Bachelor of Psychological Science
Undergraduate | TAS-PSY-DEG | 2024
Unlock career pathways—including professional psychology
Studying the biological and physical principals of human behaviour can lead to careers in business, education, justice, or care. Get psychology foundations and transferrable skills. Add further accredited study to become a registered psychologist.
Entry pathways available with no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 7 July 2024
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Price from
- $40,720
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Psychological Science
About this degree
Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Analyse major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and evolution of ideas in psychology to professionally and ethically address contemporary issues of cognition and behaviour.
- Reflect on the quality of your own and others’ decisions through critical thinking, sceptical inquiry and interpretation of research evidence, acknowledging the ambiguity of competing explanations.
- Embrace a variety of approaches to lifelong learning to understand diverse influences on behaviour.
- Use contemporary techniques to effectively and ethically communicate with a range of audiences to disseminate knowledge.
Psychology, the study of human behaviour, impacts every environment in which humans live, work, cooperate and communicate. Whether it’s in the classroom or the courtroom, the family home or the extremes of Antarctica, in Tasmanian communities or international relations, psychology plays a role.
If you want to develop knowledge and skills that will enrich your personal and professional life, or your goal is to become a research scientist, counsellor or registered psychologist, the Bachelor of Psychological Science provides the perfect foundation. When you study the science of psychology you will learn about the biological and psychological principles of human behaviour, and will develop the transferable skills of critical thinking, communication and problem solving that are vital everywhere people interact. These include:
- Counselling
- Criminal Justice
- Neuroscience
- Health Services Support e.g. drug and alcohol, cancer, disability, rehabilitation
- Aged, Family and Child Services
- Probation and Parole Services
- Policy and Planning
- Business
- Marketing
- Education
- Public Affairs
- Human Resources, and numerous other areas
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended. If students are undertaking part-time study, we recommend that students complete all first year compulsory subjects prior to completing elective subjects to maximise success.
Standard Pathway
24 subjects (300 credit points) consisting of 16 core subjects and 8 elective subjects.
Year 1. 8 subjects in first year including:
- 4 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-PSY111 Transferable Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY112 Brain and Behaviour
- TAS-PSY124 Mental Health and Individual Differences
- TAS-PSY125 Psychological Processes
- 4 UTAS Electives
Year 2. 8 subjects in second year including:
- 4 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-PSY207 Social Psychology
- TAS-PSY211 Research Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY223 Health and Psychological Wellbeing
- TAS-PSY224 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
- 4 UTAS Electives
Year 3. 8 subjects in third year including:
- 8 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-PSY302 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- TAS-PSY305 Clinical Psychology
- TAS-PSY311 Advanced Research Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY312 Forensic Psychology
- TAS-PSY324 Psychological Assessment and Intervention
- TAS-PSY325 Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience
- TAS-PSY331 Psychology of Language
- TAS-PSY336 Human Behaviour in Extreme Environments
Graduate Entry Pathway
16 core subjects plus 100 credit points Advanced Standing
- Core subjects:
- TAS-PSY111 Transferable Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY112 Brain and Behaviour
- TAS-PSY124 Mental Health and Individual Differences
- TAS-PSY125 Psychological Processes
- TAS-PSY207 Social Psychology
- TAS-PSY211 Research Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY223 Health and Psychological Wellbeing
- TAS-PSY224 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
- TAS-PSY302 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- TAS-PSY305 Clinical Psychology
- TAS-PSY311 Advanced Research Skills in Psychology
- TAS-PSY312 Forensic Psychology
- TAS-PSY324 Psychological Assessment and Intervention
- TAS-PSY325 Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience
- TAS-PSY331 Psychology of Language
- TAS-PSY336 Human Behaviour in Extreme Environments
- 100 credit points will be granted from previous study
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 24 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 3-7 years from commencement.
Exit points
Students will be permitted to exit the program and graduate with the Undergraduate Certificate in Counselling exit award where the requirements of the exit award have been met.
- 4 compulsory subjects:
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
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- 19
Entry requirements
Partially completed an undergraduate course (or equivalent). Applicants must have completed at least two subjects of study (equivalent to 25 UTAS credit points). If an applicant has failed any subjects the application may be subject to further review before an offer is made.
Graduate Entry Pathway
To be eligible for an offer into the graduate entry pathway you must have completed a Bachelor degree (or equivalent) or higher in any discipline in the past 10 years.
Successful completion of any two OUA open access subjects of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified.
Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers made based on the number of places available. In 2024, the minimum required ATAR is 65.
Applicants who have recently completed senior secondary studies but have not received an ATAR may still be eligible for admission. We will consider your individual subject results on a case-by-case basis when we assess your application.
Completed a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or Certificate IV in any discipline.
Applicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement. Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and/or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this program.
Special Consideration
If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here.
Not sure if you meet entry requirements?
You can still get into this degree—here’s how:
Start small
Complete an undergraduate certificate in as little as six months. You’ll gain a recognised qualification and credit to bring to the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
View certificate detailsContinue to a degree
Enter the degree with full credits from your certificate. You’ll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
Use your psychology skills in a range of careers or continue to postgraduate study
We're here to help answer your questions. Speak to a student advisor today.
Career opportunities
There are many career pathways available for students who have completed a degree in psychology, including:
- Counselling
- Aged, family and child services
- Community health and welfare
- Health services support e.g. Drug and alcohol, cancer, disability, rehabilitation
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing and Market Research
- Employment and training services
- Teaching
- Probation and parole services
- Policy and planning
If you aim to become a registered psychologist you will need to complete an APAC accredited fourth year psychology qualification e.g. Honours in Psychology, and then follow one of the following pathways:
- Option 1: 5 + 1 Internship Pathway, e.g. Master of Professional Psychology
- Option 2: APAC-accredited postgraduate professional psychology degree, e.g. Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Further information about these options can be found on the Australian Psychological Society website.
Postgraduate study
In addition to the above, if you successfully complete this course, you may also be eligible to apply for a range of other postgraduate courses including Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas and Masters by coursework and research.
Professional recognition
Accreditation Status: The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a professionally accredited degree. This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Students who complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science may be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours).
Note that completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science does not entitle graduates to register or practice as a psychologist. To be eligible to register as a psychologist, graduates must also complete an APAC accredited Honours year [(e.g., Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)], followed by an APAC accredited postgraduate degree.
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.
Degree FAQs
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.