Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)

  • N/A
    Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR
  • Duration

    1 year full-time
    (or part-time equiv.)
  • Start Dates

    February

  • Location

Turn high-achieving into a higher degree

Our Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychological Science offers the necessary foundation for postgraduate research and registration as a psychologist.

It is available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a major in psychology, a three year psychology degree from an accredited institution, or our Bachelor of Psychological Science.

What will you do?

  • Undertake a major research project chosen from an area of psychology.
  • Partner with an academic mentor who’ll support and encourage your academic progress.
  • Work alongside potential employers in the industry and benefit from extensive industry links.
  • Build advanced data analysis, team management, and research presentation skills.

Where could it take you?

Honours graduates can apply to further postgraduate studies in health psychology, clinical psychology, or organisational and human factors psychology. However, an honours degree will also give you a competitive edge in a wide variety of human-centred professions. You could become a social psychologist, doing large-scale research to change the way we go about our lives. You might work in community services with people of all ages and backgrounds. Perhaps you’ll move into market research and advertising.

For details on the application process, please see the Entry Requirements section below.



Note: 
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required.  If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.

  • Ranked top-125 globally for Psychology*
  • Strong career growth predicted (13% by 2026)^
  • Gain a competitive career edge

*Times Higher Education World Rankings by Subject, 2024.  
^Australian Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023.

Entry Requirements

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Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 3BH020
Deferment Yes - 2 year
Intake

February

Additional Entry Requirements

All domestic applicants must apply via SATAC (www.satac.edu.au). The details important information regarding the entry requirements for entry at the 成人大片. All applicants are advised to read the Guide. Failure to read this document will not be grounds for special consideration.

Humanitarian Entry Pathway: This degree has allocated a number for places for applicants who originally entered Australia on a Refugee/Humanitarian Visa. Further information regarding how to apply via the Humanitarian Entry Pathway is available in the Admissions Guide.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway: The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participate in its programs and makes effort to encourage Indigenous students to participate in health education. This degree has allocated a number of places just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process:

  1. Submit a South Australian Tertiary Admission Centre (SATAC) application online.
  2. Submit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Declaration Form. You must upload the form as part of your SATAC application.
Selection Criteria
Higher Education Study

Please note: applications for this program for 2025 entry will close via SATAC on Wednesday 16 October 2024.

Applicants must have a completed Australian Psychological Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited three year Psychology undergraduate degree (or equivalent such as an APAC accredited Graduate Diploma of Psychology) with an overall GPA of 5 or over. For information on accreditation, please see: 

Applicants who have an overseas qualification must supply a certified copy of the assessment of their qualifications by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Information on having your qualification assessed by APS can be found at: 

Applicants will be ranked for an offer based on academic performance of psychology courses taken at Level II and Level III. The formula used to calculate this weighted average score is as follows: Weighted Average = (Level II Psychology courses x 50% weighting) + (Level III Psychology courses x 50% weighting).

Entry to this degree is competitive and strict intake numbers apply.

Other Entry Pathways

Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,315

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

Scholarships are not only for high achievers鈥攖hey are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.

Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.

To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit:

To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships

Careers

Career Readiness

Psychology prepares graduates for a range of exciting careers that require superior problem-solving, critical thinking and understanding of human behaviour, such as:

  • human resource management
  • advertising and marketing
  • evaluation and applied research
  • mental health services
  • youth work
  • family and social services
  • public and private sector management
  • juvenile justice and corrective services
  • relationship counselling
  • residential care worker
  • private sector administration and management
  • correctional services
With further study, graduates can be employed in areas such as:

  • Clinical psychology—specialising in the assessment, treatment and prevention of a wide range of emotional and behavioural problems.
  • Health psychology—learning skills in illness prevention and treatment in public health settings.
  • Organisational psychology—applying knowledge of human behaviour to the enhancement of organisational effectiveness, productivity and individual wellbeing.
  • Clinical neuropsychology—specialising in the assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioural disorders associated with dysfunction of brain processes or head injury.
  • Counselling psychology—helping individuals, families and other groups with issues related to personal wellbeing, interpersonal relationships, work, recreation, health and crisis management.
  • Educational psychology—within schools.
  • Sport and exercise psychology—helping individuals and teams develop the skills needed to enhance performance and enjoyment when participating in physical activity.
  • Research/academic psychology—applying skills to the advancement and communication of knowledge relating to psychology.
  • Geropsychology—applying practical knowledge of primary prevention strategies, clinical intervention and rehabilitation for older people.
Registration as a psychologist
A minimum six-year sequence of education and training in psychology is required for an individual to become eligible for general registration as a psychologist in Australia. The six-year sequence at the 成人大片 begins with the three-year Bachelor of Psychological Science, then the one-year Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), and then with a two-year Master of Psychology or combined four-year PhD/ Master of Psychology. On successful completion of a Masters of Psychology degree, a graduate may apply to the Psychology Board of Australia and register as a psychologist.

The 成人大片 Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.
  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Professional Accreditation

This degree has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Graduates will be eligible to apply for a further two-year postgraduate qualification. This sequence of study will lead to registration as a psychologist.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Neuropsychologist;  Clinical Psychologist;  Organisational Psychologist;  Counselling Psychologist;  Educational & Developmental Psychologist;  Psychologist;  Sports & Exercise Psychologist;  Health Psychologist;  Mental Health Worker

Degree Structure

Honours can be completed full-time (1-year) or part-time (2 consecutive years). Students completing a full-time load need to complete 24 units from which 12 units will be the research component, 9 units will be 3 compulsory courses and 3-units will be from 1 of 2 elective choices.

Part-time enrolment is limited. Students who are accepted into a part-time load need to complete all the coursework in the first year and the research component in the second year.

Due to accreditation requirements, it is not possible to offer a combined honours degree in Psychology and another discipline. At best, a student may engage a co-supervisor from another discipline, however the research component must be clearly psychological in nature (and the internal supervisor from Psychology must of course agree to co-supervision with someone external to the School).




Academic Program Rules

The is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Example Study Plan

Core Courses
PSYCHOL 4301 Research Methodology & Statistics
PSYCHOL 4302 Interpersonal Communication & Interviewing
PSYCHOL 4313 Applied Psychological Interventions & Research

Electives
Contemporary Issues in Psychology 1
Contemporary Issues in Psychology 2

Research Dissertation
Students must complete either:
PSYCHOL 4300A Honours Thesis in Psychology Part 1
PSYCHOL 4300B Honours Thesis in Psychology Part 2

OR

Honours Psychology Research Project Part 1
Honours Psychology Research Project Part 2

Assessment

Assessment will be based on a combination of examinations, attendance at the compulsory Honours Research Seminar series, submission of a research proposal for independent evaluation, and the presentation of a thesis that reports a research project carried out under supervision.

Related Degrees

Testimonial

The degree has let me explore all of these facets of psychology I hadn't considered before. You really get to see the way psychology is integrated into the world more than you think.

Nicola Seal

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Tuesday, 17 Dec 2024