Have you always been fascinated by the inner workings of the human mind? Do you enjoy knowing what makes people tick and the causes of why people do the things they do? Then a degree in Psychology might be just for you.
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and human behaviour. Psychologists observe and conduct experiments to find out more about the way people act and interact. They try to understand what motivates, challenges or changes us and use this understanding to help us tackle personal and social problems.
Psychologists can work in social care, mental health, education, business, research and sports. There is a big world of career opportunities for psychologists in Australia and the rest of the world and you will undoubtedly find the niche that best fits your interests.
If you want to learn more about becoming a psychologist in Australia, the available degrees and everything you need to start practising and getting a job as a psychologist, you have come to the right place. Keep reading!
Is a psychology degree worth it? Learn more about what you can do with a psychology degree.
How to Become a Psychologist in Australia
While becoming a psychologist takes serious commitment and dedication, it can be highly rewarding for your future. Psychologists are professionals who have an extremely important role in society since they help people get through challenges and improve their lives. Psychologists utilize the scientific method in order to study human behaviour and get an idea of how people feel and think.
Psychology is an ideal career choice if you’re interested in getting to know the inner workings of the human brain. That said, if you are intrigued about becoming a registered psychologist, it is important to keep in mind that certain qualifications are required. From undergraduate studies to supervised internships, it is important you keep in mind the various pathways to becoming a psychologist.
There are a number of minimum requirements for provisional registration as a psychologist in Australia. These requirements include completing a four-year basic tertiary program in psychology that has been approved by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
But what is the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council? It is an independent quality and standards organisation whose job is to develop and review standards for accreditation of psychology programs of study. They accredit more than 700 programs of study across 41 higher education providers. These also include programs in Malaysia and Singapore.
There are two ways to achieve or get this requirement:
- By completing the Bachelor of Psychology (to stay in the program you have to maintain minimum grade requirements), or
- By completing a psychology major (three-year sequence of study) in one of the other accredited programs and then applying for a place in the honours year in psychology.
On the other hand, full registration as a professional psychologist in Australia is overseen by the Psychology Board of Australia and requires:
- a fifth and sixth year of graduate study in professional psychology; or
- one year of graduate study in professional psychology plus one year of a Board approved internship; or
- two years of a Board approved internship.
These rules and requirements are applicable to all States and Territories. That is why it is so important to have students be aware and familiar with these if they plan to practise as a registered psychologists.
On the other hand, there is a minimum six-year sequence of education and training in psychology that students need to undertake in order to become eligible for general registration as a psychologist in Australia. While it can be lengthy, it is an excellent step for those who are committed to a career in the field.
Learn more about the jobs you can have as a psychologist.
Degrees in Psychology in Australia
Are you thinking about enrolling in one of the many psychology courses available in Australian universities? There are many psychology degrees available across Australia where you can get a psychology diploma:
- Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Sydney: The Bachelor of Psychology is made for students who are considering a career in the psychology industry but still want to keep other options available to them. The course is made to specialise people in psychology, and study topics like behavioural neuroscience, social psychology, personality theory, perception, intelligence, mental health, and developmental psychology. Students in this course also undertake a minor in a topic of their liking from the shared pool. They also get to choose a number of free electives.
- Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Western Australia: The Bachelor of Psychology at this university helps students develop a scientific understanding of human thoughts and behaviours, as well as understand the psychological processes involved and the relationship of these processes to brain function. They also gain group experience while conducting research, learning about the use of psychology in business settings, and also study issues surrounding Indigenous heritage, experience, and knowledge. The undergraduate degree is three years with a sequence in psychology and holds accreditation by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
- Bachelor of Psychology at Charles Sturt University: Students that pursue this degree have the opportunity to explore human behaviour while also understanding people's wellbeing. It opens the way for many careers since psychologists can be both health professionals and scientists. They understand that graduates can pursue research as well as gain insights into human behaviour and mental processes. This four-year Bachelor of Psychology is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. That said, as stated before, more studies and training are required to pursue a career as a psychologist.
- Bachelor of Psychology at the University of South Australia: Students who choose to pursue this degree gain the knowledge and skills to understand foundations in psychology. This degree is particularly designed and taught by world-class researchers in the field of psychology at a university ranked No.1 in South Australia for psychology research. The idea is for students to graduate understanding of the theory of psychology as well as critical and analytical thinking skills, the ability to manage data and the ability to use and produce research.
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at UNSW Sydney: UNSW Sydney has a psychology degree that dives into the science of behaviour and mental processes, and provides students with the tools to understand the brain, cognitive and decision-making processes and mental health. Some other things that students work on as part of this bachelor's degree are memory, learning, cognition, perception, neuroscience, language, developmental psychology, forensic psychology, social psychology and abnormal psychology. Once you finish your studies, the idea is to either head into the workforce or continue studying to become a registered psychologist by completing an additional two-year master’s degree in psychology.
- Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Victoria University Melbourne Australia: this degree will help you dive into various subjects around people and why we behave in the way that we do as well as the various ways we communicate in our relationships. Students in this course also learn about people's motivations, thought processes and interactions. The idea is for graduates to pursue careers in diverse areas including community services, marketing or teaching. This accredited psychology degree gives students the opportunity to combine studies in psychology with art or health minor. Some of the available minors include gender studies, history, sociology, health, interpersonal organisational skills and applied health nutrition.
- Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Newcastle Australia: the Bachelor of Psychological Science at The University of Newcastle dives into psychology studies while also approaching matters such as statistical analysis and research methodologies. It provides students with comprehensive skills that can be useful across a variety of career paths. Students of this degree become experts in human behaviour and gain the necessary skills to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
- Bachelor of Psychology at Curtin University: As part of this bachelor's degree, students have a first interprofessional year which is taken with other health sciences students. The second year is focused on gaining knowledge in learning, motivation, perception, child development and social psychology. The third year is veered towards preparing a research proposal and developing advanced knowledge in abnormal psychology, adult development, community psychology, cognition, cross-cultural psychology, Indigenous psychology and individual differences. The final and fourth year of this degree carries with it a long research project where students undergo program evaluation, psychological assessment, and counselling.
Get ready to start learning about the different types of psychology with the help of Superprof!
Hire a Private Psychology Tutor with Superprof
If you are ready to become a psychology student or are already enrolled in a psychology course, there are many resources out there to help you thrive in your academic and professional career. One of them is Superprof. Find your perfect psychology statistics tutor today!
Superprof is a website dedicated to connecting students from all over Australia with teachers or tutors who can help them reach their goals. We have a wide network of teachers and tutors who offer courses in psychology and are more than ready to support your academic career in this field.
The course or courses can be online or in-person and they can support you no matter if you are pursuing your undergraduate or master's degree. All you need to do is find the right teacher for you. Look at the available profiles and check out details like their professional experience, how long they have been teaching, their hard skills and soft skills and what other students say about their style of teaching.
Start learning more about psychology and psychology courses.
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