Students can take a major in Psychology within the BA degree, BSc degree, or the BBus degree. Normally a major in a degree is 100% of units in a discipline. Normally a major in a degree is 100% of units in a discipline. Students would enrol in the BA degree if they were also interested in other humanities and social science subjects such as Sociology, History, Philosophy, and Indigenous Studies.
If the major comprises 150% of psychology units, students will be eligible to apply for honours in Psychology within the BA or the BSc degrees. An honours degree enables students to apply for post-graduate degrees of various kinds. For more information on the different post graduate degrees click on the links on our home page.
Special Note: Beginning students who do not qualify to gain admission to our Bachelor of Psychology degree (see link) can commence studies in the BA or BSc and if they attain high grades in Psychology and other Year 1 subjects, may apply to gain entry into Year 2 of the BPsych. Rules apply. We therefore advise all students who have intentions to get into the BPsych to put as their second course preference either the BA or the BSc, depending on your other subject interests.
The BBehavSc is a new specialist three-year degree program with a broad vocational orientation, designed to equip graduates with knowledge and skills relevant to a range of careers by allowing students to complete a psychology major in conjunction with a major or minor in a related discipline, eg, neuroscience, management, sociology, criminology and human movement. For example, a student interested in working in the area of substance abuse could include a major or minor in health science in conjunction with their psychology major. Students can also choose to complete their second major in behavioural science or behavioural neuroscience. The BBehavSc provides preparation for fourth year study in psychology (honours) and postgraduate study in other areas such as counselling, criminology and corrections, health management, marketing, rehabilitation counselling, and social work.
Overview of Options for Studying Psychology
General Degrees Specialist Degrees BA and BSc Requirements BBehavSc Requirements BPsych Requirements Major(s) 1 major (8 units)
in Psychology or another discipline listed in the Schedules for each degree2 majors
Psychology major (8 units)
Choice of major (8 units) in other discipline,
Behavioural Science, or Behavioural Neuroscience2 majors
Psychology major (8 units)
Behavioural Science, or Behavioural Neuroscience major (8 units)Minor 1 minor (4 units) 1 minor (4 units) 1 minor (4 units) Elective Study 8 student elective units
4 degree electives4 student elective units 4 student elective units Accredited Sequence Psychology major plus
4 units from Behavioural Science major (12 units)Psychology major plus a Behavioural Science minor
(12 units)Not applicable
The Bachelor of Psychology is a four year integrated program. It is the School's flagship elite undergraduate degree in Psychology and has a high TE entry score. The fourth year of the program is the same as the honours year program in the BSc or BA (see links) and allows students to apply for post-graduate coursework degrees in clinical psychology, or research higher degrees in psychology. If students attain high grades in the 3rd and 4th years of the BPsych they will receive an Honours grade qualification (see degree rules).
Special Note: Students admitted to the BPsych need to maintain a high academic performance in Year 1 of their studies in order to remain enrolled in the degree. Click on the links to the Course and Unit Handbook for further details outlined in the degree rules.
Students can take a major in Psychology within the BSc degree, BA degree, or the BBus degree. Normally a major in a degree is 100% of units in a discipline. Students would enrol in the BSc degree if they were also interested in other science subjects such as Geography and Environmental Studies, Zoology, Mathematics, Computing etc.
If the major comprises 150% of psychology units, students will be eligible to apply for honours in Psychology within the BSc or the BA degrees. An honours degree enables students to apply for post-graduate degrees of various kinds. For more information on the different post graduate degrees click on the links on our home page.
Special Note: Students who do not qualify to gain entry to our Bachelor of Psychology Degree (see link) can commence studies in the BSc or BA and if they attain high grades in Psychology and other Year 1 subjects, may apply to gain entry into Year 2 of the BPsych. Rules apply. We therefore advise all students who have intentions to get into the BPsych to put as their second course preference either the BA or the BSc, depending on your other subject interests.
See Honours Faqs (pdf 85KB)
The Psychology Honours program can be undertaken within the BA(Hons), BBehavSc(Hons) or BSc(Hons) and is offered on both the Hobart and Launceston campuses. It is an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited fourth year psychology program.
Course description
The Honours program provides training in research (including a substantial supervised research project), advanced level theoretical study in core areas and applied topics, and an introduction to professional training and ethics. It is a one-year full-time course of study, but, with School and Faculty approval, enrolment on a part-time basis over two years may be permitted.
Admission & prerequisites
Entrance requirements for Psychology Honours are completion of a Bachelor’s Degree (BA or BBehavSc or BSc or an equivalent qualification) with an APAC accredited 3-year sequence in Psychology. International student applying for entry to Psychology Honours will need to obtain an APS assessment confirming the equivalence of their qualification to an APAC accredited 3-year sequence.
