Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)

Name: Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)
Author: Queensland University of Technology

Highlights

Take the first step towards a career as a registered psychologist.
Study specialised areas of psychology including alcohol and drug studies, forensic psychology and the law, family therapy, sexuality and gender, and community psychology.
Option to complete a professional placement unit which can be undertaken in Australia or overseas.
Choose electives from across the university such as science, criminology, creative industries and business.

Highlights

Take the first step towards a career as a registered psychologist.
Study specialised areas of psychology including alcohol and drug studies, forensic psychology and the law, family therapy, sexuality and gender, and community psychology.
Option to complete a professional placement unit which can be undertaken in Australia or overseas.
Choose electives from across the university such as science, criminology, creative industries and business.

Make a
MID-YEAR RESOLUTION MID-YEAR RESOLUTION

Apply by 30 May
Start study in July

Gain practical skills and professional connections to thrive in your chosen career.

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Apply now
Start study in July

Boost or change your career with a postgraduate degree.

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Why choose this course?

This course provides an excellent foundation for careers in professional areas where an understanding of human physical and emotional behavior is an advantage, and is the first step towards a career as a registered psychologist. QUT allows you to choose from a wide selection of electives, or pair this course with another degree in a complementary area. This distinct flexibility offers you a competitive edge in the workplace.

During this course, you will complete nine elective units. This allows you to build your knowledge in areas of specific interest and emerging areas of employment, for example, organisational psychology and digital technologies. You will select from specialised areas of psychology including alcohol and drug studies, forensic psychology and the law, sexuality and gender, family therapy and community psychology. Elective units may also be from other study areas in the university, such as science, criminology, creative industries and business. Elective units may also be combined to form a minor in another study area.

You may complete a placement in a professional environment that aligns with your career goals. There are opportunities to complete this placement in Australia or overseas.

Our staff have been recognised for excellence in teaching and research. Many are active researchers who are contributing to new knowledge in areas that include mental health and wellbeing interventions, alcohol and substance abuse therapies, community psychology (including refugees and migrants), road safety, and building resilience in children and teens.

Explore this course

What to expect Career outcomes Details and units Requirements Fees Scholarships

What to expect

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. Registered psychologists use scientific knowledge of human behaviour to assist individuals who are experiencing mental disorders, relationship problems, learning difficulties, addiction and eating disorders, among other things. Psychologists may work in a specific area of psychology such as cognition, neuroscience, or social and developmental behaviour. Psychology graduates have many career choices, using their knowledge of human behaviour to work in a range of fields, including health promotion, marketing, human resources, coaching, policy, and community services. Graduates also work as researchers to provide greater understanding about how people think, feel and react to situations, and to develop new strategies to improve psychological functioning.

Double degrees

Combine two bachelor degrees into a single course of study. A double degree allows you to specialise in two fields and pursue different interest areas, gaining a broader range of skills and knowledge, and giving you a competitive advantage and greater career flexibility.

Consider the following double degrees with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology):

Business: gain knowledge and skills to add business acumen to roles as a market researcher, human resources manager or training and development consultant.
Law: pursue a career as a lawyer or psychologist in legal, corporate, government, mental health or clinical health environments, or in the development of mental health legal
policies, or in research in the legal-psychological domain.
Justice: your psychology and justice qualifications will position you for a career in policy development, criminal justice institutions, rehabilitation and family services.
Social Work: combine psychology and social work to work in community services, counselling and family-centred intervention, mental health services, drug and alcohol intervention, or disability services.
Nursing: use your skills to work as a nurse in a range of areas including emergency, mental health, palliative care, or cancer departments.

Career outcomes

Graduates of this course have skills that can be applied to a variety of professional areas.

The analytical, interpersonal and research skills are ideal for careers in education, human resources, market research, organisational development, policing, public health, human services and counselling.

To pursue a career as a registered psychologist, you must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Currently this involves completing a fourth year of study in psychology plus two years of supervised work experience or two years of further study.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as providing a three-year undergraduate level of training in psychology.

Students who complete the Counselling Practice and Skills Minor can obtain a Level 1 accreditation with the Australian Counselling Association.

Possible careers

Administrator
Aged Services Worker
Case Manager
Child Protection Officer
Community Health Officer
Community Worker
Counsellor
Disability Services Worker
Family Services Officer
Government Officer
Guidance Officer
Health Information Manager
Health Services Manager
Higher Education Worker
Human Resource Developer
Human Resource Manager
Human Services Practitioner
Manager
Policy Officer
Probation and Parole Officer
Psychologist
Public Servant
Research Assistant
Research officer
Social Scientist
Youth Worker

Requirements

OP 9

Rank 82

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2019.

Don't have an OP or rank?

Find out other ways you can apply

Starting uni in 2021?

There are some changes to subjects and the qualifications we’ll consider for entry to QUT from 2021 and beyond. Make sure you’re prepared to apply.

Find out how these changes might affect you

Course code: PY45

QTAC code: 425081

CRICOS code: 034136C

Campus

Kelvin Grove

Campus

Kelvin Grove

Duration: 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time; Evening classes are not available

Duration: 3 years full-time

Entry: February and July

Entry: February and July

OP Guarantee: Yes

Deferment: You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

Assumed knowledge

Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:

English

We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA). Recommended Study: Maths A, B or C.

More about assumed knowledge

Guaranteed entry

If you receive an adjusted OP 1-5 (or equivalent selection rank), you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Advanced standing

If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.

More about advanced standing

Deferment

You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

More about deferring your offer

Adjustments to your selection rank

Any adjustments you receive to your selection rank (or OP equivalent) will be applied to this course.

Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your selection rank

Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2018

The scores listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent school leavers. If you are not a school leaver, take a look at the entry thresholds box at the top of this page to see the lowest adjusted scores required overall to receive an offer.

	Excluding adjustments		Including adjustments
	OP	Selection rank	OP	Selection rank
Highest OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 2	Selection rank 97	OP 1	Selection rank 99
Median OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 9	Selection rank 81	OP 8	Selection rank 84
Lowest OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 13	Selection rank 71	OP 10	Selection rank 78

You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.

Other admission options

If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).

Minimum academic requirements

I completed my studies outside of Australia

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

I completed secondary school in Australia

Guide to entry thresholds

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2019.

OP: 9

Rank: 82

Did you get an OP 1-5?

If you completed secondary school in Australia and received an OP 1-5 or equivalent, and you meet the course prerequisites, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the January offer round

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.

English Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
Cambridge Advanced English Score Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. You must provide your Cambridge English Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry.	176	169	169	169	169
IELTS Academic Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT.	6.5	6	6	6	6
Pearson PTE (Academic) Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. Please assign your test to QUT in your Pearson profile.	58	50	50	50	50
TOEFL iBT Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT.	79	16	16	21	18

Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Haven't completed an English language test? We can help!

If you have not completed an English language test, you can sit the IELTS test at our IELTS test centre

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2020 fees

2020 CSP $7,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)

2020 fees

2020: $31,700 per year full-time (96 credit points)

2019 fees

2019: CSP $7,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)

2019 fees

2019: $30,100 per year full-time (96 credit points)

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Find out more about undergraduate course fees

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out more about government loans

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

Browse all scholarships

Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (Academic)

A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

Applications

Equity scholarships scheme

A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility: Struggling financially

Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (Elite Athlete)

A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility: Sporting excellence

Applications

You may also be eligible for

Centerlink payments

QUT eSports

Psychology students Dylan Poulus and Michael Trotter co-founded the first university eSports program in Australia. The program facilitates player development from grassroots to professional participation. Dylan Poulus has always had a desire to understand and help people perform better. He is interested in how psychology impacts their performance.

Learn from the best

Science (Psychology) program and QUT researcher, Dr Melanie White, received a highly regarded Churchill Fellowship in 2013 to pursue her research into the genes linked to substance abuse in adults. The results of her research will help clinicians make customised treatment plans based on someone’s specific genetic profile.

Real student

'I’m really passionate about psychology, and that’s the main reason why I decided to do this course. Being able to understand why people do the things they do and how they act around each other is one of the most interesting and exciting things about this course.'

Kylie

Watch video

Accreditation

Full accreditation with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council means that this course is accredited by a national and international accreditation authority, giving you a highly recognised qualification. This course is part of a sequence that can lead to eligibility for registration as a psychologist. APAC is the only Australian entity with the authority to accredit courses that will be recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia.