For entry into a psychology course commencing in 2017, the ATAR ranged from 55 to 99.00 depending on the course and university. While most undergraduate psychology degrees are 3 years, the courses that include the 4th year (honours) generally require a higher ATAR or OP for entry.

Graduates of a number of degrees including psychological science, psychology, arts, social science, health sciences, science, commerce and behavioural science must ensure that they complete the required pre-requisite subjects in their undergraduate course to be eligible to proceed down the postgraduate pathway if their intention is to become a psychologist. A high grade point average will be required.

It takes a minimum of 6 years to become a registered psychologist. Please check with the Australian Psychological Society regarding the pathways available.

The following tables shows the ATAR / OP scores that were required to enter each undergraduate course at the beginning of 2017 in the various states and territories throughout Australia. Please note that this is a rough guide only for future years as it changes from year to year depending on the applications each university receives, and that some universities will also have additional selection criteria to gain entry. This may include an application form, interview or personal statement. It is also worth noting that many universities also offer double degrees in psychology that are not listed in the tables below. There are also some non-university institutions that have requirements such as a minimum age of 21 years for course entry.

The information presented in this article was correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the Psychology Board of Australia for an up to date list of approved programs of study to become a psychologist in Australia: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Accreditation.aspx

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. My Health Career accepts no responsibility for ensuring that you enrol in a course that is right for you. Please do your own research to ensure that you enrol in the correct course, especially if you are considering an undergraduate biomedicine, health science or biomedical science degree as a pathway to a postgraduate course. This may include speaking with a careers advisor, guidance officer, career development practitioner, representatives of the Australian Psychological Society, and admissions officers from the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

More resources on My Health Career:

• Videos about a career in psychology
• How to become a psychologist in Australia – by psychologist Dan Martin
• The career progression of a psychologist – many roads lead to Rome – by Dr Rebecca Ray
• What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
• Transitioning to academia for early career psychologists