Facts & figures
Study area_
Psychology
Develop your understanding of human behaviour
Explore how you can study Psychology, which has applications in many areas of life, including relationships, health, work and development.
Psychology is a fast growing and exciting science. It helps to shape our understanding of how people perceive, think, feel and interact with other humans, animals and even artificial entities in our always changing and dynamic world.
As a student in psychology you will learn to ask, as well as how to answer, important questions about behaviour.
- How does the brain store and retrieve memories?
- What plays a bigger role – nature or nurture?
- Can psychology help cure dementia?
- Why are some people prone to gambling and others not?
Psychology courses
If you wish to be eligible to undertake professional training at the postgraduate level to become a registered psychologist, you must complete our psychology program, an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited undergraduate sequence.
The program consists of 10 psychology units of study, over the course of three years full-time. Completion of the program is a requirement in order to proceed to an honours year, the next step on the path to becoming a registered psychologist.
The psychology program can be undertaken in any of the following degrees (accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)) as well as in any degree combined with the Bachelor of Science.
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Psychology Honours
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science
- Bachelor of Science (Health) *
- Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Health)
- Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine
- Bachelor of Science and Master of Nursing
- Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws
*Dalyell and Advanced streams in the above degrees can accommodate the psychology program, with the exception of BSc(Health)(Dalyell).
Students also have the option to major in Psychological Science. This is designed for those who are interested in psychology, but do not wish to pursue professional registration in psychology.
Graduate Diploma in Psychology
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (GDP) is designed for individuals who already hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline but wish to retrain in the field of psychology. The GDP allows you to progress to our accredited honours year through the BAS (Honours) degree.
Clinical psychology
This course is the path to working as a professional clinical psychologist in many clinical and community settings. Applicants must have completed honours in psychology to be eligible for admission.
Coaching psychology
Coaching psychology is a fast‑growing approach to enhancing the performance, productivity and quality of life of individuals, organisations and the broader community.
- Master of Science in Coaching Psychology
- Also available as a Graduate Certificate and a Graduate Diploma
Postgraduate research students joining the school will enjoy a supportive environment within their area of research specialisation and the wider school community.
View our research areas. Find a supervisor via Research Supervisor Connect or learn more about postgraduate research.
Accreditation
Our four-year Bachelor of Psychology Honours degree and our three-year psychology program with honours in psychology are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
These courses will allow you to apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, which is needed to later attain full registration.
To become a practicing Clinical Psychologist and gain full registration, you will need to complete our Master of Clinical Psychology or Master of Clinical Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
These courses are also accredited by APAC and are approved qualifications for Associate Membership of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) and the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.
These postgraduate courses are recognised by NSW Health as qualifying for progression to the grade of clinical psychologist.
Although our courses are widely recognised overseas, some countries have their own procedures and controls for professional recognition.
Why study Psychology with us?
Our research-led teaching means you’ll be taught by leading psychologists and scientists who will share their latest findings with you. We are ranked 3rd in Australia and equal 31st in the world for psychology by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.
We have state-of-the-art research facilities including the Charles Perkins Centre and the Brain and Mind Centre, where you will gain hands on experience in various domains of psychology including neurobiological foundations to clinical therapy, social interaction to decision making, and from psychopharmacology to virtual reality.
If you are a high-achieving student you may be invited to join the Dalyell Scholars program and have access to a range of enrichment opportunities. In recent Dalyell projects students have investigated gambling, obesity, chronic disease, neuropsychology and the application of technology to enhance eyewitness memory.
Psychology careers
Our graduates can be found working across a variety of roles, including:
- clinical, forensic, organisational or sports psychologist (with further study)
- neuroscientist
- market researcher
- school counsellor
- advertising executive
- management consultant
- social policy analyst
- learning and attention researcher
Honours graduates have the necessary training to work in schools, hospitals, prisons, human resources, with people with developmental disabilities, and in various social policy areas in the private and public sectors.