Course overview
Gain an insight into why people think, feel and behave the way they do when you study psychological science at Deakin. You will discover the complexity of human personality and behaviour, and graduate with a versatile degree that helps you pursue a range of different career options.
This course exposes you to a contemporary integrative approach to psychology – one that recognises the importance of, and interrelationships between, biological, developmental, social, cognitive, and developmental factors.
You will cover areas of psychology including behavioural and clinical neuroscience, child and adolescent psychology, relationships and the psychology of groups, cognitive psychology, forensic psychology, and psychopathology. You will also have the opportunity to develop your counselling skills through a suite of elective units.
Following completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Science students intending to become psychologists must successfully apply for and complete a level-4 Honours year or the level-4 Graduate Diploma of Psychology. This will allow students to register as provisional psychologists. Students wishing to become fully registered psychologists would need to continue studying by undertaking either a Masters or Doctorate qualification in psychology to meet full registration requirements.
Deakin’s School of Psychology has strong partnerships with industry, including collaborative activities with government agencies, public and private organisations, hospitals, and other universities. These partnerships ensure that our courses remain relevant to industry and workforce needs.
Deakin's Bachelor of Psychological Science is recognised for registration by the Psychology Board of Australia, accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and enables you to undertake additional study in pursuit of professional registration.
As a graduate, you may seek work in mental and general hospitals and clinics, business and industry, education, the criminal justice system, media, marketing, sport and research. Fully-registered psychologists enjoy roles in clinical, forensic, organisational, educational, health, and sport settings.
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2026 close 21 June 2026
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 3 2026 close 18 October 2026
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Year
- 2018 course information
- Deakin code
- H344
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 079316E Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
- Approval status
- This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Applications close soon
Choosing the right degree matters. There's still time to secure your spot at the #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction. Applications close 21 June. Exclusions apply, check course pages for closing dates.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. In order to gain 24 credit points you will need to study 24 units (AKA 'subjects'). Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises a total of 24 credit points which must include the following:
- At least 13 must be Psychology (i.e., ‘HPS’) units
- At level 1, three Psychology units, HPS111, HPS121 and HPS104, and two foundation health units, HBS107 and HBS110, are compulsory.
- At level 2, HPS201, HPS202, HPS203 and HPS204 are compulsory.
- At level 3, HPS301, HPS307, HPS308 and HPS310 are compulsory
- An additional three health electives across levels 2 and 3 must also be completed. These can be in the form of a level 2 or 3 psychology elective (HPS2XX or HPS3XX), plus either two more level 3 psychology electives (HPS3XX and HPS3XX) OR one level 3 psychology elective and one general level 3 health elective (HPS3XX and HXX3XX).
- No more than 10 credit points may be taken at level 1
- Students must complete a minimum of 7 credit points at each level.
- A maximum of 8 credit points (electives) may be taken outside the Faculty of Health
In summary, Bachelor of Psychological Science students must complete three Psychology (HPS) units at level 1, four at level 2, five at level 3 and one at level 2 or level 3.
Students may choose to accelerate their progress through the course by selecting from the following units that are normally offered in Trimester 3: HBS110, HBS107, HPS104, HPS111, HPS121, HPS201, HPS202, HPS203, HPS204, HPS206 (psychology elective unit), HPS301, HPS307, HPS308 and HPS310.
Following completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Science students intending to become psychologists must successfully apply for and complete a level-4 Honours year or the level-4 Graduate Diploma of Psychology.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2016 onwards.
Students who commenced in 2014 and 2015 should refer to previous online Handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer.
Level 1 - Trimester 1
plus one level 1 elective unit from any discipline
Level 1 - Trimester 2
plus two level 1 elective units from any discipline
Level 2 - Trimester 1
plus two level 2 elective units from psychology or any discipline
Level 2 - Trimester 2
plus one level 2 or level 3 HPS psychology elective unit AND one level 2 elective unit
Level 3 - Trimester 1
plus one level 3 HPS psychology elective unit and one level 3 elective unit
Level 3 - Trimester 2
plus one level 3 HPS psychology elective unit OR one level 3 health elective unit
AND
one level 3 elective unit
Three of the 11 elective units must be chosen from the psychology units listed below - one from level 2 or level 3 and two from level 3.
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
The remaining eight electives may include other psychology units such as:
Start Anytime
or
students may choose to take complementary studies in other disciplines.
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
More skills, more careers
Earn two degrees, faster, at the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment. With a double degree, you can combine a psychological science degree with criminology, nursing or law. Save time, reduce costs and unlock more career opportunities.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. Refer the relevant unit guide.Workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time
Work experience
As part of this course, you will also be given the opportunity to undertake preparation for work and work placement elective units as well as elective units designed to develop your counselling skills.
Scholarship options
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you’ll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply through VTAC
Applications for Trimester 1, 2027 will open on 3 August. Each year, thousands of students prepare for uni with the help of Deakin support services. We offer a huge range of support, including one-on-one consultations, webinars, online resources and events throughout the year.
Apply directly to Deakin
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
Indigenous Access Scheme
You can apply for this course through the Indigenous Access Scheme, which recognises the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and considers the skills, experience and community work that prepares you for study. We look beyond your ATAR and academic results so we can reward your hard work with a place at university.
Pathways
View pathways into the Bachelor of Psychological Science with our pathways finder.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities | Integrate theoretical knowledge of the discipline of psychology in relation to: health, social, cognitive, methodology, neuroscience, development, and personality. |
| Communication | Communicate psychological knowledge and arguments effectively using the most appropriate means utilising clear, discipline appropriate, coherent and well-developed communication skills. |
| Digital Literacy | Utilise online technologies to interact with others, access research and evaluate empirical evidence; and create and disseminate psychology-relevant content. |
| Critical thinking | Identify and critique the factors that contribute to the development of unhealthy mental processes and behaviours, develop arguments, reports, or commentaries based on empirical research and apply the results to affect healthy behaviour change in oneself or others, and; apply the skills required to affect healthy behaviour change in oneself and in others in diverse contexts. |
| Problem Solving | Apply knowledge of the scientific method when addressing problems related to behaviour and mental processes; design, plan, and conduct research that addresses these problems; and apply analytic and statistical skills to interpret the results and validity of research. |
| Self-management | Engage in independent learning as a reflective practitioner to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology; and manage resources, timelines and other constraints to achieve quality and timely outcomes. |
| Teamwork | Collaborate and communicate psychological principles and practices effectively in interdisciplinary teams to work and learn in a range of environments including communities of practice, research and professional practice. |
| Global Citizenship | Embody the values and attitudes of the scientist-practitioner; applying ethical and professional responsibilities to local and global communities and future clients and employers; within diverse cultural, social, and regulatory frameworks. |
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
++Some courses have limited places, apply early to avoid missing out.
