• Length 3 years full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling? Contact Science.Enquiries@anu.edu.au
  • Mode of delivery
    • Internal

Back to the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) page

Please note that if you are commencing your studies in semester 2 there may be restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. We strongly recommend that you make an appointment with an academic advisor. You can make an appointment by using our online booking system here. Alternatively, you can call Science Central on 6125 2809. There will also be advisory sessions offered during the week before semester commences.

What is consciousness? Do people see colours the same way? How do we make decisions?

Contrary to popular belief most psychologists work with healthy people, trying to find the answers to questions like these.

Studying psychology at ANU will expose you to a wide range of psychological sciences, covering topics as varied as how groups interact, vision and how it can be tricked to see what is not really there, how the brain develops as a baby and how it will change again as you get older, how impulses are carried from brain to muscle, and how things go wrong in abnormal psychology.

The ANU Bachelor of Science (Psychology) teaches you skills sought after by employers including statistics and experimental design, critical thinking and communication, and provides an excellent grounding to enter the workforce or continue with further study.

Single degree

  • This degree requires 144 units
  • A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses of which 24 units must be Science
  • A minimum of 36 units 3000 level PSYC courses
  • Completion of the accredited sequence of psychology courses
  • Other courses from the Science course list or another ANU College (48 units maximum of non-science courses allowed)

Double degree

  • This degree requires 96 units Science courses
  • A maximum of 36 units of 1000 level Science courses
  • A minimum of 36 units 3000 level PSYC courses
  • Completion of the accredited sequence of psychology courses
  • Other courses from the Science course list

About this degree

Single degree

In a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) single degree program you will study a total of 144 units.  Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 courses across your whole degree.

You will need to complete a minimum of 16 science courses (96 units) including the following accredited courses:

PSYC1003 Psychology 1

PSYC1004 Psychology 2

PSYC2001 Social Psychology

PSYC2002 Developmental Psychology

PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour

PSYC2008 Cognition

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology

PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods

PSYC3025 Psychopathology across the Life Span

PSYC3026 Personality Psychology

You will also get to choose eight courses (48 units) from other ANU Colleges.  You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-Science subject, such as history or marketing. The choice is yours.

Double degree

In a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) double degree program you will study a total of 96 units including all the courses listed above. Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 16 courses across your whole degree.  However, for each semester you are likely to take 2 courses from your Science (Psychology) degree and then 2 courses from the other half of your double degree – still a total of 4 courses a semester.

Enrolment Status

It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.

  • You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester.
  • You can’t study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, eight for the year.
  • You may take 1000-level courses later in your program.  But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or six 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Science (Psychology) half of the double degree.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

There are two compulsory 1000 level courses you must take in your first year:

Electives

Remember you can choose up to 8 courses from another ANU College if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of Science (Psychology) program.

Study Options

Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - single degree

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Psychology).

Study Options

Year 1 48 units PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour 6 units 1000 level Science elective 6 units Science or non-science course 6 units Science or non-science course 6 units
PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context 6 units 1000 level Science elective 6 units Science or non-science course 6 units Science or non-science course 6 units

Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - double degree

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) with another three year degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour 6 units 1000 level Science elective 6 units Degree B Course 6 units Degree B Course 6 units
PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context 6 units 1000 level Science elective 6 units Degree B Course 6 units Degree B Course 6 units

Academic Advice

For further information, you can:

  • Visit the Research School of Psychology webpage here, or
  • Download the Science first year course guide available here, or
  • View our program presentation videos located on our New commencers & first year students page, or
  • Email us at science.enquiries@anu.edu.au, or
  • Come and talk to someone face-to-face. You can make an appointment with an academic advisor here or by calling Science Central on 6125 2809.

Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling?

Contact Science.Enquiries@anu.edu.au

Back to the top

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions