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Honours in Psychology


Honours in Psychology is an important and rewarding year in a student’s psychology training. The Honours year provides a more advanced qualification in psychology and is a prerequisite for further training or postgraduate study in psychology. Honours graduates are eligible to apply for the PhD in Psychology or one of our Master of Psychology programs.

On completion of Honours in Psychology graduates are eligible for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society.

Students whose aim is to practise as registered psychologists will, after successful completion of their Honours program, undertake a 2 year Master of Psychology program to qualify for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society, and registration with a state registration board.
 

Honours contacts


Honours Program Director - Dr Jillian Dorrian.
E: jill.dorrian@unisa.edu.au
T: 08 8302 4480

Honours program support - Mrs Lorelie Ball, Executive Officer: Programs
E: lorelie.ball@unisa.edu.au
T: 08 8302 4323

Student testimonial from Honours graduate Louise Williams B.Psych. (Hons) 2008

If you have any general enquiries about the Honours program, please contact the Program Support Officer or email: psychology@unisa.edu.au
 

Campus facilities


UniSA’s Honours in Psychology program is conducted at its Magill campus, in dedicated facilities including a modern suite of interview rooms and dedicated psychology computer facilities.
 

Honours program


At the University of South Australia, the Honours year is the final (4th) year of the 4 year program called the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Students may apply for entry to the 4 year program as first year undergraduates.

Every year, UniSA invites applications for entry to the 4th year (Honours year) also.

The Honours year is a one year program for those undertaking it full-time. Part-time students may take the program over 2 years, with the coursework generally undertaken in the first year followed by the research project in the second (final) year.
 

Four year program MHPU Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)


Applications to UniSA’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program are via SATAC. This highly regarded program had a TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank) of 90.15 for entry in 2009.

The first three years of the program are almost identical in content to the UniSA 3 year program MBPU Bachelor of Psychological Science.

To progress to the 4th (Honours) year, MHPU students must successfully complete the first 3 years of the program, and achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5.0 in the level 2 and level 3 psychology courses to be eligible for the Honours year. Students who do not achieve this minimum GPA may either exit the program and graduate with a Bachelor of Psychological Science, or complete the 4th year Pass Stream for the award of Bachelor of Psychology.
 

How to apply for Honours in Psychology (4th year)


Each year, the University of South Australia invites applications for the 4th year (Honours in Psychology) program. Applications are accepted via the UniSA Apply Online website from eligible students who have completed an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited undergraduate sequence in Psychology. Applicants are selected on the basis of academic merit and ranked according to their GPA in the second and third year psychology courses of their undergraduate program. To be eligible to apply, students must have a minimum GPA of 5.0 in these courses. Entry to the Honours year is highly competitive as there are usually more applicants than available places in the 4th year, which has resulted in a cut-off GPA of more than 5.5 in recent years.

An information package about applying for Honours is available around August each year – see contact details above. The ApplyOnline website begins accepting applications around September and usually closes 30 November. Successful applicants are advised around mid-December.
 

Internal transfer for UniSA psychology students


UniSA psychology students may apply for internal transfer to the 4 year program MHPU Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) on completion of the second year of their current psychology program.

Applications are considered at the next intake into the MHPU program (currently only at the commencement of each year), and only if there are available places. Entry is based upon the applicant’s GPA in their current psychology program at UniSA.
 

Honours prizes


Australian Psychological Society Honours prize

The 2008 recipient is Tristan Duggan.

Awards winner Tristan Duggan with Professor Tony Winefield
Tony Winefield Psychology Honours Thesis prize

The 2008 recipient is Tristan Duggan.


Tristan is shown here being presented with his prizes by Professor Tony Winefield at the school's Graduation Celebration in April 2009.

 

 

Honours Research Project


Honours students complete a Research Project which amounts to half of the workload for the award (18 units).

The project involves the conduct of empirical research and the reporting of the results in a literature review and research report, under the guidance of a supervisor.

The School of Psychology proudly presents the Honours research projects submitted in 2007 and 2008 . The abstracts are supplied here for your information. Electronic copies of these research projects are available on request from the School of Psychology by emailing psychology@unisa.edu.au.
 

Further study


Honours graduates may wish to consider the following programs to continue their studies in Psychology.

Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Master of Psychology (Work and Organisational)
Ph.D in Psychology

To be eligible for registration as a psychologist, students must complete a 2 year Master of Psychology program after completing Honours.
 

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