Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science is designed to provide the necessary basic knowledge and training to enable a range of professionals to work within forensic settings. The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to key principles and work practices in forensic fields, including an overview of relevant legal systems and procedures, and the fundamentals of violence risk assessment and management.

Check the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science course handbook

Get a copy of our course guide

Upgrade your skills

Apply specialised knowledge of core issues
Fundamentals of forensic practice
Knowledge of legal frameworks
Core practice skills in forensic behavioural science

Stretch your career further

Behaviour support officer
Employment consultant
Case worker
Forensic clinical specialist

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Professional accreditations

This course is offered through the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne, in collaboration with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare).

Why Swinburne?

Ranked top 250 in the world for the subject of psychology

Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 2023

83.5% of students found employment within 4 months of graduating

Ranked top 20% in Australia for 5-star PG Overall experience

Source

Qualifications

One of:
• A recognised 3 year Bachelor degree in any of the following fields (Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Youth Work, Child and Family Studies; or Policing);
OR
• Completion of a Bachelor degree in other relevant disciplines will be considered on a case by case basis
OR
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant work experience.

Applicants are also required to submit a 500 – 750 word statement demonstrating their suitability to the course.

A recognised three-year bachelor degree in any of the following fields:

Social Work
Psychology
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Youth Work
Child and Family Studies
Policing

Completion of Bachelor degrees in other relevant disciplines will be considered.

A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience. Applicants are also required to submit a 500 – 750 word statement demonstrating their suitability to the course.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

Work experience

Non-graduate special entry

A minimum of five years of relevant work experience*. Please provide a CV and detail your work experience in your 500-word statement of purpose.

Applicants who do not hold an appropriate qualification but who have relevant experience are selected on the basis of the applicant’s suitability for the program as determined by a face-to-face or telephone interview. Students are expected to be computer literate and to have internet access outside of Swinburne.

* Work experience
Documents substantiating work experience need to be provided on company letterhead and clearly detail roles as well as duties and duration of posts held.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about RPL

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing

Discover more (Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing)
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision

Discover more (Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision)
Graduate Certificate of Counselling

Discover more (Graduate Certificate of Counselling)

How credit points work

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science, students must complete 50 credit points comprising:

Core units

Elective unit

Graduate Certificate

Nested programs

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science forms the first stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:

Your units

Graduate certificate

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Core Skills in Forensic Practice Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80001
Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80002
Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80003
Mental Disorder and Offending Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80005
Working with Difficult Personalities in the Forensic Context Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80006
Substance Misuse and Offending Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80007
Trauma and Offending Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80009
Development, Developmental Disability and Offending Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80015
Problem Behaviours 1 Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80011
Working in Corrections and Youth Justice Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80013

Want to see the full range of electives?

Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.

View course handbook

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$18,680

Total fee* ($AUD)

$18,680

Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)

$8,496

Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)

$8,496

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$18,680.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

Two types of loans are available to assist with student study fees. Depending on eligibility, you’re able to apply for one of the loans outlined below.

FEE-HELP is a loan that’s available for full-fee paying higher education students. Depending on your eligibility, the Commonwealth Government can help pay all or part of your loan directly to Swinburne.
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme that’s available if you’re enrolled in a Commonwealth-supported place. Depending on eligibility, a HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Finances
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Learn more about FEE-HELP

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Learn more about SSAF

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

GC-FBS

Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!

Note: This course is available to off-shore international students who are studying in a country other than Australia; this course is not available to on-shore international students on a student visa.

Course code

GC-FBS

Apply directly

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

30-July-2025

04-August-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

04-August-2025

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Upgrade your skills

Stretch your career further

International student visa

Professional accreditations

Why Swinburne?

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Graduate Diploma of Forensic Behavioural Science

Master of Forensic Behavioural Science

Graduate certificate

Want to see the full range of electives?

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Total fee* ($AUD)

Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)

Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

SSAF fee* ($AUD)