Studying Psychology under the Melbourne Model

Introduction 

Psychology as a discipline embraces a wide range of perspectives and approaches that contribute to the scientific study and understanding of behaviour, especially human behaviour.  Taught at the University since the late 1800s, the Department of Psychology at Melbourne offers a diversity and quality of undergraduate and postgraduate programs unrivalled in this country. It is also one of the largest psychology departments in Australia.

Many opportunities are opened up for you when you study psychology since the training will give you a strong foundation for your career, for further professional training or studies. Graduates are equipped with a range of transferable skills that can be applied within diverse employment settings and educational opportunities. Psychology is such a broad area that its study encourages the ability to integrate data from disparate fields into a coherent picture. The study of psychology is hence both fascinating and relevant to today’s modern society - because human behaviour affects everything in life.

Why study Psychology at Melbourne?

• Flexibility of the course structure - psychology is offered as an area of study to be completed alongside other subjects in the six undergraduate degrees offered by the University.  This is advantageous to you as it provides you with the flexibility to tailor your academic interests.  You can choose to study psychology by completing an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited 125-point sequence, or as individual subjects in the various degree programs.  
• The School’s teaching is underpinned by excellence in research across a range of fields, including cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, social psychology, developmental psychology and clinical psychology.

• Academic staff who are internationally recognized researchers in their respective fields make study in the Department a challenging and stimulating experience.  With the breadth and depth of that experience, you can expect yourlecturers to incorporate the latest ideas, theories, and research findings into their teaching. 
• Extensive Research conducted at the school covers topical issues as diverse as visual perception, language processing, cognitive development, group behaviour and social attitudes, memory disorders, brain lateralization etc

• To provide you with a greater understanding of the discipline and its career prospects, the Department invites practitioners and prominent figures in the field to speak at various public lectures and seminars. You will benefit greatly through your interaction with these experienced professionals. 
• In addition, you will get the opportunity to participate in research work as early as year 1 through the Research Participation Program, where you will be exposed to how research is conducted.

What are some possible subject combinations for students studying psychology?

• Arts students, for example, may choose to combine studies in psychology and criminology to provide a strong background in social and behavioural science and research methodology. 
• Science students can opt to study behavioural neuroscience which combines study in the biomedicine courses with psychology to examine the relationship between brain function and behaviour.  
• Commerce students can study psychology, gaining insights into areas such consumer behaviour or organizational behaviour. 

How can you study psychology in an undergraduate degree?

In the undergraduate program, you may study psychology as:

• a 125-point accredited sequence (offered in Arts, Science and Commerce)
• a 75-point minor study (offered in Arts)
• breadth subjects (offered in Biomedicine, Commerce, Environments & Music)
• individual psychology subjects (offered in ALL six undergraduate degrees)

Each subject is worth 12.5 credit points. The 125-point sequence consist of nine compulsory subjects and an elective.

The emphasis in the psychology major is on developing a wide understanding within psychology. The structure encompasses a sequential development of knowledge in areas of psychology through advanced units in third year. Research skills are introduced in the first year subjects and developed across second and third units, contributing to your broad education as well as giving you the depth of understanding for postgraduate studies. The third year also contains a capstone unit integrating key features of your earlier studies, you will also have the possibility of choosing a unit of applied study.

Linking psychology to your personal experiences and establishing a style of working together is the emphasis in Year 1.  In the second year and in advanced studies in third year, the emphasis will be on the linking of knowledge to research, both through research-led teaching and through an emphasis on individual practical research experience. In other third-year level studies, such as the capstone study and the applied psychology subject, you will be able to work collaboratively, linking psychology to issues in contemporary society, and your studies will be informed by the research perspective you have developed in your earlier years.

*These subjects require the corresponding 200-level subject as prerequisite.
** These subjects are offered at 200 & 300 levels but are not part of the accredited major sequence
Note: Subject listing above to be confirmed

How do I apply to study Psychology at Melbourne University?

Psychology is offered as an accredited sequence through the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce, and as individual subjects in all the six undergraduate degrees offered at the University. Bachelor of Commerce students can complete the 125 APAC accredited sequence depending on their area of specialisation. The area of specialisation for Bachelor of Commerce students will determine whether they can complete the 125 APAC accredited sequence.

No pre-requisites are needed to take up Psychology in Year 1 of your course.  Some advanced 300-level units will require pre-requisites. 

If you wish to study psychology, you would need to apply for admission into one of these six New Generation degrees. If you want to complete the APAC-accredited sequence, you need to apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Commerce. Pre-requisites for these degree courses can be found in the relevant course brochures.

Career opportunities

Psychology graduates are equipped with valuable and transferable skills which open up a wide range of potential career pathways.  Whether you have studied individual psychology subjects or completed psychology as a major, your career opportunities are varied, including journalism, editing, public relations, teaching, market research, human resources, business development, marketing and advertising, clinical settings, government bodies, and the world of politics etc. 

If you complete a 125-point accredited sequence, you may apply to study a 4th year honours degree or a postgraduate diploma.  However, to be eligible to register as a psychologist in the state of Victoria, it is necessary for you to complete four years of accredited study in psychology and two years of accredited postgraduate professional studies to practice.  

Graduates who go on to pursue in-depth training (professional or research postgraduate degrees) in the field of psychology find employment in a number of specialised areas. These can include academic psychology, applied research, clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, community psychology, counselling psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, industrial/organisational psychology, social psychology and sports psychology. The courses conducted by the School are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Student & Graduate Profiles

Graduate Pathways

Psychology graduates enjoy vast opportunities to further their studies or engage in professional training.  Besides being able to enroll in non-psychology postgraduate studies, the School of Behavioural Science conducts postgraduate courses for graduates who have completed 4 years of accredited psychology studies. For more information,  http://www.psych.unimelb.edu.au/courses/postgraduate/

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I hear there is a new way of studying at The University of Melbourne under what’s called the Melbourne Model. What does this mean for me?

