General Information

Overview

The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences provides specialised study in developmental psychology, cognition, social psychology, personality, psychological measurement and abnormal psychology, while developling skills in project management, research design and report writing.

Graduates of this degree can apply for the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours).

Double degree options

You can also study Psychological Sciences in a double degree with Arts, Applied Innovation, Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year 
  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year 
  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study) 
  • See the course planner for an example degree structure

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 150 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results.

  • Accounting 
  • Advertising 
  • Animation 
  • Biotechnology 
  • Business Analysis 
  • Business Analytics and Analysis 
  • Cinema and Screen Studies 
  • Climate and Social Justice 
  • Computer Science 
  • Creative Writing and Literature 
  • Criminology 
  • Data Analytics 
  • Digital Advertising Technology 
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
  • Environmental Science 
  • Environmental Sustainability 
  • Ethics and Technology 
  • Finance 
  • Financial Planning 
  • Games and Interactivity 
  • Global Studies 
  • History 
  • Human Resource Management 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Information Systems 
  • Journalism 
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management 
  • Management 
  • Marketing 
  • Media Industries 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Perspectives on Globalisation 
  • Philosophy 
  • Politics and International Relations 
  • Politics, Power and Technology 
  • Professional and Creative Writing 
  • Professional Writing and Editing 
  • Public Relations 
  • Screen Production 
  • Screen Studies and Popular Culture 
  • Social Media 
  • Space Technology
View co-major units

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

Mental Health Advanced

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Applied Psychology 
  • Biomedical Science 
  • Criminology 
  • Health Statistics 
  • Marketing 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Philosophy
View minor units

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ACC10007 Financial Information for Decision Making
  • CHE10007 Introduction to Forensic Science
  • CRI10002 Fundamentals of Criminology
  • FOR10001 Introduction to Forensic Psychology
  • FOR30001 Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
  • HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
  • HEA10004 Digital Health Foundations
  • HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • MGT10009 Contemporary Management Principles
  • NEU10002 Neuroscience
  • NEU20006 Neurophysiology
  • PHI10007 What is Power?
  • PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
  • PSY20001 Theories of Counselling
  • PSY20003 Psychology of Adolescence
  • PSY20005 Sports Psychology
  • PSY20008 Psychology of Infancy and Early Childhood
  • PSY20009 Dimensions of Human Sexuality
  • PSY20011 Human Factors Psychology
  • PSY30001 Psychology of Health
  • PSY30011 Psychology of Wellbeing
  • PSY30012 Psychology of Trauma
  • PSY30014 Applied Social Psychology
  • SPO10002 The Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity
     
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, graduates will be able to:

  • systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in social and behavioural sciences, and psychology 
  • formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in behavioural studies and psychology 
  • critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of social and behavioural sciences and psychology 
  • define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their disciplinary areas of expertise 
  • apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others 
  • interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media 
  • coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international context. 

Career opportunities

Future career options may include social welfare consultant, medical researcher, child safety officer, clinical worker, health officer and child development officer.

Graduates who intend to pursue psychology as a career must follow a sequence of education and training in psychology as required by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Following completion of an accredited bachelor degree, graduates should apply for the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) (or an equivalent APAC-accredited fourth-year program) and, on completion, register as provisional psychologists. Those seeking general registration as practicing psychologists in Australia must subsequently successfully graduate from an accredited postgraduate program such as the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology), or undergo a two-year supervised internship program.

For more detailed information on Australian requirements for registration as a psychologist, visit the Australian Psychological Society website.

Professional recognition

The three-year undergraduate major in psychology is professionally accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

  • 4 core units of study (50 credit points) 
  • 1 online core unit of study (12.5 credit points)* 
  • 8 Psychology discipline major units of study (100 credit points) 
  • 12 or 11 units of study* (137.5 to 150 credit points) comprising a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives

* Only for students completing this course online through OUA.

Students may not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate. Students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists.

 International students who successfully gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying. Placements are not available to OUA, Sarawak and other partner students.

 Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

  • 4 Core Units of Study (50 credit points) 
  • 8 units of study from the Psychological Sciences discipline major (100 credit points) 
  • 4 units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points) 
  • 10 units of study comprising an Advanced Minor, and/or Minor and/or or electives (125 credit points)

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

  • 4 Core Units of Study (50 credit points) 
  • 8 units of study from the Psychological Sciences discipline major (100 credit points) 
  • 2 units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points) 
  • 11 units of study comprising an Advanced Minor, and/or Minor and/or electives (137.5 credit points)

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is 200 credit points (normally 16 units)

Admission criteria

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne- Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.

Subject Adjustments

A study score of 25 in Health and Human Development, Legal Studies, any Mathematics, any Science or Sociology equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2023

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 95.85 99.95
Median rank to receive an offer 62.85 67.95
Lowest rank to receive an offer 48.2 56.15

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Educational history

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 200 33%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 131 22%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 168 28%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 66 11%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 12 2%
International students 28 4%
All students 605 100%

Notes:

N/A – Students not accepted in this category

Interested in the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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