Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology: Although preference will be given to Macquarie undergraduates, places are reserved for applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree at another university. Information about the entry requirements through UAC to the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology can be found at: http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/grad_dip_advanced_psych.htm

Honours: Applications from students who have completed their degree elsewhere will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (e.g. re-location to Sydney or a desire to work in an area not well supported at the student's home university) and such applications will only be successful where grades are high enough and there has been sufficient breadth of study of psychology. Information about the entry requirements to Honours can be found at: http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/c_4year.htm#what

Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology: The main difference between the two programs is how the Research Project or thesis (40 pages) is supervised. Diploma students work on their Research Project in a group of up to four students with a supervisor. The group works together in the initial stage of data collection and during later stages of the project e.g. data analysis and writing up, students work individually on their thesis. In addition to the thesis, there are three compulsory units plus two electives. An Orientation Session and a 'Meet Your Supervisor' lunch are held during the month of February and students are requested to consider this when planning their candidature.

Honours: Honours students work individually on their thesis (40 pages) in consultation with their supervisor. In addition to the thesis there are two compulsory units plus two electives. A Welcome and Information session is held in early December where students will meet their supervisors.

Yes, future options or pathways to registration will differ in terms of which 4th year program you successfully complete.

Full Australian Psychological Society accreditation (http://www.psychology.org.au/) requires an APAC accredited 4th year plus a 5th and 6th year Masters degree or alternative pathway to registration.

To practice as a psychologist, you need an APAC accredited 4th year and then you have a choice of completing either a 2 year Masters Degree or a 2 year program which may be a combination of supervised placement and training modules to meet the competencies required for registration.

Both Honours and Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology graduates can pursue either of the above options.

To meet APAC accreditation requirements, the following Masters degrees are available at Macquarie:

• Master of Clinical Psychology http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/c_mclin.htm
• Master of Clinical Neuropsychology - http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/c_mclinn.htm
• Master of Organisational Psychology http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/c_morgp.htm

Honours students are eligible to apply for all of the above Masters degrees, whereas high achieving Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology graduates are eligible to apply for the Masters of Organisational Psychology.

Note however, that other Australian Universities admit high achieving Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology graduates into their Master degrees.

Alternatively, to become registered as a Psychologist the following pathways are also available at Macquarie: - Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Psychology - http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/courses.htm
Note that this does not currently lead to full membership of the APS.

There are other pathways to registration, including supervised placement, and you can check out the Psychology Board of Australia's website http://www.ahpra.gov.au/ for the latest changes to pathways to registration, effective as from July 2010.

The entry criteria to the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology is primarily based on academic merit, and all applications are ranked accordingly and there is a quota in place. If you have relevant work experience in a psychology related field you may list it on the UAC application form. There is also provision for work experience and exceptional circumstances on the Personal Supplementary Information Form http://www.postgrad.mq.edu.au/forms.html which you also complete as part of the application process.

Research topics tend to loosely fall into the current research areas of the available supervisory staff. However the process differs for Honours and the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology as follows:

• For Honours, you are asked to list three different areas/topics on your supplementary form. You may consult a list of research projects at: http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/list_research_projects.htm which have been nominated by the staff as potential areas for Honours projects. Considerable effort will be made to accommodate your preferences.
• For the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology you may consult a list of research areas and staff at http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/research.php. Prior to the commencement of first semester you will be forwarded a descriptive list of the available research topics and asked to complete a preference form listing your five preferences. An effort will be made to accommodate your choices, however students are encouraged to consider the process of research as being the primary and significant goal of the Research Project.

Honours: part-time study is available only to applicants who can provide satisfactory reasons. Check details at: http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/courses/c_4year.htm#what

Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology: Yes. The course can be undertaken part time over 18 months or 2 years.

Honours: Yes, for one year only. It is necessary to complete an application the following year, even though your place is reserved for you.

Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology: It is not possible to defer your place but you may re-apply the following year.