Bachelor of Psychological Science
at James Cook University, Queensland.
A three-year psychology degree at Townsville (ranks shown), with an online version for 2027 entry. The prerequisite is English, Literature, English and Literature Extension or EAL (Units 3 and 4, C).
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the JCU Bachelor of Psychological Science for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 66.70 | qtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 64.85 | qtac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through QTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year covers introductory psychology and sociology. Later years include social, abnormal, intercultural, environmental and forensic psychology, lifespan development, brain and behaviour, memory and cognition, psychological assessment, statistics and research methods, and cognitive neuroscience.
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.
Typical first jobs
- Mental-health support worker in NDIS and community services
- Behaviour support practitioner
- Disability support coordinator
- Research assistant at a university lab or research institute
- Human resources or learning-and-development graduate
- Youth, family or community-services worker in regional Queensland
- Pathway into Honours and master's leading to registration
Graduate starting salary
$58,000 - $68,000 per year
Source: qilt.edu.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
High achievers can continue to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or the Graduate Diploma of Psychology, the next steps towards registration as a psychologist.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who liked psychology or biology in senior school
- Curious thinkers interested in human behaviour and the brain
- Patient students comfortable with statistics and research design
- People interested in rural, remote and Indigenous mental health
- People willing to do three more years of study to register
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike statistics or quantitative work
- Those wanting to register as a psychologist after just three years
- People who prefer a regulated profession with single-licence entry
- Students who want to avoid research-methodology subjects
Related courses at JCU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the James Cook University website and on QTAC before applying.