Psychology

Bachelor of Psychological Science

  • Domestic
  • International
  • Duration

    3 years full-time or part-time equiv.
  • Start Dates

    February and July
  • Location

    North Terrace Campus

About Degree

Uncover our inner workings  

Are you fascinated by the human mind? Do you wonder what motivates our behaviour?

Psychological science investigates the way people think, behave, feel and learn. It studies processes of the human mind— including personality, intelligence and memory—so that we can better understand ourselves. Study at South Australia's #1 university for Psychology*.

What will you do?

Our Bachelor of Psychological Science nurtures creativity, analysis and communication skills. You will:

  • learn about human development and the biological bases of behaviour
  • investigate the mechanics of perception and learning
  • explore the nature of motivation and emotion
  • gain experience with psychological tests
  • develop skills for counselling
  • choose between over 35 majors and electives from related disciplines
  • design and undertake meaningful research projects.

Where could it take you?

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, or in market research and advertising. Perhaps you’ll go on to further study in the field and become a qualified psychologist.

Graduate entry

A graduate entry pathway is available. Learn more.


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.


Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    Admissions information

    SATAC Code394001, 3BG003
    2022 CSP ATAR65.45
    2022 CSP IB24
    Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR80
    Guaranteed Entry Score - IB29
    DefermentYes - 2 year
    IntakeFebruary and July
    Selection Criteria
    Recent Secondary EducationApplicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors).

    Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Higher Education StudyYou must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of APSB, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA.

    Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.




    Graduate entry pathway - A completed AQF Level 7 Bachelors degree or equivalent (or higher) that does not include psychology or does not include psychology beyond Level I with the exception of a completed degree that includes the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited Psychology sequence that was awarded 10 or more years ago.
    Pre-requisite: Psychology 1A and Psychology 1B or equivalent (minimum pass grade). Applicants who do not have the prerequisite psychology studies or whose level 1 psychology was completed more than ten years ago must attend an intensive bridging course, Introductory Psychology. Applicants who require the Introductory Psychology course should apply for either Summer Semester or Trimester 2 depending on their preferred start in either Semester 1 or 2.
    Vocational Education and Training (VET) studyYou must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award.

    Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Work and life experienceTo be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2023. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2023 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2022 or 2021), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2021). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components.

    Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Other Entry Pathways


    2022 Admissions Data for school leavers
    ATAR
    (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
    Lowest ATAR to receive an offer55.65
    Median ATAR to receive an offer83.2
    Highest ATAR to receive an offer97.5
    Selection Rank
    (ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
    Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer65.45
    Median Selection Rank to receive an offer87.65
    Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer99.95
    Minimum eligibility score65
    Additional criteria consideredSelection rank only
    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    5824.5%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study83.4%
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    93.8%
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    14259.9%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/AN/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    114.6%
    International students93.8%
    All students237100.0%


    International applicants

    CRICOS060177M
    IntakeFebruary and July
    Selection Criteria
    English Language Requirements

    Australian Year 12Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject
    English Tests accepted by the University of APSB
    IELTSOverall 6.5Reading 6Listening 6Speaking 6Writing 6





    TOEFLOverall 79Reading 13Listening 13Speaking 18Writing 21





    PearsonOverall 58Reading 50Listening 50Speaking 50Writing 50





    C1 AdvancedOverall 176Reading 169Listening 169Speaking 169Writing 169





    Qualifications that meet minimum English requirementsA range of alternative qualifications may meet the University’s minimum English requirements
    Academic Entry Requirements

    Detailed information on international qualifications assessment

    Secondary School QualificationsAustralia – Selection Rank (International)75
    International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma26
    Canada – OSSD Ontario Secondary School Diploma70%
    Canada – British Columbia Certificate of Graduation70%
    Canada – Alberta High School Diploma78%
    China – Gaokao65%
    Germany – Abitur3.40
    GCE A Levels8
    Hong Kong – HKDSE18
    India – ISC & CBSE70%
    India - Indian State Board Examinations80%
    Indonesia – SMA380%
    Kenya – Certificate of Secondary EducationB+
    Kuwait – General School Secondary Certificate74%
    Malaysia – STPM or Matrikulasi2.78
    Malaysia – UEC20
    South Korea – CSAT and High School Diploma320
    Sri Lanka – GCE A Levels9
    Taiwan – GSAT and High School Diploma68%
    Thailand – Certificate of Secondary Education3.4
    USA – SAT1130
    USA – Advanced Placement (AP)7
    Vietnam – Upper Secondary School8.00
    The University of APSB College Foundation Program74%
    Eynesbury Foundation Program360
    ANU College Foundation Studies66%
    Monash College Foundation Year MUFY70%
    Trinity College Foundation Studies Program (The University of Melbourne)72%
    UNSW Foundation Year7.00
    UQ College Foundation Studies Program4.20
    Taylors College – The University of Sydney Foundation Program (USFP)6.70
    UWA College Foundation Program (WAUFP)57%
    Non–Go8 Foundation Score74%
    Other QualificationsStudents who don't meet the academic requirements or who have other qualifications from the South Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Philippines or Taiwan may be eligible to apply for a Pre-University Pathway to prepare for or gain entry into the University's undergraduate academic programs. For additional information see Pathway Programs
    Tertiary QualificationsGraduate entry pathway

    A completed AQF Level 7 Bachelors degree or equivalent (or higher) with the exception of a completed degree that includes the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited Psychology sequence that was awarded 10 or less years ago.

