Is psychology for you?

Psychology covers a broad range of subject areas, which means that there is something for everyone. Read more ...

What you will study

The Bachelor of Psychology is a four year degree that leads to many career opportunities.  It covers all areas of undergraduate study required by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and the Psychology Registration Board of Australia. Read more ...

Graduating with Honours

With increasing competition in all sectors of employment, students who graduate with Honours have a distinct advantage. It is often considered by employers as an added skill and has been used by previous graduates to pursue higher positions and salaries. Read more...

Great careers

Qualifications in psychology open up a variety of job opportunities for graduates both nationally and internationally. Read more ...

Is psychology for you?

Psychology covers a broad range of subject areas, which means that there is something for everyone. As a psychology student, you will explore different levels of explanation, ranging from neural activity in the brain (neuropsychology) through to memory and decision-making (cognition) and personality and social psychology.

You will learn how the mind develops in children, what can go wrong in abnormal psychology, and how to apply this knowledge in practice such as clinical or counselling psychology. You will also study some of the applications of psychology in areas such as organisational, community and health psychology.

Different pathways

The Bachelor of Psychology is a four-year degree which will provide you with valuable psychological knowledge and skills that can lead to a wide variety of careers. For some this will be in areas such as human resourses, management, community services and research. For others, the path will be toward professional practice as a registered psychologist. The Bachelor of Psychology provides you with many options.

Be recognised

Once you have completed the program requirements, you will have the educational qualifications required for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. You also would be eligible to apply for specialist postgraduate degrees such as the Master of Clinical Psychology degree. You will also meet the current requirements for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society Ltd (APS).

World-class teaching

The staff in psychology are not only high quality teachers, but are also internationally renowned researchers who have received significant funding from National Health and Research Granting bodies.

What will you study?

The Bachelor of Psychology is a four year degree that leads to many career opportunities.  It covers all areas of undergraduate study required by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and the Psychology Registration Board of Australia.

First year will provide you with a broad introduction to the systematic study of human behaviour. You will examine the influences on behaviour of social and cultural environments on personality, as well as normal and abnormal behaviour from childhood to adulthood. You will also cover the mechanisms of behaviour, such as cognitive processes for emotions, perception, learning and memory. Studies in statistics are also included.

Second year expands on topics to provide core studies in psychology. You will be studying the areas of the biological basis of behaviour; cognition and information processing; social psychology and personality; statistics and methodology; and clinical and abnormal behaviour.

In third year you will study core topics in more depth. They include advanced experimental methodology and statistics; neuroscience and psychopharmacology; perceptual processes and learning theory; advanced social and organisational psychology and developmental psychology (child/adolescent).

You will need to meet standards set by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council to enter into fourth year. If you have successfully completed first, second and third year but have not met the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council standards, you will be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Psychological Science.

Fourth year gives you the opportunity to specialise in a specific area of psychology by designing and conducting a research project and undertaking advanced level coursework including theoretical and applied special interest topics. Throughout the four years of your degree, you will be exposed to professional and ethical issues for practising psychologists.

Graduating with Honours

With increasing competition in all sectors of employment, students who graduate with Honours have a distinct advantage. It is often considered by employers as an added skill and has been used by previous graduates to pursue higher positions and salaries. You can develop and carry out research on a topic of interest, potentially leading to further academic study such as a PhD.

If you achieve results throughout the first three years, that meet the requirements (determined by the Faculty), you will be eligible to graduate with Honours.

Entry into Honours is restricted. You must complete 240 units of compulsory and elective courses outlined for the first three years and achieve a minimum GPA of 5.5. The award of Honours is based on academic performance in your third and fourth year:

Honours Class I: you will require a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the 40 unit Research Component.

Honours Class IIA: you will require a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 75 or over for the 40 unit Research Component

OR a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the 40 unit Research Component.

Honours Class IIB: you will require a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 65 or over for the 40 unit Research Component.

To calculate your GPA, click here. 

*Please note this criteria is currently under review.

Great careers

Qualifications in psychology open up a variety of job opportunities for graduates both nationally and internationally. As a psychology graduate you may be employed in occupations as diverse as counsellor, research assistant, human resource consultant, market researcher, employment officer, community development worker and of course psychologist. Psychology graduates work in a range of settings, including:

• Private practice

• Corporations - consulting firms, market research companies, recruitment firms, test development corporations

• Education - universities, schools, career services

• Government departments

• Health and welfare services - hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, substance abuse services, youth services

• Community agencies

• Police force, law courts and prisons

• Counselling services

• Defence forces

• Non-profit organisations and professional associations

• Research institutions

• Training and development services

What's happening

Psychology is in the top 10% of all careers in terms of job prospects, and earnings for psychologists are in the top 30% for all professions.

Employment opportunities for psychology graduates have risen significantly in the last ten years. The federal government predicts job prospects for graduates to remain very strong with psychologists assisting in the management of an increasing range of life issues relating to youth, welfare and disability programs as well as the ageing population.

Achiever profiles

Heidi

Bachelor of Psychology

Psychology is a great degree, you are exposed to many different areas in which psychological theory and practice can be applied. The lecturers are fantastic and there is an excellent research base within the School of Psychology.

Kasey

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

I am currently working for Advanced Personnel Management as a Rehabilitation Consultant/Intern Psychologist. My degree was extremely valuable in teaching me how to convert the knowledge I was gaining into practical skills and applications for my career.

She chose the University of Newcastle for two reasons.

I chose Newcastle because it was the closest uni to my hometown that offered psychology degrees. Secondly, Newcastle is a great place to live, study and work.

The most rewarding aspect of the degree was gaining knowledge and skills that assist me in my professional career; and being able to do so in such a great environment.

Kasey's advice for students thinking of a psychology degree is to:

Keep an open mind, consider areas within psychology you may not have previously considered - you may be surprised. Everyone at the University of Newcastle is extremely helpful. Never be afraid to ask for help from staff or your peers.