Graduate Diploma in Psychology Online: Australian Accredited
This page lists all 15 Australian providers offering an online Graduate Diploma in Psychology that is APAC-accredited.
If you already hold a degree in another field and want to pivot into psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (or the equivalent “Psychological Science” grad dip) is the standard graduate-entry pathway.
Fifteen providers deliver this accredited program online in Australia, including 13 universities, a college, and an institute. Each program is built to meet Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) requirements, which means the subject coverage is largely prescribed and electives are limited or absent.
Accredited Online Providers
Table 1 is the quick provider list. While the location (state) is listed, the degrees are fully online in general and do not require in-person attendance.
Table 1. Providers and degree titles (online)
| # | Provider | Degree title (online) | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide University | Graduate Diploma in Psychology (100% online) | SA |
| 2 | Edith Cowan University | Graduate Diploma of Psychology | WA |
| 3 | James Cook University | Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) | QLD |
| 4 | Monash University | Graduate Diploma in Psychology | VIC |
| 5 | UNSW Sydney | Graduate Diploma in Psychology | NSW |
| 6 | University of Technology Sydney | Graduate Diploma in Psychology | NSW |
| 7 | Australian Catholic University | Graduate Diploma in Psychology | VIC |
| 8 | RMIT University | Online Graduate Diploma in Psychology | VIC |
| 9 | Swinburne University of Technology | Graduate Diploma of Psychology | VIC |
| 10 | ACAP University College | Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science | NSW |
| 11 | Charles Sturt University | Graduate Diploma of Psychology | NSW |
| 12 | Cairnmillar Institute | Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science | VIC |
| 13 | Deakin University | Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science | VIC |
| 14 | University of New England | Graduate Diploma in Psychology | NSW |
| 15 | University of Newcastle | Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science | NSW |
Source: Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited program register. Programs identified using the APAC “Search for an accredited psychology program” tool with filters applied for Level 1, Online, and Graduate Diploma. Listings were cross-checked against provider course pages for delivery mode and structure.
Program characteristics
Table 2 shows how many study periods run per year and what a normal pace looks like for online students. This is the practical difference between providers. Most programs cover very similar subject areas due to accreditation constraints.
Table 2. Calendar model and normal completion pattern
| # | Provider | Subjects | Study periods per year |
Study pattern (normal) |
Completion time (standard) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide University | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 1.7 years (PT) |
| 2 | Edith Cowan University | 8 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 16 months (PT) |
| 3 | James Cook University | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 20 months (PT) |
| 4 | Monash University | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 1.7 years (PT) |
| 5 | UNSW Online | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 20 months (PT) |
| 6 | UTS Online | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 20 months (PT) |
| 7 | ACU Online | 10 | 4 | 2 subjects per term | 1.25 years (FT) |
| 8 | RMIT Online | 10 | 4 | 2–3 subjects per term | 2 years (PT) |
| 9 | Swinburne Online | 10 | 6 | 1 subject each study period | 20 months (PT) |
| 10 | ACAP University College | 9 | 3 | 3 subjects per trimester | 1 year (FT) |
| 11 | Charles Sturt University | 8 | 2 | 2 subjects per semester | 2 years (PT) |
| 12 | Cairnmillar Institute | 8 | 2 | 4 subjects per semester | 1 year (FT) |
| 13 | Deakin University | 10 | 3 | 4 subjects per trimester | 1 year (FT) |
| 14 | UNE | 10 | 3 | 1 subject per trimester | 3–5 years (PT) |
| 15 | University of Newcastle | 8 | 2 | 4 subjects per semester | 1 year (FT) |
PT = part-time. FT = full-time. Source: University course pages and official program handbooks.
The “six study periods per year” model tends to suit people who prefer a one-subject-at-a-time rhythm. These programs also typically offer six entry points per year, which makes them easier to start year-round. Semester and trimester models often group multiple subjects at once, which can feel more like a traditional uni timetable even when delivered online.
What This Qualification Is
These graduate diplomas are designed for people who already have an undergraduate degree in another field and want an accredited psychology sequence without completing a full three-year bachelor degree from scratch. They are typically described as the foundational sequence (often called “Level 1”) and are broadly equivalent to the psychology major sequence within an undergraduate psychology degree.
The next step is a different qualification. A Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) (or an honours-equivalent fourth year) is commonly described as “Level 2” and is closer to the academic requirements for psychology registration pathways. This page only covers the foundational graduate diplomas.
