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.