Psychology courses
If you want to work as a psychologist, you start with a bachelor degree, then take further study and supervised training before you can register. These degrees differ mainly in what they pair psychology with, such as social science, counselling or neuroscience.
- Quickest way to start
- 1 year
- Bachelor degree (Honours), typical full time length
- What the jobs pay
- $114,600
- median pay across 1 job
- Demand
- In shortage
- on the national shortage list
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
A bachelor degree in psychology
Start studying psychology
Work with people on how they think, feel and behave, helping with mental health, learning, relationships and wellbeing.
JobPsychologist
Median pay$114,600
A step towards this job, not the whole route. What else you need
- How long it takes
- 1 to 4 years full time
- How you'll study
- Online, on campus or a mix
The psychology degrees compared
All of these start you in psychology, and most cover the same core: how people think, develop and behave, and the research methods used to study them. They differ in what else they combine the subject with, and some include an honours research year. Most can be studied online at one or more universities.
- Bachelor Degree (Honours) in PsychologyThe fourth year of psychology study, for people who have already completed a three-year sequence. The centre of it is an independent research project, with assessment and ethics alongside.How long1 year
- Bachelor of Psychological ScienceA scientific introduction to psychology, covering memory, personality, development and mental health, with research and data analysis built in.How long2 to 4 years
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)An arts degree with a psychology major and space for a second area of interest. It looks at how the brain, relationships and life stages shape behaviour, along with personality and mental health.How long3 years
- Bachelor of Arts in PsychologyPsychology within a wider arts degree, covering development, cognition, personality and mental health, with room for a second major or minor.How long3 years
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)Combines psychology with a second discipline for a wider view of human behaviour, covering learning, motivation, emotion and social influences.How long3 years
- Bachelor of PsychologyA thorough grounding in psychology, including how psychological problems are understood and how data is gathered and analysed. Many versions include a supervised research project.How long3 to 4 years
- Bachelor of Psychology and CounsellingCombines psychology with introductory counselling skills and has a mental health focus. It suits people heading towards counselling roles, and further study is still needed to register as a psychologist.How long3 years
- Bachelor of Science (Psychology)A scientific grounding in psychology, from development and social behaviour to cognition and the biology of behaviour. Later subjects can lean towards counselling, health or workplace psychology.How long3 years
- Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)Pairs psychology with the wider social sciences, so you study how people think and behave alongside the social settings around them. Graduates often go into community, human resources or education work.How long3 years
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Cognitive Neuroscience)An honours degree on how the brain produces thinking and behaviour, bringing in biology and anatomy. A supervised research project and laboratory work are part of it.How long4 years
Short university courses
- Diploma of Psychology8 to 12 months. An introduction to psychology without the commitment of a full degree, designed to lead into a bachelor degree, often with credit towards it.
- Undergraduate Certificate in Psychological Science6 months. A short introduction to psychology and how it is researched, set up as a first step towards a full degree at the same provider.
- Undergraduate Certificate in Psychological Studies6 months. A first taste of university psychology, covering memory, language, personality and stress, with completed subjects often counting towards a degree.
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.
Still not sure which one fits you?
Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.