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. Topics of study include learning, memory, cognition, perception, motivation, life-span development, personality, social interactions, and abnormal psychology. Psychology has many areas of application, especially in clinical, correctional, counselling, educational, and organisational settings. In addition, people with training in psychology pursue careers in academic research, health research, developmental disabilities and rehabilitation, ergonomics, occupational health and safety, personnel selection, training, and management, vocational guidance, and marketing.

The four-Stage full-time program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Psychology. The degree is designed to provide the student with:

ONE course from EACH of the following 3 elective groups PLUS two other Level III Psychology courses:

Note: Not all level III Psychology elective courses are necessarily offered each year.

Advanced Perceptual/Cognitive

Students in this program must satisfy the University's General Education requirements. For further information, please refer to General Education in the Table of Contents (see left hand side of this page).

In order to graduate students must satisfy requirements for the award by passing all courses specified for the degree.

The final grading for the degree is based on performance in all Psychology courses excluding PSYC1001, PSYC1011 and PSYC1021 taken over the four Stages. The degree may be awarded at either Pass level or with Honours.


Study Load

This is a four-stage full-time program. In any one year students must enrol in the full load specified for a particular stage. Only in exceptional circumstances will students be allowed to enrol in a reduced program for a Stage, and this requires the permission of the Head of School of Psychology.

Academic Standing

Progression through the Stages if the Bachelor of Psychology program is subject to academic performance. Students are required to achieve an average
of 70 percent or higher in Psychology courses taken in any Stage (based on the first attempt result for each course). Students not maintaining this level of performance in Stages I and II will be counselled. Students who fail to achieve an average of 70 percent or higher in all Psychology courses taken in Stages I, II and III will not be allowed to progress to Stage IV. Instead they will normally be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science (3970) program and take out the Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology at a Pass level.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

In order to become a member of the professional body, the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and for registration as a psychologist in New South Wales, students first need a university bachelor degree which includes four years of approved training in psychology. The BPsychol degree provides four years of approved training in psychology. Students must also follow this by completing an accredited 5th and 6th year academic degree such as one of the Master of Psychology Degrees (Clinical, Forensic, Organisational) or a combined Doctor of Philosophy/Master of Psychology Degree as offered by this University. An alternative of two years of supervised experience in professional practice may be undertaken for registration as a psychologist in NSW.