Degree details

The Master of Suicidology provides an extension to the existing Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies currently offered by the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP).

This program is designed to produce graduates who are knowledgeable and skilled in the identification of a range of concerns regarding suicidal behaviours and their planned management at various levels (including research, public policy, and primary, secondary and tertiary prevention). Students will explore the historical and sociological development of the complexities of suicide. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to compare different management methods and identify the advantages and disadvantages of each theoretical approach to treatment and management of suicidal behaviour and its prevention. This includes examining the factors that influence the development and assessment of suicidal behaviours and the ways in which current intervention and prevention strategies deal with these factors.

This program does not aim to educate and train students to be clinicians (in the assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviour) but emphasises the importance of scientific and research-based enquiry and investigation at all levels of suicide prevention and intervention.

Finally, this program offers two pathways of educational outcomes for students including a final study year focused on either research (dissertation) or coursework (elective courses of relevance to the domain of suicide research and prevention).

This program will benefit individuals currently employed in or interested in gaining employment in this specialty field including health, mental health, education, law enforcement, emergency work, clergy, social, community and youth service sectors.

This program will equip policy makers in public health, sociology and other health and human service domains with specific suicide research and prevention knowledge applicable to local, state, national and international level strategic planning.

Additionally, this program provides a pathway to higher degree research qualifications (for example, PhD in Suicidology) and a career in the academic context for those students who complete the dissertation component.

Higher education

Entry to the Master of Suicidology program requires students to hold:

  • a Bachelor degree in a related field such as medical, social or behavioural science, psychological sciences, social work, community welfare, human services, public health, nursing, education, criminology, anthropology, law
  • OR a Bachelor Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma qualification in a different discipline area
  • OR a Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies (from Griffith University) with a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher (successful applicants will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing and will be required to complete 80 credit points in the program).

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

  • A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
  • OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
  • OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
  • OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning which may relate to prior formal learning or prior informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

Students with a Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies (from Griffith University) with a GPA of 5.0 or higher will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing towards the Master of Suicidology.

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Suicidology (MSuicidology), a student must acquire 120 credit points as prescribed below:

  • Standard pathway
    • gain 80 credit points for the prescribed coursework and
    • gain 10 credit points for 7007HSV Independent Study 1 and
    • gain 30 credit points from the listed electives.
  • Dissertation pathway
    • gain 80 credit points for the prescribed coursework and
    • gain 40 credit points for the dissertation.