Duration 
Study Intakes 
Units 
Fees 
Which Psychology Qualification Is Right for Me?
There’s never been a more exciting or rewarding time to study psychology. Discover which psychology qualification could fit your ambitions in our blog article.
Who should study ECU’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)?
This degree is for postgraduate students who want to leverage their previous study and continue along the pathway towards becoming a registered psychologist.
Upon successful completion, you will fulfil the education requirements for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia^.
Why study a Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) with ECU Online?
Developed by industry experts
The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is designed and delivered by experienced psychology researchers and practitioners. Benefit from close support from engaged academics and build your professional network as you continue your journey to becoming a registered psychologist.-
Flexible, accelerated and 100% online
Our degrees allow you to tailor your study to your busy schedule and complete your degree sooner than traditional on-campus study. Experience our engaging online learning environment with support from academics, Student Success Advisors and fellow students. -
Support while you study
At ECU, you will receive the support you need to succeed when fitting study into your already busy life. Not only are our teaching staff supportive and attentive - you will also have a dedicated Student Success Advisor to support you every step of the way at ECU. -
APAC accredited
Our Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Awards
2022 Good Universities Guide
ECU was rated 5 stars for overall educational experience and student support in the postgraduate Psychology discipline. ECU was also rated five stars for postgraduate overall experience.
2022 THE Young University Rankings
ECU has again been ranked in the world's top 100 universities under 50 years old.
THE Impact Rankings 2021
ECU has been ranked in the top 50 in the world for Quality Education, as well as the top 25 in the world for Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality.
Learning outcomes
Apply theory to practice
Understand and apply the principles and underlying theories of contemporary psychological interventions.
Design your own research and analyse data
Gain advanced skills as you design, analyse, conduct and critique research in psychology.
Prepare for the profession
Learn core communication and interviewing skills for use in a range of professional contexts. Be empowered to apply these skills when working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Career outcomes
Upon successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) online, you will be able to fulfil the education requirements you need to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia^. You will also be eligible to continue your postgraduate studies to become a registered psychologist.
Want to know more about the pathway to becoming a registered psychologist? We explore how to become a psychologist on our blog.
Alternatively, you can apply the skills you gained in your Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) to a variety of roles in human-centred fields including:
- Education
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Human Services
- Healthcare
^Please note, students must be enrolled into a Higher degree pathway or 5+1 pathway course before applying for provisional registration.
What you will study
The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) online consists of eight units.
- Foundations of Client-Centred Psychological Practice
Learn core interpersonal communication, interviewing and counselling skills for use in a range of professional contexts.
- Applications of Psychological Assessment
Learn about psychometric theory and the principles of the construction, implementation, and interpretation of some of the most widely used standardised test instruments.
- Applications of Psychological Interventions
Learn the principles and underlying theories related to a range of contemporary evidence-based psychological interventions strategies.
- Applied Psychological Practice
Gain skills in analysing applied psychological problems and applying basic psychological assessment and intervention strategies.
- Qualitative Research Skills and Applications
Learn about theoretical frameworks and methodologies and practical skills for designing, conducting and analysing qualitative research in psychology.
- Evidence Based Practice in Psychology
Learn advanced skills for designing, analysing and critiquing research in psychology.
- Applied Psychological Research Design
Work under supervision to develop a proposal for a research project.
- Communicating Research in Psychology
Work under supervision to collect and analyse data to explore one or more research questions related to an area of enquiry in psychology.
Entry criteria
Entry criteria
- Cyber Security
- Networking Technologies
- Scripting Languages
Course admission requirements
To gain entry to the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) online, applicants must have:
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An APAC accredited 3-year Bachelor’s degree with a Major in Psychology and a course Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% or above*; OR
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An APAC accredited Graduate Diploma in Psychology and a course WAM of 65% or above.
* If your course WAM is below 70%, you may be assessed with a WAM of 65% or above in your APAC accredited psychology units within the Bachelor's degree. To find out if you're eligible, speak with our Student Enrolment Advisor today.
What you will study
You will study four of the following units.
What you will study
You will study four of the following units.
Student support
Not only will you be supported by our academic staff with feedback and answers to your academic questions, but you will also receive dedicated one-on-one support for all non-academic queries from your Student Success Advisor. They are available via phone or email to provide motivation and guidance, supporting you while you achieve your study goals.
Assessment
Assessments vary from unit to unit. Please check with your Course Coordinator or Student Success Advisor about each unit's assessment requirements. Assessments may include case studies, reviews, reports, portfolios, applied projects and presentations. We do not hold exams for 100% online programs.
Fees and FEE-HELP
The cost of our Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is $31,040* for all eight units.
To assist with some or all of your tuition fees, FEE-HELP is available for eligible students. This government-supported loan scheme is designed to help eligible full-fee paying students pay their postgraduate tuition fees.
To find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP, you can contact one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 707 760.
*2025 student fees are shown and are subject to change.
The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) will expand your understanding of psychological science and develop your pre-professional skills. It will prepare you to enrol in a Higher Degree or 5+1 pathway course and apply for provisional registration as a psychologist.
Yes, ECU offers three postgraduate psychology programs which can be completed 100% online. These are the Graduate Certificate of Psychology, Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced).
After successfully completing your Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced), and enroling in a Higher degree or 5+1 pathway course, you will fulfil the education requirements you need to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. You will then be able to follow the 5+1 pathway to gain general registration as a psychologist. You can find more information on the APAC website.
Training to become a registered psychologist requires (the equivalent of) 6 years of full time study and supervised practice. The first step in the pathway is an APAC-accredited three-year undergraduate sequence, or a postgraduate bridging program like our Graduate Diploma of Psychology. Upon completion, you can complete a fourth year program like the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced). Upon successfully completing your fourth year program, you can enrol into a Higher degree or 5+1 pathway course and apply for provisional registration. As a provisionally registered psychologist you need to complete either the Higher degree or 5+1 pathway, including supervised practice in the workplace, in order to gain general registration as a psychologist. Learn more about how to become a psychologist on our blog.
If you do not have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for the Graduate Certificate of Psychology if you have at least five years of relevant work experience. Upon successfully completing your graduate certificate, you can use that as a pathway into the Graduate Diploma of Psychology. Upon successfully completing your graduate diploma, you can apply for the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced).
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and relates to understanding the behaviour of individuals and groups in societies. It can be applied in many different areas, not just mental health. Psychologists are trained in diagnosis and assessment of mental health issues. To become a registered psychologist, you will require at least six years of study and will need to fulfil APAC’s professional and education requirements.
Counselling takes a more person-centred approach. Counsellors help people identify and effectively respond to emotional challenges. Counsellors do not need specific qualifications, however to gain accreditation with the Australian Counselling Association, you are required to have a relevant qualification.
Learn more about the difference between counselling and psychology on our blog.
Our Graduate Diploma of Psychology is a bridging qualification that is the first step towards becoming a registered psychologist. It is designed for students who have not studied psychology before and is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology. It will build your foundational understanding of psychological science.
Our Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is the next step towards becoming a registered psychologist. It is designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology or a postgraduate bridging program. It will expand your understanding of psychological science and build your pre-professional skills.
Yes, ECU's Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is APAC accredited.
