Entry requirements for psychology degrees explained

Can you get into a psychology degree?

In many cases, yes! Entry requirements vary depending on the course you’re interested in, your study background and where you are in the psychology registration pathway.

If you’re not eligible straight away, that doesn’t mean psychology is off the table. You may just need to start with an earlier qualification and work towards entry.

Let’s explore the most common entry requirements in psychology, and what your options are.

Entry requirements for psychology degrees at a glance

Entry requirements can look different depending on whether you want to become a registered psychologist, or study psychology to support another career.

If you want to become a registered psychologist

If your goal is registration, your course choices need to follow a set sequence. You can learn more about the exact sequence in our guide to registration, but as a starting point, these are the qualifications you’ll need and the typical criteria to meet at each stage.

Note: Courses on the registration pathway must be accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

If you’re interested in psychology for another reason

It’s also very common to study psychology for other careers, like human resources, education, healthcare and social services. In fact, a lot of our students fall into this camp.

If that sounds more like you, here’s a broader view of the main psychology qualification levels and their typical entry requirements. This refers to courses that aren’t necessarily accredited by APAC.

Undergraduate entry requirements

Bachelor degrees

When you study psychology at this level, you'll apply for a Bachelor of Psychology, a Bachelor of Psychological Science, or a combined degree, like a Bachelor of Arts with psychology as your major. These are the main options whether you want to become a psychologist or not.

For direct entry, universities will usually look for one of the following:

• completed Year 12 with an ATAR of at least 70.0; or

• completed a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma through a registered training organisation. 

But there are some wonderful alternative pathways available into a bachelor degree, which I’ll go into further down. In most cases, you don’t need to have studied psychology at school or have any existing knowledge of the subject to apply for direct entry.

English language requirements

If English isn’t your first language, or you completed your previous education in another language, you may also need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. This is often done through an approved English language test, such as IELTS.

Postgraduate entry requirements

Graduate certificates

Graduate certificates aren't generally on the APAC pathway, though they can help you meet the entry requirements for a graduate diploma. They're designed to help you upskill quickly in an area of psychology that interests you.

For direct entry, you can apply with:

• a completed bachelor degree in any discipline

That said, many courses also allow:

• over 5 years of relevant professional work experience, often in an area like allied health, teaching or community work

• TAFE study at an Advanced Diploma level (but check the course page to confirm) 

Graduate diplomas

A Graduate Diploma in Psychology or Psychological Science is a recognised first step towards psychologist registration for those coming from another field. Because of this, universities tend to have more specific entry requirements.

You'll generally need:

• a completed bachelor degree in any discipline; or

• a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in any discipline.

Sometimes you may also be asked to demonstrate first-year psychology knowledge by passing a competency test. This varies by university.  

Honours and the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced)

If you're continuing on the path towards psychologist registration, you'll need to complete a fourth-year psychology qualification. This is usually either an honours program or a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced). The eligibility criteria for both are similar.

You'll normally need to have:

• completed an APAC-accredited Bachelor of Psychology or Graduate Diploma in Psychology; and

• maintained a distinction average in these psychology studies.

Places can be limited, so universities often rank applicants based on their academic results. Meeting the minimum requirement may not guarantee an offer, but maintaining strong grades throughout your psychology studies will put you in the best position.

If you’re clear on your goals from the outset, you may be able to save yourself an extra application step by applying for a Bachelor of Psychology with honours built in (i.e. a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)).

If taking this route, the entry requirements are usually:

• Year 12 with an ATAR of 80.0 and above (though this can be lower with some universities); or

• previous TAFE or university-level study, often at an Advanced Diploma level or higher.

Masters degrees

Psychology masters degrees have different entry requirements depending on their purpose.

The Master of Psychology

The Master of Psychology is one of the most competitive stages of the registration pathway because places are limited and universities assess more than academic results alone.

To apply, you must have:

• an APAC-accredited fourth-year psychology qualification (either honours or a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced))

• a distinction average in your undergraduate psychology studies; and

• completed additional selection activities, such as an interview, referee reports or a personal statement.

Universities will look at your overall academic record, interview and references when deciding who receives an offer.

Professional development masters degrees

These courses are designed for professionals who aren’t interested in following the registration pathway but do want an advanced psychology qualification to excel in their career. An example would be a Master of Business Psychology.

Depending on the course, you typically need:

• a bachelor degree, sometimes in psychology or a related discipline

• a graduate diploma in psychology or a related discipline; or

• between 2-5 years of relevant professional experience.

Post-registration masters degrees

These courses are only available to registered psychologists who want to specialise in a particular area of practice or gain an area of practice endorsement.

To qualify for entry, you need:

• current registration as a psychologist

• at least one year of full-time professional practice

• to provide academic and personal references and complete an interview with a selection committee.

What if you don't meet the requirements?

If you don't meet the entry requirements for your preferred psychology qualification, don't be disheartened.

For many students, the best approach is to begin with a smaller step that helps them qualify for a Bachelor of Psychology or Psychological Science. You can then work your way into postgraduate study when you're ready.

Here are the two most common ways to become eligible.

Complete Open Access subjects

I recommend this to: those who want to try university-level psychology out before committing to a qualification.

Open Access subjects are single university subjects without entry requirements.

Through Open Universities Australia, you can use them to satisfy entry requirements for participating Bachelor of Psychology programs, though you’re also not locked in to keep studying if you find psychology isn’t for you after all.

Here’s how this works as a pathway:

1. You complete at least two single university subjects online. Some universities require them to be psychology subjects, while others will accept any undergraduate subjects.

2. Once you successfully finish these subjects, you will meet the entry requirements for a Bachelor of Psychology.

3. You may receive credit for the subjects you studied if they are relevant and the university accepts them.

Complete an Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology

I recommend this to: Those who are already confident they want to study psychology but don't currently meet the entry requirements for a bachelor degree.

This foundational qualification has low to no entry requirements, making it a really nice place to start when you're brand new to university. Some universities let anyone enrol, while others may require you to have completed Year 12, a foundation studies program, or pass a simple literacy and numeracy test.

Here’s how this works as a pathway:

1. You study four subjects. These are often subjects that belong to a Bachelor of Psychology.

2. Once you successfully finish your subjects, you’ll be awarded an undergraduate certificate – which is a recognised qualification and a reward for your efforts!

3. You can then apply for entry into a relevant bachelor degree and receive credit for the subjects you’ve already studied.

Once you have your Bachelor of Psychology, you can progress to an honours program, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and even some masters degrees, depending on where you want to go.

Want to understand every pathway option? Read our pathways guide for psychology degrees.

Explore your study options through us

Wherever you're starting from, there are study options to help you move forward.

Compare online psychology courses from Australian universities, or speak with a student advisor if you'd like help understanding entry requirements and choosing a pathway.

FAQs about entry requirements for psychology