Emotional Mastery
Learn advanced tools for managing challenging thoughts, emotions, and situations.
Sustainable Habits
Build systems and routines that support long-term happiness and mental fitness.
Deeper Insight
Discover the advanced science behind change, motivation, and human flourishing.
What Our Graduates Are Saying
See how the Diploma of Happiness Studies helped these graduates build a more advanced and comprehensive toolkit for their personal growth & wellbeing.
BU Happiness College has been crucial to my personal development and wellbeing, cannot recommend them enough!
Vet
I have truly loved every second of my time with BU! I could not recommend this amazing, knowledgeable, genuine and selfless team enough! There are no words to describe how thankful I am.
Speech Pathologist
About the Diploma of Happiness Studies
The Diploma of Happiness Studies is a deeper, more immersive exploration into the psychology of human flourishing. Over 12 weeks, you’ll move from awareness into mastery as you learn how the brain works, how habits form, and how to build emotional resilience and mental fitness that last. You’ll gain powerful, research-backed tools for navigating stress, cultivating self-compassion, improving relationships, and designing a meaningful life. This course is ideal for people who are ready not just to understand happiness, but to embody it. It’s a transformative next step for anyone wanting a practical, structured pathway toward long-term wellbeing, confidence, and self-leadership.
Live the Science
Move past passive video watching. Every week pairs neuroscience and positive psychology with practical workbooks, guided journaling, and real-world implementation challenges to build your daily toolkit.
Advanced Emotional Agility
Skip toxic positivity and rigid routines. Learn evidence-based frameworks for emotional regulation, cognitive reappraisal, active listening, and adaptive resilience when life gets messy.
Systems Built for Real Life
Focus on sustainable habits over short-term motivation. Design your environment, budget your time and energy, align your career, and build identity-based routines that stick for the long haul.
Meet Your Instructor: Declan Edwards
Declan Edwards is a happiness researcher, coach, published author, and the founder of BU Happiness College. He holds a Bachelor of Health Science and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (graduated with distinction), and his insights into the skills and science of happiness are sought after internationally. Since 2017 Declan has been teaching people globally how to build the skills needed for a happier, more fulfilling life. He also guest lectures in Positive Psychology at CQ University and Bond University, bringing both academic insight and real-world experience to his teaching. His work combines evidence-based practice with warm, practical coaching that helps people create meaningful and lasting change.
Happiness Expert & Educator
Teaching applied positive psychology and wellbeing science across leading higher-education institutions and organisations.
Trusted by the Media
Sharing practical insights on mindset and happiness science across international podcasts, radio, and publications.
Global Impact
Reaching thousands of members across 6+ countries through keynote speaking, published books, and online training.
Ready to Strengthen Your Happiness Skills?
Go beyond the fundamentals and expand your toolkit for living a happy, thriving, and fulfilling life.
$550.00
Curriculum
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Diploma Journey; From Understanding the Science of Happiness to Embodying It
-
(Included in full purchase)
Diploma of Happiness Studies Workbook
-
(Included in full purchase)
Diploma Roadmap
-
(Included in full purchase)
Meet Your Coach
-
(Included in full purchase)
Introduce Yourself
-
(Included in full purchase)
What to Expect in Your Diploma Journey
-
(Included in full purchase)
Guided Reflection: How Far You've Come Already
-
(Included in full purchase)
Write Your Letter to Yourself
-
(Included in full purchase)
Recommended Additional Reading List
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Positive Psychology 2.0
-
(Included in full purchase)
Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Wellbeing
-
(Included in full purchase)
Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Wellbeing Chart
-
(Included in full purchase)
Self Determination Theory
-
(Included in full purchase)
The 3 Pillars of Being the Author of Your Life
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Upward Spiral: How Positive Emotions Expand Your Mind and Build Your Future
-
(Included in full purchase)
Discussion Forum Prompt: Evolving Your Happiness Philosophy
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 1 Assessment: Positive Psychology 2.0 & Holistic Wellbeing
-
(Included in full purchase)
Assignment: Week 1 Implementation Challenge - Living the Frameworks
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Neuroplasticity and Training Your Brain
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Happy Four: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Happy 4 Neurochemicals
-
(Included in full purchase)
Guided Practice & Discussion Prompt: 7 Evidence-Based Neurohacks for Your Brain
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Default Setting of Your Mind
-
(Included in full purchase)
