Bachelor of Psychological Science
at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
An APAC-accredited three-year psychology sequence. Forms the first half of the six-year pathway to registration as a psychologist with AHPRA.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at the University of Adelaide introduces the breadth of psychology: foundations of psychological science, developmental and social psychology, the brain and behaviour, and research methods and statistics. The statistics and methods thread starts early because psychology is taught as an empirical, evidence-based discipline. Second year deepens the core APAC content: cognition and perception, learning and memory, personality and individual differences, biological psychology, and more advanced research design and statistics. You begin reading primary research and designing small studies, and electives let you explore areas like health, forensic or organisational psychology. Third year completes the accredited three-year sequence with advanced courses in abnormal and clinical psychology, psychological assessment, applied and professional psychology, and a research project. This sequence is the first half of the six-year pathway to registration. Strong students gain entry to a fourth-year Honours program, the gateway to professional masters study.
Example first-year subjects
- Foundations of Psychological Science
- Psychology of Development and Social Behaviour
- The Brain and Behaviour
- Research Methods and Statistics I
- Cognition and Perception
- Introduction to Health Psychology
How you will be assessed
- Final exams of 40 to 60 per cent in core courses
- Statistics and data-analysis assignments
- Research reports written in APA style
- Laboratory and online experiment participation
- Literature reviews and essays
- Third-year research project and presentation
Career outcomes
- Graduates work in support roles in mental-health services, drug-and-alcohol clinics and community-services organisations.
- Common destinations include human-resources, market-research and user-experience research positions across the private sector.
- Most alumni continue into a fourth-year Honours programme and the Master of Psychology to register as a psychologist.
Professional accreditation
- APAC accredited (three-year sequence)
Typical first jobs
- Mental-health or disability support worker
- Research assistant in a university or health setting
- Human-resources or recruitment officer
- Market or user-experience research assistant
- Case worker in community-services organisations
- Behaviour-support or welfare officer
Graduate starting salary
$58,000 - $68,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
The accredited three-year sequence alone does not lead to registration as a psychologist. Students apply for a competitive fourth-year Honours (or graduate diploma) program, then a professional Master of Psychology (clinical, organisational, forensic) or the 5+1 internship pathway, to register with AHPRA through the Psychology Board of Australia. Graduates not continuing to registration use the degree in human resources, market and UX research, mental-health support, policy and welfare roles, and PhD research is available for academic careers.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students interested in human behaviour and the mind
- Those comfortable with statistics and research methods
- People prepared for the long pathway to registration
- Analytical readers who can interpret empirical studies
- Students who enjoy both science and people-focused work
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike statistics and research methods
- Those expecting to practise as a psychologist after three years
- People wanting a hands-on clinical placement degree from year one
- Students seeking a maths-free or essay-only program
Related courses at Adelaide
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Adelaide handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/adelaide/bachelor-of-psychological-science.