    *Please note: Psychology 1A/1B or equivalent are course (subject) pre-requisites for the Psychology sequence courses. Unless credit is granted for prior study, we recommend prospective students apply for summer or trimester 2 and once admitted enrol into PSYCHOL 1100 Introductory Psychology.
    How to Apply
    Application information for international students
    Important application deadlines for international students

    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    5824.5%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study83.4%
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    93.8%
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    14259.9%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/AN/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    114.6%
    International students93.8%
    All students237100.0%


Fees and Scholarships

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees
    Commonwealth-supported place: $8,980

    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

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


    International applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees (24 units)International student place: $43,000

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

    More information on International Student tuition fees.

    Scholarships

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


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

Graduates from the Bachelor of Psychological Science work across a range of jobs and sectors, in addition to the option of engaging in further study to hold a career as a Psychologist. Graduates from this degree can look in areas such as research assistants, recruitment agencies, government agencies such as Centerlink, rehabilitation agencies, marketing companies, human resources or any type of area that can utilise skills in data analysis, critical thinking, report writing, time management, communication and presentation.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science leads to a variety of careers, some of which will require further study.


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.

The University of APSB 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 APSB 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 program has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. Graduates who have completed this program will be eligible to apply for an honours year, followed by a two-year postgraduate qualification. This sequence of study will lead to professional registration as a psychologist.

Potential careers

Mental Health Worker, Animal Behaviourist, Ministerial Adviser, Parliamentary Member, Development Officer, Project Officer, Welfare Officer, Marketer / Marketing Manager, Human Resource Manager, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Clinical Psychologist, Community Psychologist, Organisational Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Educational & Developmental Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, Sports & Exercise Psychologist, Health Psychologist, Medical Research, Careers Counsellor, Political Adviser, ...


Degree Structure

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a flexible degree with a variety of elective courses available. Students can choose their courses based on general interest or to broaden their major.

In the first year, students are able to choose four elective courses from areas such as arts, health and medical sciences, sciences, computer science and commerce, alongside the four core psychology courses.

At the beginning of second year, students either select a second major or continue to choose from a wide variety of electives alongside five core psychology courses.

In the third year, students complete four core psychology courses, including a compulsory research methodology course. The other four courses can be selected from psychology courses or electives. For students who chose to undertake a second major, the electives in third year will consist of second major courses.

The main objective of the degree is to provide students with a thorough education in the scientific discipline of psychology, while also introducing students to the application of the discipline. Since psychology is an evidence-based discipline, students will also have an opportunity to find out about the range of methodologies employed to collect and analyse data.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science enables students to graduate with a psychology specialty and a second specialty chosen from more than 35 available topics.

On completion of this degree, students are eligible to apply for an honours year in psychology at the University of APSB as well as other universities around the country that offer honours programs accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. It should be noted that an honours year in psychology is required to gain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

To become a registered psychologist, students need to complete a 2-year Masters program. At the University of APSB we offer three areas of specialisation; Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Health) and Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors).

Academic Program Rules

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

Areas of Specialisation

Students have the option of completing a second major in the Bachelor of Psychological Science. Along with their core psychology courses students can choose from one of the following areas:

  • Addiction Science
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Australian Studies
  • Classics
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Digital Humanities
  • English
  • French Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Genetics
  • Geography, Environment and Population
  • German Studies
  • History
  • Human Neuroscience
  • Indigenous Knowledges and Society
  • International Development
  • Italian Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Population Health
  • Spanish Studies
Find out more about these majors here

Example Study Plan

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Psychological Science, the student must satisfactorily complete a program of study consisting of core Psychology courses.

A second major, as specified in the Bachelor of Psychological Science Academic Program Rules, is optional and not a compulsory requirement for this degree. Students choosing a second major must also complete electives to the value of 15 units, with a combined total of not less than 72 units. 

Students choosing not to complete a second major must complete electives up to the value of 39 units with a combined total of not less than 72 units. Students have the option of completing all six Level 3 core psychology cores.

Indicative study plan
Year 1         S1PSYCHOL 1000 
Psychology IA
PSYCHOL 1005 
Research Methods in Psychology (BPsychSc)
Open Elective Level IOpen Elective Level I
S2PSYCHOL 1001 
Psychology IB
PSYCHOL 1006 
Psychology Skills & Applications
Open Elective Level IOpen Elective Level I
Year 2S1PSYCHOL 2004 
Doing Research in Psychology
PSYCHOL 2006 
Foundations of Perception & Cognition
**PSYCHOL 2008 
Big Picture Psychology: Global Challenges, Psychological Perspectives
Open Elective Level II
S2PSYCHOL 2007 
Psychology in Society
PSYCHOL 2005 
Foundations of Health & Lifespan
Open Elective Level IIOpen Elective Level II
Year 3S1Two from the following three
PSYCHOL 3022  Individual Differences, Personality & Assess
PSYCHOL 3027  Psychology, Science & Society
PSYCHOL 3026  Learning & Behaviour
Open Elective Level IIIOpen Elective Level III
S2PSYCHOL 3020  Doing Research in Psych: Advanced (compulsory)
One from the following two
PSYCHOL 3021  Health & Lifespan Developmental Psych
PSYCHOL 3023  Perception & Cognition
Open Elective Level IIIOpen Elective Level III

*Choose three from the five core psychology courses offered at level 3.
** This course can be done in either semester 1 or 2


Concurrent degrees

Students are able to study a second degree concurrently with their Bachelor of Psychological Science degree. This will take four years. Credit will be granted towards both degrees for Level 1 and 2 courses. Students will need to complete a full load at Level 3 for both the Bachelor of Psychological Science and for the concurrent degree.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on a combination of oral presentations, practical assignments, tutorial participation and written examinations. Both face-to-face and online methodologies will be used.


RECOGNITION AND AFFILIATIONS

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