Bachelor of Psychological Science

Course summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, and how they influence behaviour. Psychological research seeks to identify those mechanisms that explain behaviour in various contexts. Psychologists use research findings to help us understand who we are and how we think, feel, act and change. By understanding these aspects of human behaviour, psychologists are able to promote wellbeing and understand psychological problems affecting people. Psychologists' clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations.

This degree

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a three-year undergraduate degree. You can make a choice to deepen your studies in psychology with the objective of becoming a registered psychologist or you can take complementary studies from UOW's wide variety of disciplines to develop other career pathways where knowledge of psychology is advantageous.

Students with an excellent academic record and an extended major in psychology can apply for entry to the additional one-year Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree, a prerequisite to professional registration.

If you combine your studies with a second major, or minor options from Social Science, Arts, Commerce or Science, you can prepare for a wide variety of careers involving human resources, marketing, social research, work health and safety and many more.

What you will study

During this degree you will study the foundations of psychology and learn about research methods and statistics. You will also undertake study in the following areas:

  • personality
  • biological psychology and learning
  • cognitions and perception
  • development and social psychology, and
  • psychology of abnormality

Pathway to Teaching

You may also take a minor in Education Studies and complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Pathway to Primary Education) (UAC: 753225).

This pathway degree offers priority entry to the Master of Teaching (Primary) and a reduced study load while undertaking your master’s degree. You’ll graduate with an undergraduate and postgraduate degree, as well as the qualification and skills to teach children aged 5-12 years.

If you want to be a School Counsellor you need to be a trained teacher as well as a registered psychologist. The pathway degree in Bachelor of Psychological Science will not qualify you for Psychology honours and professional registration, but will enable you to reach that goal quickly in the future with some additional study.

Learn more about our teaching pathways

Please note: The Bachelor of Psychological Science supersedes the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from 2016.

Course information

Study area

Psychology

Campus

Wollongong

Course Code

364

ATAR-SR

75

IB Score

26

Duration

3 years full-time, or part-time equivalent

Delivery

On Campus

Cricos

086228B

UAC Code

753220

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For any specific advice or questions regarding an application, please contact the Future Students Team.

Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.

Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via non-ATAR or ATAR-based options.

NON-ATAR ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than ATAR.

Non-ATAR admissions at UOW take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.

Early Admission

Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.

ATAR-BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of ATAR or ATAR plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

Guaranteed entry selection ranks

The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an ATAR-Selection Rank of 75 or an IB of 26. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.

Adjustment factors

Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your ATAR to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your ATAR. Find out more about UOW's adjustment factors.

Other Admission Criteria

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit for prior learning towards your degree. Where relevant to the UOW degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

Click here for more information on UOW's credit transfer arrangements.

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject. For information regarding student contribution amounts, please refer to the UOW Current Students website.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at UOW, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in Australia.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.


ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

6.5

6.0

6.0

6.0

6.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

86

18

18

17

17

UOW College: English for Tertiary Studies: Credit (weighted average mark of 65 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

Other qualifications may also be considered. Full details can be found on our English Language Requirements website.


CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit for prior learning towards your degree. Where relevant to the UOW degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

Click here for more information on UOW's credit transfer arrangements.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Wollongong

On Campus

$17,568 (2024)

$105,408 (2024)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. The fees outlined in your Letter of Offer of Admission to the University are correct at the point of offer, but are indicative and subject to change without notice. The indicative total course tuition fee is an estimate, based on normal course length and progression and current course fees.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT



STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2023.

Applicant background

2023 intake

2023 intake (%)

Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-

Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-

Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education

ATAR Only Students admitted only on the basis of ATAR including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-

ATAR plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both ATAR and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-

Other criteria only (non-ATAR) These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where ATAR was not a factor (e.g. UOW Early Admission).

-

-

International students All other students.

-

-

All students

-

-

< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)


ATAR PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘ATAR-based admission’.

ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2023

ATAR The unadjusted, raw ATARs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR. Selection Rank The ATARs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-

Median rank to receive an offer

-

-

Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-

< 5: Less than 5 ATAR-based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)

More Information

For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2024 Autumn

Wollongong

Orientation: 20 - 22 February 2024
Session: 26 February – 21 June 2024

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (UAC): 29 September 2023 (early bird), 2 February 2024 (final) (see UAC Key Dates).
  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 31 December 2023*
  • International Applicants: 31 December 2023*

*Complete applications (with all required documentation) received by these dates will receive an outcome prior to the start of session.
Applications received after these dates will continue to be assessed for the requested session until 4 weeks prior to session (international), and start of session (domestic). Late applications may be assessed for future sessions if an outcome for the requested session is not possible.

2024 Spring

Wollongong

Orientation: 15 July 2024
Session: 22 July – 15 November 2024

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (UAC): 4 July 2024 (see UAC Key Dates).
  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 31 May 2024*
  • International Applicants: 31 May 2024*

*Complete applications (with all required documentation) received by these dates will receive an outcome prior to the start of session.
Applications received after these dates will continue to be assessed for the requested session until 4 weeks prior to session (international), and start of session (domestic). Late applications may be assessed for future sessions if an outcome for the requested session is not possible.

Course Structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Handbook

Accreditation & professional recognition

Completion of four years in Psychology is an important step for registration as a psychologist in Australia. The Bachelor of Psychological Science is accredited as the first three years of study. To complete the four years, students must complete an Honours year to meet the academic requirements for eligibility for provisional registration as a psychologist. An additional two years of education and training is necessary to apply for general registration. This can be through a fifth year at University plus one year of supervised practice in the community or an approved postgraduate degree accredited at the fifth and sixth year level. You can find more information on general registration pathways on the Psychology Board of Australia website.

Why choose this course

The UOW School of Psychology offers excellent facilities and staff, which guarantee quality education and opportunities for first-rate research. The Northfields (Psychology) Clinic located on campus provides training and supervision of graduates in clinical psychology through a psychological service to the community. The Clinic offers a range of assessment, intervention and counselling services for children, adolescents and adults.

Career opportunities
  • Personnel Services
  • Human Resources
  • Organisational Behaviour
  • Government Agencies or Private Enterprise
  • Industrial Relations
  • Data Analyst
  • Life Coach
  • Brand Manager
  • Marketing And Advertising
  • Educational Officer
  • Developmental Officer
  • Community or Social Services
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