Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care

Course Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 3 years part-time
AQF and Course Codes
  • Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma (AQF 8)
  • CRICOS: (N/A)
Tuition Fees
AU$20,304
at 2026 fees
Next Intake
February, July
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Course Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care provides students with the opportunity and skills for reflective and critical engagement in the conversation between the texts of human experience, contemporary culture, ministry or service or wider societal context, and Christian scriptures and tradition. The purpose of this engagement is to encourage the development of relevant, flexible strategies for effective pastoral mission and practice in partnership with all those who seek to serve the world through individual or systemic practice. 

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care:

  1. have knowledge of sources, terms and concepts required for theological engagement and articulate the nature of practical theology as a method of biblical and theological inquiry;
  2. apply  their own experience and practice (personal or professional) to social and behavioural sciences and / or cultural studies and offer an integration of these with the Christian tradition;
  3. have skills to explore issues of Christian identity, personal vocation and self-understanding through the methods and practices of theological reflection and dialogical engagement with their ministry and mission context;
  4. apply advanced pastoral helping skills with a developed capacity to engage in the processes of theological reflection.

Course Structure

The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care consists of 144 points.

Course Structure Points

Program 1
Postgraduate foundational units in the discipline of Biblical Studies 24
Postgraduate foundational units in the discipline of Systematic Theology 24
Postgraduate foundational units in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies 24
Further postgraduate units in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies 72

Program 2
Postgraduate foundational units in the disciplines of Biblical Studies or Systematic Theology 24
Postgraduate foundational units in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies 24
Postgraduate units in the discipline of Clinical Pastoral Education 96

One of: 

  • An undergraduate degree
  • Graduate Certificate from the University of Divinity.

Probationary admission is not available.

The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care requires the completion of 144 points (6 standard postgraduate units).

Fees for 2026 are $3,384 per standard unit or $20,304 for a full-time year (6 units).

Fees are subject to change from year to year. For more information about fees, please visit the Fees page.

Credit of up to 72 points may be granted towards this award.

Credit is granted in accordance with the Credit Policy.

Pathways to this course

This award may be used as an exit point for eligible students enrolled in a Masters degree who meet the admission requirements. 

Choose a Home College

Catholic Theological College

Pilgrim Theological College

St Barnabas College

St Francis College

Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

Whitley College

Yarra Theological Union

Study Modes

Courses can be delivered through a variety of modes, such as:

  • Face-to-face: This is the traditional mode of study where you attend your classes in person at a physical location.
  • Online: In this mode, teaching and learning activities are delivered online.
  • Mixed-modes: This combines both face-to-face and online units throughout your award.
  • Intensive: this involves completing a condensed amount of content over a shorter period of time. Intensives can be face-to-face or online.
  • Supervised Research: This involves independent research, which is supervised by one or more people with expertise in the field.

Course Duration

The standard full-time duration of the Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care is one year. The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care must be completed in not less than one year and not more than three years from the date on which the course is commenced.
Standard Minimum Maximum
1 year
1 year
3 years

AQF Level:

Regulation:

Regulation 11 Awards, Courses and Units

Course Code:

CRICOS Code:

N/A

The table gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students admitted into this course. It provides data on all students who commenced study in the most relevant recent intake period.

Student profile for Semester 1, 2024

Applicant Background Number of Students Percentage of Students
(A) Past Higher Education Study 3 100.00%
(B) Past Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study 0 0%
(C) Recent Secondary Education
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR 0 0%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered 0 0%
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor 0 0%
(D) Work and life experience 0 0%
International Students 0 0%
All Students 3 100.00%

You can compare other institutions with the University of Divinity to help inform your undergraduate study choices. ComparED is an initiative of the Australian Government. It’s powered by QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching) surveys that draw data from real life student experiences from commencement of study through to employment.

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, students will receive an invitation to graduate. This entitles the graduate to wear the approved Academic Dress at the graduation ceremony, and to use the approved postnominals after their name.

Academic Dress

Gown: Black Bachelor gown

Headwear: Black trencher

Hood: None

Postnominals

GDPSC

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