 1. | |
This course is offered to continuing students only. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Complete the equivalent of a psychology undergraduate and Honours degree in two years full-time instead of four.
If you are interested in a career in psychology and you have already completed an undergraduate degree in another field, this course gets you on the fast track towards your dream job.
In year one, you will complete the equivalent of a three-year psychology sequence. This includes units in social psychology, cognition, research methods, development, personality, psychopathology and neuropsychology, giving a broad understanding of psychology.
In year two, you will undertake the Honours program. You will also undertake coursework designed to support your skills in research.
Once you graduate from this course, you can apply for provisional registration as a psychologist and to pursue entry into postgraduate courses.
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
Registration as a Psychologist
The current requirements for registration as a provisional psychologist include the completion of four years of academic study of psychology that is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia. The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence followed by an approved fourth-year of study, such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology or honours in psychology.
Following successful completion of an approved fourth-year of psychology study, you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists must then complete either two years of supervised practice, or a minimum two years of further study, which may include: Master of Psychology, Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (with supervised practice completed outside the degree).
Career opportunities
After successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Pre-Practice) you will be well prepared for employment in a wide range of areas relevant to human wellbeing, such as social work, youth work, careers counselling, work/life counselling, developmental psychology, research psychology, or mental health rehabilitation.
Depending on your chosen area and level of further study, you will be able to work in a variety of settings, including specialist areas of psychology practice, such as clinical, forensic, organisational, educational, health, sport and many others. The contexts in which you work may include hospitals, business organisations, schools, universities, government agencies, community sporting groups, various research groups or in private practice.
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.
Registration as a Psychologist
The current requirements for registration as a provisional psychologist include the completion of four years of academic study of psychology that is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia. The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence followed by an approved fourth-year of study, such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology or honours in psychology.
Following successful completion of an approved fourth-year of psychology study, you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists must then complete either two years of supervised practice, or a minimum two years of further study, which may include: Master of Psychology, Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (with supervised practice completed outside the degree).
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Achieve a deep conceptual understanding of the major ideas, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in the core topics of psychology. |
| Communication | Communicate effectively in a variety of formats and in a variety of contexts including with diverse ethnic and cultural partners and within teams. |
| Digital Literacy | Be able to understand, apply and evaluate basic research methods in psychology including research design, data analysis and interpretation and the appropriate use of technologies. |
| Critical thinking | Respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behaviour and metal processes. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social and organisational issues. |
| Problem Solving | Respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behaviour and mental processes. |
| Self-management | Understand and appreciate the core values of psychology (i.e. value empirical evidence; tolerate ambiguity during the search for a greater understanding of behaviour and knowledge structures ;act ethically and professionally; understand the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity and reflect other values that are the underpinning of psychology as a discipline). |
| Teamwork | Communicate effectively in a variety of formats and in a variety of contexts including with diverse ethnic and cultural partners and within teams. |
| Global Citizenship | Demonstrate, report and apply ethical principles to understand how to work productively in the field of psychology within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective and culturally sensitive manner. |
Course structure
Core units
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| HPS771 | Psychology Research Methods (Introductory) |
| HPS773 | Cognitive Psychology |
| HPS774 | Social Psychology |
| HPS775 | Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour) |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| HPS772 | Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent) |
| HPS781 | Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate) |
| HPS788 | Psychopathology |
| HPS791 | Personality Psychology |
Students undertaking the final year of the degree part-time must complete the coursework units before the thesis units HPY720 and HPY721 (see Table below for a list of units).
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HPS715 | Principles of Psychological Assessment |
| HPS742 | Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| HPY720 | Research Project A |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HPY710 | Applied Counselling Skills (Advanced) |
| HPY712 | Psychology Research Methods (Advanced) |
| HPY721 | Research Project B |
part-time students wising to deviate from the recommended structure should consult the course director.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.