Units in first semester 2021 may be delivered online and in alternative formats whilst restrictions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic are in place.
Psychology
Bachelors Degree Pass/Honours
B-PSYCH
Outline
Find out how the human mind thinks and why we behave the way we do.
Units in first semester 2021 may be delivered online and in alternative formats whilst restrictions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic are in place.
Highly ranked course
Psychology at Curtin ranked equal 9th nationally in the reputable 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THEWUR) by Subject’.
Broad career options
Available as part of a double degree.
Highly ranked course
Our course received a five-star rating for learner engagement, learning resources, overall experience, skills development, and teaching quality in the Good Universities Guide 2020.
Learn about perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behaviour and interpersonal relationships, and how psychologists examine, explain and predict what people do as individuals and in groups.
Your first year is interprofessional and taken with other health sciences students. In your second year you will gain greater knowledge in learning, motivation, perception, child development and social psychology.
You will prepare a research proposal in your third year and develop advanced knowledge in abnormal psychology, adult development, community psychology, cognition, cross-cultural psychology, Indigenous psychology and individual differences.
Your fourth year includes a year-long research project and you will develop skills in areas such as program evaluation, psychological assessment, and counselling.
Note on fourth year: Due to stringent accreditation requirements, you must attain a minimum credit average in your second and third year core psychology units to continue into the fourth year of the course. If you do not attain the credit average required, you will graduate at the end of the third year with the intermediate award, Bachelor of Science (Psychology). High achieving students may be offered a place in the honours program.
Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.
Why study
- You will graduate with in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge together with research skills.
- There are diverse career opportunities in health and other fields such as human resources, economics, industrial relations, market research, advertising and public relations.
- Curtin was listed in the top 151-200 universities for psychology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2021.
Student profile
View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. On graduation from the fourth year of the program, you are eligible to apply for an associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society.
Note: For provisional leading to full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, you must complete a further two years of skills-based training.
Career information
Careers
With further study:
- Registered psychologist
- Endorsed psychologist
Industries
- Government
- Hospitals
- Local community
- Not-for-profit sector
- Schools
- Sports organisations
What you'll learn
- apply psychological theory to evidence based practice and extend the boundaries of knowledge through research; discriminate between valid discipline knowledge and questionable esoteric theory and practice
- apply logical and rational processes to critically analyse problems and generate innovative solutions to psychological questions
- access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information and evidence from a range of sources applicable to psychology
- communicate effectively with individuals, groups and communities
- select and effectively use appropriate technologies relevant to psychological research and practice
- demonstrate ability for self directed learning and reflective practice
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of international perspectives in psychology
- demonstrate understanding and respect for human rights and cultural diversity
- independently and collaboratively apply professional skills in an ethical manner
Admission criteria
Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.
| IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) | |
|---|---|
| Writing | 6.0 |
| Speaking | 6.0 |
| Reading | 6.0 |
| Listening | 6.0 |
| Overall band score | 6.5 |
You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.
I recently attended high school
Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, but also includes those who may have completed their senior secondary studies with a TAFE or other VET provider within the same time frame. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.
- Guaranteed ATAR : 70
- Desirable WACE subjects:
At least Mathematics: Applications ATAR and at least one ATAR science course from the following list: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Human Biology, Integrated Science, Physics or Psychology.
- STAT entry : Written English and either MC Verbal or Quantitative
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
Other admission options
Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.
If you’re an indigenous applicant who hasn’t met Curtin’s minimum admissions criteria, the Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers bridging courses that are tailored to help you gain entry into this course.
Lowest selection rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors)
View the lowest selection rank (incorporating ATAR plus any adjustments) of an applicant to which an offer of a place was made in the most relevant recent intake period, this includes any ATAR adjustments.
Selection rank adjustments (previously referred to as ATAR related adjustments)
Details of the types of adjustment factors (bonus points) commonly available to applicants can be found on our StepUp to Curtin webpage.
ATAR and selection rank profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most recent intake period
View data on the ATAR and selection rank profile of offers made from the most relevant recent intake period.
I have work and life experience
Applicants with work and life experience are those who left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.
- Guaranteed ATAR : 70
- Desirable WACE subjects:
At least Mathematics: Applications ATAR and at least one ATAR science course from the following list: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Human Biology, Integrated Science, Physics or Psychology.
- STAT entry : Written English and either MC Verbal or Quantitative
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
I’ve studied at TAFE or done an apprenticeship
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.
- Guaranteed ATAR : 70
- Desirable WACE subjects:
At least Mathematics: Applications ATAR and at least one ATAR science course from the following list: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Human Biology, Integrated Science, Physics or Psychology.
- STAT entry : Written English and either MC Verbal or Quantitative
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
I’ve gone to university before
Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This includes applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It also includes applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.
- Desirable WACE subjects:
At least Mathematics: Applications ATAR and at least one ATAR science course from the following list: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Human Biology, Integrated Science, Physics or Psychology.
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
Curtin course switcher criteria
Our admission criteria for minimum entry apply to Curtin course switchers. For information on how to meet Curtin's minimum entry requirements, please see our admission criteria web page.
Note on fourth year
To switch into this course, you need to have:
- completed an APAC accredited three-year degree, with a 60% average across second and third year.
Note on honours year
To switch into this course, you need to have:
- completed an APAC accredited three-year degree, with a 70% average across second and third year.
Higher education course switcher criteria
Our admission criteria for minimum entry apply to other higher education course switchers. For information on how to meet Curtin's minimum entry requirements, please see our admission criteria web page.
Note on fourth year
To switch into this course, you need to have:
completed an APAC accredited three-year degree, with a 60% average across second and third year.
Note on honours year
To switch into this course, you need to have:
completed an APAC accredited three-year degree, with a 75% average across second and third year.
Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, but also includes those who may have completed their senior secondary studies with a TAFE or other VET provider within the same time frame. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.
Other requirements and notes for this course
We do accept mid year enrolments. However please note that there may be restrictions on unit availability.
In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.
Advanced standing
At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.
You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.
If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.
A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.
CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.
Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:
Email: crl@curtin.edu.au
Tel: 1300 222 888
Fees & charges
Australian and New Zealand student indicative fees
Fee year: 2021
| Student type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth supported | $8,000* |
Fees are indicative first year only and are subject to passage of legislation.
*The indicative first-year fee is calculated on 200 credit points, which is the typical full-time study load per year, however some courses require additional study to be completed, in which case the fee will be higher than that shown.
This fee is a guide only. It may vary depending on the units you choose and does not include incidental fees (such as lab coats or art supplies) or the cost of your textbooks – visit other fees and charges for more information. For more information on fees and to determine your eligibility for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP, please visit fee basics or the Study Assist website
If you’re not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, please see information for international students.
Location
For start dates, please view the academic calendar.
2021
Semester 1
- On Campus
Semester 2
- On Campus
2022
Semester 1
- On Campus
Semester 2
- On Campus
2023
Semester 1
- On Campus
Semester 2
- On Campus
2024
Semester 1
- On Campus
Semester 2
- On Campus
All endeavours are made to ensure location information for courses is up to date but please note they are subject to change.
The University reserves the right to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program.
How to apply
Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice
Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. Please view our application deadlines page for further information.
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The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information. View courses information disclaimer.
- Curtin course code: B-PSYCH
- CRICOS code: 041070B
- Last updated on: April 22, 2021
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