Handbook - Psychological Science (Honours)

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Overview

The purpose of Honours in Psychology is to enable students who have performed well at undergraduate level to deepen their knowledge of approaches, perspectives and traditions in psychology and undertake a significant research project. Honours is a means for connecting undergraduate study with supervised independent research by consolidating and extending … For more content click the Read More button below. Students conduct a year-long, 30 UOC major independent research project (completed under the guidance of an academic supervisor), and write a thesis based on the project. In addition, students complete 18 UOC of advanced-level core and elective coursework in both Term 1 and Term 2. The research project may be undertaken in most areas of psychology, such as: psychopathology, behavioural neuroscience, cognitive science, cognition and perception, forensic psychology, and social, personality and developmental psychology. The project culminates in a written thesis, which is assessed independently by two academics (neither of which is the student's supervisor). The coursework requirement includes content that encompasses history, professional ethics, evidence-based practice and advanced coverage of selected contemporary issues in psychology that reflect the expertise and research specialisations of School staff.

Students conduct a year-long, 30 UOC major independent research project (completed under the guidance of an academic supervisor), and write a thesis based on the project. In addition, students complete 18 UOC of advanced-level core and elective coursework in both Term 1 and Term 2.

The research project may be undertaken in most areas of psychology, such as: psychopathology, behavioural neuroscience, cognitive science, cognition and perception, forensic psychology, and social, personality and developmental psychology. The project culminates in a written thesis, which is assessed independently by two academics (neither of which is the student's supervisor).

The coursework requirement includes content that encompasses history, professional ethics, evidence-based practice and advanced coverage of selected contemporary issues in psychology that reflect the expertise and research specialisations of School staff.

Program Structure
48 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 48 UOC as a standalone program.

1. 18 UOC Coursework Courses
2. 30 UOC of Research Thesis Courses

Specialisation Requirements

Students must complete the specialisation below.

PSYCAH

48 UOC

Psychology

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Internal applicants (current UNSW students)

Entry is obtained by achieving a Psychology Average mark of at least 75%. The Psychology Average is calculated from:

Marks for psychology core courses common to all psychology programs / plans (see below); and
The three highest of marks for all Level 3 psychology electives ever attempted.

The psychology core courses are as follows:

Level 1: PSYC1001 Psychology 1A, PSYC1011 Psychology 1B, PSYC1111 Measuring Mind and Behaviour
Level 2: PSYC2001 Research Methods 2, PSYC2061 Social and Developmental Psychology, PSYC2071 Perception and Cognition, PSYC2081 Learning and Physiological Psychology, PSYC2101 Assessment, Personality and Psychopathology
Level 3: PSYC3001 Research Methods 3, PSYC3011 Research and Applications of Psychology

NOTE:

Psychology courses taken at another university do not count towards the Psychology Average.
Level 1 PSYC electives do not count towards the Psychology Average.
The average is based on a student’s mark for the first attempt at courses.
Completion of PSYC3371 Multivariate Data Analysis for Psychology, in conjunction with PSYC3001, is important as preparation for the Honours year. Students can take PSYC3371 as a Stream A or Stream B elective.

External applicants (non-UNSW students)

Applicants from other institutions must have completed, within the last 10 years, a three-year undergraduate sequence in psychology (accredited as such by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)). Applicants with international psychology qualifications must have the qualifications assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) before submitting an application.

Places are offered to external applicants on the basis of merit. The number of places available for external applicants (if any) varies from year to year and depends upon the number of eligible internal applicants and the availability of School resources. For this reason, only external applicants with an exceptional academic record in psychology will be considered.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning

Progression Requirements

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Professional Recognition

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Honours Classes

At the completion of their Honours program students will be awarded an honours grading as follows:

Honours Class 1: mark of 85 or greater;
Honours Class 2 Division 1: mark from 75 to 84;
Honours Class 2 Division 2: mark from 65 to 74;
Honours Class 3 or Pass: mark below 65.

The calculation of class of award will be determined from the student’s weighted average mark for all of the courses (research-based and coursework) required for the program.

Please note that only PSYC4-coded courses will be included within an honours calculation.

Honours marks and gradings will be scrutinised at the School level to ensure consistency across cohorts. The Faculty will also review these marks and grades prior to the release of results.

Additional Information

How to Apply

External applicants (domestic and international) are required to submit an application for study at UNSW directly to the UNSW Admissions Office. Details regarding admission and a link to the application form can be found at www.unsw.edu.au/honours.

In addition to applicants who are a graduate/graduand of another university, applicants who are a graduate of UNSW after an absence of at least one term must apply for admission directly to the UNSW Admissions Office.

Please note that the School's closing date for applicaions is around mid-November. More information can be found at:

Internal applicants: http://www.psy.unsw.edu.au/current-students/undergraduate/honours
External applicants: http://www.psy.unsw.edu.au/future-students/undergraduate/programs/honours

Science Handbook Rules and Editions

Students must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year they commence their studies with the Faculty of Science.

Students who transfer from another UNSW Faculty into Science (for example, from a Bachelor of Arts into a Bachelor of Science) must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year of their transfer.

Students, who are readmitted to UNSW after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, must satisfy the program rules in the Handbook published in the year of their readmission. In addition, these students may be subject to restrictions on which courses taken at UNSW may be counted on their return. In some cases, students returning from an unapproved absence may be required to repeat courses. See the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Advanced Standing section below for more details. Students who take approved leave or deferment will follow the Handbook for the year of their original commencement unless otherwise approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students