Bachelor of Psychology
Undergraduate
ECU-PSY-DEG 2024Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
An accredited pathway to becoming a psychologist
Understanding feelings, thoughts and behaviours builds your awareness of why people act and interact—making you a highly valued employee. Work towards a professional psychologist practice, or unlock careers in mental health, business, and policy.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- 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 Psychology
About this degree
At the end of the program, students of the Edith Cowan University (ECU) Bachelor of Psychology can:
- Apply broad psychology knowledge to a range of theoretical and technical situations.
- Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise/synthesise complex psychology knowledge and problems.
- Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate psychological solutions and responses.
- Use digital technologies and psychology related literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
- Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
- Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values through appropriate psychology methods.
- Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and scholarship.
- Communicate psychology knowledge and ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
Our degree in psychology is designed for students with a humanities or science background and is a bridge to many different employment opportunities, including in mental health, human resources, child and family services, youth work, alcohol and drug counselling, rehabilitation and disability, migrant support or research and policy development. It will equip you with skills in analysing and researching behaviour and explaining interactions between people and their environment, learning from expert academics, researchers and practitioners.
This course is accredited with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and recognised internationally. When you graduate, you’ll have a pathway to Honours and postgraduate studies, leading to registration as a psychologist.
This course can be studied online or oncampus.
Recommended study pattern
Students will be required to complete twelve core units (180 credit points). This will be supported by selection of a 180 credit point supplementary program, comprising of: a Double Major; or a Major plus a Minor/elective units; or a Minor plus elective units. These may be selected from anywhere within the university. Generally, units in this course should be completed in year sequence (e.g. all first-year units should be completed before proceeding to second-year units).
Award requirements
Students are required to complete 360 credit points.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $35,250
The amount shown here is 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.
ECU is ranked one of the world’s best young universities and Australia’s best public university for teaching quality. That quality extends to more than 30,000 students, many studying online through Open Universities Australia. ECU offers the same quality of teaching to you, regardless of where you’re studying in the world. Their flexible study solutions include a huge range of online courses, recognising your need to juggle work, family or other commitments.
Learn more about ECU.
Explore ECU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 28
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 25
How to apply
Edith Cowan University manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Edith Cowan University who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. Academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- AQF Cert IV
- Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent)
- Undergraduate Certificate
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test*
- University Preparation Course*
- Indigenous University Orientation Course*; or
- Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment*.
*For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.
Alternatively, applicants can apply with the indicative or guaranteed ATAR.
Alternatively, applicants can apply via Experience Based Entry Scheme, subject to eligibility. Our Experience Based Entry Scheme allows you to be considered for entry to an undergraduate course through an assessment of your ability to succeed in higher education. This is based on a portfolio of evidence you provide to us.
Students can satisfy English competency requirements by showing any of the following:
• Results of Year 12 English ATAR or English Literature ATAR with a grade C or better or equivalent.
• Results of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test to ECU’s standards.
• An IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0).
• Completion of 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada.
• Completion of an ECU University Preparation Course, Indigenous University Orientation Course, or Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment.
• Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree as described by the Australia Qualifications Framework.
• Completion of 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
• Completion of other tests, courses or programs as accepted by ECU.
If you have completed units of study at University, undertaken a Diploma qualification or higher, or have relevant professional experience, you may be eligible for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning (CRPL).
To assess your eligibility for credit, we first need you to apply for and accept an offer in your course of interest with us. You can then submit an Application for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning via your Student Portal.
Career opportunities
Employment opportunities in psychology span across many fields, including human resources management, criminal justice, education, rehabilitation, business, mental health, counselling, and the administration and provision of social services; in particular, performing in any job or role that involves understanding and guiding human behaviour, showing empathy and compassion, and displaying skills such as the ability to evaluate the needs of a client, write formal reports, and keep accurate and organised records. Finally, this course will prepare students for further postgraduate studies in psychology.
Possible future job titles:
Public Sector Worker, Government Agency Worker, Market Researcher, Children and Family Service Provider, Marketer, Human Resource Worker, Statistician, Mental Health Services Worker, Financial Service Worker, Police Force Officer.
Professional recognition
This course is an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited 3-year sequence in Psychology, suitable for students intending on undertaking further study and training to become a practicing Psychologist.
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