Because programs are built to meet accreditation requirements, subject coverage is tightly constrained. Most programs have zero or minimal electives. Differences you see in subject titles usually reflect branding and sequencing, not a fundamentally different curriculum.
Accreditation Status
All programs listed on this page are APAC-accredited at the time of publishing. Some may be described as “accredited with conditions” rather than “accredited without conditions.” This distinction reflects APAC’s assessment and monitoring process, not a difference in graduate outcomes. A program is accredited with conditions when it meets most standards and any remaining requirements are expected to be satisfied within a specified timeframe.
APAC states that students who graduate from a program that is accredited at the time of graduation are considered to have completed an APAC-accredited program, regardless of whether conditions applied earlier in the accreditation cycle. For transparency, APAC publishes accreditation summary reports for each provider following assessment or re-accreditation, typically on a five-year cycle. You can review these directly via the APAC accreditation reports.
Provider Profiles
The university, college and institute profiles below give a little more detail on subject composition and sequencing. The overall structures are quite uniform due to accreditation, so you should not read too much into the descriptions.
Adelaide University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time only, typically one subject per study period across a six-period year. The curriculum covers core psychology foundations, cognition, lifespan development, social psychology, assessment, and research methods, aligned to APAC Level 1 requirements.
Course page
Edith Cowan University
Subjects: 8
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per study period across a six-period year. ECU uses a compact eight-subject structure covering psychological science, development, social behaviour, neuroscience, and both correlational and experimental research methods.
Course page
James Cook University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per study period across six study periods per year. The course follows a standard APAC-aligned sequence with some distinctive applied and environmental psychology content.
Course page
Monash University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per six-week teaching period across six periods per year. The curriculum is tightly structured and sequential, moving from foundations through intermediate to advanced psychological science and research skills.
Course page
UNSW Sydney
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per study period across six periods per year. UNSW’s structure emphasises behavioural neuroscience, cognition, lifespan development, abnormal psychology, and progressively advanced research methods.
Course page
University of Technology Sydney
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per study period across a six-period year. UTS follows a conventional APAC Level 1 structure with strong emphasis on applied psychology, assessment, ethics, and research design.
Course page
Australian Catholic University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: accelerated full-time option with two subjects per term across four terms per year. The curriculum closely mirrors a traditional undergraduate psychology major delivered in an online format.
Course page
RMIT University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, typically two to three subjects per term across four teaching periods per year. RMIT’s course blends standard psychological science coverage with counselling, assessment, and applied practice themes.
Course page
Swinburne University of Technology
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, one subject per study period across six periods per year. The curriculum follows a classic psychology sequence including cognition, development, personality, mental health, and a capstone-style project unit.
Course page
ACAP University College
Subjects: 9
Study pattern: full-time, three subjects per trimester across a three-trimester year. ACAP uses a slightly shorter subject count while still covering the full APAC Level 1 content scope.
Course page
Charles Sturt University
Subjects: 8
Study pattern: part-time, two subjects per semester across two semesters per year. The course is structured like a traditional academic year and mirrors on-campus sequencing in an online format.
Course page
Cairnmillar Institute
Subjects: 8
Study pattern: full-time option with four subjects per semester across two semesters. The program is tightly focused on core psychological science and research preparation for honours-level study.
Course page
Deakin University
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: full-time, four subjects per trimester across three trimesters per year. Deakin’s structure reflects an accelerated undergraduate-equivalent psychology major delivered online.
Course page
University of New England
Subjects: 10
Study pattern: part-time, typically one subject per trimester across three trimesters per year. UNE follows a traditional distance-education model with clearly staged progression through psychology subfields and research methods.
Course page
University of Newcastle
Subjects: 8
Study pattern: full-time, four subjects per semester across two semesters. The online offering closely reflects the on-campus course structure adapted for distance delivery.
Course page
Methodology and Limitations
This page is compiled from publicly available provider course pages and APAC guidance. For comparison purposes, “subjects” are treated as the practical unit of study (for example, 8, 9, or 10 subjects).
The calendar model is described by how many study periods the provider runs per year (for example, 2 semesters, 3 trimesters, 4 terms, or 6 study periods). Providers may change calendars and published study plans from year to year, so always confirm details on the provider course page before enrolling.
