Is a psychology degree worth it in Australia?

Is studying psychology worthwhile?

For many people, yes. If you're curious about why people think, feel and behave the way they do, enjoy the combination of science and human behaviour, and want a degree that can lead to a wide range of careers, psychology can be an excellent choice.

It’s also important to go in with realistic expectations. Psychology is academically demanding, and becoming a registered psychologist requires several years of additional study and supervised practice.

If registration is your goal, be prepared for a competitive next step – postgraduate places and supervised training opportunities are limited, and they take planning and persistence. You can learn more in our how to become a psychologist guide. But registration is just one of many possible outcomes, and many graduates build rewarding careers in completely different fields.

What are the benefits of studying psychology?

Psychology is known as a ‘people-focused’ degree, but many students are surprised at how practical and wide-reaching it is. Psychology offers:

• Meaningful work opportunities, with rewarding careers that contribute to the wellbeing of people, communities and organisations.

• Highly transferable skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, research and data analysis.

• Diverse career pathways, spanning mental health, community services, education, human resources, marketing, user experience and research.

• A strong foundation for further study in psychology and other fields, such as medicine, law, business and organisational leadership.

Dr Annabel Marsh, a registered psychologist and lecturer at Adelaide University, sees this flexibility play out in her students all the time. As she puts it:

Psychology is a really broad, generalist degree that can take you to lots of different places you might never have realised you'd be interested in.

What are the challenges of studying psychology?

• The scientific nature of the degree can be challenging. Psychology degrees include substantial study in research methods, statistics and evidence-based practice.

• You'll need to develop strong analytical skills. Learning how to interpret research, evaluate evidence and solve complex problems is a major part of the course.

• Registration is competitive and takes time. If your goal is to become a registered psychologist, you'll need further accredited study and supervised practice.

• Longer study can delay earning potential. Compared with some professions, it takes longer to reach full qualification and salary progression.

What surprises students about studying psychology?

Many students choose psychology because they're fascinated by human behaviour and want to make a positive impact on people’s mental health. What often surprises students is how scientific psychology is.

Psychology is built on research and evidence. Throughout your degree you'll learn how to interpret data, evaluate research quality, think critically and apply scientific methods to real-world problems. These are valuable skills that can be applied across a wide range of careers – not just psychology.

Keep an open mind about where psychology might take you

A common misconception is that psychology only leads to becoming a psychologist. In reality, graduates move into a range of fields, including:

• mental health and allied health services

• education and student wellbeing

• human resources and organisational development

• policy, research and community services

• marketing, behavioural insights and user experience roles.

As Annabel explains, many graduates discover new interests and opportunities as they progress through their degree.

I've seen so many students discover their genuine passion through the course, and it often isn't what they thought it would be when they first started.

She's seen graduates go on to careers both within and beyond psychology.

“One of the best bond traders I know studied psychology because markets are so human behaviour-based. Another of my students became an animal behaviourist.”

That kind of pathway isn’t unusual. Psychology often opens doors into areas that students don’t initially expect.

Dr Ross Hollett, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Edith Cowan University, sees a similar pattern in his teaching. "Some of the happiest psychology graduates I've worked with are doing jobs they never imagined when they first enrolled.”

For Ross, that unpredictability is part of the value – value he’s experienced first-hand. “I’ve ended up teaching, which is exactly where I want to be. It’s not where I thought I'd end up but sometimes opportunities come along that shape your career in ways you never expected.”

Staying open to different possibilities is key, and Annabel encourages students to embrace the unexpected: "The best outcomes often happen when students allow it to be a journey of discovery, so keep an open mind."

Check out our psychology jobs and career pathways in Australia guide for more information.

Before you enrol: Is psychology the right fit for you?

Psychology can be a rewarding degree, but before you decide, it’s worth checking in with yourself about whether psychology actually fits the kind of learning you enjoy and the direction you want to head in.

A psychology degree could be a good fit if you:

• enjoy trying to understand people and behaviour

• like science, research and evidence-based thinking

• are willing to build skills in statistics and interpreting data

• enjoy critical thinking and solving complex problems

• are open to keeping your career options broad rather than following a single predefined path

• are comfortable with the possibility of postgraduate study

• want work that has a positive impact on people or communities

• feel prepared for the emotional demands of learning about mental health, trauma and human behaviour.

Whether your goal is to become a registered psychologist or simply gain a deeper understanding of people and behaviour, psychology offers a degree that's both intellectually challenging and surprisingly versatile.

Perhaps its greatest strength is that it doesn't lock you into a single destination. As many graduates discover, the career you end up loving may not be the one you had in mind when you first enrolled.

How can you get started in psychology?

Still exploring whether psychology is right for you? The next step is to understand your study options and compare what's available.

• Read about the different psychology courses that are available

• Compare course structures and entry requirements

• Learn about different pathways into psychology degrees

• Read how to study psychology online in Australia

• Understand how to choose the best online psychology course for your situation

Explore your study options through us

Once you're ready, discover the psychology courses you can study online through Open Universities Australia.

We help you find the right path and enrol; you become a student with your chosen university.

FAQs about psychology degrees