Bachelor of Psychological Sciences

Course highlights

1. Understand how mental health disorders develop and how to treat them using evidence-based approaches.
2. Study how people interact with each other and with society (social psychology).
3. Learn how humans develop across their lifespan (developmental psychology).
4. Explore cognitive processes like memory, attention, and learning.
5. Dive into major theories of personality and what drives behaviour.
6. Build digital literacy with tools like Canva, learning how to communicate psychological insights online.
7. Collaborate on a real-world project for a chance to be featured in the APS eLearning library.

What is the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences?

Swinburne Online’s Bachelor of Psychological Sciences gives you a broad understanding of how people think, behave, and develop, preparing you for further study in psychology and careers in mental health and related fields.

You’ll explore cognitive processes such as memory, perception, and attention, along with key areas including personality, mental health, and social behaviour.

You’ll also build the skills to design research projects and analyse behaviour, applying your learning through practical projects — including the opportunity to develop an eLearning module for potential inclusion in the Australian Psychological Society (APS) library.

This degree is fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and provides the foundational knowledge required for further study towards becoming a registered psychologist.

Who is this course for?

• Aspiring psychologists who want to build a solid foundation in human behaviour, mental health, and research.
• Professionals in people-focused roles who want to deepen their understanding of behaviour and mental health to better support the people they work with.
• Analytically-minded individuals seeking to understand how people think, behave, and develop across different contexts.

How you’ll study

• The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences runs across three Teaching Periods per year.
• Expected study load is between 8–10 hours per unit, per week.
• Set your own study pace by taking one or more units per Teaching Period.
• You’ll have 24/7 access to your online classroom, discussion boards, and learning content.
• Learning is delivered through interactive materials, including videos, quizzes, podcasts, diagrams, and written content.

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences you must complete 24 units, comprising of:

Foundational Units

Learning and Communicating Online (COM10003)

Foundations of Statistics (STA10003)

Brain and Behaviour (PSY10007)

Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY10008)

Introduction to Research Methods (PSY10005)

Core Units

Analysis of Variance and Regression (STA20006)

Social Psychology (PSY20016)

Cognition and Human Performance (PSY20006)

Developmental Psychology (PSY20007)

Psychology of Personality (PSY30008)

Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment (PSY30016)

Psychology Project (PSY30003)

Complete eleven (11) electives to round out your degree. Tailor your course to suit your strengths, interests, and career goals by choosing elective units.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

• Four (4) core units of study (50 credit points)
• One (1) online core unit of study (12.5 credit points)
• Eight (8) Psychology discipline major units of study (100 credit points)
• Twelve (12) or Eleven (11) units of study* (137.5 to 150cp) comprising a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives.

Only for students completing this course online through OUA or SOL. Students may not complete more than 150 cps (normally 11 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $28,611

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

Learn more about Swinburne University of Technology

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

15

Applicants are required to meet one of the following minimum entry requirements:

• A completed or partially completed tertiary qualification (e.g. relevant Certificate IVs, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, incomplete or complete Bachelor’s degree); or
• 4+ years of relevant work experience; or
• Recent Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent completion, with the required English study score.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.