Reticular Activating System (RAS) and Attention Design
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 2 Assessment: The Neuroscience of Happiness
-
(Included in full purchase)
Week 2 Implementation Challenge
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Beyond Basics
-
(Included in full purchase)
Emotional Responsibility
-
(Included in full purchase)
Reappraisal vs Acceptance
-
(Included in full purchase)
Trigger --> Choice Mapping
-
(Included in full purchase)
Personal Regulation Menu
-
(Included in full purchase)
Emotional Intelligence in Action: Putting Wisdom into Your Own Words
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 3 Assessment: Advanced Emotional Intelligence and Regulation
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Revisiting Your Character Strengths
-
(Included in full purchase)
Strengths Overuse and Underuse
-
(Included in full purchase)
Over and Under Utilising Your Strengths
-
(Included in full purchase)
Celebrating Your Signature Strengths
-
(Included in full purchase)
Challenge Based Productivity
-
(Included in full purchase)
Cultivating Flow
-
(Included in full purchase)
Flow Zone Models
-
(Included in full purchase)
Flow Diary Challenge
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 4 Assessment: Strengths & Flow 2.0
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Ikigai and Self Concordant Goals
-
(Included in full purchase)
Chart Your Ikigai
-
(Included in full purchase)
Mortality as a Life Compass
-
(Included in full purchase)
Your Life Chart
-
(Included in full purchase)
Activity: Writing Your Own Obituary
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 5 Assessment: Purpose, Meaning & Mortality
-
(Included in full purchase)
Assignment: Crafting Your Life Purpose Philosophy & Alignment Bucket List
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Identity Based Habits
-
(Included in full purchase)
Morning and Evening Routines
-
(Included in full purchase)
Designing Your Ideal Morning & Evening Routines
-
(Included in full purchase)
Defining Your Identity Habits
-
(Included in full purchase)
Environment Design Audit: Shaping the Spaces That Shape You
-
(Included in full purchase)
The VTA Philosophy: How to Make Habits Stick
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 6 Assessment: Habits, Routines & Discipline
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Halfway Checkpoint
-
(Included in full purchase)
Mid-Course Checkpoint Quiz
-
(Included in full purchase)
Mid-Course Checkpoint: Your Key Takeaways
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Loneliness & Belonging Science
-
(Included in full purchase)
Active Constructive Responding
-
(Included in full purchase)
Active Constructive Responding Chart
-
(Included in full purchase)
Connection in Action: Discussion & Reflection
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 7 Assessment: Relationships & Connection
-
(Included in full purchase)
Implementation Challenge: Nurturing Your Inner Circle
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
The Ripple Effect of Kindness
-
(Included in full purchase)
Forgiveness & Letting Go of Resentment
-
(Included in full purchase)
Taking Perspectives
-
(Included in full purchase)
4 Person Perspective Building
-
(Included in full purchase)
Reflection: Compassion, Forgiveness & The Ripple Effect
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 8 Assessment: Compassion, Forgiveness & Altruism
-
(Included in full purchase)
Implementation Challenge: The 5 Acts of Kindness Project
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Resilience as Adaptability
-
(Included in full purchase)
Post Traumatic Growth
-
(Included in full purchase)
PTSD and PTG Map
-
(Included in full purchase)
Winner's Mindset
-
(Included in full purchase)
Stacking Your Evidence: The Post-Traumatic Growth Audit
-
(Included in full purchase)
Discussion Forum Prompt: Mindset, Growth & Resilience
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 9 Assessment: Resilience & Post Traumatic Growth
-
(Included in full purchase)
Assignment: The Stress Inoculation & Misogi Challenge (Intentionally Doing Hard Things)
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Job Crafting: Strengths, Values, Roles
-
(Included in full purchase)
Traffic Light Analysis
-
(Included in full purchase)
Aligning Your Career
-
(Included in full purchase)
What Makes Work Meaningful to You?
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 10 Assessment: Happiness in Career & Work
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
The 3 Resources for a Happier Life
-
(Included in full purchase)
Resource Budgeting
-
(Included in full purchase)
Die with Zero
-
(Included in full purchase)
How to Buy Happiness
-
(Included in full purchase)
Your Happiness Purchase Plan
-
(Included in full purchase)
Module 11 Quiz: Resource Management for Happiness
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Happiness as a Lifelong Practice
-
(Included in full purchase)
Course Skills & Actions Checklist
-
(Included in full purchase)
Build Your Updated Happiness Toolkit
-
(Included in full purchase)
Community Celebration: Thank You & Course Wrap-Up
-
(Included in full purchase)
Diploma of Happiness Studies: Final Graduation Exam
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
-
(Included in full purchase)
Congratulations on Completing the Diploma of Happiness Studies!
