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Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
UndergraduateSWI-BBP-DEG2020
Course information for 2020 intake
Recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)
This accredited degree is the first step in becoming a professional psychologist. Study statistics, research methods, personality, abnormal psychology, sociology and criminology. Career opportunities in health and allied industries.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
About this degree
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, graduates will be able to:
- Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in social and behavioural sciences, and psychology
- Formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in behavioural studies and psychology
- Critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of social and behavioural sciences and psychology
- Define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their disciplinary areas of expertise
- Apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
- Interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
- Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international context.
The psychology sequence within the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). This degree provides a first step to becoming a professional psychologist. After completing a degree with an APAC accredited major in psychology, students may apply to undertake a fourth year in psychology and then further study in specialist areas of professional psychology such as counselling, health, clinical, organisational, and sports psychology.
In addition to the major in psychology, students may complete an optional four subject minor known as ‘Advanced Psychology Minor’ and choose 4 from the 6 subjects offered: PSY20001, PSY20003, PSY20005, PSY30001, PSY30011 or PSY30012. The Advanced Psychology Minor includes subjects that offer students an additional breadth of study in the psychology of human behaviour.
Recommended study pattern
Students starting their studies in the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences are recommended to follow these steps:
- Students are advised to study the level 1 introductory core subject COM10006 early in their study program
- It is strongly recommended that the following 3 subjects be completed in the order specified below and may then apply to Swinburne University of Technology for admittance into the degree:
- STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
- PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour or PSY10003 Psychology 100
- PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology or PSY10004 Psychology 101
Students must be admitted to the Bachelor Psychological Sciences prior to enrolling in the eight Level 2 and 3 subjects of the Psychology major (8 subjects).
Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed.
Taking time off from study (Absent Without Leave and Leave of Absence): How to apply for an approved leave of absence and minimise the risk of having to reapply for degree admission: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/current-students/manage-course/enrolment-timetable/time-off/
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:
- Five (5) core subjects of study (62.5 credit points)
- Eight (8) core Psychology discipline major subjects of study (100 credit points)
- Eleven (11) subjects of study (137.5 credit points) comprising a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives.
Please note that the degree structure outlined above includes 13 core subjects (this combines the 5 core subjects plus the 8 core Psychology discipline major subjects) and the 8 major subjects shown are a part of the second major students can do, which means students are left with 3 elective subjects. Alternatively, students can complete the 13 core subjects and if they do not want to do a second major they can use the remaining 11 subjects in an advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives.
Students may not complete more than 150 cps (normally 12 subjects) at Introductory Level within the degree.
Regardless of any credit awarded within this degree, students must complete a minimum of 8 subjects of study with Swinburne University as part of this degree. Students who have completed the double subject PSY30011 need to complete a minimum of seven Swinburne subjects.
A subject of study can only be counted once, where subjects are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.
Choose your subjects
Majors
The recommended sequence for completing the 9 Psychology major subjects is listed below. However, it is possible to undertake the Level 2 and Level 3 Psychology major subjects in a different sequence as long as the prerequisite or corequisite requirements are completed.
- PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods
- PSY20007 Developmental Psychology
- STA20006 Analysis of Variance
- PSY20006 Cognition and Human Performance
- PSY20016 Social Psychology
- PSY30003 Psychology Project
- PSY30008 Psychology of Personality
- PSY30010 Abnormal Psychology
- PSY30013 History and Philosophy of Psychology
Co-Major
Students can choose to complete a Co-Major in Sociology of 8 subjects.
Minor
The Advanced Psychology Minor is an optional advanced minor in Psychology, available only to students who have registered into the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences with Swinburne.
Students can choose from the following minors: Sociology of Contemporary Societies, Sociology, Criminology, Human Resource Management, Public Relations, Indigenous Studies, Marketing.
Electives
Electives can be selected from any undergraduate subjects offered by Open Universities Australia.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
If you were admitted before 2017 into the Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology) you can find out which subjects you still need to complete by downloading the Transition Plan applicable your course and admission year from Swinburne’s OUA course transition webpage.
Please note: this program was previously known as the Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology).
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $72,792
The amount shown here is 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.
Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. 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.
Explore Swinburne courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
Entry requirements
With the exception of first year subjects, this is a restricted course. Continuing enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this course.
There are five open enrolment subjects in this degree. Students do not have to apply to enrol in COM10006, STA10003, PSY10007, PSY10008 and PSY10005 (provided all subject prerequisites are met).
To view full Admission Criteria for the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, please click here.
Students admitted to the degree with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this degree may be eligible for academic credit.
The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of degrees, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification. VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL); Expected 2019 ATAR: 60
Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including a certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or degree). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
Please note, that the partial completion requirement does not apply to a certificate IV.
English language requirements (International students only):
IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0; or Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 70% and all skills 65% or above; or TOEFL iBT: minimum score 79 (Reading no less than 18, Writing no less than 20); or equivalent measures available at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/international/apply/entry-requirements/
Please note: This course is not available to international students who will be studying in Australia on a student visa (subclass 500).
Students who are considering enrolling into a Swinburne undergraduate degree may apply for academic credit of up to twelve [12] subjects based on prior credentialed or non-credentialed learning. Students wishing to apply for credit (referred to as ‘exemptions’) can do so on the basis of:
- Credentialed Learning - previous formal post-secondary studies taken at another educational institution or in another sector or in another degree or
- Non-credentialed Learning - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience and/or formal training or a combination of both.
Broad Conditions
- Only study undertaken within the last 10 years can be considered for exemption.
- Students must complete eight [8] Swinburne undergraduate subjects to be eligible to graduate with a Swinburne undergraduate award.
For information on how to apply for credit please refer to Swinburne’s website at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/open-universities-australia/advanced-standing-rpl.html
Study method requirements
For the majority of subjects in the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences you are required to have access to the statistical package SPSS.
Career opportunities
Psychology graduates are highly sought after in a range of human services positions. These include employment in community and mental health, human resource management, policy development, research, welfare, journalism, marketing and advertising.
Professional recognition
Swinburne’s Psychology major incorporates the psychology sequence accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Counsellors | $75K to $93K | Up 12.6% |
| Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
| Human Resource Managers | Over $120K | Up 85.7% |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
| Psychologists and Psychotherapists | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.