Embedded honours year
#1 Victorian university for psychology facilities and resources
140 hours of industry placement
Why choose psychology at Deakin
Complete your honours year as part of your degree with Deakin's four-year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), providing a clear and structured pathway to advanced study in psychology. Build a strong foundation in the science of mind and behaviour while developing the skills to understand and promote mental health and wellbeing.
Specialise from your first year with the only Victorian university to offer specialist psychology majors in an undergraduate psychology degree. You can also choose to complete 140 hours of professional placement, building valuable experience in professional settings.
In your honours year, you will complete advanced studies in counselling, psychological assessment and research methods, alongside a research project, developing your ability to critically evaluate evidence and apply research in professional contexts, preparing you for provisional registration as a psychologist and further postgraduate study.
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Complete your honours year as part of your degree
Progress through a structured four-year program with an embedded honours year, providing a clear pathway to advanced study in psychology.
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#1 in Victoria for psychology outcomes
Study at a university ranked #1 in Victoria for psychology facilities and resources.
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Specialise from your first year
Deakin is the only university in Victoria to offer specialist psychology majors in an undergraduate psychology degree, including child and family, organisational studies and forensic studies.
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Build experience and research capability
Choose to complete a 140-hour internship while developing advanced research skills through your honours year.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
With an embedded honours year, Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) takes you one step closer to becoming a psychologist while building skills employers value across a range of industries.
Psychologist
Support individuals, families and communities to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Psychologists assess behaviour, deliver evidence-based interventions and help people navigate emotional, social and behavioural challenges.
- $110k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 13.3%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- 4.3/5
Job satisfaction
Human resources adviser
Apply your understanding of human behaviour to support recruitment, employee wellbeing and workplace culture. Human resources advisers act as a trusted source of guidance for employees and managers across a range of organisations.
- $100k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 13.1%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Industries you may work in
- Healthcare
- Education
- Community services
- Government
- Public health
- Human resources
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 3 2026 applications close 18 October 2026
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
FAQs
Yes – every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning (WIL) in their degree. Each year, more than 30,000+ students complete a placement or internship with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, EY and the National Australia Bank. You can access WIL through placements, industry projects, field-based experiences, simulations and global programs, helping you apply your skills and graduate with the experience and confidence employers value.
DeakinTALENT is Deakin's award-winning career service, and you can access it for life – not just while you're studying. From personalised career coaching sessions and AI-enhanced resume support to a jobs and internships board with employment opportunities, it’s designed to give you the career management skills and connections you need to stand out. Every Deakin degree is built with input from employers, so your course is designed around real workplace needs, now and into the future.
Entry requirements and the minimum ATAR vary by degree and are detailed on the degree page, but if your ATAR is below the cut-off, you still have options. Use the pathway finder tool to find the opportunities available to you, including associate degrees and Deakin Guaranteed ATAR, which offers eligible students a guaranteed entry score that's on average 10 points below the lowest selection rank. If you don't have an ATAR, Deakin Uni Ready is a free, supported program designed to build your skills and confidence and open doors to degrees in arts, health, science and business. Access programs and equity schemes are also available.
At Deakin, employability isn't an add-on – it's built in. Our degrees are designed with industry input, so your skills are aligned to what employers actually need. Every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities such as placements, internships and industry projects, helping you build your professional network and practical experience before you even graduate. It's an approach that works: nine out of 10 Deakin graduates get a job within four to six months of finishing their degree.
Yes. Most eligible undergraduate students are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place meaning the government subsidises part of your tuition fees. If eligible, you can pay your student contribution using a HECS-HELP loan that you only start repaying once your income is above the repayment threshold. Deakin has scholarships that cater to our diverse student community, ranging from $5,000 per year for high ATAR achievers to $10,000 per year for students facing financial or personal hardship. The University also offers support services including financial counselling, budgeting help and access to short-term, interest-free loans to help you stay on track.
Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for student support and that starts the moment you accept your offer. Orientation is designed to help you feel welcome and get to know your community of classmates and teachers from day one. Across all campuses, there's a vibrant student community with clubs, events and opportunities to build real friendships. Deakin offers a range of services to help students stay healthy and safe, including sport and fitness facilities, free counselling, on-campus medical services and around-the-clock security.
Yes, and it's straightforward. You can transfer to Deakin in a few steps and apply for credit through recognition of prior learning (RPL), so you won't necessarily repeat subjects you've already completed. If you're coming from a TAFE partner, you may get guaranteed entry into second year with guaranteed RPL. Deakin's three-trimester system also means you may be able to start mid-year rather than waiting until March.
Most Deakin courses run across three trimesters per year instead of the traditional two semesters. Trimester 1 begins around March, Trimester 2 around July and Trimester 3 around November, each with roughly 12 weeks of teaching followed by an exam period. This means you can usually start your degree at three different points in the year and have more flexibility to manage your study load. Check the intakes by location section on the course page for details.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
Some courses have limited places, apply early to avoid missing out.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)?
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) develops your knowledge of human behaviour and mental processes through a structured four-year program. You will build core foundations in psychology before progressing to advanced study and research in your honours year.
Build foundations in psychology
Understand core areas of psychology
Learn foundational concepts in human behaviour, cognition and development, and how these influence mental health and wellbeing.
Develop academic and professional skills
Build your ability to think critically, work with evidence and communicate effectively in a psychology context.
