Graduate Certificate in Psychology (Online) Australian Universities
This page identifies the 7 Australian universities and other providers offering an online Graduate Certificate in Psychology (or closely titled equivalent). Eligibility is limited to where the certificate is connected to an APAC-accredited Level 1 online Graduate Diploma in Psychology / Psychological Science.
Important note: Graduate certificates may be accredited at the university level, but they are not APAC-accredited as standalone awards. APAC accreditation applies to the full Level 1 sequence (here, the Graduate Diploma).
Online Providers
Table 1 is the quick provider list. Some certificates are direct-entry, while others are exit-only (meaning you enroll in the graduate diploma and can exit with the certificate after completing the required subjects).
Table 1. Providers and graduate certificate titles (online)
| # | Provider | Award title | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide University | Graduate Certificate in Psychology | SA |
| 2 | Edith Cowan University | Graduate Certificate of Psychology | WA |
| 3 | James Cook University | Graduate Certificate of Psychology | QLD |
| 4 | UTS Online | Graduate Certificate in Psychology | NSW |
| 5 | ACAP University College | Graduate Certificate of Psychological Science | NSW |
| 6 | Cairnmillar Institute | Graduate Certificate of Psychological Science | VIC |
| 7 | Swinburne Online | Graduate Certificate of Psychology | VIC |
Source and scope: Providers were identified via the APAC register (Level 1 + Online + Graduate Diploma) and then cross-checked for any mention of a graduate certificate on provider course pages and/or handbooks. APAC accredited program register.
How the Graduate Certificates Differ
Across providers, the practical differences are usually straightforward.
- Subject model: a fixed set of named subjects versus selecting from a broader list.
- Study pattern: accelerated study periods (often multiple start dates) versus semester or trimester structures.
- Award type: direct-entry certificate versus an exit award linked to the graduate diploma.
Table 2. Quick comparison of certificate structure
| # | Provider | Subjects for cert | How chosen | Study periods per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide University | 5 courses | 2 named + choose 3 from list | 6 |
| 2 | ECU Online | 4 units | Choose any 4 from 8 | 6 |
| 3 | JCU Online | 4 subjects | Choose any 4 from 10 | 6 |
| 4 | UTS Online | 4 subjects | 2 named + any 2 additional | 6 |
| 5 | ACAP | 4 units | Fixed set (4 named units) | 3 |
| 6 | Cairnmillar | 4 units | Fixed set (4 named units) | 2 |
| 7 | Swinburne Online | 4 units | 3 core + choose 1 of 2 | 3 |
What This Qualification Is
A Graduate Certificate in Psychology is a short postgraduate award that typically represents four psychology subjects (or the provider’s equivalent credit). On its own, it is not the standard “Level 1” psychology sequence. In practice, these certificates appear as a nested or exit component of an accredited online Graduate Diploma in Psychology / Psychological Science.
For comparison purposes, the decision usually comes down to two things. First, whether you want a fixed set of subjects or the ability to choose from a list. Second, whether the provider’s study calendar matches how you prefer to work, either one subject at a time in shorter blocks or a more traditional semester or trimester pattern.
Provider Profiles and Subject Lists
Adelaide University
How it’s offered: exit award only. The Adelaide Calendar states the Graduate Certificate is only available to students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Psychology. See the certificate rules here: Graduate Certificate in Psychology [Online] (Calendar). The online graduate diploma course page is here: Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Online).
What you complete: 5 subjects total: 2 foundation courses plus 3 courses selected from the core list.
- Foundation (required): Foundations of Psychology; Research Methods, Design and Analysis.
- Core (choose 3): Developmental Psychology; Psychological Health & Wellbeing; Applying Research Methods in Psychology; Culture and Context; Social Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Individual Differences and Assessment; Learning and Behaviour.
Edith Cowan University (ECU Online)
Course link: Graduate Certificate of Psychology Online (ECU Online).
Study pattern: ECU states you study one unit at a time over a seven-week Study Period, with six Study Periods per year and six start points across the year.
What you complete: ECU states the certificate consists of any four of the following units.
- Psychological Science of Wellbeing
- Psychological Development and Diversity in Childhood
- Psychological Development and Diversity in Adulthood
- Psychological Science of Human Social Behaviour
- Psychological Science of Human Information Processing
- Neuroscience and Human Behaviour
- Correlational Research Design and Analysis
- Experimental Research Design and Analysis
James Cook University (JCU Online)
Course link: Graduate Certificate of Psychology (JCU Online).
What you complete: The certificate is a four-subject award and you can choose from any of the units offered in the Graduate Diploma of Psychology.
- Social Psychology
- Individual Differences in Personality
- The Psychology of Health, Wellbeing and Resilience
- Human Development Across the Lifespan
- Psychological Disorders and Interventions
- Learning, Memory Cognition and Language
- Neuroscience and the Biological Bases of Behaviour
- Environmental Psychology and Sustainable Futures
- Principles of Counselling
- Research and Statistics for Psychology
UTS Online
Where the certificate is documented: UTS Online presents the graduate certificate as an exit award within the graduate diploma page rather than a standalone certificate page. Course page: Graduate Diploma in Psychology (UTS Online).
How eligibility is defined: UTS states that students who complete Introduction to Psychology Foundations, Introduction to Psychological Science, and any two additional subjects are eligible to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Psychology.
Subject pool (from the graduate diploma page):
- Introduction to Psychology Foundations
- Introduction to Psychological Science
- Brain and Behaviour
- Psychological Disorders and Interventions
- Development Across the Lifespan
- Research Methods and Theory in Psychology
- Research Design and Analysis in Psychology
- Psychological Assessment, Ethics and Professional Skills
- Society, Psychological Health and Wellbeing
- Cognitive Psychology
ACAP University College
Course link: Graduate Certificate of Psychological Science (ACAP).
What you complete: ACAP presents the graduate certificate as a set of four core units (as listed on the course page).
- Professions and Society (MULT1035)
- Psychology: History, Science and Application (PSYC5162)
- Psychology: History, Science and Application 2 (PSYC5172)
- Research Methods and Statistics for Psychological Science (PSYC5252)
Cairnmillar Institute
Course link: Graduate Certificate of Psychological Science (Cairnmillar).
What you complete: Cairnmillar presents the certificate as four units drawn from the program’s early-sequence units, with a commonly presented first-semester set for full-time study.
- Cognitive Psychology
- Research Methods and Statistics
- Lifespan Development
- Social Psychology
Swinburne Online
Certificate handbook link: Graduate Certificate of Psychology (Course handbook). Graduate diploma link: Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Swinburne Online).
Study pattern: The handbook lists Teaching Period 1, Teaching Period 2, and Teaching Period 3.
What you complete: Three core units plus one choice between Developmental Psychology or Social Psychology.
- Core: Brain and Behaviour (PSY70011)
- Core: Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY70012)
- Core: Introductory Research Methods and Statistics (PSY70020)
- Choose 1: Social Psychology (PSY70013) or Developmental Psychology (PSY70015)
Methodology and limitations
This page is compiled from publicly available APAC register listings plus provider course pages and handbooks. The inclusion rule is strict: a provider must (1) deliver an APAC-accredited Level 1 online graduate diploma and (2) have a graduate certificate mentioned in public materials.
Providers can update unit names, availability, and calendars over time. If you are enrolling based on a specific subject set, always confirm the current structure on the provider’s course page, handbook, or downloadable course guide before you commit.
