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.

When undertaking the Bachelor of Visual Arts at the ANU, you will be immersed in a program of rigorous scholarship and intensive studio practice, tailored to your aspirations and informed by internationally renowned art practitioners within Australia’s top-ranking university. You will graduate with the essential creative skills and critical knowledge to address the grand challenges of a rapidly changing world.

You will develop deep disciplinary knowledge and learn specialist skills offered across the School of Art and Design studio disciplines, including ceramics, glass, painting, photography and media arts, printmedia and drawing, sculpture and spatial practice, and textiles. You will extend your study through access to courses in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, combined with access to electives from across the ANU.

Employment Opportunities

Psychology graduates have skills essential to any workplace: an understanding of human motivation and behaviour, analytical skills and research skills including statistics.

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) is a fantastic launch pad for a range of careers, including research, management consulting, human resources, marketing, public policy, child development and welfare, health and human services, education, counselling and clinical practice. Please see https://psychology.anu.edu.au/study/career-opportunities for more information.

Bachelor of Science (Psychology) graduates who wish to practice as psychologists or clinical psychologists can undertake the following programs:

1. Master of Professional Psychology: this pathway enables graduates to eventually become registered psychologists by the Psychology Board of Australia; or
2. Psychology Honours followed by either the Master of Clinical Psychology or the PhD (Clinical Psychology): this pathway enables graduates to eventually become registered psychologists with specialist endorsement in clinical psychology by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Entry to Psychology Honours, the Master of Professional Psychology, the Master of Clinical Psychology, and the PhD (Clinical Psychology) is highly competitive due to limited spaces.

Psychology graduates have skills essential to any workplace: an understanding of human motivation and behaviour, analytical skills and research skills including statistics.

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) is a fantastic launch pad for a range of careers, including research, management consulting, human resources, marketing, public policy, child development and welfare, health and human services, education, counselling and clinical practice. Please see https://psychology.anu.edu.au/study/career-opportunities for more information.

Bachelor of Science (Psychology) graduates who wish to practice as psychologists or clinical psychologists can undertake the following programs:

1. Master of Professional Psychology: this pathway enables graduates to eventually become registered psychologists by the Psychology Board of Australia; or
2. Psychology Honours followed by either the Master of Clinical Psychology or the PhD (Clinical Psychology): this pathway enables graduates to eventually become registered psychologists with specialist endorsement in clinical psychology by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Entry to Psychology Honours, the Master of Professional Psychology, the Master of Clinical Psychology, and the PhD (Clinical Psychology) is highly competitive due to limited spaces.

Learning Outcomes

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.

1. apply technical and creative skills, specialist knowledge and processes to realise artworks and practices that contribute to contemporary cultural production;
2. use artistic processes and methodologies to interrograte complex ideas relevant to local and global contexts;
3. critique and engage with a range of social, cultural and theoretical traditions relevant to visual art practice;
4. employ collaborative and independent methods, and strategies toward developing an ethical, sustainable and inclusive art practice;
5. demonstrate a developing understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art practices, and First Nations art practices across international and national contexts; and
6. identify contexts and implement strategies to establish your professional practice and/or future study.

Further Information

What courses should you take in your first year:

• PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour (6 units)
• PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context (6 units)

Important fee information for commencing and continuing domestic undergraduate students intending to study psychology as a professional pathway:

Please note that 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. This will affect students in the following manner:

Commencing Students

Study of the accredited sequence of psychology courses taken under the psychology degrees recognised by the Australian Government will be eligible for the Professional Pathway funding rates (HECS band 2). At ANU, these programs are:

• Bachelor Science (Psychology) - (3 year degree)
• Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) - (+1 Hons year)
• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) - (4 year degree incl Honours).

Note that Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) students who commenced their Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at ANU prior to 1 January 2021will be classed as continuing students. 

While the accredited sequence of psychology courses can be taken as part of other programs of study at ANU [Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)], the study of psychology is not compulsory therefore Psychology courses in these programs will be charged different fees (HECS band 4).

Continuing students

Continuing students (enrolled before 1 January 2021) studying courses in disciplines with increased student contribution amounts, will be grandfathered under the legislation. That is, they will continue paying the same amount as they would have, had these reforms not been implemented for any courses that would otherwise have an increased student contribution. 

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/

APAC Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

Change to program orders from 2023 - advice for students

From 2023, key changes have been made to the list of compulsory courses as follows: PSYC2012 and PSYC3020 are compulsory. PSYC2002 is recoded to PSYC3202 and is still compulsory. Students will have to complete a minimum of 14 PSYC coded courses as per the program requirements.

• Students admitted to the BSPSY prior to 2023 are expected to follow the rules of the year in which which they were matriculated into the program and should complete the APAC accreditation requirements as they were prior to 2023.
• Students admitted to the BSPSY from 2023, including internal program transfer, will be expected to follow the rules of the year in which they were matriculated and should complete the APAC accreditation requirements as per the program orders from 2023. Students transfering into the program from 2023 are encouraged to seek academic advice, if PSYC2002 has already been completed.

Academic or enrolment advice:

If in doubt, please seek further advice from the academic contact for this program (details above), or the College of Health and Medicine Student Services Team (students.chm@anu.edu.au ).

