For more information about studying the Bachelor of Psychological Science

Learn more

Program handbook

Description

The University of Newcastle's Bachelor of Psychological Science is for those who are interested in understanding how people think, feel and behave. This degree is for those that are inspired to build new knowledge and discover new things. You will learn from leading psychologists who will guide you through a tailored program, specifically designed to give you the skills that employers are seeking. You’ll be able to follow your passions, and customise your study with a wide range of disciplinary choices. Our guidance and mentoring give you the confidence to know you’re heading where you want to with your career in psychology. You’ll begin the important process of establishing the professional networks that will be critical throughout your career. You’ll have authentic opportunities to work with industry and in research whilst you study. By the time you finish your studies, you will have the practical skills to make a difference in the world and contribute new solutions to the many scientific challenges we face.

The program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)


Program learning outcomes

On successful completion of the program students will have:

  • Comprehended and applied a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline.
  • Applied knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
  • Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
  • Demonstrated self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal skills and teamwork.

Details

Information correct as atMar 29, 2024 9:43 pm
Program code40099
AQF level

Level 7 Bachelor Degree

Locations and UAC codes
Mode of delivery
  • Face to Face
Duration
  • Australian students - 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent.
  • International students - 3 years full-time.
Selection Rank
LocationSelection Rank
Callaghan Campus65.00-
Ourimbah65.00-

Find out more about Selection Ranks

Recommended studiesHSC Biology or equivalent
Term typeSemesters
Fees
  • International students - AUD40,775 (indicative annual fee, 2024)
    Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units) Find out more about fees
Relevant University rules and policies
CRICOS Code095149D

Click on the headings to show/hide sections of content. Hidden information will not be printed. Hide all sections

Admission information

Admission requirements

Eligibility for admission to this program is based on applicants meeting the minimum selection rank, or satisfying the requirements for an approved admission scheme.

The University of Newcastle accepts a range of qualifications to determine eligibility for admission. These include, but are not limited to, Australian or overseas senior secondary qualifications (such as the HSC), prior tertiary studies, prior TAFE/VET studies, and completed enabling programs.

 

 

For further information on the pathways that are available to you, please refer to:

 

 

 

English Language Requirements

All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.

  • IELTS Overall Minimum: 7
  • IELTS Sub Test Minimum: 7

Credit transfer

If you wish to apply for credit for studies completed at another institution, or if you are changing programs within the University and wish to transfer your credit to the new program, visit the University's credit website for more information on applying for credit.


Professional recognition

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Psychological Science will have completed a three year accredited sequence. Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science seeking provisional registration with the Psychologists Board of Australia are required to undertake an accredited 4th year, the University of Newcastle offers the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours). Whilst applicants may have achieved a grade point average to enable application to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) program, an offer is not guaranteed due to a limited amount of places available. Applications will be ranked by academic merit.


Academic requirements for program completion

Total units required

240 units

Program duration

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 8 years maximum.

International students studying this program on campus are required to enrol full time to comply with their student visa requirements and complete their study in the standard minimum program duration. International students requiring enrolment advice should review the program plan corresponding to the semester and year of commencement and can contact their Program Advisor at ProgramAdvice@newcastle.edu.au

Program requirements

Students are required to complete a total of, but no more than, 240 units, comprised of the following:

  • 160 units of core courses
  • 20 units of courses chosen from the Science Course List
  • 20 units of courses chosen from the Psychology Course List
  • 40 units of electives

Please note: Students must only complete courses that form part of the program. Electives include any unrestricted courses offered within the university. In addition the program must include:

  • No more than 100 units at 1000 level.
  • At least 40 units at 2000 level.
  • At least 60 units at 3000 level.

Program planner

Current students program planner

Current students can plan their program using Program Planner.

Program Planner

Prospective student degree planner

If you're a prospective student considering studying this degree take a look at My Degree Planner to see what your study journey will look like.

Additional documents


Transition arrangements

2023 Revision:

From 2023 there are changes to the program structure. For students who commenced the program prior to 2023, please refer to the Transition Arrangements in the Additional Documents section for more information.

2021 Revision:

From 2021 the following courses have been removed from the science directed courses: BIOL2020, ENVS1000, MATH1210, MATH2005, PHYS1150, and STEC2100. Students who commenced the program prior to 2021 and have completed these courses can count up to 20 units towards their science directed courses.

2020 Revision:

From 2020 PSYC4100 was replaced by PSYC4300. STAT2000 was removed as a core course and replaced with a science directed course. PSYC3600 was removed as a core course and replaced with a psychology directed course. For students who commenced the program prior to 2020, please refer to the 2020 Transition Arrangements in the Additional Documents section for more information.

Please note, those commencing in 2020 should take a minimum of 60 units at 3000 level.


Program structure

Students can plan their program using Program Planner. It is recommended students review the program handbook in conjunction with using Program Planner.

Courses that are currently unavailable are hidden by default. You can show them by adjusting the advanced course filters above, or clicking the 'show all' links below each section.

