CC42 - Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)

Overview

Compulsory Residential School

Some units in this course require you to attend a compulsory Residential School or Work Integrated Learning. Please see Course Features in the Getting Started tab for further information.

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is designed for graduates who wish to complete an accredited fourth year in psychology to become eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist within Australia. Eligibility for entry to this course requires successful completion of an accredited three year sequence in psychology within the past 10 years, which has included completion of level 1 foundational competencies (as specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)) and successful completion of an AQF Level 7 unit in advanced research methods and statistics.

In the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), you will successfully complete 48 units of credit to satisfy the requirements of the award. You will be introduced to applied and professional uses of psychology as well as professional ethics and an appreciation of the social and cultural contexts of psychological research and professional practice. You will also undertake advanced research training, and have the opportunity to conduct your own original piece of research that may lead to publication in a professional journal. Successful completion of this course will fulfil the level 2 pre-professional competencies as specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Career Information

Psychologists are employed in a wide and diverse range of areas including clinical work, counselling, neuropsychology, child development, education, forensic, health, organisational and sports psychology, as well as in teaching and research. The majority of psychologists work in the private sector, although significant numbers are employed by government departments and agencies. By successfully completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), you will become eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. From there, you will be able to apply for admission onto further specialist units in order to train for work in a particular field of Psychology.

Course Details
Duration 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 48
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Undergraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) BPsychSc (Honours)
AQF Level Level 8: Bachelor Honours Degree
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $15,446
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $24,255
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,730
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $35,250
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $23,293.5
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,680
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $33,360
Indicative Year - 2023
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $31,170
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $15,810
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $7,514
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,050
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $31,890

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 2 - 2026

Online

Term 1 - 2026

Online

Term 2 - 2025

Online

Term 1 - 2025

Online

Term 2 - 2024

Online

Term 1 - 2024

Online

Term 2 - 2023

Online

Term 1 - 2023

Online

Term 2 - 2022

Online

Term 1 - 2022

Online

Term 1 - 2021

Online

Term 2 - 2020

Online

Term 1 - 2020

Online

Term 2 - 2015

Distance

Term 1 - 2015

Distance
Show All

International Availability

Term 2 - 2026

Online

Term 1 - 2026

Online

Term 2 - 2025

Online

Term 1 - 2025

Online

Term 2 - 2024

Online

Term 1 - 2024

Online

Term 2 - 2023

Online

Term 1 - 2023

Online

Term 2 - 2022

Online

Term 1 - 2022

Online

Term 1 - 2021

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2020

Online

Term 1 - 2020

Online

Term 2 - 2015

Distance

Term 1 - 2015

Bundaberg
Distance
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry scores are not available, please contact the Student Advice Team for more information.
Entry Requirements
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is designed for graduates who have completed a three year, accredited Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) degree in psychology and who wish to complete an APAC accredited fourth year.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must hold:
  • An APAC accredited 3-year Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor Degree, or equivalent APAC accredited bridging program; and
  • Achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5.5 from your second and third year approved APAC psychology sequence units.
Qualifications completed more than 10 years ago, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please supply evidence of your work/life experience, professional development or research work relevant to psychology for assessment.

Note: Qualifications completed overseas must be assessed for comparability to an Australian psychology education pathway for entry into an APAC accredited course in psychology. This assessment must be completed by the Australian Psychology Society (APS) before students are eligible for entry into CC42.

Admission to the course is competitive, with a limited number of places available. Offers are determined on the basis of academic merit.

English Language Proficiency Requirements:
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
  • a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • tertiary diploma level qualification, or
  • bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0.
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components; or
  • Cambridge Certificate in advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 169 or above (with no individual band score of less than 154); or
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English - Score of 200 or above.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
International students should visit www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Assumed Knowledge

Nil

Security Requirements

N/A

Health Requirements

N/A

Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Professional Practice: Core
    Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

    The CQUniversity Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and as such, successful completion of this course will mean that you are eligible to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist. Provisionally registered psychologists are required to undertake a relevant postgraduate course, such as the CQUniversity Master of Professional Psychology or Master of Clinical Psychology to be eligible for professional accreditation as a registered psychologist. As a registered psychologist the opportunity exists to gain employment in a wide range of fields such as clinical psychology, counselling, clinical neuropsychology, educational, forensic, health, organisational and sports psychology, as well as teaching and research (which do not require professional registration).

Residential School Requirements

Compulsory Residential School There is a compulsory residential school for the unit PSYC14051 Research Project A within the first term of commencing the course.
Click here to view all Residential Schools

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 137
2023 125
2022 105
2021 96
2020 131
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures, and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Treating personal information obtained as private and confidential.
  • Respecting an individual's/group's diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious, cultural and individual differences.
  • Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and using an ethical decision making model to take responsibility to ethically resolve dilemmas.
  • If undertaking research, preparing an application for the university ethics committee to conduct a research study.


Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate for professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
  • Interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures in a calm and composed manner in difficult to deal with situations.
  • Successfully processing your own emotions and behaviour when dealing with potentially emotionally labile people in a wide range of professional environments.
  • Maintaining behavioural stability through successfully distinguishing your won personal behaviours, experiences and emotions from those of others (e.g. colleagues, clients, research participants).



Legal Compliance

Examples are:

  • Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation, mandatory reporting requirements and any other notifiable concern to your field placement supervisor.
  • Complying with the requirements for student registration with AHPRA or Australian Psychological Society (APS).
  • Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed or find employment.
  • Complying with university and workplace policy around the use of social media, online discussion forums, email and other electronic forms of communication.
  • If undertaking research, complying with the legal stipulations contained within an approved ethics application when conducting research with humans or animals.



Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Verbally communicating your professional psychology practice knowledge and skills with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual, group or workplace.
  • Framing and leading discussion with clients and/or research participants to collect information and provide instruction.
  • Discussing a client's progress with other professionals.
  • Using appropriate facial expressions: eye contact, being mindful of personal space boundaries, and a range of body movements and gestures.
  • Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues that indicate a change in the emotional state of a client.
  • Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar, punctuation and correct referencing to the required academic standards.
  • Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and legible report, in a timely manner that meets professional standards and clearly communicates the intended message.
  • Accurately conveying and documenting information in a written form that meets legal and professional requirements.
  • Where part of your course, preparing a document based on a body of research conducted under the supervision of an academic staff member.
  • Competently using a desktop operating system (e.g. Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X).
  • Accessing a computer and having sufficient computer skills to engage in online learning, reading and responding as required to emails, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
  • Using a variety of computer programs to analyse, manipulate and display scientific information applicable to your course of study.




Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
  • Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and perform professional skills within reasonable set time frames.
  • Where part of your course, successfully conducting an independent research project that incorporates the cognitive knowledge and skills gained from the course and is appropriate for a psychology graduate.
  • Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions associated with the referencing format used by the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences (e.g., American Psychological Association [APA]).
  • Producing contextually appropriate text which meets professional and legal requirements.
  • Reading and accurately interpreting information related to clients and/or research participants, as well as convey a spoken message accurately and effectively in a professional setting.
  • Demonstrating competency in applying accurate mathematical knowledge and skills to score and interpret psychological test data.
  • Applying research methodologies in a variety of research contexts.
  • Conducting and interpreting statistical analysis using software such as SPSS, Nvivo, or R.


Relational Skills

Examples are:

  • Rapidly building rapport with people from all walks of life, as well as with colleagues and/or research participants and/or clients in the professional context.
  • Maintaining positive working relationships when under stressful circumstances.
  • Maintaining confidentiality in all contexts.


Reflective Skills

Examples are:

  • Reflecting critically on topics taught during the course.
  • Identifying when your practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions, outside one's scope or expertise, and be able to reflect and learn from this experience.
  • Reflecting on situations that may be difficult and sensitive.
  • Identifying, reflecting and learning from successful situations as well as opportunities for improvement.



Sustainable Performance

Examples are:

  • Maintaining the appropriate level of commitment to coursework tasks, and actively participate in activities related to the course, including group work.
  • Undertaking examinations and on-line quizzes with adequate, sustained levels of physical energy and concentration.
  • Remaining focused and performing consistently during tasks.
  • Being aware of and managing your own workloads and personal commitments outside of university to ensure sustainable performance of course requirements.
  • Being aware of and managing your own stress and/or anxieties so that sustainable performance can be ensured within course requirements.



Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Initiate, plan and implement appropriate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations relevant to psychological practice and research in a competent and ethical manner
  • 2. Competently apply critical thinking, cultural responsiveness and ethical judgement in research and professional practice
  • 3. Interpret and communicate findings in oral and written formats using culturally appropriate language, including formal reports
  • 4. Investigate a substantive individual research question relevant to the scientific discipline of psychology
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4
1. KNOWLEDGE Have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines and knowledge of research principles and methods
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas
4. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding
5. SKILLS Have technical skills to design and use research in a project
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in professional practice and/or scholarship
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters
10. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 6 Total credit points: 48

Students who intend to apply for registration with the Psychology Registration Board of Australia (PsyBA) must be aware that they will normally be required to commence this Honours level qualification in psychology within 10 years of completion of their accredited 3 year undergraduate sequence in Psychology. If an applicant is beyond the 10 year limit, but has published research and/or has relevant professional development qualifications, these may be considered as evidence of equivalence and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Year 1 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
PSYC14047 Advanced Data Analysis
PSYC14053 Pre-Professional Practice of Psychology
PSYC14051 Psychology Research Project A
Year 1 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
PSYC14054 Communicating in Diverse Contexts
PSYC14055 Innovations and Applications in Psychology
PSYC14052 Psychology Research Project B

More Details

 

Applications for the Term 1, 2025 intake open on 1st September 2024, and have an early closing date of 31st October 2024.

Applications for the Term 2, 2024 intake open on the 1st of February 2025, and have an early closing date of 31 March 2025.

 

Entry requirements

Successful applicants must take up their place for the year and term for which it is offered. If your application is successful and you are not able to take up the place offered, your place will not be held open and you will need to re-apply competitively for a place starting in any subsequent year or term.

When a mid-year intake is available, intakes at Term 1 and Term 2 are considered as separate and independent streams. Applicants who are offered a place commencing in Term 1 must follow the sequence of Term 1 followed by Term 2 study. Applicants who are offered a place commencing in Term 2 must follow the sequence of Term 2 followed by Term 3 study and there can be no switching between streams.

 

Study schedule

Students commencing the course can study either Full-time or Part-time. Students are unable to switch between Full-Time and Part-Time without prior approval from the Head of Course.

 

Credit transfer

Credit transfers are not granted for Level 4 units.

 

Computing Requirements

It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the Internet.

It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.

 

Vaccination Requirements:

You will be expected to hold vaccinations in relation to the COVID-19 immunisation should your CQUniversity Study require you to attend any setting / venue / event where there is a specific entry requirement for you hold these vaccinations, as per relevant State Government directives.

 

Residential School:

There will be one COMPULSORY in-person Residential School held as part of the Honours in Psychology.

For Term 1, the Residential School will be held at the North Rockhampton Campus, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens, QLD,.

For Term 2, Residential School will be held at the CQUniversity Adelaide Campus, 44 Greenhill Road, Wayville, SA.

** Final specific program schedule will be advised closer to the residential school.