What courses should you take in your first year:

• PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour (6 units)
• PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context (6 units)

Important fee information for commencing and continuing domestic undergraduate students intending to study psychology as a professional pathway:

Please note that 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. This will affect students in the following manner:

Commencing Students

Study of the accredited sequence of psychology courses taken under the psychology degrees recognised by the Australian Government will be eligible for the Professional Pathway funding rates (HECS band 2). At ANU, these programs are:

• Bachelor Science (Psychology) - (3 year degree)
• Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) - (+1 Hons year)
• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) - (4 year degree incl Honours).

Note that Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) students who commenced their Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at ANU prior to 1 January 2021will be classed as continuing students. 

While the accredited sequence of psychology courses can be taken as part of other programs of study at ANU [Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)], the study of psychology is not compulsory therefore Psychology courses in these programs will be charged different fees (HECS band 4).

Continuing students

Continuing students (enrolled before 1 January 2021) studying courses in disciplines with increased student contribution amounts, will be grandfathered under the legislation. That is, they will continue paying the same amount as they would have, had these reforms not been implemented for any courses that would otherwise have an increased student contribution. 

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/

APAC Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

Change to program orders from 2023 - advice for students

From 2023, key changes have been made to the list of compulsory courses as follows: PSYC2012 and PSYC3020 are compulsory. PSYC2002 is recoded to PSYC3202 and is still compulsory. Students will have to complete a minimum of 14 PSYC coded courses as per the program requirements.

• Students admitted to the BSPSY prior to 2023 are expected to follow the rules of the year in which which they were matriculated into the program and should complete the APAC accreditation requirements as they were prior to 2023.
• Students admitted to the BSPSY from 2023, including internal program transfer, will be expected to follow the rules of the year in which they were matriculated and should complete the APAC accreditation requirements as per the program orders from 2023. Students transfering into the program from 2023 are encouraged to seek academic advice, if PSYC2002 has already been completed.

Academic or enrolment advice:

If in doubt, please seek further advice from the academic contact for this program (details above), or the College of Health and Medicine Student Services Team (students.chm@anu.edu.au ).

Admission Requirements

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are combined with an applicant's secondary education results to determine their Selection Rank. ANU offers adjustment factors based on equity, diversity, and/or performance principles, such as for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.

To be eligible for adjustment factors, you must have:

• achieved a Selection Rank of 70 or more before adjustment factors are applied
• if you have undertaken higher education, completed less than one year full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) of a higher education program
• applied for an eligible ANU bachelor degree program

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 Science (Psychology) requires completion of 144 units, of which:

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

A minimum of 84 units must come from completion of courses from the discipline area PSYC – Psychology

The 96 units must include:

A minimum of 84 units, which must come from completion of courses from the following lists

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

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

A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

48 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ARTH1006 Art History and Curatorial Studies 1: Cultures and Meaning (6 units)

ARTH1007 Art History and Curatorial Studies 2: Vision and Materiality (6 units)

ARTV1020 Drawn from life: Techniques and Perspectives of Observational Drawing (6 units)

ARTV1034 Foundations of Contemporary Arts Practices (6 units)

ARTV2066 Art in Context (6 units)

ARTV3033 Creative Research Practice: Developing an Independent Work Proposal (6 units)

ARTV3035 Creative Research Practice: Extending and Consolidating an Independent Project (12 units)

12 units from completion of introductory studio courses from the following list:

ARTV1150 Ceramics 1 (6 units)

ARTV1350 Glass 1 (6 units)

ARTV1550 Painting 1 (6 units)

ARTV1650 Photomedia 1 (6 units)

ARTV1651 Moving Image 1 (6 units)

ARTV1750 Press-based Print 1 (6 units)

ARTV1751 Planographic Print 1 (6 units)

ARTV1850 Sculpture & Spatial Practice 1 (6 units)

ARTV1950 Textiles 1 (6 units)

12 units from completion of intermediate studio courses from the following list:

ARTV2150 Ceramics 2 (6 units)

ARTV2350 Glass 2 (6 units)

ARTV2550 Painting 2 (6 units)

ARTV2650 Photomedia 2 (6 units)

ARTV2651 Moving Image 2 (6 units)

ARTV2750 Press-based Print 2 (6 units)

ARTV2751 Planographic Print 2 (6 units)

ARTV2752 Drawing 2 (6 units)

ARTV2850 Sculpture & Spatial Practice 2 (6 units)

ARTV2950 Textiles 2 (6 units)

6 units from completion of a 2000-level course from the subject area ARTH Art History.

6 units from completion of an engagement and professional practice course from the following list: 

ARTV2027 Professional Practice: Economies and Ecologies in the Australian Cultural Sector (6 units)

ARTV2028 Professional Practices: Internship (6 units)

ARTV2909 The Public Project: Engaging with Institutions and Communities (6 units)

ARTV2921 Environment Studio: Field based Research and Studio Practice in Visual Arts (6 units)

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following subject areas:  

ARTH Art History

ARTV Visual Arts

DESN Design

MEDN2222?Exquisite Corpse - Insight into the Human Body (6 units)

PHIL2289 Leviathan, Art and Law: Constituting the Body Politic (6 units)

Study Options