Course

Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies

Approved Abbreviation: GradDipPsySt

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1630.1

AQF Level: 8

CRICOS Code: 056926B

For all enquiries, students should contact the Course Advisor for the Bankstown campus - Dr Helen Correia.

Psychology is the field of inquiry that uses scientific techniques and methods to understand and explain behaviour and experience. As a profession, it involves the application of psychological knowledge to practical problems in human behaviour. Units in the program are drawn from the following topic areas of psychology: history of psychology, biological psychology, learning, social psychology, lifespan development, sensation and perception, individual differences, personality and cognitive processes.

The Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies is accredited by the Australian Psychologists Accreditation Council (APAC) and the Psychology Board of Australia as an undergraduate three year sequence in Psychology. The Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies prepares graduates for an accredited fourth year in Psychology; it does not comprise such a fourth year.

Study Mode
One and a half years full-time or three years part-time.

Advanced standing

All applicants will have the equivalent of a three year Bachelor's degree in the AQF framework and for specified credit for any psychology units. Advanced standing will only be given for psychology units from APAC accredited awards under the university's specified credit rules. The maximum specified credit for the award will be 60 credit points. At least 50% (60 credit points) of the required credit points for the award must be achieved through formal study at UWS.

Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as an undergraduate three year sequence in Psychology.

Admission

Applications from Australian and NZ citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof can be found on the Universities Admissions Centre website (UAC).

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

The Head of Program will assesses prior psychology-related studies and then specify a program of variable length for the award.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 120 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Bankstown Campus

Year 1

Autumn session

101184

Psychology: Human Behaviour

100013

Experimental Design and Analysis

100020

Social and Developmental Psychology

And one psychology pool unit