Frequently Asked Questions

Questions asked by current students

What subjects do I need to do for the Psychology major? 
To complete a psychology major in the BA or BSc you need to pass PSYC121, PSYC122, PSYC123, PSYC231, PSYC234, PSYC236, PSYC241, PSYC250, PSYC347, PSYC345 or PSYC349 or PSYC352, plus one other third year psychology subject.  However, if you intend to apply for the honours year you must also complete PSYC249, PSYC348, PSYC354 and at least 76 credit points of 2nd and 3rd year psychology in total.

Can I transfer into the BPsychology? 
Applications to transfer into the BPsyc are only considered at the end of each year, or in the case of third year students after first session.  An announcement regarding the submission process for applications is made at those times by SOLS email and on the School website.  Applications to transfer into the BA or BSc can be made at any time.

How is entry to honours determined? 
Entry into the honours program is competitive and based on the average mark from your best 76 credit points of second and third year psychology subjects.

Do you take work/voluntary experience into account in entry for honours? 
No, entry is based solely on marks in the undergraduate subjects.

What other subjects can I do in my degree? 
If you are enrolled in the BSc you must complete 90 credit points in total from the Health & Behavioural Sciences Faculty or the Science Faculty.  If you are enrolled in the BA(Psychology) you must complete 90 credit points from the Behavioural Sciences Faculty or the Arts Faculty.  Other subjects to make up the 144 credit points in your degree can come from those faculties or from the General Schedule, which is the list of subjects from around the university that are open to students in any degree.  The General Schedule includes a wide variety of subjects from all faculties, so there is a lot of choice.

If you are enrolled in the BPsyc you must complete the specified 1st, 2nd and 3rd year psychology subjects totalling 102 credit points, plus an additional 42 credit points of subjects that can come from the Health & Behavioural Sciences Faculty or the Science Faculty or the General Schedule.

Do I need to complete a BPsyc to become a psychologist? 
No, to become a psychologist requires the completion of 4 years of study in accredited programs.  The major in psychology in the BSc or BA is accredited as the first three years of study. To complete a fourth year you must complete either an honours year or the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology. However, note that entry to the honours year requires the completion of more subjects than just those in the major (see What subjects do I need to do for the Psychology major?).

How do I become a registered psychologist? 
To be registered as a psychologist you must complete four years of study in accredited programs and then either complete two years of supervised practice or an accredited Masters degree that incorporates the supervision requirement.

What is academic consideration? 
Academic consideration is the term for applying for consideration in relation to your responsibilities as a student to attend classes, submit assignments and sit tests on time.  Consideration may take the form of an extension on an assignment, or being allowed to sit a quiz late.  Consideration is given for unusual circumstances such as illness, accident or on compassionate grounds.  Consideration cannot be requested for other foreseeable demands such as having other assignments due or normal work demands.

Can I start the honours program mid-year? 
No, the only intake into honours is at the beginning of the academic year as entry is competitive and each applicant is ranked against all other applicants.  Applications must be made during the preceding year.

Do I have to be enrolled in the BPsyc in order to do honours? 
No. Entry to honours is competitive and the best students from the BPsyc, BSc and BA degrees are all eligible.

I have noticed that some lecturers do not place their lecture slides on the eLearning site. Isn’t this a university policy? 
No, there is no university policy that lecture slides must be made available to students.  Different lecturers have different views on the role of lectures, and of the notes, in a university education, and even a different philosophy of education.  Each staff member makes their own decision on issues such as these, for their own reasons, and we ask students to respect those decisions.

I want to be a clinical psychologist. Why do I have to study a lot of non-clinical subjects? 
Clinical psychology deals with aberrant or maladaptive psychological processes.  Many psychological disorders are characterised by the extreme level or intensity of a process which at more moderate levels is regarded as normal.  Therefore, one view is that we can best understand abnormal psychological processes or states in reference to normal psychological processes. It is the view of the Australian Psychological Society and the various accrediting bodies in Australia that the undergraduate psychology course should prepare students for clinical training by giving them a broad knowledge and solid understanding of normal psychological processes.