Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) is a fourth-year psychology qualification designed for students who have already completed an accredited three-year psychology degree. It develops advanced research and psychological-practice skills and provides a pathway towards further professional psychology study or research.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced training in psychological research and quantitative methods.
• Development of skills in psychological assessment and basic psychological interventions.
• An independent honours research thesis.
• Training in ethical and professional issues relevant to psychology.
• Preparation for postgraduate specialist psychology programmes, including areas such as clinical, organisational and sports psychology.
• APAC accreditation, making the qualification a recognised step towards registration as a psychologist, subject to completing the additional education and registration requirements.
• Development of scientific writing, critical analysis, communication and research skills.
• Opportunity to progress towards research or academic careers.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification comprises 100 credit points and six compulsory units.

Core units:

1. PSY40001 – Advanced Quantitative Methods
   • 12.5 credit points
   • Develops advanced quantitative/research-analysis skills.
2. PSY40005 – Ethical and Professional Issues
   • 12.5 credit points
   • Covers ethical and professional considerations relevant to psychology.
3. PSY40006 – Psychological Assessment
   • 12.5 credit points
   • Develops knowledge of psychological assessment, including principles governing the development, selection and use of psychological tests.
4. PSY40008 – Counselling Psychology
   • 12.5 credit points
   • Introduces counselling psychology concepts and basic psychological intervention principles.
5. PSY40009 – Honours Thesis A
   • 25 credit points
   • First component of the independent honours research project.
6. PSY40002 – Honours Thesis B
   • 25 credit points
   • Second component of the honours research project and completion of the thesis. 

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal majors or specialisations within the one-year honours qualification.

The programme provides advanced study across:

• Psychological research
• Quantitative methods
• Psychological assessment
• Counselling psychology
• Professional and ethical psychology
• Psychological interventions
• Independent research and thesis development

The honours qualification can prepare students for subsequent specialist postgraduate study in areas such as:

• Clinical psychology
• Organisational psychology
• Sports psychology
• Other specialist psychology areas
• Psychology research and academia.

Programme Highlights

• APAC-accredited honours qualification.
• CRICOS: 0100754.
• 100 credit points.
• Six compulsory units.
• Significant independent research/thesis component.
• Advanced quantitative-methods training.
• Psychological assessment training.
• Counselling psychology study.
• Ethical and professional psychology training.
• Designed as a pathway towards further professional psychology education.
• Suitable for applicants who already possess an appropriate accredited three-year psychology qualification.

Career Outcomes

The course page identifies potential career outcomes including:

• Psychologist, with further study
• Social welfare consultant
• Medical researcher
• Clinical worker
• Health officer
• Child development officer
• Academic/research careers.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

Important current requirements for applicants include:

• The course is a fourth-year honours qualification rather than a standard first-entry bachelor's degree.
• Applicants must have an appropriate APAC-accredited three-year psychology sequence or an overseas equivalent.
• A minimum 70% Distinction average is required in third-year core psychology units.
• At least Credit grades are required in second- and third-level core/major units, subject to the one-exception rule.
• Overseas psychology qualifications must be assessed for equivalency.
• Applicants with overseas qualifications must provide evidence of equivalency with their application.
• At least 50% of places are open specifically to Swinburne applicants, with the remaining places open to applicants from all universities.
• Applicants do not need to provide a detailed honours research proposal at application stage; Swinburne says a simple sentence indicating general research interests is sufficient.
• Applicants do not need to contact a supervisor about research projects until after receiving an offer.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant Australian visa for an eligible on-campus international student is the Student visa (subclass 500).

For this programme, Swinburne states that international students in Australia who hold a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.

Key requirements generally include:

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempt.
• Genuine Student requirement.
• Evidence of financial capacity where required.
• Meeting applicable health requirements.
• Meeting character requirements.
• Compliance with Student visa conditions.
• Welfare arrangements where applicable for students under 18.

Work rights:

• Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
• Students cannot normally commence work before their course begins.
• The special unlimited-work provision for master's-by-research and doctoral students does not apply to this bachelor's honours qualification.
• Students should check the conditions on their visa grant and VEVO because individual conditions can vary.

The Department of Home Affairs is the authoritative source for current Student visa requirements and conditions.

Student visa application charge:

• The Australian Government increased Student visa application charges from 1 July 2026.
• A single current charge for every applicant is not stated in the Swinburne course information: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU / Australian Department of Home Affairs.