Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) requires completion of 192 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

A minimum of 24 units must come from completion of honours pathway options or honours pathway courses in the subject area PSYC Psychology

The 192 units must include:

60 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour

PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context

PSYC2001 Social Psychology

PSYC2002 Developmental Psychology

PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour

PSYC2008 Visual Perception and Cognition

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology

PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods

PSYC3025 Abnormal Psychology across the Life Span

PSYC3026 Personality Psychology

18 units from completion of 3000-level courses in the subject area PSYC Psychology

12 units from completion of further 1000-level courses from the Science Course List

6 units from completion of further courses from the Science Course List

48 units from completion of the Psychology Honours specialisation

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU.

Students must achieve a minimum 75% weighted average mark in each period (Summer/First Semester/Autumn and Winter/Second Semester/Spring) in courses in the subject area PSYC Psychology in order to continue in the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). Students who do not achieve a minimum of 75% weighted average mark will be transferred to the Bachelor of Science (Psychology).

Where there is mention of Science courses, majors, minors and specialisations this refers to courses, majors, minors and specialisations that are offered or approved by the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment and the ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (see approved lists).

Specialisations

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

More information about ATAR requirements for individual programs can be found HERE.

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements

Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on a UAI equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements

International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Prerequisites

There are no formal program prerequisites.

Adjustment Factors

The National Access Scheme 2014

ANU offers bonus points for nationally strategic senior secondary subjects, and in recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Bonus points are applied to all applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedule, and no more than 10 points (maximum 5 academic points and maximum 5 equity points) will be awarded.

Bonus points do not apply to programs with an ATAR cutoff of 98 or higher.

Bonus Points are only awarded to domestic applicants applying for admission through UAC who have not previously attempted tertiary study.

How to apply

Academic Bonus Points: senior secondary students do not need to apply for ANU academic bonus points. They are automatically added in accordance with the schedule.

Educational Access Scheme: senior secondary students do not need to apply if their school is part of the Priority School Funding Program or Country Areas Program. All other applicants should refer to http://www.uac.edu.au/eas/  for more information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

Psychology:

Despite popular belief most psychology graduates work with people who are mentally healthy. Psychological graduates tend to find employment in three areas: as psychologists, in general graduate positions, and as psychological scientists (often in applied research settings).

The main areas in which psychologists are employed include clinical, organisational, health, community, counselling and educational/developmental psychology.

Psychology is an excellent preparation for broader graduate employment. Psychology graduates gain analytical, quantitative, report writing and communication skills that are focused on the issues and problems confronting human beings.

Psychological science is an exciting career option with employment opportunities in the private and public sector as well as in universities and can involve designing interventions to solve human problems and researching how people function in different environments.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Develop, apply, integrate and generate knowledge in educational and professional contexts

2. Develop and use a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse and respond to complex problems and issues.

3. Work and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives.

4. Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation of a chosen research topic to generate new knowledge.

5. Systematically evaluate relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence and draw appropriate conclusions.

6. Analyse and interpret original research data with statistical or other evaluative processes where appropriate.

7. Demonstrate sufficient mastery to understand and apply relevant experimental techniques and methods to collect original research data.

8. Communicate and justify complex concepts and results clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences.

9. Exercise personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.

Further Information

The list of Honours pathway level courses offered by the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment and the ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences can be found here.

Please note:

An Honours Pathway Option (HPO) is a alternative piece of assessment/assignment, assessed at a higher level, attached to a regular course. Students who enrol in certain courses have the option of undertaking this piece of assessment and must identify themselves to the course convener at the beginning of the semester so that they can attend extra classes or submit the assignment accordingly. HPOs are usually identified in the Programs and Courses catalogue where there is further information regarding what the assessment entails and how it is graded.

An Honours Pathway Course (HPC) is a course that is inherently taught at a higher level. An HPC is usually identified as such in the Programs and Courses catalogue.

Want to learn more about the structure of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) or wish to map out your degree? Click here to see a short program presentation video and access the study plan.