Program Outline

This three year program is designed for students who are seeking to undertake a comprehensive program of study in psychology and related areas of learning. This can lead to further post graduate study and registration as a psychologist. On completion of the BPsychSc students are eligible to apply for Honours at The University of Adelaide as well as other universities around the country that offer Honours programs accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). It should be noted that in order to gain partial registration with the Australian Psychology Society ( APS), students must undertake the fourth year Honours program.

Program Structure

The first year seeks to provide an overview of psychology as a discipline and as a profession. The psychology courses undertaken in later years enable students to study the biological bases of behaviour; sensory perception; cognition and language; learning and memory; motivation and emotion; social psychology; developmental psychology; personality and individual differences; and psychology and mental health. 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 relevant to these various topics. In addition to these courses in psychology, students will take elective courses in areas such as Humanities and Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Sciences, Economics, Commerce, and Mathematics and Computer Science. In the first year, three electives, other than Psychology, are undertaken per semester. In second year students undertake half of their studies through the School of Psychology, and half through elective courses of their choice. In third year students must undertake at least three quarters of their studies through the School of Psychology.

Related Programs

A major in Psychology in the following programs: BA, BCom, BEc, BHlthSc, BMath&CompSc, BSc and BSocSc.

Admission Information

Domestic applicants

Not a domestic applicant?

2009 CSP IB	25
SATAC Code	394001
2009 CSP TER	75.05
HESS group	General
Annual tuition fees	Commonwealth-supported place: $5,310
Mid-year entry?	Subject to availability
Enquiries	Student Centre

Selection Criteria

Year 12 applicants

You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER).

Alternative entry pathways

• Higher Education applicants
  You must have completed at least half a year full time equivalent university study. 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.
• VET applicants
  You must have completed an AQF Diploma or above. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award.
• Special Entry applicants
  You must be 18 years or over before February 1st of the year that you will be studying, you must not have studied more than 2 years full-time equivalent higher education in the last 2 years and you must not hold a completed higher education level award. 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. Personal Competencies (PC) and Employment Experience (EE) statements are not considered. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Scheme. See Wilto Yerlo for further information.
• Without formal qualifications?
  You may be eligible for our special access schemes.

How to Apply

SATAC Code: 394001

Apply through SATAC SATAC application dates Application and Admission

International applicants

Not an international applicant?

International TER	75
IB	26
IELTS Total	6.5 [more info]
Annual tuition fees	International student place: $24,150
Mid-year entry?	Yes
Enquiries	Student Centre

Selection Criteria

Equivalent Scores

International TER	75
IB	26
IELTS Total Reading Listening Speaking Writing	6.5 6 6 6 6

How to Apply

Application information for international students

Important application deadlines for international students

International applicants applying with Australian year 12 results

Not an international applicant applying with Australian year 12 results?

International TER	75
Annual tuition fees	International student place: $24,150
Mid-year entry?	Yes
Enquiries	Student Centre

Selection Criteria

Study Plans

The study plans given are examples of pathways through this degree. For a complete description, see the program rules.

 LEVEL I

• Psychology IA (3 units)
• Psychology IB (3 units)

Approved Level I Courses (18 units)

LEVEL II

• Doing Research in Psychology: Research Design, Methods & Analysis (3 units)
• Foundations of Health & Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3 units)
• Foundations of Perception & Cognition (3 units)
• Psychology in Society (3 units)

Approved Level II Courses (12 units)

LEVEL III

• Doing Research in Psychology: Advanced Research Design, Methods & Analysis (3 units)
• Health & Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3 units)
• Individual Differences, Personality & Assessment (3 units)
• Perception & Cognition (3 units)
• Psychology, Ideas & Action (3 units)
• Psychology in Society: Advanced (3 units)

Approved Level III Courses (6 units)

Career Opportunities

According to the Commonwealth Government Job Search Website employment growth for Psychologists to 2011-12 is STRONG. The range of jobs available to psychologists is also becoming increasingly varied. 

Graduates in this program can look in areas such as research assistants, recruitment agencies, government agencies such as Centerlink, 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..

Potential careers

Psychologist, Marketer / Marketing Manager, Teacher, Human Resource Manager

Graduate Attributes

The principal aim of this program is to provide graduates with a comprehensive tertiary-level education in Psychology and related areas of learning. The program is also designed to enable graduates to meet the prerequisites for progression to Honours and postgraduate levels of study in this discipline.

1. Knowledge

• All of the core topics specified by the Australian Psychological Society for an accredited major within this discipline, specifically: biological bases of behaviour; perception; cognition, information processing and language; learning; motivation and emotion; social psychology; lifespan developmental psychology; individual differences in capacity and behaviour, testing and assessment, personality; and abnormal psychology.
• The range of methodologies employed to collect and analyse data relevant to the above topics.
• The historical origins of ideas within this discipline.
• Some of the ways whereby contemporary psychology is being/could be applied to real-world problems and issues.

2. Intellectual and social capabilities

•  An ability to communicate with audiences with differing levels of knowledge about psychological topics.
• An ability to enter into rational debate on psychological topics.
• An ability to critically evaluate the validity of claims relevant to or derived from the discipline of psychology.
• An understanding of both qualitative and quantitative methods for the analysis of data collected for the purpose of testing the validity of psychological knowledge claims and answering specific research questions in psychology.
• An ability to produce written reports on psychological issues and questions.
• A basic understanding of how the knowledge and methods of contemporary psychology may be applied towards the management and/or solution of human problems.

3. Attitudes and values

•  A sensitivity to the cultural and ethical issues that may impact on the way that the knowledge acquired within psychology is interpreted and used.
• A respect for people and their fundamental human rights, regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnic or religious background.
• A respect for the scholarly heritage of psychology as an academic discipline and for the past, present and future contributions of psychology as a profession.

Professional Accreditation

These programs have been accredited by APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council).

Graduates who have completed this three-year undergraduate program will be eligible to apply for the Honours year followed by further two-year postgraduate qualification. This sequence of study will lead to professional registration as a psychologist.

Further Information

Useful Links

• School of Psychology
• Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
• Australian Psychological Society
• Australian JobSearch