Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 2 locations
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Duration
- 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- ACU code
- 1220003361
- ATAR
- New
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available
This is a one-year degree for students who have already completed a relevant Bachelor degree. Please visit the Psychology Honours page for further information.
Overview
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is a one-year degree for high-achieving students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree that included an APAC accredited three-year sequence in psychology.
Students in this honours degree will:
- learn more about neuropsychology and personality assessment tools as well as evidence-based approaches to psychological interventions
- delve into professional issues and ethics as well as practical issues such as interviewing, report writing, supervision and case preparation
- gain experience in researching human behaviour. This includes all steps of the research process from formulating research questions and hypotheses to data collection, analysis and detailed reporting of research findings.
A psychological science honours degree will give you an edge in an increasingly competitive job market.
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) will also equip you for further study at a higher degree level.
Careers
After completing the course our graduates have pursued careers in diverse areas such as research, child welfare and protection, community work, marketing and market research, health, education, human resources. Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) may be eligible to apply for further study in psychology, including Masters degrees and higher degrees, including a Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy. Those who complete further studies in psychology have registered as practicing psychologist or have pursued careers in the area of psychological research.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible to apply for admission to the Honours degree course, a student must have completed, within the last five years, a Bachelor degree including
- an accredited three year sequence in Psychology;
- with a GPA of at least 5.5 on the ACU seven point scale; and
- distinction level or above in a total of at least four (4) of the second or third year Psychology units.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.
View transparency admission information
Applicants with higher education study
Applicants must have completed, within the last five years, a Bachelor degree including:
- an accredited three-year sequence in psychology;
- with a GPA equivalent of at least 5.5 on the ACU seven point scale; and
- distinction level or above in a total of at least 4 second or third year Psychology units.
If the Bachelor degree was completed outside of Australia, applicants must seek an ‘Assessment of Overseas Qualifications’ from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) to confirm that it is equivalent to an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) three-year sequence in psychology. Evidence of this must be submitted with the application.
Applicants must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy and require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 7.0 (with a minimum score of 7.0 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
Students who complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) may be eligible to apply for the Master of Professional Psychology, the Master of Psychology (Clinical) or the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) offered at ACU, or a range of other postgraduate courses in psychology.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Deferment
No deferment available.
Staff Profile
Dr Megan Willis
Senior Lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Dr Megan Willis joined ACU in 2012 as a lecturer in psychology in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences. Her PhD research was conducted under the supervision of Dr Romina Palermo at Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science and explored the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in processing emotional expressions and using emotional expressions to guide social judgements.
Dr Willis’ primary research interests are in social cognition, emotion processing and cognitive neuropsychology. Her research has focused on understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in processing emotional expressions and making social judgements. She also aims to uncover the reasons why certain people have difficulties recognising the emotional expressions of others and using emotional expressions to guide their social judgements. This research has primarily employed cognitive neuropsychological, electrophysiological and behavioural techniques.
Dr Xochitl De la Piedad Garcia
Senior Lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Dr Xochitl De La Piedad Garcia received her Undergrad with Honours degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1997. She then moved to the USA, where she studied a PhD in Experimental Psychology at Stony Brook University, under the supervision of the brilliant Howie Rachlin. In 2002 Dr De La Piedad Garcia and worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Judgment, Decision and Choice Laboratory at Stony Brook until 2004.
Joining ACU in 2007, Dr De La Piedad Garcia has taught statistics in first, third and fourth year, Learning and Behaviour in second year, and Cognitive Psychology in third. She is also the Course Coordinator for the 4th year courses and has supervised over 30 honours students and been principal or co-supervisor for over 10 PhD students. Supervision is her passion, as it brings together her love of teaching and research, and the joy of working with other people.