Explore your study interests
Begin shaping your degree through elective or major pathways aligned to your career goals.
Expand knowledge and applied skills
Examine behaviour across contexts
Study cognitive, social and developmental psychology to understand how people think, behave and interact.
Build research and analytical skills
Learn how to design and interpret research, applying evidence to psychological questions.
Develop applied counselling skills
Begin building counselling and communication skills through introductory applied practice units.
Deepen expertise and prepare for honours
Deepen discipline knowledge
Study advanced topics such as personality, psychopathology and biological psychology.
Strengthen research capability
Develop your ability to analyse, evaluate and apply psychological research using more advanced methods.
Advance applied practice skills
Continue developing counselling and communication skills through intermediate applied practice units.
Complete honours and apply advanced skills
Develop advanced research expertise
Complete a research project, building your ability to design, conduct and communicate psychological research.
Apply psychological assessment and practice
Study advanced topics in psychological assessment, counselling and research methods.
Prepare for further study and registration
Graduate with an honours qualification that supports progression to provisional registration and postgraduate study in psychology.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), you must pass 32 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
^ Foundations of Psychology unit
* Psychology in Practice unit
# Psychology Essentials unit
^^ Psychology Honours unit
Level 1 - Trimester 1
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 1 - Trimester 2
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 2 - Trimester 1
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 2 - Trimester 2
plus two psychology course electives, electives or psychology major units
Level 3 - Trimester 1
plus two psychology course electives, electives or psychology major units
Level 3 - Trimester 2
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 4 - Trimester 1
Level 4 - Trimester 2
Note: for Psychology Fourth year admission (Honours or equivalent), students are assessed on the weighted average mark (WAM) of Psychology Essentials.
Karolinska Institute exchange students must enrol in:
Psychology Course Electives
Two credit points from:
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
The following majors are available within the Bachelor of Psychological Science
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Child and Family), Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Forensic Studies) and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Organisational Studies) are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and for entry to APAC accredited master or doctoral programs that lead to registration as a psychologist.
What to expect while studying
The current requirements for registration as a provisional psychologist include the completion of four years of academic study of psychology that is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence – such as Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychological Science – followed by an approved fourth year of study (such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) or honours in psychology).
Following successful completion of an approved fourth-year of psychology study, you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists must then complete further study, which may include: Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational), Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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.
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, 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.
As part of this course, you will have the option of undertaking 140 hours of industry placement through elective units, and our core employability-orientated units ensure you graduate work-ready. Applied Counselling Skills core units also allow you to develop your counselling and coaching skills.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Course available to domestic students only.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Integrate theoretical knowledge of the discipline of psychology in relation to: health, social, cognitive, methodology, neuroscience, development, and personality. Demonstrate understanding of advanced knowledge (theoretical, empirical and practical) in the areas of psychological assessment, counselling, advanced research methods and research practice. |
| Communicate psychological knowledge and arguments effectively using the most appropriate means utilising clear, discipline appropriate, coherent and well-developed communication skills. Convey complex psychological knowledge and ideas to laypeople and professionals. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice. This includes active listening, clarifying and reflecting, effective questioning, summarising and paraphrasing, developing rapport, appropriate cultural responsiveness and empathic responding. |
| Apply advanced skills to select appropriate digital tools to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate discipline specific information in psychology to a variety of audiences relevant to pre-professional practice of psychology. |
| 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. Competence in the design and conduct of research, and skills to critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence. Application of knowledge to assessment, counselling and case management to demonstrate evidence-based pre-professional practice in the field of psychology. |
| Respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry and the scientific approach to solve problems related to research and applied skills (psychological assessment, counselling and case-management) in the field of psychology. |
| 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 high-quality and timely outcomes. |
| Collaborate and communicate psychological principles and practices effectively in interdisciplinary teams, in a variety of contexts with diverse ethnic and cultural partners and teams, to work and learn in a range of environments including communities of practice, research and professional practice. |
| Embody the values and attitudes of the scientist-practitioner. Demonstrate, report and apply ethical principles to understand how to work productively in the field of psychology within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective, culturally sensitive, and inclusive manner. |
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400315151 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
1400515151 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
1400615151 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) - Deakin code
- H345
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$10,435
for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
The estimated tuition (student contribution) fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your student contribution is determined by the units you enrol in and will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.
Check your eligibility or learn more about CSP or HECS-HELP.
Scholarships
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.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin. Places in this course are limited and entry is competitive, so we encourage you to submit your application early.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 3 2026 applications close 18 October 2026
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Apply through VTAC
Applications are open. Apply through VTAC if you're:
- currently in Year 12 and applying for Trimester 1 or Semester 1
- applying for multiple undergraduate courses
Need help? Follow our step-by-step undergraduate guide to prepare and submit your application.
Indigenous Access Scheme
If you’re an Indigenous student, you can apply for this course through the Indigenous Access Scheme. We recognise achievements beyond your ATAR and academic results, considering your skills, experience and community work as preparation for university study.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Please note that a maximum of five credit points can be granted for Psychology core units. You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Not sure if you'll meet entry requirements?
Deakin offers a range of pathways into the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) to suit your background and goals. Explore the pathways finder to see how previous study, diplomas or alternative qualifications can lead you into the course.
Pathways
Once you have successfully completed this course, if you are interested in further study and pursing general registration as a registered psychologist, you may be eligible to apply for an accredited program such as the Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational), or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).