Our rankings
We're ranked 28th globally for psychology by the 2022 QS University Rankings by Subject.
Our graduates are ranked 1st in Australia and 4th globally for employability by the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely during 2022 if they are unable to undertake face-to-face study. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
There are several ways you can study Psychology at the University of Sydney. For more information on the various ways you can study Psychology, please visit the Faculty of Science website.
For graduates brand new to psychology, the Graduate Diploma in Psychology opens the doors to the discipline. Whether you want to gain registration as a practising professional or continue on to higher studies beyond, this postgraduate course will get you started on the path to becoming a psychologist.
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (GDP) is open to anybody holding a bachelor’s degree. Even if you have never studied psychology, the GDP lets you complete the psychology program, which then opens the doors to many other pathways in the discipline.
The GDP has been fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and is recognised as the equivalent of a three-year major in psychology (referred to as the psychology program), so you can apply to do a fourth year in Psychology (Honours) after undertaking the required units of study.
After the Honours year, you have what it takes to get provisional registration as a professional psychologist in Australia, and you can choose to access a range of higher degrees such as the Master of Clinical Psychology; or Master of Clinical Psychology and PhD.
Currently not available
Apply online by clicking 'Apply' on the right hand side of this page. Please note that you are required to submit evidence (eg. academic transcript and unit/subject descriptions) of completion of Psychology 1001 and 1002 or equivalent with your application. You will need to scan, upload and attach your supporting documentation to your online application. You will be able to save your application and finish completing it at a later date. Applications are made directly to the University and assessed by the Faculty of Science.
Applying for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
There is no separate application required to apply for a CSP. Once you apply for admission, if you are successful in securing a CSP, you will receive notification via an offer of admission.
A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is not guaranteed as there are a limited number of CSPs available for postgraduate courses. The number of available CSPs for a course can change each semester/year. CSPs are also not automatically awarded for course transfers and upgrades.
CSPs are awarded for the duration of a course based on academic merit determined by the University and eligibility criteria specified by the Australian Government. Learn more about CSPs. If you do not qualify for a CSP you may be offered a domestic fee-paying place.
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year
Late applications may be considered subject to availability of places. We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
The GDP is comprised of 60 credit points in total:
Part-time study plan - commencing in semester 2, 2020
Pre-GDP |
Study load |
||
Semester 2 or January intensive |
PSYC1002 |
Part-time |
|
Semester 1 |
PSYC1001 |
Part-time |
|
Year 1 |
Study load |
||
Semester 2 |
PSYC2016 |
PSYC2017 |
Part-time |
Semester 1 |
PSYC2012 |
PSYC2X15 |
Part-time |
Year 2 |
Study load |
||
Semester 2 |
PSYC3010 |
PSYC3XXX |
Part-time |
| Semester 1 | PSYC3XXX | PSYC3XXX | Part-time |
Year 3 |
Study load | ||
| Semester 2 | PSYC4XXX | PSYC39XX | Part-time |
Fastest progression study plan - commencing in semester 2, 2020
Pre-GDP |
Study load |
||||
Semester 2 |
PSYC1002 |
Part-time |
|||
January intensive |
PSYC1001 |
Part-time |
|||
Year 1 |
Study load |
||||
Semester 1 |
PSYC2012 |
PSYC2X15 |
Part-time |
||
Semester 2 |
PSYC2016 |
PSYC2017 |
PSYC3010 |
PSYC3XXX |
Full-time |
Year 2 |
Study load |
||||
Semester 1 |
PSYC3XXX |
PSYC3XXX |
PSYC4XXX |
PSYC39XX |
Full-time |
Variations on this example study plan are possible, subject to Unit of Study prerequisites.
Please note this course is not available to international students.
For admission to this course:
You are required to submit evidence (e.g. academic transcript and unit/subject descriptions unit of study outlines) of successful completion of Psychology 1001 and 1002 or equivalent with your application.
If you have not yet completed Psychology 1001 or 1002, you can apply to undertake these units through Science Undergraduate Non-Degree Study at the University of Sydney in the regular semester or in the January Intensive.
Credit for previous study
You can apply for up to 30 credit points of credit (five Psychology units of study) if you have already completed units of study that the faculty deems equivalent to those to be undertaken in the GDP. You must have completed these units of study within an APAC accredited degree program within the last 10 years. Equivalent study at an international university may be acceptable. If you are seeking credit, you should complete the relevant online credit application form at the same time as your admission application.
Pathway to Psychology Honours
On successful completion of the GDP, graduates may be eligible to apply for entry to a fourth year of honours study in psychology through the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours).
If you plan to use your study of psychology to become professionally qualified, the Graduate Diploma in Psychology fully meets accreditation requirements of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as an undergraduate major sequence of study in psychology. The GDP provides a pathway to a fourth year of study in psychology and for meeting the requirements for provisional registration as a psychologist in Australia.
Full registration as a professional psychologist in Australia is overseen by the Psychology Board of Australia and also requires a fifth and sixth year of graduate study in professional psychology; or one year of graduate study in professional psychology plus one year of a Board approved internship; or two years of a Board approved internship.
Fifth and sixth year programs offered by the University of Sydney:
There are other opportunities in psychology research via a PhD or other postgraduate courses, for example in coaching psychology (after work experience).
For more information about higher program studies in psychology at the University of Sydney visit the school’s website.
