Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) (GDA-PSYCH) // Entry and participation requirements

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Entry requirements

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • an undergraduate degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited major in Psychology with a weighted average of at least 70% (H2B) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent, within the last 10 years. In computing the weighted average, the average of the third year Psychology subjects is assigned twice the weight of the average of the second year Psychology subjects.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Notes

For applicants with results from the University of Melbourne for subjects undertaken in Semester 1, Winter Term and/or Semester 2, 2020, the following will apply:

  • A Psychology Benchmark will be established based on all psychology subjects completed any time other than Semester 1, Winter Term and Semester 2, 2020.
  • Subjects undertaken in Semester 1, Winter Term and/or Semester 2, 2020, for which results are lower than the Psychology Benchmark will be excluded from the entry score calculation.

The above changes do not apply to yearlong subjects undertaken in 2020; such results will be included in the entry score calculation.

In the case that applying this rule results in no eligible Level 2 and Level 3 marks for inclusion, then the Psychology Benchmark will be used as the entry score.

For external applicants, the benchmark will not apply and we will use numerical scores for all available level 2 and level 3 psychology subjects in the selection formula.

Pass/fail grades will be excluded from the selection formula.

In the case that excluding pass/fail subjects from the selection formula leaves either the Level 2 or Level 3 terms in the formula empty, the entry score will be the non-empty term (i.e., average of eligible Level 2 subjects if no Level 3 marks are eligible for inclusion; average of eligible Level 3 subjects if no Level 2 marks are eligible for inclusion).

For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusion of results based on the Psychology Benchmark does not apply to any study periods other than those listed above.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the Department's programs.

Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

The inherent academic requirements for study in Psychology are:

  • The ability to comprehend complex disciplinary and interdisciplinary information related to the courses taught in the Faculty.
  • The ability to clearly and independently communicate a knowledge and application of behavioural and social sciences principles and practices during assessment tasks.
  • The ability to actively and safely contribute to laboratory-based learning activities.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from participating in tasks involving these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Student Equity and Disability Support.

Last updated: 27 February 2025