Bachelor of Science (Psychology)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Australian National University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at the Australian National University is designed for curious minds who want to understand what drives human behaviour — from the workings of the brain to the way people think, feel and interact in everyday life. It’s a great fit if you enjoy connecting science with real-world questions and want a strong foundation for future pathways in research, health, policy, education or business.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year eases you into the core ideas of psychology. Courses such as Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour and Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context introduce how the brain functions, how behaviour is shaped, and how individuals relate to their social world. Alongside these, electives let you explore interests beyond psychology while building confidence in university-level study.

Year 2
In second year, you start thinking more like a psychologist. You’ll learn how to work with data in Quantitative Methods in Psychology and explore cultural influences on behaviour in Culture and Psychology. Subjects such as Social Psychology and Biological Basis of Behaviour deepen your understanding of how people think and act — both individually and in groups — while helping you identify areas you may want to specialise in later.

Year 3
Your final year brings everything together through advanced study and research. In Advanced Research Methods, you’ll design, analyse and interpret real psychological research, building skills valued across many careers. Courses such as Developmental Psychology or Psychopathology Across the Lifespan explore how people grow, change, and experience mental health challenges over time. A wide range of electives allows you to shape your degree toward interests such as health, counselling, neuroscience or organisational psychology.

Focus Areas

You’ll develop a strong understanding of human behaviour, research design and data analysis, brain–mind–culture connections, and psychological development across the lifespan.

Learning Outcomes

By the time you graduate, you’ll have a solid grounding in psychological science, the ability to conduct ethical research, confidence working with data, and strong communication skills. You’ll also be well prepared to work independently or as part of a team in professional settings.

Professional Alignment

This degree is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), meaning it meets the academic requirements for students who wish to continue into postgraduate psychology training and, eventually, professional registration.

Reputation and Employability

ANU is consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities — around #32 in the QS World University Rankings — and is widely recognised for excellence in research and the social sciences. Studying psychology at ANU gives your qualification strong credibility with employers in Australia and around the world.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This psychology degree goes far beyond learning theories from textbooks — it’s about actively doing psychology. From your very first year, you’re introduced to how psychologists really work: asking meaningful questions about behaviour, collecting and analysing data, and learning to think critically about human experience in all its complexity.

As you move through the degree, the learning becomes increasingly hands-on. You’ll design your own research projects, work with real data, and explore areas like human development, health, and behaviour in practical, structured ways. By the time you graduate, you won’t just understand psychological concepts — you’ll have built the confidence and skills to apply them to real people, real problems, and real-world settings.

Here’s a snapshot of how practical learning is built into the program:

Advanced Research Methods gives you direct experience with how psychological studies are designed, conducted, and analysed, so you understand research from the inside out.
Quantitative Methods in Psychology helps you develop practical statistical skills, teaching you how to interpret evidence and make sense of real datasets.
Transdisciplinary problem-solving is woven into core subjects like Biological Basis of Behaviour and Health Psychology, where you tackle complex, real-world issues that cut across multiple areas of psychology.
Core psychology subjects such as Social Psychology, Cognition, Developmental Psychology, and Personality Psychology focus on observation, analysis, and applying psychological principles to everyday human behaviour.
Electives and advanced (3000-level) psychology courses allow you to explore areas of interest more deeply in later years, with options that may include counselling, health, neuroscience, or organisational psychology.

If you decide to continue beyond third year, you can also apply for an Honours year, where you’ll further strengthen your research skills and gain deeper practical experience — an ideal step for those considering postgraduate study or research-focused careers.

Overall, this degree is designed to help you learn psychology by practising it, building a strong foundation for both professional work and further study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Choosing the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at the Australian National University (ANU) means choosing a degree that goes far beyond textbooks and theories. It’s about understanding how people think, behave, and make decisions — and learning how to apply that insight in real, practical ways. ANU psychology graduates step into careers where people skills and data-driven thinking matter, such as research assistance, human resources, policy work, and health or community services. The program’s breadth and pace give you the freedom to explore different directions while helping you connect psychology to real-world issues.

What this really means for you:

Strong support for your career journey
ANU doesn’t leave you to figure things out on your own. Through services like ANU CareerHub, you can explore job opportunities, get help planning your career, and speak directly with career consultants. Career fairs and employer events make it easier to understand what different industries are looking for and how your psychology degree fits in.

Skills employers actually want
Throughout the degree, you’ll build solid skills in research, data analysis, statistics, communication, and critical thinking. These come directly from core psychology courses and hands-on research training. Even if you don’t end up working as a psychologist, these skills are highly valued in business, government, NGOs, and many other sectors.

Flexibility and real-world connections
The degree is taught within ANU’s College of Science and Medicine, which opens doors to interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. You may have opportunities to connect with research projects, health-related initiatives, or community-focused work. If you want even more flexibility, you can combine this degree with another through a Flexible Double Degree, expanding your options even further.

A strong foundation for professional psychology
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). That accreditation is essential if you’re considering becoming a registered psychologist later, making this degree a solid first step toward that goal.

Graduates who feel prepared
ANU psychology graduates often highlight how confident they feel stepping into different work environments. The mix of theory and practical learning helps them adapt easily — whether they’re working in applied research, organisational settings, or people-focused roles.

Clear pathways for further study
If you decide to keep going academically, ANU offers well-established next steps. Many students move into Psychology Honours to deepen their research skills. From there, you could pursue the Master of Professional Psychology, which supports the 5+1 pathway toward registration, or aim for the Master of Clinical Psychology if clinical practice is your goal. For those passionate about research, PhD options in psychology or related fields are also available. Each pathway builds naturally on the bachelor’s degree and helps you shape a career with greater depth and impact.

In short, this degree gives you options — and the confidence, skills, and support to choose the path that feels right for you.