Why study with us
The University is ranked first in Australia and fourth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020.
Find out moreCurrently ranked 27th in the world for psychology by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020, reflecting our reputation for quality research and education.
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You can study our accredited Psychology program with the Bachelor of Psychology degree described here, but also through a number of other degrees at the University. For more information on the various ways you can study Psychology, please visit the Faculty of Science website.
The Bachelor of Psychology is ideal for the student who knows they want to work in the industry. By the end of the four-year degree, you will have the basis for provisional registration as a psychologist in Australia and enough training and experience to start working right away.
In the first three years of the course, you will build your specialisation in psychology, studying topics like behavioural neuroscience, social psychology, personality theory, perception, intelligence, abnormal psychology, and developmental psychology. In the fourth year, you will complete an Honours program that includes a research project in a specialised area of psychology that interests you.
Upon graduating, you will be eligible to pursue registration as a psychologist in Australia. For more information on how to become a registered psychologist, see the section below under ‘Professional Accreditation’.
Please note that places in this course are limited and subject to strict enrolment quotas.
Pathways to Psychology
There are several ways you can study psychology at the University of Sydney.
Our Bachelor of Psychology is a four-year degree (including honours as the fourth year), in which you study our fully accredited psychology program plus a selection of science subjects or subjects from a university-wide shared pool. After graduating, you will be eligible to pursue registration as a psychologist in Australia. (see above for more detail).
You can also study our accredited psychology program within the three-year Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Arts; or combined four-year Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies. After completing the psychology program you are eligible to apply for honours in psychology which is necessary to enable you to pursue registration as a psychologist.
The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science also offers a major in psychology. An additional honours year is available to meritorious students who wish to purse registration as a psychologist.
Your third option is to study the non-accredited Psychological Science major, which is also available within the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science; Bachelor of Science, the combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies; and the shared pool of majors.
You are required to complete the Psychology Program, which incorporates the Psychological Sciences major. You are also required to complete a minor, from the shared pool.
The Bachelor of Psychology may be undertaken full-time over four years or part-time over eight years. Full-time students enrol in units of study to the value of 48 credit points ( cp ) in each year.
All students complete core studies in psychology from a defined pool of units each year comprising a minimum 12cp of junior units, a minimum 24cp of intermediate units, and a minimum 30cp of senior units in psychology. You must achieve a minimum 70 percent in first year and maintain a minimum average mark of 70 percent in second and third years to proceed to the honours year in psychology, which comprises a research project of 48cp for the award of the degree.
Bachelor of Psychology
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| 1 | 1 | Psychology | Maths | Elective | Minor |
| 2 | Psychology | Elective | Elective | Minor | |
| 2 | 1 | Statistics and Research | Brain and Behavioural Psychology | Elective | Minor |
| 2 | Personality and Social Psychology | Perception, Cognition and Intelligence | Elective | Minor | |
| 3 | 1 | Advanced Statistics for Psychology | Psychology Elective* | Elective | Minor |
| 2 | Psychology Elective* | Psychology Elective* | Psych 4000-level | Minor | |
| 4 | 1 | Honours | Honours | Honours | Honours |
| 2 | Honours | Honours | Honours | Honours | |
*Psych disciplines include: social, cognitive, behaviour, perceptual systems, statistics, personality, developmental, abnormal, application, psychiatry, neuroscience.
Assumed knowledge depends on subjects chosen.
Mathematics is assumed knowledge for students undertaking the science pathway of this course.
The Bachelor of Psychology includes a fourth year honours course that involves specialised individual research. This fourth year of honours is essential if you intend to apply for postgraduate study that will lead to registration as a professional psychologist. In order to progress successfully into the honours year of the Bachelor of Psychology, you must satisfy the minimum progression requirements expected of students in this course.
The honours year in the Bachelor of Psychology will allow you to explore your research potential and allow you to put the theory from your previous studies into practice.
During honours, you will design a project in a specialised area of psychology, and undertake your project under the supervision of an academic staff member.
The specialised areas offered in the psychology honours program include clinical, cognition, developmental, health, learning, method, neuroscience, perception, personality and intelligence, and social psychology. Please note that the areas available may differ from year to year.
Admission to this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
This course has a mathematics course prerequisite. For details on the prerequisite, and how it applies to you, visit: Mathematics course prerequisites.
If you've already completed university-level or equivalent subjects, you may be able to apply for credit for previous study.
The course includes opportunities to participate in the University's Study Abroad and Exchange Program, the Science Link-Up and Mentoring (SLAM) Program and the Dalyell Scholars program (entry by invitation from the Dean of Science), and opportunities specific to majors or subject areas, such as the Year in Industry program offered by the School of Chemistry.
To meet the requirements for registration as a psychologist in Australia, you first need to complete a four-year tertiary program in psychology accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. You are then eligible to apply for provisional registration, which is necessary to complete the professional training required for full registration.
Full registration requires at least two years of postgraduate study in professional psychology; or one year of postgraduate study in professional psychology plus one year of approved internships; or two years of approved internships.
Full registration as a professional psychologist in Australia and approval of internships is overseen by the Psychology Board of Australia.
You can gain full registration by completing the Master of Clinical Psychology degree at the University of Sydney.
After three years of study (psychology program or Psychological Science major):
After four years of study (honours in psychology) you can pursue registration as a psychologist or enter a range of other careers. Honours graduates have the necessary training to work in:
We’ve reimagined the Sydney Undergraduate Experience – the way we teach and the way you’ll learn – to prepare you for a future full of possibilities.
Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study in the course, and the specific units of study in which you enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
Please note that for some courses there are additional costs in addition to the student contribution. Some of these additional costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Please consult the University's web page for more information: https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Undergraduate Students
The tuition fee for international undergraduate students is an indication of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount. For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
