Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences provides a broad and specialised foundation in psychology, behavioural science and research. The programme covers areas including developmental psychology, cognition, social psychology, personality, psychological measurement and abnormal psychology, while also developing research, project management, communication and report-writing skills.

Key benefits include:

• Study psychology through an APAC-accredited undergraduate qualification.
• Develop knowledge of human behaviour, cognition, development, personality, social psychology and mental health.
• Build research design, statistical analysis and report-writing skills.
• Complete a Psychology Project as part of the psychology major.
• Develop communication, critical-thinking, digital-literacy and problem-solving skills.
• Work Integrated Learning is embedded in the bachelor's degree.
• Optional professional placements of 6 or 12 months are available through a competitive selection process, subject to course and visa requirements.
• Explore complementary areas through a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor or electives.
• Use the degree as a foundation for further accredited psychology study, including the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours).

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The standard degree consists of 300 credit points.

Core psychology units

The four compulsory core units are:

• Introduction to Research Methods – PSY10005
• Brain and Behaviour – PSY10007
• Fundamentals of Psychology – PSY10008
• Foundations of Statistics – STA10003

Psychology discipline major

Students complete 8 Psychology major units:

• Cognition and Human Performance – PSY20006
• Developmental Psychology – PSY20007
• Social Psychology – PSY20016
• Analysis of Variance and Regression – STA20006
• Psychology Project – PSY30003
• Psychology of Personality – PSY30008
• History and Philosophy of Psychology – PSY30013
• Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment – PSY30016

Indicative study sequence

The current published study sequence is an indicative Semester 1 2026 sequence and may change.

Year 1:

• Brain and Behaviour
• Foundations of Statistics
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Fundamentals of Psychology
• Elective study

Year 2:

• Developmental Psychology
• Analysis of Variance and Regression
• Cognition and Human Performance
• Social Psychology
• Elective study

Year 3:

• Psychology Project
• Psychology of Personality
• Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment
• History and Philosophy of Psychology
• Elective study

Other study options

The remaining 150 credit points can be completed through approved combinations of a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor and/or electives.

Examples of available co-majors include:

• Criminology
• Data Analytics
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Marketing
• Neuroscience
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Relations
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Environmental Sustainability
• Computer Science
• Journalism
• Management
• Global Studies

Availability is subject to course rules and the current study plan.

An Advanced Minor in Mental Health is also listed, comprising:

• Theories of Counselling – PSY20001
• Psychology of Health – PSY30001
• Psychology of Trauma – PSY30012
• Positive Psychology – PSY30015

Listed minor options include:

• Applied Psychology
• Biomedical Science
• Criminology
• Health Statistics
• Marketing
• Neuroscience
• Philosophy

Recommended electives include subjects such as:

• Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
• Introduction to Health Sciences
• Digital Health Foundations
• Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Theories of Counselling
• Psychology of Adolescence
• Sports Psychology
• Psychology of Infancy and Early Childhood
• Human Factors Psychology
• Psychology of Health
• Psychology of Wellbeing
• Psychology of Trauma
• Applied Social Psychology

Disciplines / Specialisations

The primary discipline is:

• Psychological Sciences

The core Psychology major covers:

• Developmental psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Social psychology
• Personality psychology
• Psychological research
• Statistics and quantitative analysis
• Mental health
• Psychological measurement
• History and philosophy of psychology

Programme Highlights

• APAC-accredited bachelor's degree.
• 300 credit points in the standard degree.
• 3 years full-time.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Work Integrated Learning embedded within the bachelor's degree.
• Psychology Project in the final year.
• Strong focus on research methods and statistical analysis.
• Opportunity to select complementary study areas.
• Optional 6- or 12-month professional placement, subject to competitive selection.
• Potential pathway to the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours).
• CRICOS registered: 088389B.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne lists potential career opportunities including:

• Psychologist, with further study
• Case manager
• Wellbeing officer
• Behaviour analyst or support practitioner
• Child safety officer
• Youth mental health worker
• Human resources professional
• Social, advertising or marketing researcher

The course handbook additionally identifies potential roles such as:

• Social welfare consultant
• Medical researcher
• Clinical worker
• Health officer
• Child development officer

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Latest published commencement: 2 August 2027.
• Latest published application deadline: 28 July 2027.
• Campus: Hawthorn.
• CRICOS: 088389B.
• International students on an Australian Student visa must study full-time and on campus.
• The current published study sequence is indicative for Semester 1 2026 and may change.
• Professional placement is optional and subject to competitive selection.
• International students who obtain a professional placement must change to the relevant Professional degree where one exists; visa and additional study-duration implications should be considered before applying.
• Students undertaking a 6-month professional placement complete 337.5 credit points.
• Students undertaking a 12-month professional placement complete 375 credit points.
• The course includes Informed Choices requirements covering sensory, mobility, legal/duty-of-care/professional, learning and knowledge creation, and interpersonal capabilities. Reasonable adjustments may be available for adaptable components.
• The Psychology discipline is subject to APAC accreditation requirements, and certain professional activities may have limited flexibility because of safety and professional-practice requirements.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this CRICOS-registered course in Australia generally require a Student visa (subclass 500).

Course-specific visa condition

Swinburne states that international students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus. This is consistent with the delivery of the international Bachelor of Psychological Sciences at Hawthorn.

General Student visa requirements

Depending on the applicant's circumstances and the Department's document checklist, requirements can include:

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Evidence of financial capacity where requested
• English-language evidence where required
• Genuine Student requirement
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
• Any additional evidence requested by the Department of Home Affairs.