Bachelor of Psychological Science

Combine your passions.

Combine an accredited three-year degree in psychology with a complementary major in a related discipline. Explore the mind and enhance your career prospects with a major in marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics, philosophy, vision science or neuroscience.

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Bachelor of Psychological Science

Commencing Terms

Term 1, Term 3

Duration (Full Time)

3 Year(s)

Overview

Psychology has rapidly become one of the most relevant fields of study for clinicians and corporate professionals. You’ll work towards a rewarding career from day one and uncover why we think and act the way we do with the Bachelor of Psychological Science.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science explores the science of human behaviour and mental processes, providing you with an understanding of the brain, cognitive and decision-making processes and mental health. Your study will cover biological, abnormal, cognitive, forensic, developmental and social psychology. You’ll develop your communication skills and apply psychological principles to personal, social and global issues.

This program gives you the option to combine your psychology degree with a complementary major to expand your career prospects. Pursue your passion for psychology alongside a major in marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics, philosophy, vision science or neuroscience.

Key features

Professional recognition
This three-stage program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and when combined with honours, it satisfies the minimum requirement for provisional registration. It acts as the first step in the six-year pathway to becoming a registered psychologist.

Flexibility of choice
Enrich your education with experiences beyond the classroom and work immersively across different majors. With the Bachelor of Psychological Science, you can choose to study one of the following complementary majors and electives: marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics, philosophy, vision science or neuroscience.

Wide range of career opportunities
Psychologists deal with more than just mental health – they apply their knowledge to relationships, workplace stress and financial challenges. The modern-day psychologist may work across a range of environments including health, business, sport, marketing, human resources, education and more. Using your skills in developmental psychology, you may be responsible for facilitating organisational change, exploring new ways of thinking or influencing marketing campaigns.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

Learn with the best
UNSW Science is at the forefront of many new scientific developments, research methods, teaching and innovation. We’re responsive to the needs of industry, adaptive to change and take an innovative approach to teaching and learning. We’re ranked 25th in the world for psychology.^*

Learn from industry-leading educators
You come to university to learn from the experts – researchers who are leaders in their fields, striving to create new knowledge. Most of our staff have international reputations and all have active research programs, often carried out in collaboration with researchers throughout the rest of Australia and at prestigious universities across the world.

Access cutting-edge facilities
The Bachelor of Psychological Science teaching facilities include world-leading behavioural neuroscience and cognitive testing laboratories. These laboratories run specialist software that will allow you to design/implement your own psychological research and analyse/interpret the data you collect. At honours level, you’ll gain access to laboratories for the analysis of cognition and brain function including electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and eye-tracking.

Join a supportive student community

The Psychology Peer Mentoring Program has been helping first-year students make a successful transition to university for over 20 years. The program matches small groups of first-year students with a pair of third-year students majoring in psychology. Your mentors will provide guidance on topics like exam preparation, careers within psychology and time management.

^{*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023}

Program Code

3435

CRICOS Code

072206A

Campus

Kensington

UAC Code

429800

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

144

Indicative Enrolments

478

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Entry requirements

2023 Lowest Selection Rank

2023 A levels

2023 IB Diploma

2023 Lowest ATAR

71.1

The 2023 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023.

The 2023 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subject. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.

The 2023 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2023 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.

To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.

We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.

See more

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics Advanced

Adjustment Factors

We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.

Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.

Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.

HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.

Admission pathways

Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.

Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.

Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

International direct entry

I studied in:

We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.

Please contact us for direct entry requirements.

Admission pathways

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence. 

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Select from the options below

Which applies to you?

Program structure

Psychology is a discipline of both scientific research and applied practice. As a science, psychology is concerned with the study of behaviour and its underlying mental and neural processes. During the Bachelor of Psychological Science, you will cover a range of topics, including:

learning
memory
cognition
perception
language
neuroscience
life-span development
personality
social psychology
abnormal psychology
mental health
developmental psychology
psychological research
criminology

You also have the option to complete a complementary major in marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics, philosophy, vision science or neuroscience.

Full program structure

During the Bachelor of Psychological Science you will also have the option to complete a complementary major in marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics, philosophy, vision science or neuroscience.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is made up of 24 courses taken over three years of full-time study. This includes the following components:

core psychology courses
an optional complementary major
general education courses
free elective courses.

Psychology core courses

Optional complementary majors

Delve into the study of crime, deviance, social control and the legal system. This interdisciplinary field investigates a broad range of topics including justice, conflict, risk, security, insurance, policing, governance and regulation. This major will provide you with an advanced understanding of crime and justice issues in modern society.