You’re right, the Melbourne Model is new, and we believe it’s the way of the future.

Psychology training, however, has always occurred at the graduate level so the changes shouldn’t affect students wishing to become psychologists.  You will still be able to complete an APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council)  approved psychology sequence (10 subjects) in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science.  You should also be able to complete sufficient subjects in the Bachelor of Commerce to complete the APAC approved sequence.

2. How does the new Melbourne Model affect the study of psychology at Melbourne?

Under the Melbourne Model students will have greater options with respect to studying psychology and the flexibility to tailor your academic interests.  It will be possible to take up single psychology subjects in the various undergraduate degrees that offer psychology, to complement your bachelor degree studies. 

• complete an APAC accredited sequence (comprising 10 subjects) in the BA and BSc
• complete an APAC accredited sequence in BCom, with 2 subjects credited from within the BCom course
• take breadth subjects (in the BCom, BBioMed, BMus and BEnv)
• take individual psychology subjects in all six New Generation degrees.

Students will still need to complete the three year Bachelor degree with an accredited sequence, one year Honours program, and the two year Masters program to be eligible to practice as a psychologist. [NB:  there is still an option of completing two years of supervised work after the Honours year. Check out the APS website at www.psychology.org.au]

3. When does the new Melbourne Model take effect? Is it 2008 or 2009?

It starts in 2008. From next year the newly structured Bachelor’s degrees will commence.

4. What sort of benefits could I expect from the new Melbourne Model and the Master of Psychology?

There are many. First, doing a Bachelor degree for three years allows you to think clearly about what sort of professional you want to be. You would be able to think about your future before you commit, and test yourself.  The University of Melbourne degrees are designed to meet the accreditation requirements for the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, and at present that is the equivalent of six full-time years of study. 

Students who choose not to study psychology after the Bachelor’s degree will have the option of going down a different path of study as your Bachelor’s program will have included a broad range of subject areas.  Students can also choose to be part of the work force since graduates with a psychology major are highly sought after.

If you complete the Honours program and decide not to go onto the Master of Psychology, you can think about undertaking research training, or again, becoming part of the workforce

5. Will it take me longer to complete the psychology training under the Melbourne Model.

No, the Melbourne Model will not extend your psychology program. 

6. How can I be sure that at the end of my Bachelor degree, I can get into psychology Honours? Will there be any guarantees?

Some of the new programs offered through the Melbourne Model will offer guaranteed Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) in the professional programs subject to the applicant having attained a certain minimum ENTER and maintained an H2A weighted average throughout the Bachelors degree.  Psychology does not offer guarantee entry.  Students who do well enough in the Bachelor’s degree will be able to apply for a place in the Honours program and then subsequently the Masters program.

7. If I do one of the undergraduate degrees, how will my performance over the three years be taken into account for the Master of Psychology? Do I have to get high grades right the way through?

Undergraduate performance will be a factor in the selection of students for the Master of Psychology.  Selection will be based on performance in the Honours program as well as your results in your third year psychology subjects.  We also use interviews and references as part of the selection process into the Master of Psychology.

8. Will there be scholarships offered and will they be for the Bachelors degree, the Honours degree and the Masters degree?

Scholarships will be offered to ensure the best and brightest students can afford to study for the six years it takes to complete the psychology program. They will be offered one degree at a time for those who earn a scholarship based on their academic performance (merit scholars).

9.I’ll be ready to enrol at university in 2008. How do I get into psychology at  Melbourne under the Melbourne Model? What do I need to qualify for entry?

In 2008, you can choose one of potentially three pathways to becoming a psychology graduate with an accredited sequence; either a three year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Commerce.  You can then apply for entry to the Honours program and the Masters degree. You can also apply to study in any of the six new generation degrees if you wish to study individual psychology subjects to complement your studies. 

No pre-requisites are needed for studying psychology in Year 1. However, please check out the respective course brochures for the entry requirements to the respective six degrees offered at the University.

10. I hear there are prerequisites in the Bachelor degree that would help make me  eligible for the Master of Psychology.

Yes, all students wishing to complete the Master of Psychology will need to
complete the equivalent of the 10 subject psychology sequence (125 points) in their Bachelors degree and then the Honours program in psychology.

11. What’s the difference between the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science? Will choosing one help me get in to the Master of Psychology?

Neither program will have an advantage over the other when it comes to the University considering candidates for Honours program and then the Master of Psychology.  The psychology subjects studied are the same in both bachelor degrees.

12. Will I be able to get a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for the whole six years of studies ? What will all this cost?

Commonwealth Supported Places will be available for all bachelors degrees, the Honours program and the Masters degree.   If you would however consider a full-fee place, you should indicate it in your preferences for your first degree, to maximize your chances at offer time.

To do the Bachelor degree, the Honours program and the Master of Psychology, you would incur three years of the equivalent of Bachelor costs (HECS or Full-fee), one year of the Honours program (HECS or Full-fee) and then two years at the Masters cost. The costs of these courses are still being determined.

For more information:

tel:+61 3 8344 6377
fax:+61 3 9347 6618
email: enquiries@psych.unimelb.edu.au
web:www.psych.unimelb.edu.au

Contact information

Postal address

School of Behavioural Science
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010 Australia

Street address

School of Behavioural Science
Level 12, Redmond Barry Building
Swanston Street
Parkville Victoria 3010

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