Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
This APAC accredited Fourth Year Psychology program achieves a balance between general professional, specific practitioner, and research related skills.
Limited availability
Places in this course are limited and entry is competitive. Apply early for the best chance of securing your place.
Course essentials
ATAR
Entry requirements apply to this course.
Entry requirements
Credit
Study mode
Online
Duration
Start dates
01 March 2027
19 July 2027
Locations
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Course overview
This program achieves a balance between general professional, specific practitioner, and research related skills.
This qualification comprises extensive, specialist study in both professional psychology and psychological research. With a strong research emphasis, you will plan, implement and report on a Research Project under supervision, in addition to undertaking a number of core courses (Psychological practice, Psychological research, Integrating research and practice and Psychological assessment). As this is an Honours program, it is aimed at students who wish to engage in research and professional practice in the field of psychology.
Deferment of Admission
Applicants are not permitted to defer admission into the program.
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
Alex Poll
Career paths
The above are a few examples of the career opportunities that this program can contribute to.
On completion of this program you will be eligible to apply for positions that facilitate the supervision pathway to registration as a psychologist in Australia or for further postgraduate study in psychology such as a Masters program, that can lead to registration as a psychologist.
The program aims to maintain a balance between general and specialist fields, as well as between professional practice and research. Thus, it offers the opportunity for further specialist training, as well as developing skills for those who wish to assume various research, welfare or counselling positions.
Professional recognition
This program is an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited fourth-year program. Successful completion will allow you to apply for Associate Membership of the APS, as well as the opportunity to undergo supervised practice as a provisional psychologist in an APAC accredited Masters program.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Semester 2, 2027
19 July 2027
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat. Testing.
- Online learning is only an option if you’re not studying on an international student visa. Testing
Contact hours
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
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.
- Psychological Practice15 credit pointsPSYCP6011
- Psychological Research Methods15 credit pointsPSYCP6014
- Research Project30 credit pointsPSYCH4001
- Skills for Practice15 credit pointsPSYCP6012
- Psychological Assessment15 credit pointsPSYCP6013
- Research Project30 credit pointsPSYCH4102
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.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
- Completion of a three-year sequence in psychology and qualified for an APAC accredited undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent as determined by the Australian Psychological Society);OR
- Completion of a three-year undergraduate degree that is not APAC accredited and completion of a psychology sequence in a higher level, APAC accredited psychology degree (e.g., AQF 8 Graduate Diploma).
A minimum grade point average of 5.0 (Credit) is required. GPA is calculated using ALL attempts at second- and third-year psychology units from the most recent APAC accredited degree only.
English language requirements
Overall Academic IELTS band score of 7.0, with no band less than 6.5, or equivalent.
Extra requirements
To facilitate the calculation of a GPA, submit an official academic transcript and evidence that the degree has been completed.
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:
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- HY8
Hear from our staff
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.