Program Overview

Graduate Diploma in Forensic Mental Health

The Graduate Diploma in Forensic Mental Health offers comprehensive training in forensic mental health, covering the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal, civil, child, and family forensic mental health sub-specialties.

Overview

There is a rapidly growing need for a skilled workforce in forensic mental health in NSW. The program aims to provide specialized levels of expertise in the clinical and legal aspects of Law and Forensic Mental Health to an emerging skilled multidisciplinary workforce. It draws upon the existing body of leading expertise in law, medicine, and nursing, and the rich clinical resources of the Justice Health Long Bay Matraville complex, which includes the high-secure Forensic Hospital.

Key Features

• Multidisciplinary field: Your study will build on the mental health disciplines of psychiatry, medicine, nursing, law, criminology, psychology, occupational therapy, and social work. Lectures are delivered by experts in the field, practicing forensic clinicians, legal practitioners, and other experts.
• Designed for mental health professionals: The program is designed for mental health professionals, including medical practitioners, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. Its also open to members of the legal, policing, and correctional professions.
• Flexible delivery: This program is taught entirely online, through video lectures, forums, and activities. The flexible delivery allows you to balance your study with other commitments.
• Connected learning experience: Peer contributions throughout this program provide an enhanced learning experience that reflects real-world practice. Youll have the opportunity to build a network of professional contacts with specialized knowledge in their respective areas of expertise.

Why Study at UNSW?

• Leverage our industry connections: The program is proud to have an active role in transforming mental health work in correctional facilities across NSW. Were also working toward tailoring the program to increase its interstate and international engagement through our global partners.
• Study with the School of Psychiatry: UNSW's Medicine & Health faculty is ranked #54 globally for life sciences and medicine (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and is creating the leaders of tomorrow. This program is delivered by UNSWs School of Psychiatry, which is widely reputed as the pre-eminent psychiatric research department in the country.

Program Details

• Program Code: 5512
• Campus: Kensington
• Total Units of Credit (UOC): 36
• Commencing Terms: Term 1 & 3
• Duration: 1.5 Years
• Delivery Mode: Online

Entry Requirements

Entry into this program requires an undergraduate degree in health (medicine, nursing, and other allied health), law, psychology, or criminology AND:

• Honours or postgraduate qualification in health, law, psychology, criminology OR
• At least two years full-time professional or volunteer experience in health, law, psychology, or criminology

English Language Requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW, depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments, and examinations.

What Will I Study?

The program structure includes a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with specialized expertise in forensic mental health.

Future Careers

With a rapidly growing need for a skilled workforce in forensic mental health both in Australia and internationally, this degree opens career opportunities in a variety of settings, including:

• Departments of corrections
• Departments of community services
• Fire brigades
• Police forces
• Judiciary and legal agencies
• Departments of the Attorney General
• Juvenile justice service
• District mental health services
• Private practice in the areas of health, law, and criminology

Fees & Scholarships

• Commonwealth Supported Place: 2026 Indicative CSP First Year Fee: $10,000, 2026 Indicative CSP Fee to Complete Degree: $10,000
• Full Fee: 2026 Indicative First Year Full Fee: $30,000, 2026 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree: $31,000
• Scholarships: At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life.