Find out more
Explores the policies and processes involved in the management of people at work. In a climate of rapid economic change, effective labour management is being seen as a critical component of the operation and strategic planning of both private firms and public sector organisations.

Find out more
Linguistics is the study of human language. This major explores a variety of questions, including:

How do people use language in various situations?

What is the biological basis for language?

Is language unique to the human species?

How and why do languages change?

How do children learn language?

What is the meaning of 'meaning'?

Can machines talk?

How does language relate to other modes of communication?

Find out more
Marketing is of critical importance in all sectors of the economy, including local and international businesses, and profit-making and non-profit organisations. The business function of marketing seeks to identify the needs and wants of customers, determine potential target markets, design appropriate products and services, communicate this offering to customers and distribute it to the marketplace.

Find out more
Study the biological and behavioural aspects of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the:

central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

peripheral nervous system (nerves in limbs, muscles and organs).

This major is based on the neuroscience courses offered by the School of Psychology and UNSW’s Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology Departments.

Find out more
Explore the commitments and values that shape human life. In this major, you’ll gain an expanded understanding of the human, social and natural world, including the complex relationships and interactions across these domains. Discover how ethical norms, political institutions and social practices can both foster and constrain creativity and innovation. Examine how fundamental concepts that underpin scientific and humanistic inquiry – concepts as fundamental as “time” and “mind” – have been debated over time.

Find out more
Study the sensory processes that underlie vision and vision-related technologies. This major is designed for students who wish to pursue a laboratory/industry-focused research career by providing broad and coherent knowledge in relevant topics such as:

optics

anatomy and functioning of the eye

eye disorders

clinical optometry

ocular therapy

sensation and perception

psychophysics

research design/methods.

Find out more

Thinking about honours?

Upon completion of this program, you will have completed an APAC-accredited psychology sequence and, subject to performance, will be eligible for entry into Psychological Science (Honours). There is no preference given to any particular program in gaining entry to honours. Places are awarded on the basis of performance in undergraduate psychology units. Honours are the same for all students, regardless of the degree program in which they completed their undergraduate psychology major sequence.

In your honours year, you'll conduct a year-long, major independent research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor and write a thesis based on the project.

Your project can be undertaken in most areas of psychology including:

psychopathology
behavioural neuroscience
cognitive science
cognition and perception
forensic psychology
social, personality and developmental psychology.

You’ll also complete advanced core and elective coursework in Terms 1 and 2.

Honours is the next step towards becoming a registered psychologist. You must complete an honours program to be eligible for entry into a psychology master's degree.

Download Sample Program

Go to the handbook

Future careers

Launch a successful career
This program is designed to match global career opportunities, preparing you for work in a range of organisational settings. We’ll equip you with an understanding of assessment, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems at an individual and organisational level.

Combining psychology with a major in marketing or human resource management provides an excellent background for careers in the business world. Combining psychology with philosophy, criminology or linguistics will prepare you for a variety of social science careers. If you’re interested in psychological and neuroscientific aspects of psychology, you can combine your psychology degree with vision science or neuroscience.

Pathway to registration
A minimum six-year sequence of education and training in psychology is required to become eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia. This degree is an accredited three-stage program that can set you on the path to a career as a professional psychologist.

Work across a range of industries
You can work in a range of organisations within the public and private sectors, such as public, community and occupational health, counselling, developmental care, management consultancy, human resources, recruitment, training and development, industrial relations, banking, journalism, marketing, business, retail management and statistical and data analysis.

Career outlook
As psychology informs a range of diverse industries, the number of available jobs is increasing. Within the next five years, job openings are expected to increase by 30%, which means that each year, 7,600 new jobs will be generated.^*

^{*Job Outlook}

Our reputation can open doors

At UNSW, we believe that university is about much more than what you learn in the classroom. Through immersive learning, you’ll become equipped to take on social psychology problems and become a beacon of support in the communities you feel drawn to work with.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science degree offers a hands-on approach that helps you build your skillset through practical experiences outside the classroom. When you enrol to study at one of Australia’s top science faculties, you’ll be encouraged to think big and form deeper connections with our world. We'll nurture your passions, purpose & potential and prepare you to take on the most important jobs of tomorrow.

UNSW has been named ‘Most Employable University’ by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. With on-the-job experience built into the Bachelor of Psychological Science, you'll graduate with the skills, confidence and connections to launch your science career – whether it's in the lab or in the field.

Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Psychological Science at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere — Australia and beyond.

Accreditation

This three-stage program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). It’s the first step on the six-year pathway to becoming a registered psychologist.

How to apply

Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.

On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. Read more.

Ready to start your application?

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Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$13,650*

Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 2

*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.

The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$46,470*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$144,250*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships

At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.