Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.
The Bachelor of Psychology includes a fourth year honours program that involves specialised individual research. This fourth year of honours is essential if you intend to apply for postgraduate study that will lead to registration as a professional psychologist.
In order to progress successfully into the fourth honours year of the Bachelor of Psychology, you must satisfy the minimum progression requirements expected of students in this course.
The honours year in the Bachelor of Psychology will allow you to explore your research potential and allow you to put the theory from your previous studies into practice. During honours, you will design a project in a specialised area of psychology, and undertake your project under the supervision of an academic staff member. The specialised areas offered in the psychology honours program include clinical, cognition, developmental, health, learning, method, neuroscience, perception, personality and intelligence, and social psychology. Please note that the areas available may differ from year to year.
PLEASE NOTE: This honours course is only available to currently enrolled students in the Bachelor of Psychology degree at the University of Sydney.
Honours subject areas
Units of study
For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website
Further course information
Honours projects
Honours projects in the Faculty of Science
Typical workload and assessment
Generally, the honours year after the Bachelor of Psychology consists of the following three components, however there may be variations to this, depending on the school or discipline area in which you complete honours:
1) a supervised but independent research program
2) additional courses in experimental design/technical training
3) some coursework units of study (classes)
Honours awards and classes
(1) The Bachelor of Psychology is only awarded as an honours degree. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the conditions specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science.
(2) Candidates who do not achieve an honours mark of 65 or more will be awarded a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, depending on their chosen pathway.
Ethics and honours research
As a general principle, any research involving human or animal subjects requires Ethics Committee approval, including (but not limited to projects involving the following kinds of methodologies:
1. questionnaires
2. surveys or interviews (including oral history)
3. telephone interviewing
4. recording by audio or video tape
5. observations of behaviour (including ethnographic fieldwork)
6. experiments involving animals or animal tissue
Please note that a key part of the approval process involves ensuring that the University complies with its duty of care to students. Safety protocols must be prepared for all students conducting any research off-campus, whether in Australia or overseas.
Applying for ethics clearance
Please consult the Faculty of Science for advice about ethics clearance applications.
Closing dates for ethics applications
Please consult the Faculty of Science, or the school/department through which you are undertaking honours, for advice about closing dates for ethics clearance applications.
Postgraduate research at the University
The Faculty of Science has an outstanding reputation for the quality of its postgraduate research programs across a wide range of science disciplines. With significant levels of funding from various research councils and bodies, and the provision of major research facilities, the faculty is committed to providing leading education and research training to its students.
There are a range of research programs available, depending on which stage you are at in your academic career. Whether at the doctoral or master's level, you undertake self-directed, supervised research in your specialised area of science, and produce a thesis considered to be a substantially original contribution to the subject concerned.
The honours year in psychology provides a research training pathway to our higher research degrees, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MSc). The postgraduate research programs offered by the faculty attract a large number of domestic and international students each year.
Read more information about science research programs: http://sydney.edu.au/science/fstudent/postgrad/research/program.shtml
Joint and double honours
Joint and double honours programs are possible across science disciplines, at the discretion of each discipline.
Joint honours is normally completed over the course of one year (worth 48 credit points) and involves the completion of one research project involving two disciplines. Your project is guided by two supervisors, one from each discipline involved. Discussion between disciplines should determine arrangements for your completion of joint honours.
Double honours involves completing all the honours work in two disciplines and thus normally lasts for two consecutive years (96 credit points). Students will be expected to inform both disciplines of their enrolment in two programs for double honours.
Applying for honours
It is not possible to apply for this honours course. This honours course is only available to currently enrolled students in the Bachelor of Psychology degree at the University of Sydney.
Admission
Admission requirements
To qualify to enrol in the honours course, students shall have completed 144 credit points of the BPsych including completion of all intermediate and senior units of study in psychology with an average grade of distinction or better.
Students shall complete the requirements for the honours course full-time over two consecutive semesters. If the faculty is satisfied that a student is unable to attempt the honours course on a full-time basis and if the Head of School of Psychology so recommends, permission may be granted to undertake honours part-time over four consecutive semesters. A student may not re-attempt an honours course.
How to apply
Domestic students
How to apply
It is not possible to apply for this honours course. This honours course is only available to currently enrolled students in the Bachelor of Psychology degree at the University of Sydney.
International students
How to apply
It is not possible to apply for this honours course. This honours course is only available to currently enrolled students in the Bachelor of Psychology degree at the University of Sydney.
Fee disclaimer
Domestic students
Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount
This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.
For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.
Annual review
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.
International students
Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students
This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.
For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.
Annual review
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.
In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.