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A conversation with Dr Lidija Krebs-Lazendic, Academic Program Director, Graduate Diploma in Psychology at UNSW Online
What accreditation doesn't tell you about your psychology degree
When you're comparing psychology programs, accreditation looks like the great equaliser. Every Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited program meets the same national standards. Every one opens the same pathway. So, if the outcomes look identical on paper, how do you choose?
Dr Lidija Krebs-Lazendic, Academic Program Director of the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Level 1) at UNSW Online, has a clear answer. "Accreditation sets the baseline," she says. "What we aim to provide at UNSW goes well beyond that baseline."
UNSW is a global top 20 university^, a Group of Eight research-intensive institution and a recognised leader in psychology education*. That research culture doesn't stay in the lab. It shapes every aspect of how the graduate diploma is designed and delivered.
For the Graduate Diploma in Psychology at UNSW Online, the difference is a research-led education that builds more than a qualification. It builds the ability to think, question and lead, setting you apart in whatever comes next.
The program is built as a whole, not assembled in parts
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology at UNSW Online is a carefully structured sequence of ten courses, not a collection of subjects placed side by side. Skills build systematically, assessments are scaffolded and each stage prepares students for the next.
For career changers, this design matters enormously. Many students arrive from teaching, nursing, HR, law or communications, stepping into a new discipline often after years away from study. A program that anticipates that transition and builds confidence alongside knowledge makes a real difference.
"It is a carefully structured program with coherent progression across all ten courses," says Dr Krebs-Lazendic.
The journey doesn't stop here either. Completing the graduate diploma creates a clear pathway into the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) and ultimately, the Master of Psychology, all within UNSW's globally recognised psychology portfolio.
You're taught by people actively advancing the field
The academics who teach the graduate diploma at UNSW Online aren't simply delivering a syllabus. They are active researchers: publishing, contributing to psychological science and engaging in national and international conversations in their fields.
"I love watching students discover what psychology really is," says Dr Krebs-Lazendic. "Many students begin the program thinking psychology is primarily about clinical practice or therapy. It is incredibly rewarding to see that moment when they realise that psychology is a scientific discipline, grounded in research, data, theory and experimentation, and that it spans far beyond clinical work."
"We don't just teach content," she adds. "We teach students how to think like psychologists."
UNSW's School of Psychology spans cognitive science, neuroscience, social psychology, perception, health and experimental research. Even at Level 1, students encounter psychology as a broad, scientifically grounded discipline taught by people at the forefront of it. The curriculum is informed by current evidence and contemporary methods, not just textbooks.
Online study doesn't mean learning alone
One of the biggest concerns for prospective students is whether studying online will feel isolating. It's a fair concern, but it's one the program is designed to change.
Every course has a dedicated convenor who runs structured weekly tutorials. These aren't optional extras. They are carefully designed spaces for students to ask questions, work through complex material and build genuine connections with peers and staff. Convenors stay in regular contact between sessions too.
Students notice. According to Dr Krebs-Lazendic, one of the things past students mention most is that they didn't expect to feel such a strong sense of belonging studying fully online. Many arrive questioning whether they belong in psychology at all. By the end, the question of whether they belong has quietly answered itself. What replaces it is confidence, capability and a clearer sense of where they're headed.
"I see my role not just as delivering content, but as helping students find the right path for themselves," she says. "That means creating space for exploration, encouraging curiosity and being honest about the demands and opportunities within the discipline. It is a privilege to lead a program that opens doors. Watching students gain confidence, think scientifically and begin to imagine themselves as part of the field of psychology is, without question, the most rewarding part of the role."
Your previous career is an asset, not a liability
Coming from a different field can feel like starting from scratch. Dr Krebs-Lazendic sees it differently.
"One of the strengths of coming from a different background is that you bring perspective," she says. "Skills from other careers – whether in communication, analysis, leadership or working with people – often translate in valuable ways. Psychology benefits from diverse life experiences."
What you take with you
The results speak for themselves: UNSW is Australia's number one university for postgraduate median salaries shortly after graduation.^^ It's a tangible return on a meaningful investment.
"I hope students leave the program with the ability to think like psychologists," says Dr Krebs-Lazendic. "That means being able to evaluate evidence critically, understand how research is designed, interpret data with care and distinguish between opinion and scientifically supported conclusions."
Some discover a passion for research, some become fascinated by cognition or perception and others are drawn to social, developmental, organisational or health psychology. Level 1 is often the point where those interests begin to take shape.
"Psychology is a demanding but deeply rewarding field," says Dr Krebs-Lazendic. "If you are curious about how people think, learn and behave, and you are willing to engage seriously with the science behind it, you will find it both challenging and transformative."
The graduate diploma opens new doors. It also strengthens the ones students are already standing in front of.
Accreditation sets the floor. UNSW Online is what raises the ceiling. The Graduate Diploma in Psychology is where that version of you begins. Explore the Graduate Diploma in Psychology at UNSW Online today.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026
^QS World University Rankings, 2024-2026
^^QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023
Dr Lidija Krebs-Lazendic is the Academic Program Director of the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Level 1) at UNSW Online. A researcher in educational psychology and cognitive science, she founded and leads the Educational Psychology Experimental Research Group at UNSW and has presented her work at international conferences and academic forums.