Bachelor (Honours)
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) consists of a year-long major independent research project (completed under the guidance of an academic supervisor), and a thesis based on the project.
In addition, you'll complete advanced core and elective coursework.The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) consists of a year-long major independent research project (completed under the guidance of an academic supervisor), and a thesis based on the project.
The research project may be undertaken in most areas of psychology, such as:
The coursework requirement includes content that encompasses history, professional ethics, evidence-based practice and advanced coverage of selected contemporary issues in psychology.
This degree also provides an academic foundation for you to continue on to a master's by coursework, a master's by research or a PhD.
Please note this program cannot be completed part-time.
Learn with the best
UNSW Science is at the forefront of many new scientific developments, teaching and innovation. We're responsive to the needs of industry, adaptive to change and take an innovative approach to teaching and learning. We're ranked 30th in the world and 2nd in Australia for psychology.*
Learn from industry-leading educators
You come to university to learn from the experts - researchers who are leaders in their fields, striving to create new knowledge. The School of Psychology is well known for its research tradition. Many of our staff have international reputations in their respective fields and a number are Fellows of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. Our staff attract several million dollars in external research funds per year. Our staff publications receive more citations than any other psychology department in Australia and we have one of the highest rates of PhD graduations in psychology of any Australian university. We earn more competitive research funding and publish more Tier 1 journal articles per academic than any other psychology school in Australia.
Access cutting-edge facilities
Our teaching facilities include world-leading behavioural neuroscience laboratories and cognitive testing laboratories running specialist software that will allow you to design/implement your own psychological research and analyse/interpret the data you collect. You'll also gain access to laboratories for the analysis of cognition and brain function, including electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and eye-tracking.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
The number of places available for honours varies from year to year and depends upon the availability of School resources. Eligibility requirements vary depending on whether you are an internal or external applicant.
Internal applicants
An internal applicant is a student who completes an APAC-accredited undergraduate (or bridging) sequence in psychology at UNSW the year immediately prior to commencing honours. For example, a student completing at any point during 2022 will be considered an internal applicant for the 2023 honours year.
Admission is competitive and depends on the availability of School resources and is subject to academic performance, based on your Psychology Average (Distinction minimum). A Psychology Average of 75 is the minimum eligibility requirement but does not guarantee a place.
Refer to the School of Psychology website
Please note that places are subject to availability and will be awarded based on academic performance. There is no preference given to any particular psychology sequence in gaining entry to honours and honours is the same for all students, regardless of the degree program in which they completed their undergraduate psychology major sequence.
External applicants
The number of places available for external applicants (if any) varies from year to year and depends upon the availability of School resources.
The minimum requirement for eligibility to apply for the honours year is to complete an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Graduates can complete further study and supervised practice to become a psychologist with general registration, or a psychologist with an area of practice endorsement.
Graduates can also apply what they have learned about experimental design, data analysis and communication to careers in business, consulting, program evaluation, behavioural analysis and more.
Check out the UNSW Psychology Alumni Gateway
The program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council