Why Study/Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences provides foundational knowledge and skills for understanding human behaviour, relationships, cognition, personality and psychological abnormalities. Swinburne delivers this version entirely through Swinburne Online for students who cannot undertake on-campus study.

Key benefits include:

• 100% online delivery through Swinburne Online, allowing students to study remotely.
• Development of knowledge in social psychology, cognition, personality, abnormal psychology, research methods and statistics.
• A Psychology Project as part of the psychology major.
• Development of research, critical-analysis, communication and problem-solving skills.
• APAC accreditation. Swinburne states that the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is a step towards becoming a registered psychologist, subject to completing the additional required study and registration pathway.
• The degree can provide a foundation for further psychology study, including the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours), subject to the applicable entry requirements.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme consists of 300 credit points. The published online structure contains five core/online-core units, eight Psychology major units and additional study/electives.

Core units:

• Brain and Behaviour — PSY10007
• Fundamentals of Psychology — PSY10008
• Introduction to Research Methods — PSY10005
• Foundations of Statistics — STA10003
• Learning and Communicating Online — COM10003

Each is 12.5 credit points.

Psychology major units currently listed include:

• Cognition and Human Performance — PSY20006
• Social Psychology — PSY20016
• Psychology Project — PSY30003
• Psychology of Personality — PSY30008
• History and Philosophy of Psychology — PSY30013
• Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment — PSY30016
• Analysis of Variance and Regression — STA20006

Additional study:

Students complete another 137.5 credit points through a combination of course components, with elective units available. Swinburne states that the full range of elective units is available upon enrolment.

The programme develops capabilities including:

• Critical evaluation of psychological research
• Formulating evidence-based arguments
• Complex problem-solving
• Applying psychological theories
• Research and analytical skills
• Communication
• Cultural sensitivity
• Ethical decision-making.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The principal discipline is Psychology / Psychological Sciences.

The published major content covers:

• Cognitive psychology
• Social psychology
• Personality psychology
• Mental health
• Psychological research
• Psychological statistics
• Behavioural science
• History and philosophy of psychology.

Programme Highlights

• 3-year bachelor's degree when studied full-time.
• 300 credit points.
• 100% online delivery.
• Delivered through Swinburne Online.
• APAC accredited.
• Psychology discipline major.
• Psychology Project included in the major.
• Research methods and statistics included.
• Flexible elective component.
• Designed for students unable to undertake on-campus study.
• Can provide a foundation for further psychology study and professional pathways, but the bachelor's qualification alone does not make a graduate a registered psychologist.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Psychologist, with further study
• Mental health support worker
• Youth and welfare services worker
• Juvenile justice and corrections officer
• Community services and development officer.

The course handbook additionally identifies broader areas of further training and employment such as:

• Clinical practice
• Counselling
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Community and health services
• Sports psychology
• Organisational psychology.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The most important current update for international students is the delivery restriction:

• This course is online only.
• It is not available to onshore international students holding an Australian Student visa.
• International students studying outside Australia can undertake the online course.

Current published intake:

• 2 November 2026
• Application deadline: 28 October 2026.

Other relevant points:

• Admission is not guaranteed merely by meeting minimum requirements.
• Credit transfer is assessed case-by-case.
• Recognition of Prior Learning is assessed case-by-case.
• Maximum academic credit is 200 credit points.
• The degree is APAC accredited.

International Student Visa Requirements

This section is particularly important for this programme.

The course is not available to international students who are in Australia on a Student visa because Swinburne requires international Student-visa students in Australia to study full-time and on campus. Swinburne explicitly states that entirely online courses are available to international students studying outside Australia, but not to international students in Australia holding a Student visa.

Therefore:

• An international student residing outside Australia may study this online programme subject to Swinburne's admission requirements.
• The student should not apply for an Australian Student visa solely to undertake this online course.
• The programme itself does not provide an onshore Australian Student-visa study pathway.