-
(Included in full purchase)
How You Can Spread the Ripple Effect
-
(Included in full purchase)
Become a Happiness Ambassador
-
(Included in full purchase)
Share Your Story: Testimonial and Review
-
(Included in full purchase)
Continue Your Learning: The Executive Diploma
-
(Included in full purchase)
Continue Your Learning: The Happiness Blueprint
-
(Included in full purchase)
Continue Your Learning: Personal Happiness Coaching
-
(Included in full purchase)
What you'll learn
Graduates & Growth-Seekers (Certificate Baseline Recommended)
For those who have completed the Certificate of Happiness Studies—or have a solid grounding in self-development—and are ready to move from understanding the science to actively living it every day.
Curious Learners Wanting Advanced Depth
You’ve been exploring wellbeing science for a while, but you’re ready for advanced techniques and a comprehensive system. You want to see the science play out in how you regulate your emotions, show up day-to-day, and perform at your best.
Impact-Driven Individuals
You want to master the principles of happiness science not just for yourself, but to create a ripple effect around you—elevating how you shape your career, connect in your relationships, and show up for your family.
Your Pathway to Further Happiness Science Studies
The Diploma of Happiness Studies is BU Happiness College’s Level 2 program—a comprehensive 12-week deep dive designed for those who want to integrate happiness science directly into their daily performance, relationships, and life structure. Recommended Prerequisite: Complete Your Level 1 Foundation First Because the Diploma builds directly upon the concepts, language, and core frameworks introduced in our Level 1 curriculum, we strongly advise completing the Certificate of Happiness Studies before enrolling in the Diploma. Building your foundational baseline first ensures you get the absolute maximum value out of these advanced techniques. Future University RPL Potential While this program is built for practical, real-world application with zero academic stress, BU Happiness College is in active discussions with university partners to establish Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathways. Completing your Level 2 Diploma builds a substantial record of advanced study should you choose to pursue formal tertiary qualifications in positive psychology or wellbeing science down the track.
Your Enrolment Creates 20 Days of Education for a Child in Need
Your learning has a ripple effect far beyond your own life. With every enrolment in the Diploma of Happiness Studies, BU Happiness College funds 20 days of education access for a child in need through our global impact partner, B1G1. This contribution aligns with our mission to grow global happiness by empowering individuals and communities through knowledge, wellbeing, and opportunity. When you invest in your happiness, you’re also investing in the next generation.
Got questions before taking the next step? We’ve got the answers.
1. Do I need to complete the Certificate of Happiness Studies first? While not strictly enforced at checkout, we strongly advise completing the Level 1 Certificate first. The Diploma is an advanced Level 2 program that builds directly on foundational positive psychology concepts. Starting with the Certificate ensures you get the absolute maximum value out of this 12-week curriculum. 2. How much time do I need to commit each week? Plan for approximately 60 to 90 minutes per week to watch the video lessons, review the workbooks, and complete your practical weekly implementation challenges. Because you receive lifetime access, there are no rigid deadlines—you can pause or adjust your pace whenever life gets busy. 3. Are there exams, essays, or compulsory live classes? Because the Diploma is an advanced course focused on active practice rather than passive learning, each week includes short multiple-choice knowledge quizzes, reflection activities, and practical implementation assignments. These are designed to help you integrate the tools directly into your daily life without any high-pressure academic stress or compulsory live classes. 4. What happens immediately after I enrol? You get instant access to your student portal inside Thinkific, including your pre-course coursework on-ramp, digital roadmap, and course workbook. You can dive into Week 1 right away on your phone, tablet, or desktop 5. What does "Lifetime Access" mean? Once you enrol, you retain access to all 12 weekly modules, downloadable workbooks, guided journaling tools, and all future curriculum updates indefinitely. Revisit the framework whenever you need a refresh down the road. 6. What is the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee? We stand fully behind the science and practical depth of this program. If you complete the course, engage with the implementation assignments, and don't feel it was genuinely beneficial for your personal growth, happiness, and daily performance, simply reach out to our team for a full refund. Zero risk, no hard feelings.
Deepen Your Growth
Instant Entry • Lifetime Access • 100% Self-Paced
$550.00