Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
A scientific approach to emotions, thoughts, and behaviour
From public health to business, this course opens a range of career pathways in addition to professional psychology. You’ll study the scientific foundations of psychology, and zoom in on human relationships or neuroscience. Includes research methods.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 16 Feb 2025,
- 13 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Psychological Science
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Acquire, assess, and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts
- Collect, analyse, and evaluate information and ideas and solve problems using a scientific approach
- Demonstrate awareness of cultural differences and show sensitivity to the diversity across people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, when applying knowledge and skills of psychology
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate effectively in written and oral formats
- Distinguish appropriate values and ethics in psychology
- Employ interpersonal skills and teamwork
Understand the human mind and how it drives behaviour.
La Trobe's Bachelor of Psychological Science will prepare you for a career as a professional psychologist, or in a psychology-related field across industries from clinical psychology to human services and marketing.
Elective subjects with a choice of minor sequences in Human Relationships and Neuroscience gives you the flexibility to work towards the career you want.Â
You'll learn:
- Analytical, research and communication skills
- Learn skills that are essential to your future career in psychology.
- Clinical and health psychology
- Gain an understanding of how to help people cope with mental and physical disorders.
- Developmental and social psychology
- Understand how environmental factors contribute to peoples' psychological makeup.
- Psychological assessment, intervention and research
- Become familiar with methods to understand and measure people's psychological state.
- Learn when and how to intervene and how to conduct research.
- Analytical, research and communication skills
Recommended study pattern
This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field.Â
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absencecovering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Science, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:
- 12 core subjects
- 12 elective subjects  (which can include a major or minors)
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Choose your subjects
Electives
Students may wish to complete a major (detailed below), minor (detailed below) or elective subjects.
Students may wish to complete a major sequence consisting of 8 subjects (120 credit points) from the following arts majors:
- Anthropology
- Archaeological and Heritage Studies
- Asian Studies
- Creative and Professional Writing
- Crime, Justice and Legal StudiesÂ
- Digital Media
- English
- Ethics and Social Justice
- Hindi Studies Beginners
- History
- International Studies
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Sociology
- Sustainability and Development
- Visual Cultures
Students may wish to complete a major sequence consisting of 8 subjects (120 credit points) from the following business majors:
- Agribusiness
- Digital Business
- Management
- Marketing
Students may wish to complete a course related minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following minors:
- Neuroscience
- Human Relationships
Students may wish to complete a minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following arts minors:
- Anthropology
- Archaeological and Heritage Studies
- Asian Studies
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology
- Creative and Professional Writing
- Crime, Justice and Legal Studies
- Digital Media
- English
- Environmental Humanities
- Ethics and Social Justice
- Hindi Studies Beginners
- History
- International Studies
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Sociology
- Sustainability and Development
- Visual Cultures
Students may wish to complete a minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following business minors:
- Accountancy
- Agribusiness
- Digital Business
- Digital Marketing
- Human Resources Management
- Management
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.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
Teach out with subject substitutions - non cognate major and minor
Human Geography Major
- Level two - GEG2ACR removed from the core choice list and HIS2GMN now core.
- Level three - Core - GEG3RED replaced with HIS3AEH
- Level three - Core choice - GEG3001, GEG3FWE and ARC3MAN removed from the core choice list and replaced with ENG3WCE, SOC3EAI and DST3DIP
Human Geography Minor
- Level two - GEG2ACR removed from the core choice list and HIS2GMN now core.
Students who have not selected a major or minor will not have access to Human Geography.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$10,206
Indicative total fee $30,618
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Successful completion of two of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects:
- PSY1BAM Introductory psychology: brain and mind
- PSY1SFP Scientific foundations of psychology
- PSY1PAC Introductory psychology: people and culture
- PSY1APP Applied psychology
Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites
Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
- do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.
Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.
La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.
Note:Â Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.
Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:
Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:
- Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
- Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
- Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.
*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit
Career opportunities
As a graduate, you'll have flexible pathways toward careers that include:
Clinical psychologist
- Assess people's psychological state.
- Diagnose and develop a management plan for treatment and recovery.
- Manage caseloads and referrals.
- Counsel patients, document sessions, report to management and liaise with government departments when necessary.
Public health worker
- Use your knowledge and expertise to support your patients and their communities.
- Monitor people's health, inform, educate and empower people to improve their quality of life.
- Document cases and develop strategies to solve health problems.
Rehabilitation worker
- Work with people suffering from addiction and help them achieve meaning and stability in their lives.
Youth worker
- Work with youth to help them stay healthy, happy and well adjusted.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Psychological Science is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Professional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia will require an APAC-accredited fourth year and additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree as well as an application to the professional body. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science may apply for membership with the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Counsellors | $75K to $93K | Up 12.6% |
Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
Human Resource Managers | Over $120K | Up 85.7% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Psychologists and Psychotherapists | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
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.
How can I pay for my studies?
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.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
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.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
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. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
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.
How do I enrol?
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 a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.