Studying psychology at undergraduate level gives you entry to one of the fastest growing professions in the world. As it stands, employment prospects for psychology graduates are in the top 20% of all professions, and this is projected to rise to the top 1% in the next five to ten years. And it is not just the number of jobs available but the rich diversity of employment opportunities that make studying psychology so attractive. Our graduates work in mental and general health settings, the criminal justice system, business and industry, education, media, marketing, sports, and, of course, research. No matter how you look at it, an undergraduate qualification in psychology is a launch pad to an exciting and rewarding career.

The School of Psychology at Deakin is one of the largest and most progressive psychology departments in Australia. We are one of five Schools within the Faculty of Health, and have a strong presence in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool. At undergraduate level, almost a third of our students study online while they live and work in places as distant as Alaska, as remote as the North-West Kimberley, or as nearby as Footscray.

There are three things that really distinguish our teaching programs from others:

1. Relevance

First, we are very much focused on producing graduates who are ready and able to enter the workforce. Our undergraduate and postgraduate programs focus on providing the knowledge and skill-base that make our graduates highly valuable in the employment market. We also prepare our students so that they understand what employers require, how to present themselves to prospective employers, and how they can work over time to develop a fulfilling career.

2. Flexibility

We are leaders at both national and international levels in terms of providing flexible learning options for our students. Our entire undergraduate program is entirely available on the web, so that students can choose whether they want to study face-to-face or online (or mix both) depending on their personal preferences, learning styles, or life circumstances, such as working full-time or living interstate or overseas. Also, the Deakin trimester system means that our students can fast-track their degrees if they choose. You can complete your entire psychology degree in just two years, or you can space your study out over three trimesters in a year so you can be studying part-time all year round while you work or parent etc.

3. Study and career pathways

The School of Psychology at Deakin offers a range of postgraduate study and career options that is unparalleled in Australia. At postgraduate level, apart from the research degree options of PhD or Master by Research, students can undertake specialist professional training in Clinical, Health, Forensic, or Industrial/Organisational Psychology. For students who do not wish to become fully fledged psychologists but want to work in a profession that involves helping others, we also offer training in Counselling and Coaching Psychology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The quality of our programs is widely recognised. Our current and past students rate us very highly and many of our staff have received national recognition for their teaching performance in the form of Australian Learning and Teaching Council and other awards. All of our programs meet the relevant requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia and of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.

I encourage you to find out more about our School by clicking on either of the following links to find out more about our teaching programs, our research strengths, and more general information about the field of Psychology and career pathways. Please feel free to contact us if you require further information.

Thanks for your interest in our School. I look forward to welcoming you to Deakin University in the future.

Professor Greg Tooley, PhD
Head of School