Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Graduate Diploma of Psychology provides graduates who already hold a bachelor's degree in another discipline with a fast-track opportunity to study the foundations of psychology.
• Students develop knowledge of human behaviour, neurological disorders, cognitive processes and psychological theory.
• The programme includes research methods, statistics and a Psychology Project, allowing students to develop research and analytical capabilities.
• The course provides foundation training aligned with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
• It can be used as a pathway into further psychology study for students seeking a professional psychology career.
• Swinburne describes the programme as suitable for people considering areas such as clinical, organisational or educational psychology, subject to completing the required further study and registration pathway.
• The fully online format is designed to provide flexibility for students who need to balance study with employment or other commitments. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

Key subject areas therefore include:

• Brain and behaviour
• Foundations of psychology
• Social psychology
• Cognition and human performance
• Human development
• Personality
• Mental health, diagnosis and treatment
• Research methods
• Statistical analysis
• Psychology research/project work

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Primary discipline: Psychology.
• The current Graduate Diploma does not list separate majors or specialisations.
• The qualification provides broad foundational psychology training rather than a specialised clinical, organisational or educational psychology major.
• Students interested in professional psychology need to undertake further approved psychology study and supervised practice after this qualification.

Programme Highlights

• Fully online Swinburne Online delivery.
• 18-month full-time structure.
• 125 credit points.
• Ten compulsory psychology units.
• Suitable for graduates from any bachelor's discipline.
• APAC-accredited psychology programme.
• Research methods and statistics included.
• Psychology Project included.
• Provides foundational study for students considering further professional psychology education.
• Flexible full-time and part-time study options.
• The programme is not available to international students in Australia who hold a Student visa.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential employment areas and roles including:

• Mental health support worker
• Behaviour therapist
• Behaviour support practitioner
• Caseworker
• Case manager
• Mental health adviser
• Psychology administrator

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The course is currently delivered exclusively through Swinburne Online.
• International students already in Australia on a Student visa cannot enrol in this online course.
• International students studying this qualification from outside Australia can study online, subject to Swinburne's admission and enrolment requirements.
• No Australian Student visa can be used to undertake this qualification as an entirely online course because the course does not satisfy the on-campus study requirement for international Student visa holders.
• Maximum academic credit is 62.5 credit points, normally five units, and credit is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• APAC accreditation is an important feature because the qualification is part of the academic pathway toward professional psychology.
• Specific 2027 intake dates and application deadlines: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

This qualification requires particular care when advising international students.

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology is an online-only Swinburne Online programme. Swinburne explicitly states that online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a Student visa. They are available to international students studying outside Australia, or to eligible international students in Australia who are not on a Student visa.

Therefore:

• International student studying from outside Australia: online study may be possible, subject to admission/enrolment requirements.
• International student intending to travel to Australia on a Student visa specifically to study this course: not permitted for this online-only course.
• This qualification should not be presented as a Student visa pathway for an international student intending to relocate to Melbourne/Australia for study.

If an international student instead enrols in a different eligible Swinburne course in Australia, the Australian Student visa subclass 500 generally requires:

• Valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempt.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Financial capacity where requested.
• Compliance with all visa conditions.