New Generation Undergraduate Psychology Studies
(NB: For current students who started their studies in psychology pre-2008, please click here details)
Psychology is intellectually fascinating and has direct applications to everyday life. As a discipline, it embraces a wide range of perspectives and approaches that contribute to the scientific study and understanding of behaviour, especially human behaviour. Taught at the University since the late 1800s, the Department of Psychology at Melbourne offers a diversity and quality of undergraduate subjects.
Psychology can be studied in a number of different ways as part of the six New Generation degrees offered at the University. It is not offered as an independent undergraduate degree. The majority of undergraduate students studying psychology will complete an APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) major sequence. Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science can complete a major sequence in psychology. Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce may be able to complete 100 points of breadth in psychology depending on their area of specialisation.
Applying to Study Undergraduate Psychology
For information about the main degree courses, including entry requirements and procedures, in which psychology can be studied, please refer to:
The emphasis in the psychology major is on developing a wide understanding within psychology. The structure encompasses a sequential development of knowledge in areas of psychology through advanced units in third year. Research skills are introduced in the first year subjects and developed across second and third units, contributing to your broad education as well as giving you the depth of understanding for postgraduate studies. The third year also contains a capstone unit integrating key features of your earlier studies and the possibility of choosing a unit of applied study.
Linking psychology to your personal experiences and establishing a style of working together is the emphasis in Year 1. In the second year and in advanced studies in third year, the emphasis will be on the linking of knowledge to research, both through the research-led teaching and through an emphasis on individual practical research experience for you. In other third-year level studies, such as the capstone study and the applied psychology subject, you will be able to work collaboratively, linking psychology to issues in contemporary society, informed by the research perspective you have developed.
Students wishing to undertake further study to become a practicing psychologist. After completing a psychology major, students must undertake a Fourth Year or Honours course in psychology to be eligible for Professional Training Programs which can result in professional registration as a psychologist in Victoria.
What is a Psychology Major?
A three-year accredited psychology major requires the completion of a minimum of 125 credit points worth of undergraduate psychology subjects. This requires the completion of eight compulsory subjects and two elective subjects. All undergraduate subjects are worth 12.5 each and run for a single semester. A listing of all undergraduate psychology subjects is available below.
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredits programs in psychology once they meet the standards outlined in the APAC Accreditation Guidelines. Accreditation ensures courses provide suitable preparation for students to enter the profession.
Undergraduate Psychology Subjects - for New Generation Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Psychology students
Subject Title |
Semester |
Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-Level Subjects | ||
| PSYC10003 Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1 | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC10004 Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2 | 2 | 12.5 |
Subject Title |
Semester |
Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| 200-Level Subjects | ||
| PSYC20006 Biological Psychology | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC20007 Cognitive Psychology | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC20008 Developmental Psychology | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC20009 Personality and Social Psychology | 2 | 12.5 |
Subject Title |
Semester |
Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 300-Level Subjects | ||
| PSYC30021 Psychological Science: Theory & Practice (Capstone) | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30013 Research Methods for Human Inquiry | 1 | 12.5 |
Subject Title |
Semester |
Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Subjects (Choose TWO) | ||
| PSYC30022 Advanced Personality and Social Psychology | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30017 Advanced Studies of Human Cognition | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30016 Developing Persons in Social Worlds | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30019 Development of the Thinking Child | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30018 Neuroscience and the Mind | 1 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30015 Applied and Organisational Psychology | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30020 Psychology of Sleep and emotions | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30014 The Psychopathology of Everyday Life | 2 | 12.5 |
| PSYC30012 The Unconcious Mind | 1 | 12.5 |
Undergraduate Psychology Subjects - New Generation Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce students wanting to complete the APAC-accredited sequence can complete 100 points of psychology as their breadth component with the remaining 25 points being taken from the core of the Commerce program. This may not be possible in all BCom streams, so please consult the information at the Bachelor of Commerce website http://www.bcom.unimelb.edu.au/
Fees
For fee information, please see student administration.
Single Subject Study
Community Access Program (CAP)
The Community Access Program allows people who are not enrolled in a degree at the University of Melbourne to enrol in subjects for interest, or to try to meet entry requirements for the course. Available subjects are offered on an up-front fee basis.
It is possible in some circumstances to obtain credit for previous CAP studies upon gaining entry to some courses. If your aim is to gain entry to a degree program, you should discuss this avenue with the Department's Selection Officer before enrolling in CAP—there is no guarantee of selection into a degree program via CAP.
You can enrol in psychology subjects as long as the prerequisite and corequisite requirements of the subjects are met. Graduates of a bachelors degree who have undertaken some studies in psychology during their undergraduate degree, but do not have a psychology major, have the opportunity to complete this major through CAP.
Applications for first semester CAP subjects close on 31st January. Applications for second semester CAP subjects close on 30th June. Applications for Summer semester subjects close 30th November of the previous year.
Access Melbourne
Access Melbourne provides a combined special entry and access scholarships scheme for students from educationally, financially or socially disadvantaged backgrounds to enrol in undergraduate degrees at the University. Visit Access Melbourne for more information.