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.

Note: This is a four-stage full-time program. In any one session students must enrol in a full study load of 24 UoC in accordance with the requirements of the program. 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.

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

PLUS

30 UOC from level III Psychology courses: must include TWO courses from each of the elective groups below.

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

Elective Stream A:

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 Stage 4 of the degree. 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 of 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 attempted result for each course). Students not maintaining this level of performance in Stages I will be counselled. Students who fail to achieve an average of 70 percent or higher in all Psychology courses taken in Stages II and III will normally be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (3435, Pass Degree). Students will not be allowed to progress to Stage IV unless they achieve an average across Psychology courses taken at I, II and III of 75 percent or higher, although students achieving an average of 70 percent or more may be admitted subject to appropriate research and supervision resources being available and at the discretion of the Head of School.

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.