Undergraduate certificates are being reviewed
This qualification may no longer be offered after 30 June 2025. Find out how this may affect your studies.
Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology
UndergraduateCUR-HPS-CTF2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Launch your future in psychology
This is your introduction to formal studies of the human mind. Study 4 core subjects in psychology—and get entry and credit in Curtin’s Bachelor Degree. Explore individual and group behaviour. Start thinking about your career as a psychologist.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
Apply today with no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology
About this degree
This undergraduate certificate aims to enable students to:
- apply principles and concepts of psychology in a variety of contexts relevant to further learning and/or work in an unrelated field
- apply critical and creative thinking and problem solving skills relevant to psychology to generate innovative solutions to problems
- use technology appropriately to communicate effectively
- consider global perspectives on psychology and international psychology standards
- work professionally in teams and independently, and demonstrate life-long learning skills.
Psychology encompasses aspects of human behaviour using tested theoretical framework to examine, explain and predict what we do as individuals and in groups. This Higher Education Certificate leads students into a general applied psychology program.
Recommended study pattern
Students need to complete the 4 subjects in the course structure
Award requirements
To qualify for the Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology students must complete four core 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.
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.
Major Changes for 2022
PSB210 Introduction to Psychoactive Substances has been retired and replaced by PSB220 Introduction to Health Psychology
- students who have completed PSB210 do not have to complete PSB220
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $8,160
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.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 14
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 15
Entry requirements
This undergraduate certificate has no entry requirements and is open to everyone above the age of 16.
If under the age of 18 you will need to provide parental/guardian consent to proceed with your studies.
During your application
We’ll ask you to provide your education history. It’s for government data collection only and will not impact your application.
Skip the questions in the Entry Requirements section by selecting Higher Education. Then enter “n/a” in all the Previous Higher Education Studies boxes.
Although you'll need to consent to an academic results search, we won't conduct it when we process your application.
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience. Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment. To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines. More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning manual (PDF).
Students who believe they have achieved the learning outcome for any of the subjects for the Undergraduate Certificate could lodge a CRL application and it will be assessed on a case by case basis by Curtin University.
Students who have completed the Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology could also be considered for CRL towards Curtin University's Bachelor of Psychology.
Why study an undergraduate certificate?
If you want to get a recognised qualification without committing to a degree straight away, an undergraduate certificate could be for you.
Start small
Gain a recognised qualification in as little as six months.
Use your certificate to boost your career
An undergraduate certificate can be a stepping stone towards becoming a registered psychologist. If you’re not sure you want to be a psychologist, you can use your certificate to apply psychological theories to a range of careers like marketing, human resources and more.
Continue studying on your path to becoming a psychologist
Enter a psychology degree with full credits from your certificate. You’ll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
We're here to help answer your questions. Speak to a student advisor today.
Study method requirements
Important Note: The Undergraduate Certificate qualification was introduced temporarily to the Australian Qualification Framework Second Edition January 2013 to help upskill workers displaced by COVID-19. Currently, the qualification can only be issued by Universities until June 30, 2025, unless extended by the Government. Students must complete their studies before 30 June 2025 to be eligible to be awarded an Undergraduate Certificate.
Career opportunities
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.