CRICOS Code: 056926B

This program applies to students who commenced 2010 or later.

Commencement Year 2006 to 2009 - 1630.1 Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies

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. Subjects 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 of Psychological Studies is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a three-year sequence in Psychology. The Graduate Diploma of 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.

Program Advice

Program Advice 

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Bankstown Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Bankstown Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Part Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above

Accreditation

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

Admission

Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline (Non Psychology major or Psychology major older than 10 years).

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

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.

Advanced standing

All applicants will have the equivalent of a three year Bachelors' degree in the AQF framework and for specified credit for any psychology subjects. Advanced standing will only be given for psychology subjects 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 percent (60 credit points) of the required credit points for the award must be achieved through formal study at Western Sydney University.

Program Structure

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

Recommended Sequence

Subjects run concurrently on both Bankstown and Penrith Campus.

Full-time start-year intake

Subjects offered at Bankstown and Penrith Campus

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
BEHV 1018	Psychology: Human Behaviour	10
MATH 2006	Experimental Design and Analysis	10
BEHV 2002	Brain and Behaviour	10
BEHV 2010	Perception	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
BEHV 2005	Human Learning	10
BEHV 3014	Motivation and Emotion	10
BEHV 3023	Social Psychology	10
BEHV 3007	Cognitive Processes	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
BEHV 2018	Personality	10
BEHV 3004	Advanced Research Methods	10
BEHV 3009	Developmental Psychology	10
	Credit Points	30
Summer session
BEHV 3002	Abnormal Psychology	10
(Summer offering at Bankstown campus only. This subject is also available in Spring session at additional campuses)
	Credit Points	10
	Total Credit Points	120

Part-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
BEHV 1018	Psychology: Human Behaviour	10
BEHV 2010	Perception	10
	Credit Points	20
Spring session
BEHV 2005	Human Learning	10
BEHV 3014	Motivation and Emotion	10
	Credit Points	20
Year 2
Autumn session
MATH 2006	Experimental Design and Analysis	10
BEHV 2002	Brain and Behaviour	10
	Credit Points	20
Spring session
BEHV 3023	Social Psychology	10
BEHV 3007	Cognitive Processes	10
	Credit Points	20
Year 3
Summer session
BEHV 3002	Abnormal Psychology	10
(Summer offering at Bankstown campus only. This subject is also available in Spring session at additional campuses)
	Credit Points	10
Autumn session
BEHV 3004	Advanced Research Methods	10
BEHV 3009	Developmental Psychology	10
BEHV 2018	Personality	10
	Credit Points	30
	Total Credit Points	120

Equivalent Subjects

The equivalent subject listed below counts toward completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.

BEHV 3017 - Personality, replaced by BEHV 2018 Personality