Top Universities for Psychology in Australia

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The way we behave defines our personalities and, to a lesser extent, our lives. But what factors impact our behaviour in the first place? How does our behaviour influence our experiences throughout our lives? If you’re interested in finding these out, Psychology might be for you!

In this article, we have provided for you everything you need to know about study Psychology Degree in Australia and Australian universities that offer the programme.

What is Psychology?

In very simple terms, Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviours. Psychology covers all things relating to the human experience, what humans feel, how humans behave, human development, and even aged care. Psychology is important amidst the rising global mental health crisis. Psychology is there to delve questions of the human mind and to improve the mental health standard of the community at large.

Psychology is present in many fields outside of healthcare. Though, in healthcare, practitioners of Psychology are named Psychologists. Psychologists have varying responsibilities depending on their respective specialisation. However, these responsibilities are mainly aimed at supporting people for their mental health or development.

Psychologist differs from a Psychiatrist. To briefly explain their difference, Psychiatrists are medical doctors focusing on medicine while Psychologists are not necessarily medical doctors and mostly focus on the human mind and human behaviours.

Types of Psychology

There are many types or subfields of Psychology which can be ventured into based on what most piques your interest when you study Psychology Degree in Australia. Below are some of them:

Types of Psychology	Description
Cognitive Psychology	Cognitive Psychology, or sometimes called Brain Science, has to do with, well, the brain, its mental processes, and its issues. These range from cognitive diseases, language use, memory, decision making, and problem solving.
Developmental Psychology	Developmental Psychology studies the stages of development throughout the human lifespan. Developmental Psychologists look at physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, personality and emotional growth.
Organisational Psychology	Organisational Psychology centres on business dynamics in order to improve an organisation’s and its workers’ well-being and performance. Designing training courses, surveys, selection procedures, are examples of Organisational Psychology.
Forensic Psychology	Forensic Psychology is widely said to be the middle point of Law and Psychology. Tasks in Forensic Psychology include psychological evaluations of court testifiers, selection of juries, or working on child abuse cases.
Quantitative Psychology	Quantitative Psychology are experts in statistics, research, and the analysis of psychological data. Quantitative Psychologists conduct their own research and collaborate with other scientists of varying fields to design research studies and methods and interpret results.

Skills required to study Psychology

Sensibility

There’s a high chance you’ll meet people from all walks of life. Sensibility is crucial for you to empathise and understand without judgement, also to uphold inclusivity with those from marginalised groups.

Active Listening

Active listening is needed to build trust and foster connections. Active listening entails listening to what is said, when it is said, and how it is said. These acts are essential in a field where you continuously help others unravel the tangled thoughts they have in their lives.

Communicative Competence

Communication is an integral aspect in the field of Psychology, regardless of whether verbal or written. Competence for communication ensures information is conveyed accurately and understanding the weight of words as well.

Critical Thinking

The skill of critical thinking is needed in order to solve pressing problems and to make difficult decisions. Additionally, it helps with the part of Psychology where you deal with statistics, conduct tests, and formulate hypotheses.

Organisation

Organisations skills will greatly benefit when you juggle between studying Psychology and personal obligations. It helps with maintaining schedules, establishing plans, keeping up with schoolwork, and managing stress.

Career options for Psychology degree graduates

Take note that to become a Certified Psychologist in Australia, you should generally enrol in a four-year study followed Take note that to become a Certified Psychologist in Australia, you should generally enrol in a four-year study followed by a Master of Psychology. Nonetheless, Psychology Degree in Australia can jump start your career as the professions listed below:

Psychologist
Counsellor
Aged Care Support Worker
Policy Analyst
Social Worker
Therapist
Health Educator
Human Resource (HR) Specialist
Market Research Analyst
Advertising and Media Executive

The average yearly income for a Psychologist in Australia ranges between AU$95,000 and AU$110,000. This can vary depending on which state you plan to work in.

Entry Requirements to study Psychology Degree in Australia

Academic Entry

Academic Entry	Minimum Score
STPM	Aggregate of 5
Matriculation	CGPA 3.30
A-Levels	Aggregate of 5
UEC	Aggregate of 15 points from Best 5 Academic Subjects
IB Diploma	24
Australian Matriculation (ATAR)	68
Canadian Pre-University (CPU)	60

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

English Language Entry Requirements

Entry Level	Minimum Score
IELTS	6.5
TOEFL	79
Pearson Test of English (PTE)	58

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

How to be a Psychologist in Australia?

Once you study Psychology degree in Australia, if you’re looking to become a certified Psychologist in Australia, you would need to be registered under the Psychology Board of Australia after completing at least 6 years of education and training. Here are the steps to become a certified Psychologist in Australia:

Step 1: Complete the SPM or any equivalent examinations to enrol into a qualifying pre-university programme.

Step 2: Complete the qualifying pre-university programme and enrol into an accredited 4-year Bachelor of Psychology programme. However, if you’re only looking into careers of the Psychology industry (not as a Psychologist) then, a 3-year programme would suffice.

Alternatively, if you’ve completed a 3-year Psychology degree or an unrelated undergraduate degree (wholly depends on which university you enrol into), you can complete a Graduate Diploma of Psychology to begin your journey as a Psychologist in Australia. Usually, a Graduate Diploma of Psychology takes up 1 year. Though, depending on which university you’re enrolled in, it may be a longer duration.

Step 3: After, apply for a provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Then, choose and complete a specialised area of a Master’s Degree in Psychology. This could take either 1 or 2 years. For a 1-year Master’s Degree, you typically would have to complete an internship. However, this would completely depend on the type of study programme and the institution it is offered at.

For instance, at Western Sydney University a 1-year Master of Professional Psychology programme requires you to do an 1-year internship before becoming a Registered Psychologist while graduates of a 2-year Master of Clinical Psychology are directly eligible to register as a Psychologist. Any specialist roles, like Clinical Psychologist may require further training.

Step 4: Apply for the General Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and professionally practise as a registered certified Psychologist in Australia.

Psychologists are considered a high demand skill in Australia, making them eligible to apply for permanent residence. Psychologist professions such as Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, or Psychotherapists fall under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Psychologists professions under MLTSSL have the opportunity for migration to Australia via the 494 subclass visa (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa.

When you are eligible for permanent residency after holding visa 494 for 3 years, you can apply for permanent residency visa such as subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) or subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated). The choice of visa may vary from occupation, eligibility, regional preference, and wish to acquire permanent residence.

For further detailed information, do reach out to us!

Top Universities to study Psychology Degree in Australia

Following are the list of university recommendation to study Psychology degree in Australia which you can consider:

1. University of Sydney (USYD)

The University of Sydney, referred to as USYD, was founded in 1850. USYD is the oldest university in Australia, presented through its sandstone exterior. The university was ranked 19th among universities globally in 2024 and is also a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) network, making it an excellent study destination choice.

In terms of subject ranking, Psychology programmes offered at the University of Sydney is ranked the top among Australian universities. These programmes are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), allowing for provisional registration with the Australian Psychological Society as well as furthering career progressions in the field of Psychology.

Programme Offered	Duration	Intake	Indicative Fees (2024)
Bachelor of Psychology Honours	4 Years	February	International Students: AU$224,000
Bachelor of Psychology	3 Years	February	International Students: AU$168,000