Bachelor of Psychological Science

Learn more about human thought, behaviour and emotion.

Next intake: 13 July 2026

Learn more

Course essentials

ATAR

Guaranteed ATAR 50.00

Entry requirements

See entry requirements

Fees

Commonwealth Supported Place

Credit

360 credit points = 3.0 EFTSL

Study mode

On campus
Online

Duration

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Start dates

13 July 2026
20 July 2026
05 October 2026
25 January 2027
01 March 2027
19 April 2027
12 July 2027
19 July 2027
04 October 2027

Locations

Berwick (on campus)
Federation University Online
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)

Course overview

The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is accredited with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and explores a range of subjects on human thought and behaviour including developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology and personality.

Throughout your studies, you’ll develop a solid foundation to equip you with the communication, research, critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to meet the high demand for graduates in psychology. You will also broaden your knowledge with elective subjects throughout first, second and third year.

As a graduate, you may work in community welfare and case management, business and industry, youth and family support, the criminal justice system, marketing or research.

If you wish to progress to further study and pursue registration as a psychologist, the Bachelor of Psychological Science is a pathway to the fourth year program the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours).

Following fourth year studies, you may progress into a masters program, receiving registration as a psychologist upon graduation.

IT requirements

To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.

Got questions?

Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.

Student support

The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.

The fine print

The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.

Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.

Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.

School department

Psychology

Course co-ordinator

Berwick (on campus) - Upekha Miriyagalla
Federation University Online - Danielle Wagstaff
Gippsland (on campus) - Garry Power
Mt Helen (on campus) - Victoria Branson

My favourite part of the course is the opportunity it's given me to learn interpersonal skills. The small class sizes mean you're more than just a number."

— Charlotte, Bachelor of Psychological Science

Career paths

Case manager

Case worker

Case coordinator

Community development worker

Community welfare worker

Care and protection worker

Program coordinator

Project coordinator

Psychologist*

Human resource officer

Integration aide

Marketing assistant

Support facilitator

Support worker

Senior youth officer

Community support worker

Early intervention coordinator

Family support worker

Recruitment officer

Sales and marketing officer

Sleep scientist

Group facilitator/coordinator

General management

Health education officer

Market and social researcher

Outreach worker

Program manager

Photo of a pair of hands, in the background there are blurred legs

Professional recognition

This qualification is recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), enabling you to move into postgraduate study.

Following the completion of a fourth year program and either two years postgraduate study or two years of supervised practice, you may apply for registration as a psychologist in Australia.

Fees and scholarships

Tuition fee information

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

2026 indicative full-time fee: $9,537

Approximately 8-12 hours per week

Sample course structure

Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.

Semester 1

Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB1003
Introductory Psychology A: Biological and Cognitive Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB1101
Electives

Semester 2

Introductory Psychology B: Personality and Individual Differences
15 credit points
PSYCB1102
Statistical Methods
15 credit points
STATS1000
Electives

Semester 1

Personality
15 credit points
PSYCB2103
Counselling Theory and Practice
15 credit points
PSYCB2105
Psychology, Culture and Indigenous Australians
15 credit points
PSYCB2106
Electives

Semester 2

Lifespan Development Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB2102
Social Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB2104
Cognitive and Biological Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB2107
Electives

Semester 1

Abnormal Psychology
15 credit points
PSYCB3102
Psychology Research: Advanced Analyses
15 credit points
PSYCB3109
Electives

Semester 2

Psychological Testing and Assessment
15 credit points
PSYCB3101
Psychology Applied Project
15 credit points
PSYCB3112
Electives

Meet us at Open Day

Open Day is your chance to explore all that Federation has to offer. Meet current lecturers and students, ask course questions, learn about our support services and explore campus spaces.

We’ve got heaps of activities, tours and presentations planned. Basically, we want you to get a real feel for Federation. The atmosphere. The opportunities. The community.

Oh – and there’s no need to pack a sandwich. Lunch is on us.

Find your campus schedule

Entry requirements

Entry requirements (year 12)

Admissions Criteria for current Year 12 students and recent secondary graduates (the past 2 years)
Prerequisites

Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English.

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
Guaranteed ATAR

This program has a guaranteed ATAR.

If you meet the program pre-requisites and any ‘Essential Requirements for Admission’, we will guarantee you a place in this program with this ATAR. We use the adjusted ATAR, factoring in subject adjustments and SEAS as detailed below.

This is not a minimum ATAR or the lowest ATAR selection rank.
Subject Adjustments

A study score of 35 in any Humanities, Literature, Media, Philosophy or Psychology equals 3 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 5 points.
SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme)

Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for the Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS). Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, a SEAS application may provide support for your course application.

Entry requirements (non year 12)

Admission criteria for applicants with a Higher Education Study

Compulsory: Previous higher education studies with results at a pass level, including any 'single subjects of study', or successful completion of a tertiary preparatory course such as the Federation Access Studies Program (FAST).

Admission criteria for applications with a Vocational Education and Training study

Compulsory: Successful completion of a relevant VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.

Admission criteria for applications with work and life experience

Applicants who have not completed secondary education, or undertaken any TAFE or university studies will not be eligible for entry into this course. Applicants in this category should consider a pathway course such as Federation Access Studies (FAST) Program

English language requirements

Overall Academic IELTS score of 7.0, with no band less than 6.5, or equivalent.

How you apply will depend on your current situation – school leaver, tertiary background or life experience – and whether you’re also applying for courses at other institutions. Visit our how to apply page to find out more.

Ready to fill out your application? You might need these codes:

VTAC application: Yes
VTAC code: 3701837221 - Berwick (on campus)
3702337221 - Federation University Online
3700737221 - Gippsland (on campus)
3700537221 - Mt Helen (on campus)
Direct application: Yes
Federation University code: HY5

Pathways to this course:
Credit will be considered if you have successfully completed higher education or TAFE studies. Advanced standing will be determined on an individual basis, depending on your eligibility for credit transfer, prior experience and qualifications. If you are seeking alternate entry Foundation Access Studies (FAST) program - designed to provide you an alternate entry into tertiary study; A TAFE program in the health and welfare field.

Pathways from this course:
Satisfactory completion of this course can lead to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), or Masters of Social Work (Qualifying) or as a prelude to a higher degree in research or other professional qualification.

Hear from our staff

Justin Timora talks about what you can expect when studying Psychology at Federation.

Hi, my name is Justin Timora and I'm one of the lecturers in Psychology at Federation. What makes our program stand out is the people. So within our psychology program we really take pride in building strong connections between staff and students and we look at how we can support our students every step of the way. We provide priority pathways from our undergraduate programme through to postgraduate psychology if you're interested in becoming a registered practitioner. So our classes are small, but that's a good thing because you get to know your classmates and staff on a first-name basis. And we find this helps create a comfortable and safe environment where our students feel more confident to be able to share their ideas and their perspectives on different aspects of psychology that we cover. So as you get to know our staff, you'll start to see that they genuinely care about your success, and they'll be there for you throughout your whole academic journey every step of the way. So whether you're interested in becoming a psychologist or you want to use your psychology knowledge in other areas like research or community welfare, we will help you develop theoretical and practical knowledge and teach you how to apply in different real life scenarios. So our program includes options for work experience and also working with local community organisations to help them solve problems. So if you're thinking about starting psychology, that program is very welcoming and supportive, and we love seeing students on this exciting adventure where they start to see the world and themselves differently.

Credit for previous study

Your previous studies might count towards this course (which means you could finish it sooner). Check your eligibility to find out if that’s the case.

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