The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some forty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.

What makes the human brain tick?

Find out with the Bachelor of Science (Psychology), which provides you with a great base in the key areas of psychology: developmental, social, personality, health and mental health, research methods, cognition and the biological bases of behaviour.

In your later year courses, you’ll apply this knowledge and your skills in more specialised areas such as neuroscience, counselling, health, mental health and organisational (business) psychology.

Once you’ve completed your third year, you can apply to undertake an Honours year and pursue further postgraduate study. This will allow you to practice as a psychologist or clinical psychologist.

Find out more about psychology, the degree structure, the university experience, career opportunities and student stories on our website.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
2. identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
3. evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
5. understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.

1. Understand, critically evaluate, apply, integrate and generate psychological knowledge in educational and professional contexts.
2. Develop and engage in a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse, critique and respond to complex problems involving psychological processes.
3. Systematically identify relevant psychological theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions.
4. Apply appropriate psychological research methods, including statistical techniques, to evaluate data.
5. Communicate psychological concepts and results clearly and effectively in written and oral formats to diverse audiences.
6. Work and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives on psychological issues.
7. Critically examine psychological knowledge and skills, and their application, from diverse cultural perspectives, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives.
8. Utilise psychological knowledge and skills for exercising personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.

Further Information

APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses.

• Students admitted to an ANU BSc, BARTS or PhB prior to 2023 who wish to be eligible for Honours in Psychology must complete the courses from the Psychology major and specialisation in order to satisfy the APAC accredited sequence of courses and achieve the minimum required learning in Psychology. The minimum required learning is achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003 , PSYC1004 , PSYC2001 , PSYC2002 , PSYC2007 , PSYC2008 , PSYC2009 , PSYC3018 , PSYC3025 , PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses (or, for PhB students, 3000 level SCNC courses with a psychology supervisor). It is strongly recommended students also complete PSYC2012 and PSYC3020 (PSYC3020 will contribute towards the additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC course requirement).
• Students admitted to an ANU BSc, BARTS or PhB from 2023 onwards who wish to be eligible for Honours in Psychology must complete the courses from the Psychology major and specialisation in order to satisfy the APAC accredited sequence of courses and achieve the minimum required learning in Psychology. The minimum required learning is achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003 , PSYC1004 , PSYC2001 , PSYC2007 , PSYC2008 , PSYC2009 , PSYC2012 , PSYC3018 , PSYC3020 , PSYC3025 , PSYC3026 and PSYC3202.

APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses.

• Students admitted to an ANU BSc, BARTS or PhB prior to 2023 who wish to be eligible for Honours in Psychology must complete the courses from the Psychology major and specialisation in order to satisfy the APAC accredited sequence of courses and achieve the minimum required learning in Psychology. The minimum required learning is achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003 , PSYC1004 , PSYC2001 , PSYC2002 , PSYC2007 , PSYC2008 , PSYC2009 , PSYC3018 , PSYC3025 , PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses (or, for PhB students, 3000 level SCNC courses with a psychology supervisor). It is strongly recommended students also complete PSYC2012 and PSYC3020 (PSYC3020 will contribute towards the additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC course requirement).
• Students admitted to an ANU BSc, BARTS or PhB from 2023 onwards who wish to be eligible for Honours in Psychology must complete the courses from the Psychology major and specialisation in order to satisfy the APAC accredited sequence of courses and achieve the minimum required learning in Psychology. The minimum required learning is achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003 , PSYC1004 , PSYC2001 , PSYC2007 , PSYC2008 , PSYC2009 , PSYC2012 , PSYC3018 , PSYC3020 , PSYC3025 , PSYC3026 and PSYC3202.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant's Selection Rank (for example an applicant's ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further 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.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

48 units from the completion of one of the following majors

MAJORS

Disciplines and Fields

Anthropology

Archaeology

Art History and Curatorial Studies

Australian Indigenous Studies

Biological Anthropology

Classical Studies

Composition

Composition for Film and Video Games

Criminology

Demography

Development Studies

Digital Humanities

Economic Studies

English

Environmental Studies

Gender, Sexuality and Culture

Geography

Global Security

History

Human Evolutionary Biology

Human Rights

International Communication

International Relations

Linguistics

Mathematics

Music

Music Technology

Musicology

Peace and Conflict Studies

Performance

Philosophy

Political Science

Popular Music

Psychology

Screen Studies

Sociology

War Studies

Languages

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Chinese Language

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Persian

Sanskrit Language

Spanish

Thai Language

Vietnamese Language

Geographically Defined Area Studies

Asian Studies

Asian History

Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender

Chinese Studies

Indian and South Asian Studies

Indonesian Studies

Japanese Studies

Korean Studies

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Middle East Politics and Security

Northeast Asian Studies

Pacific Studies

Southeast Asian Studies

EITHER:

48 units from completion of a second major from the list above

OR

24 units from completion of one of the following minors, which must have a different name to the major

MINORS

Disciplines and Fields

Advanced Studies

Anthropology

Applied Linguistics

Archaeology

Australian Indigenous Studies

Biological Anthropology

Classical Studies

Climate Science and Policy

Criminology

Demography

Design

Development Studies

Digital Humanities

Economic Studies

English

Environmental Policy

Environmental Studies

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Linguistics

Gender and Sexuality

Geography

Global Security

Health, Medicine and the Body

Heritage and Museum Studies

History

Human Ecology

Human Evolutionary Biology

Human Rights

Indian and South Asian Studies

International Communication

International Relations

Linguistics

Mathematics

Music

Peace and Conflict Studies

Philosophy and Science

Philosophy

Political Science

Screen Studies

Social Psychology

Social Research Methods

Sociology

Sustainable Development

Visual Arts Practice

War Studies

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

72 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour (6 units)

PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context (6 units)

PSYC2001 Social Psychology (6 units)

PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour (6 units)

PSYC2008 Cognition (6 units)

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology (6 units)

PSYC2012 Culture and Psychology (6 units)

PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods (6 units)

PSYC3020 Health Psychology (6 units)

PSYC3025 Psychopathology Across the Lifespan (6 units)

PSYC3026 Personality Psychology (6 units)

PSYC3202 Developmental Psychology (6 units)

12 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

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Study Options