• Total units 48 Units
  • Areas of interest Psychology, Clinical Psychology
  • Specialisation code PSYC-HSPC
Psychology Honours Specialisation

The Psychology Honours specialisation is intended for students who have successfully completed an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited undergraduate sequence in psychology, and are interested in undertaking an independent psychological research. The honours specialisation is usually taken full time for two consecutive semesters and includes research training, in-depth analysis of current concepts in psychology as well as a substantial research project culminating in the production of a thesis. Honours is a solid foundation in the basics of research and can be an entry into many careers both within and outside of psychology, and a pathway to the profession of clinical psychology.

Learning Outcomes

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

  2. Systematically evaluate relevant theory, concepts and practice in psychology, relate these to appropriate research and applied methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions.

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

  4. Demonstrate sufficient mastery to understand and apply relevant experimental techniques and methods in psychology to collect original research data, and understand evidence-based assessment and intervention.

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

Other Information

Minimum required PSYC learning to meet eligibility requirements:

Students in an ANU BSc, BA or PhB who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete a specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements. At ANU this includes minimum required learning 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).


Applying for admission:

  • Students in an BSPSY Bachelor of Science (Psychology) who wish to apply for Psychology Honours will need to select the 3609 HSPSY when applying through the ANU portal.
  • Students in a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) who wish to apply for Honours in Psychology are encouraged to seek academic advice from the College of Science Student Administration Office before completion of 72-96 units of study (science.enquiries@anu.edu.au).
  • Students in a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in Science program can apply for Honours in Psychology in these programs. Please note:
  • They will need to have satisfied the accreditation requirements - see minimum required learning above.
  • Due to changes in Australian government funding from 2021 as a result of the Job Ready Graduates Package, fees for Behavioural Science courses will be invoiced at different rates. For more information on the 2021 fee changes to Student Contributions Amounts, please visit https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/student-contributions; and for more information on the Job Ready Graduates Package please visit  https://www.studyassist.gov.au/


Applicants from Australian Universities (other than ANU) must provide evidence from their University that their qualification is APAC accredited. Applicants with qualifications obtained outside Australia must have a formal assessment of comparability against the Australian psychology education pathway (called an “assessment of psychology qualifications”) by the Australian Psychological Society.


For more information on an Honours year in the College of Health and Medicine, including deadlines, please click here

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Admission Requirements

  1. a weighted average mark equivalent to an ANU 70 per cent calculated from the 36 units (i.e. 0.75 EFTSL) of courses in the discipline cognate to the honours specialisation, excluding 1000-level courses (i.e. introductory undergraduate courses), with the highest marks.
  2. a specialisation or a major and minor in psychology or equivalent.
  3. satisfaction of APAC grade requirements on 1000, 2000 and 3000-level psychology courses.

This specialisation has a quota on places due to availability of supervision. 80% of places will be reserved for ANU undergraduate students. Where ranking of applications is required, the weighted average mark of the best ten 2000 and 3000-level psychology courses will be used to determine the selection rank

Cognate Disciplines

Psychology

Requirements

This Honours specialisation requires the completion of 48 units, which must consist of:

48 units from completion of PSYC4011 Psychology Honours, which must be undertaken more than once, in consecutive semesters.

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