Psychology

Psychology, the study of human behaviour, impacts every environment in which people live, work, cooperate and communicate. Whether it’s in the classroom or the courtroom, the family home or the extremes of Antarctica, in Tasmanian communities or international relations, psychology plays a role.

Explore our courses

Bachelor of Psychological Science

Accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

This course is the first step on your journey to becoming a registered psychologist

Learn from academics active in industry

Work one-on-one with world-class academics on real research projects right from first year

Connect with your community

Study topics relevant to Tasmanian communities and workplaces so you can help understand and improve local health systems

Perfect foundation for a professional career in psychology

Throughout your studies, you'll explore a range of traditional and contemporary psychological science topics, ranging from how the brain works to how we investigate human behaviour and mental health.

This will prepare you to continue your studies after graduation towards becoming a registered psychologist or pursue a wide range of rewarding careers with the skills and knowledge delivered by your undergraduate degree.

Add sustainability to your degree

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have created a complementary, optional major available across most of our flexible bachelor's degrees.

In the major, explore interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that underpin the development of sustainable societies and solutions. Informed by international and local research, practice, and theory, this major allows you to develop specialist expertise across the physical and social sciences and humanities, emphasising student-led and problem-based learning.

It provides the frameworks for developing sustainability-oriented solutions in a range of fields and is relevant to a wide range of careers.

Combined study options

Choosing a double degree allows you to deepen your knowledge within two separate study areas. This means you can pursue your career and follow your passion at the same time. And when you graduate, you’ll have a set of skills that will really set you apart.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science can be combined with a number of other degrees. Visit the Double Degrees page to learn more.

Further study options

While the Bachelor of Psychological Science provides skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a wide range of careers upon graduation, you may also wish to explore further study options. In particular, if your aim is to become a registered psychologist, your next step is the Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours.

If you aim to become a registered psychologist you will need to complete an APAC accredited fourth year psychology qualification e.g. Honours in Psychology, and follow that with an APAC accredited postgraduate degree, e.g. Masters of Professional Psychology.

Even if you don't plan to do Masters, an Honours degree can boost your skills in research, project planning and critical thinking. This will further deepen your subject knowledge, providing valuable support for your future career.

The Master of Professional Psychology is the fifth year of a 5+1 internship program comprising coursework, research training and practical placements. The course provides preparation for progression to a one-year Psychology Board of Australia approved internship program through the development of professional skills, in tandem with theoretical and empirical knowledge, in line with the scientist-practitioner model. Research training, including the ability to critically assess and apply research findings to inform evidence-based professional practice, is also provided.

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a professional training program in psychology which will prepare you for undertaking the Clinical Psychology registrar pathway to become an endorsed Clinical Psychologist. The course is built around a community-focussed, scientist-practitioner model, with an ungraded-pass methodology that focuses on collegiality, competency development, and a genuine depth and breadth of learning that builds confidence and competence to prepare you for an exceptional career

Visit Postgraduate Psychology for more postgraduate study options. You can also view the Pathways to becoming an AHPRA registered Psychologist (PDF 68KB).

Find out more about what you'll study, entry requirements, fees and scholarships - and how to apply.

Visit the course page

Find out more about mental health courses and career pathways

Career opportunities

There is great demand for psychologists in Australia, with the number of psychologists expected to grow by 22.8% by 2025.^ There are many career pathways available for students who complete a degree in psychology or counselling, including:

  • Counselling and Mental Health Services
  • Aged, Family and Child Services
  • Community Health and Welfare
  • Health Services Support e.g. Drug and Alcohol, Cancer, Disability, Rehabilitation
  • Human Resource Management
  • Marketing and Market Research
  • Employment and Training Services
  • Teaching
  • Probation and Parole Services
  • Policy and Planning

The healthcare industry overall is expected to grow by over 15 per cent over the next five years. Psychology and counselling skills are in high demand. Here are some of the careers projected to grow into 2025.^

13.3%

Psychologists and Psychotherapists

Predicted job growth to 2026

25.2%

Welfare Workers

Predicted job growth to 2026

14.2%

Counsellors

Predicted job growth to 2026

^ Labour Market Insights, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026.

Student Story

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Clinical Psychology

"The training that I received has an impact on almost everything I do in the work place and allows me to be a true professional in my field" Rosalind Woodworth, Ph.D.

Read more about Rosalind's story