Students who are successful in gaining admission to the Honours program will have achieved a Distinction average or above in psychology units taken at second and third year level. The number of places in Honours program is limited by the availability of laboratory facilities, supervisors and other resources, and admission to the program is based on academic merit.Course objectives
The Psychology Honours program aims to:
- develop competence in scientific methodology, critical thought and scholarly discourse, and
- prepare graduates for specialist postgraduate training and research higher degrees
Course Structure
The program components include four coursework units (50%) and a research project (50%).
Unit Code and Title Weight KHA451 Research Design & Ethics 12.5% KHA452 Theoretical Controversies in Psychology 12.5% KHA453 Assessment, Professional Roles & Ethics 12.5% KHA454 Advanced Topics in Psychology 12.5% KHA456 Research Project 50%
See Honours Faqs (pdf 85KB)
Pathway to registration as a psychologist
The rules governing the practice of psychology have changed in recent years with the advent of a national system of registration and accreditation. A single set of requirements now apply, across all States and Territories.
Psychologists throughout Australia are now required to complete six years of education and training before being eligible for general registration to practice as a psychologist. At UTAS, this can be achieved by:
- completion of a 3 year APAC accredited undergraduate degree in psychology plus
- an accredited 4th (honours) year, followed by
- an accredited and approved professional masters or doctoral degree in clinical psychology
The Graduate Diploma of Science provides graduates with the opportunity to acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills in an area of specialisation that is different from the disciplines they completed in their undergraduate degree. Applications for the specialisation in Psychology, are open to graduates from all disciplines and applicants will normally be expected to have successfully completed first-year university-level psychology.
The specialisation in Psychology consists of Psychology units totalling 100%, 50% at 200 level and 50% at 300 level. The course will normally be completed in two consecutive years of part-time study. The units constituting the course of study are listed on the Course and Unit website
Entry requirements
Completion of a Bachelor of Science, or another approved bachelor degree or other tertiary qualification deemed equivalent by the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, and successful completion of first-year university-level psychology.
The Graduate Certificate of Counselling is a skill-based course which provides opportunities for graduates and people working in counselling roles to gain a qualification in counselling, together with preparation for further study in Counselling and Rehabilitation Counselling. It is a HECS course offered on the Hobart and Launceston campuses on a part-time study basis and comprises four 12.5% units.
The Graduate Diploma in Counselling provides opportunities for graduates with a background in psychology or another area of human services, to undertake postgraduate study in counselling. It is a HECS course offered on a full-time or part-time study basis and comprises eight 12.5% units. Currently four units are offered on both Hobart and Launceston campuses, four on the Hobart campus only. The School may change these arrangements as demand changes.
The Master of Counselling provides opportunities for graduates with a background in psychology or another area of human services to undertake advanced level training in counselling. It is a HECS course offered on a full-time or part-time study basis. Of the fifteen units undertaken, seven are available on the Hobart campus only.
The Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling provides opportunities for graduates with a background in psychology or another area of human services, to undertake postgraduate study in rehabilitation counselling. It is a HECS course offered on a full-time or part-time study basis and comprises eight 12.5% units. Currently four units are offered on both Hobart and Launceston campuses, four on the Hobart campus only. The School may change these arrangements as demand changes.
The Master of Rehabilitation Counselling provides opportunities for graduates with a background in psychology or another area of human services to undertake advanced level training in rehabilitation counselling. It is a HECS course offered on a full-time or part-time study basis. Of the fifteen units undertaken, seven are available on the Hobart campus only.
Clinical Postgrad Program FAQs (pdf 451.7KB)
The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is the School's flagship post-graduate professional degree which provides high level education and training for students aspiring to be practising clinical psychologists. It is a HECS course of two years full time (4 years part time) study. It comprises coursework, research work, and field placements. Students completing the MPsych (Clin) will automatically qualify for registration in the state of Tasmania as a Psychologist, and be eligible for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
The DPsych (Clin) is a research higher degree which also contains the coursework and field placements of the MPscyh (Clin) plus additional advanced coursework units and placements. Graduates of the DPsych (Clin) can use the discriminatory title "Doctor", and not only be registered in the state but gain membership of the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). New School rules require students to enrol in the MPsych (Clin) and complete the coursework and field placements of that award before applying to do the DPsych (Clin). Eligibility rules apply.
The PhD (Clin) is a full PhD research degree with all the coursework and placement requirements of the MPsych (Clin). This degree allows students to pursue research careers, as well as engage in high level practitioner careers. New rules require students to complete the research component of the degree before embarking of the coursework and field placement requirements through the MPsych. Upon completion they will be eligible to take out the PhD (Clinical).
The PhD degree is a research only degree. It is usually a three year full time, or 6 year part time degree. Students work with two staff members on a rigorous research project that would be considered original and ground breaking work. Students can apply for a scholarship to undertake a PhD in psychology. For specific areas of expertise in research please click on the links to staff, or research, in the school. For more information on the degree see the graduate research website.
For more information see Graduate Research.