Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) requires the completion of 48 units, which must consist of:

48 units from completion of the PSYC-HSPC Psychology Honours specialisation

Specialisations

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to ANU is on a competitive basis as the number of places available in a program is limited. Admission to Honours is also subject to supervisory capacity and approval from the relevant Delegated Authority within the Academic College.

An AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Science (Psychology) Degree, or equivalent, completed within the last two years:

• with a weighted average mark equivalent to an ANU 70 per cent calculated from the 36 units (i.e. 0.75 EFTSL) of courses in the discipline cognate to the honours specialisation, excluding 1000-level courses (i.e. introductory undergraduate courses), with the highest marks.
• With a weighted average mark equivalent to ANU 60% for all 1000, 2000 and 3000-level APAC accredited psychology courses
• And the satisfaction of any admission requirements described in the relevant honours specialisation

Students undertake honours in the same named Bachelor degree as their pass degree, except where that degree is not available (such as when transferring from another institution) or doing so conflicts with the content of the honours study.

Cognate Disciplines

Psychology

The National Register of higher education providers is an authoritative source of information that will help you confirm your institution of choice is registered to deliver higher education in Australia.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) website is HERE. Based on surveys done by thousands of students across Australia you can find out about universities that interest you, doing side-by-side comparisons.

Cognate Disciplines

Psychology

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant’s Selection Rank (for example an applicant’s ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Learning Outcomes

1. Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation of a chosen research topic to generate new knowledge.
2. Systematically evaluate relevant theory, concepts and practice in psychology, relate these to appropriate research and applied methodologies and evidence, including in relation to cross-cultural perspectives, and draw appropriate conclusions.
3. Demonstrate sufficient mastery to understand and apply relevant experimental techniques and methods in psychology to collect original research data, and to analyse and interpret original psychological research data with statistical or other analytical methods where appropriate.
   
4. Describe evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches, including cultural considerations such as when working with Indigenous Australians. 
   
5. Communicate and justify complex theoretical concepts and empirical results clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
   
6. Demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills including active listening, effective questioning, building rapport, appropriate cultural responsiveness and empathic responding.

Inherent Requirements

Further Information

General advice:

Admission to Psychology Honours extremely competitive. The primary intake is in Semester 1. Students wishing to start Hons in Semester 2 should contact the school or Honours convener before the mid-year Honours applications deadline in May as there will be limited availability of supervision.

Minimum required PSYC learning to meet eligibility requirements:

Students in an ANU BSc, BA or PhB who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete a specific set of courses that satisfy the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accreditation requirements.

• Students admitted to their relevant undergraduate ANU program prior to 2023 who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology are expected to have completed PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses (or, for PhB students, 3000 level SCNC courses with a psychology supervisor). This constitutes the minimum required learning in Psychology for accreditation.
• Students admitted from 2023 who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology are expected to have completed  PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC2012, PSYC3018, PSYC3020 , PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and PSYC3202. This constitutes the minimum required learning in Psychology for accreditation.

Applying for admission:

• Students in an ANU BSPSY Bachelor of Science (Psychology) who wish to apply for Psychology Honours will need to select the 3609 HSPSY when applying through the ANU portal.
• Students in an ANU ASCAD Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) who wish to apply for Honours in Psychology are encouraged to seek academic advice from the College of Science Student Administration Office before completion of 72-96 units of study (students.chm@anu.edu.au)
• Students in a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in Science program can apply for Honours in Psychology in these programs. You will need to have satisfied the accredited sequence that is achieved through the PSYC-MAJ and PSYC-SPEC (see minimum volume of learning above).

Applicants from Australian Universities (other than ANU) must provide evidence from their University that their qualification is APAC accredited. Applicants with qualifications obtained outside Australia must have a formal assessment of comparability against the Australian psychology education pathway (called an “assessment of psychology qualifications”) by the Australian Psychological Society.

For more information on an Honours year in the College of Health and Medicine, including deadlines, please click here

Important fee information for commencing and continuing domestic undergraduate students intending to study psychology as a professional pathway

Please note that due to changes in Australian government funding from 2021 as a result of the Job Ready Graduates Package, fees for Behavioural Science courses will be invoiced at different rates. This will affect students in the following manner:

Commencing Students

Study of the accredited sequence of psychology courses taken under the psychology degrees recognised by the Australian Government will be eligible for the Professional Pathway funding rates (HECS band 2). At ANU, these programs are:

• Bachelor Science (Psychology) - (3 year degree)
• Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) - (+1 Hons year)
• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) - (4 year degree incl Honours).

Note that Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) students who commenced their Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at ANU prior to 1 January 2021will be classed as continuing students. 

While psychology courses can be taken as part of other programs of study at ANU (e.g. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)), the study of psychology is not compulsory therefore Psychology courses in these programs will be charged different fees (HECS band 4).

Continuing students

Continuing students (enrolled before 1 January 2021) studying courses in disciplines with increased student contribution amounts, will be grandfathered under the legislation. That is, they will continue paying the same amount as they would have, had these reforms not been implemented for any courses that would otherwise have an increased student contribution. 

 For more information on the 2021 fee changes to Student Contributions Amounts, please visit https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/student-contributions; and for more information on the Job Ready Graduates Package please visit  https://www.studyassist.gov.au/

APAC Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)