Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Newcastle

Program Overview

The combined Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Media and Communication lets you explore what makes people tick while learning to share ideas in engaging, impactful ways. It’s perfect for curious minds who want to understand human behaviour and communicate it across digital, media, and creative platforms.

Curriculum Structure:
Year 1: You’ll start by building a solid foundation in both psychology and communication. Courses like Introduction to Psychological Science and Media and Communication Fundamentals introduce you to human behaviour, research methods, and the basics of storytelling and media production. You’ll explore how people think, learn, and interact while getting hands-on experience with digital communication tools.

Year 2: Here, you dive deeper into understanding human behaviour and the media landscape. Units like Social Psychology and Media Writing and Production allow you to examine how society, culture, and technology shape human interaction and communication. You’ll experiment with media projects, develop persuasive content, and refine your research and analytical skills.

Year 3: In your final year, you focus on applying what you’ve learned through real-world projects and advanced studies. Courses such as Cognitive Psychology and Advanced Media Production give you the opportunity to design, implement, and present research, as well as create professional-level media content. This year emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and preparing for careers that blend psychology and communication.

Focus Areas: Understanding human behaviour, media storytelling, digital communication, research and analysis.

Learning Outcomes: Develop strong psychological insight, media production skills, and the ability to communicate ideas effectively across multiple platforms.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The psychology component is APAC accredited, meaning your studies meet high professional standards, and you’ll graduate with skills recognised by industry and academia.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The University of Newcastle is ranked in the world’s top 200 for Psychology, with graduates highly sought after in media, communication, and behavioural science roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you’re looking to understand people and communicate effectively in today’s fast-changing world, the Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication at the University of Newcastle is built to give you hands-on, career-ready experience from day one. This program doesn’t just teach theory — it places you in real-world learning situations where you can apply psychological insights to media projects, explore social communication in practical settings, and experiment with creative expression across multiple platforms. You’ll develop skills that employers value, all while working in state-of-the-art facilities designed for both media production and social science research.

Here’s how you’ll get that practical experience:

Participate in Work Integrated Learning projects, including conceptualising, coordinating, and producing real media campaigns.
Gain experience in media production using Newcastle’s cutting-edge facilities, including the Q Building creative and innovation hub.
Apply psychological knowledge in practical settings through directed courses and projects that bridge theory with real-world application.
Engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that combine media, communication, and social science perspectives.
Build a professional portfolio demonstrating both psychological insight and media communication expertise.

This structure ensures you graduate with tangible skills, ready to step confidently into a wide range of career paths.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this combined degree leave ready to step confidently into a wide range of roles where understanding people and communicating effectively are key. Many go on to work as case workers, public relations managers, feature writers, or project and research managers, bridging the worlds of psychology and media with real-world impact.

Here’s what this means for you:

University employability support: Newcastle offers dedicated career services, including workshops, one-on-one career counselling, and networking events designed to connect you with employers across psychology, media, and communications.
Strong graduate outcomes: 93.5% of graduates are employed within four months, giving you excellent momentum as you start your career.
Industry connections: Through work-integrated learning and partnerships with media organisations, businesses, and public service agencies, you gain hands-on experience that employers value.
Accreditation and recognition: The psychology component is APAC accredited, and the program sits within a top-200 global psychology university, giving your qualification credibility both in Australia and internationally.
Versatile career pathways: Whether in communications, creative industries, public service, or applied psychology roles, your skills will be in demand and adaptable as industries evolve.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you have several pathways to continue your studies. If you aim to become a registered psychologist, you could pursue an Honours year followed by a relevant Master’s program. Alternatively, you could specialise further in media, communications, or research through postgraduate coursework or research degrees offered at Newcastle, giving you the chance to deepen expertise and open doors to senior roles in your chosen field.