Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Honours)

VU course code: AHPA | CRICOS: 071137F | Level of study: Undergraduate
1 year full time or longer for part time
In Person
Footscray Park
24 February 2025
16 February 2025
Overview

Overview

Develop specialist knowledge to truly understand people with the Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Honours) at Victoria University.

If you have an accredited Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) with a major in psychology, our honours course provides the opportunity to enhance your learning and improve your career prospects with an additional year of study.

The honours year will focus your learning within informed, conceptual thinking and research skills, allowing you to gain a deeper awareness of human motivations, responses and relationships.

By completing a research thesis, you’ll graduate with a sought-after honours qualification. From there, you'll be ready to explore postgraduate courses in psychology, or careers from social work to community services.

Specifically, you’ll learn to:

  • use advanced cognitive, research, and problem-solving skills to pursue postgraduate research or a professional career in psychology
  • employ skills in independent research and theoretical analysis in psychology
  • assess and evaluate the nature of psychology as a profession, the ethical and legal responsibilities of the psychologist and the role of the Australian Psychological Society.

If you don’t have a bachelor degree, start by considering our Bachelor of Psychological Studies and the range of psychology courses offered by VU. 

Entry requirements

This course is for students who have studied an accredited Australian bachelor degree in psychology. Round 1 applications will close on 28 October 2024.

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

Entry criteria


Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Honours), students will be required to complete 96 credit points, consisting of:

  • 48 credit points of Core studies; and
  • 2 x 24 credit points of Core Thesis studies.

Fees & scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

10% discount for alumni

If you’ve previously completed a qualification with us, and you’re paying full fees for this course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount.

Find out how

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

Honours graduates can pursue research postgraduate degrees which lead to accreditation as a registered psychologist.

As a psychologist, you could be employed in one of several thriving industries including health care, public administration or education.

Alternatively, your career can span the fields of:

  • welfare
  • social work
  • community services
  • human resources.

Salaries

See the average salary for psychologists in Australia. Starting salaries for graduates may be different.

Placement in VU's Psychology Clinic

Honours graduates have the foundation to pursue research postgraduate degrees (Masters by Research or PhD) which lead to accreditation as a registered psychologist.

If you continue on to postgraduate studies in psychology, you will work with clients in the VU Psychology Clinic. The Clinic provides discounted psychological services to the community.

Assessment and treatment for anxiety, learning difficulties and difficult life events are provided by provisional psychologists who are supervised by experienced clinical psychologists.

Employment growth

More people are reaching out to psychologists and counsellors, as the benefits of cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis over traditional practices and medication become evident.

Professional Accreditation/Industry Recognition

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

VU stories

Natasha Jones
Goal: clinical psychologist
Bachelor of Psychological Studies
"I’d definitely recommend VU and my course. It's a lot more student-oriented than other universities."
Natasha's story