Core

Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
PSYC1000Introductory Research Methods in Psychology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC1010Psychology Introduction 1
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC1020Psychology Introduction 2
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC1200Foundations of Psychological Practice
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
STAT1070Statistics for the Sciences
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC2200Foundations of Psychological Interventions
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC2300Cognitive Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC2400Biological Psychology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC2500Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Disorders
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC2900Social Psychology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3000Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3002Work Integrated Learning in Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3006Individual Differences and Assessment
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC3200Foundations of Applied Psychological Science
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3301Advanced Perception and Learning in Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3700Advanced Developmental Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units

Science Course List

Complete 20 units from the following course list.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
BIOL1001Molecules, Cells and Organisms
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Winter - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
BIOL1002Organisms to Ecosystems
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
BIOL1003Professional Skills for Biological Sciences 1
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
BIOL1040Introduction to Biology INot currently offered10 units
CHEM1010Introductory Chemistry I
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Winter - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
CHEM1020Introductory Chemistry II
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
CHEM1120Chemistry for the Life Sciences II
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
ENVS1001Environmental Science Concepts and Methods
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
ENVS1003Environmental Values and Ethics
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
ENVS1004Social Development and the Environment
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
EXSS1010Foundations of Exercise and Sport ScienceNot currently offered10 units
FSHN1030Introduction to the Nutritional, Physical and Psychological Aspects of Wellness
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GEOG1020Introduction to Human Geography
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
GEOG1030Global Poverty and Development
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
GEOS1040Earth: Our Dynamic Planet
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
GEOS1050Earth: Natural Hazards
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
MARI1000Our Oceans
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
MATH1001Preparatory Studies in Mathematics
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
MATH1002Foundational Studies in Mathematics
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
MATH1110Mathematics for Engineering, Science and Technology 1
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
MATH1120Mathematics for Engineering, Science and Technology 2
  • Summer 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (BCA Singapore)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
MATH1510Discrete Mathematics
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
PHYS1200Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
PHYS1210Advanced Physics I
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
PSYC1800Sex, Drugs and Serial Killers
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
SCIE1001Professional Scientific Thinking
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
SCIE1002Multidisciplinary Laboratories
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
CRIM2020Criminal Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS2004Ecology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
ENVS2008The Sustainable Society
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
EXSS2030Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
FSHN2060Food Marketing and Consumer Behaviour
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GEOG2080Cities and Regions
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
GEOG2130Geographies of Development
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
PHYS2100Introduction to Astronomy
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
PSYC2505Foundations of Psychology and Sociology for Health Professionals
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC2800Special Topics in Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
SCIE2019Astrobiology: Life Beyond our Planet
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
STAT2000Applied Statistics and Research Methods
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
ENVS3005Animal Behaviour
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units

Psychology Course List

Complete 20 units from the following course list.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
PSYC3300Advanced Cognitive Psychology: Theory & Applications
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PSYC3400Advanced Biological PsychologyNot currently offered10 units
PSYC3500Advanced Health Psychology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC3600Advanced Social and Organisational PsychologyNot currently offered10 units
PSYC3800Advanced Special Topics in Psychology 2
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units

Electives

Electives 40 unit requirement

Complete 40 units of electives to fulfil the requirements of the program. Electives can be used to extend and complement your core studies with more courses in the same field of study, or from areas that might be of interest to you. Electives can be chosen from all courses available at the University that do not have any other conditions (such as a course requisite) applied to them.

40 units

Suggested electives

Honours

An Honours year is available to students as a separate program in the form of an additional year to those who meet the entry requirements. Please refer to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) program handbook for information about admission requirements.

Entry into Honours programs is competitive and meeting the minimum GPA requirement does not guarantee that an applicant will be admitted to the program.


Additional information

Through the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, students can access a free suite of NUPrep preparation courses as well as Academic Learning Support.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute.


International students

All International Students enrolled in the program will be provided with an orientation to familiarise them with the rules, expectations, facilities and services offered by the University. Please visit our International Students website to find out more about the support services available to international students.


Additional support

AccessAbility provides advice and reasonable adjustments to Students with a medical or health condition or disability. If you require adjustments to undertake your program, contact the Student Support Advisors - AccessAbility before semester or early in the semester. They will work with the College or School to ensure that this happens in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses, and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. More information is available online.

Bachelor of Psychological Science

UAC Code , Program Code 40099

Selection rank
Duration (FT)(PT)
Next start date

CRICOS Code , Program Code 40099

Indicative fee1
Duration (FT)
Next start date
Select your study options
Student type
Degree duration
Study location
Admission info

Selection rank

Duration (FT)(PT)

Next start date

UAC Code

Program Code 40099

This criteria is based on a full-time domestic student attending Callaghan campus. Please select your criteria to personalise your study options and your circumstances.

Apply via UAC

Indicative fee1

Duration (FT)

Next start date

English proficiency requirements IELTS overall minimum -
IELTS section minimum -

CRICOS Code

Program Code 40099

This criteria is based on a full-time international student attending Callaghan campus. Please select your criteria to personalise your study options and your circumstances.

Apply now