Entry requirements
Admission criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
Secondary education (Year 12)
- Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Advanced Diploma (AQF level 6) or higher.
Higher education study
- Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program at undergraduate Diploma (AQF level 5) or higher.
Work and life experience
- Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
- A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
- Qualify for special entry
Degree Structure: Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Cognitive Neuroscience)
Program code: HPSCN
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 186 units for Core courses, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning
Study plan
A study plan sets out the courses you will need to complete and the recommended timing for each one. This will help to guide your enrolment in each study period, alongside any additional information provided below. If you have received a personalised plan or alternative advice from your Program Director, please refer to that guidance in the first instance, or seek help from your Program Director or Student Assist if you are unsure.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 4
Semester 1
Students commence Psychology Research Project in Semester 1
Students commence Psychology Research Project in Semester 1
Semester 2
Enrolment information
Find details about the rules and notes that apply to your program, along with other essential information required for successful enrolment. Supplementary supporting resources may also be provided where applicable.
Some programs include additional enrolment advice. If available for your program, it will be displayed here.
Notes
Program conditions:
- For students commencing in 2026, the minimum GPA to remain in the program: Students enrolled in this program must maintain an average GPA of at least 6.0 for all core psychology courses (a) or will be required to transfer to the three-year Bachelor of Psychology.
Rules regarding progression to the fourth year:
- For all students - Honours coursework: Students must complete all Level 1, 2, and 3 coursework requirements before commencing the Honours coursework and the research dissertation/project.
- For students commencing in 2026, the minimum GPA to progress to the fourth year: Students enrolled in this program must attain an average GPA of at least 6.0 across all psychology core courses (a) from Years 1 to 3 to progress to Year 4 (Honours). Students who do not meet this requirement may apply to graduate with a three-year degree. They may also apply for the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) one-year stand-alone program or the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced).
- For students who commenced prior to 2026 at one of the Foundation universities, the minimum GPA to progress to the fourth year: Students enrolled in this program must attain an average GPA of at least 5.5 across all psychology core courses (b) from Years 2 and 3 to progress to Year 4 (Honours). Students who do not meet this requirement may apply to graduate with a three-year degree. They may also apply for the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) one-year stand-alone program or the Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced).
Notes.
(a) Core psychology courses are: PSYC 1000 Introductory Psychology Research Methods; PSYC 1001 Understanding Individual Behaviour and Cognition; PSYC 1002 Psychology for Social Contexts; PSYC 1003 Health and Developmental Psychology; PSYC 1012 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology; PSYC 2000 Insights into Data and Research in Psychology; PSYC 2001 Insights into Individual Behaviour and Cognition; PSYC 2003 Insights into Health and Developmental Psychology; PSYC 2009 Career Development in Psychology; PSYC 2010 Psychology for Global Challenges; PSYC 3001 Advanced Individual Behaviour and Cognition; PSYC 3003 Advanced Health and Developmental Psychology; PSYC 3007 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology; PSYC 3011 Psychology for Organisations and Communities; PSYC 3900 Work Integrated Learning in Psychology
(b) Core psychology courses comprise the relevant core courses students completed from Adelaide University or their foundation university: Adelaide University - PSYC 2000 Insights into Data and Research in Psychology; PSYC 2001 Insights into Individual Behaviour and Cognition; PSYC 2003 Insights into Health and Developmental Psychology; PSYC 2009 Career Development in Psychology; PSYC 2010 Psychology for Global Challenges; PSYC 3001 Advanced Individual Behaviour and Cognition; PSYC 3003 Advanced Health and Developmental Psychology; PSYC 3007 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology; PSYC 3011 Psychology for Organisations and Communities; PSYC 3900 Work Integrated Learning in Psychology OR The University of South Australia Foundation University - BEHL 2005 Introductory Research Methods/BEHL 2019 UO Introductory Research Methods; BEHL 2006 Social and Community Psychology/BEHL 2020 UO Social and Community Psychology; BEHL 2012 Biological and Learning Psychology/BEHL 2017 UO Biological and Learning Psychology; BEHL 3002 Cognitive Psychology/BEHL 2018 UO Cognitive Psychology; BEHL 3004 Clinical and Abnormal Psychology/BEHL 3032 UO Clinical and Abnormal Psychology; BEHL 3005 Advanced Research Methods/BEHL 3034 UO Advanced Research Methods; BEHL 3011 Developmental Psychology/BEHL 2016 UO Developmental Psychology; BEHL 3021 Cognitive Neuroscience; BEHL 3024 Personality Psychology/ BEHL 3036 UO Personality Psychology; BEHL 3028 Psychology Research Experience; BEHL 3037 Exploring the History and Foundations of Psychology; and ONE of the following: BEHL 3008 Work and Organisational Psychology/BEHL 3033 UO Work and Organisational Psychology; BEHL 3012 Health Psychology/BEHL 3031 UO Health Psychology; BEHL 3022 Conservation Psychology/BEHL 3035 UO Conservation Psychology; BEHL 3023 Language, Context and Social Behaviour; BEHL 3029 Psychophysiology of Sleep; HLTH 3014 Health, Exercise and Sport Psychology; HLTH 3066 UO Psychology of Exercise, Sport and Health.
Courses
Listed here are all the courses that contribute to your program, including elective options that can be chosen. These courses come together to form your study plan. Courses fall into different categories, each of which have specific unit values that need to be met under the program rules.
What courses you'll study
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 186 units for Core courses, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning
Complete 186 units comprising:
- 6 units from Common core, and
- 180 units for all Program core
Common core description
Common core courses are interdisciplinary courses that build key graduate capabilities.
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Neuroscience Across the Lifespan
|
Course code
BIOL3024
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Anatomy and Physiology A
|
Course code
HBIO1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Neuroscience
|
Course code
HBIO1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy
|
Course code
MDST2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introductory Psychology Research Methods
|
Course code
PSYC1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Understanding Individual Behaviour and Cognition
|
Course code
PSYC1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Psychology for Social Contexts
|
Course code
PSYC1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Health and Developmental Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Cognitive Neuroscience
|
Course code
PSYC1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Insights into Data and Research in Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Insights into Individual Behaviour and Cognition
|
Course code
PSYC2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Insights into Health and Developmental Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Career Development in Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Psychology for Global Challenges
|
Course code
PSYC2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Science for Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Individual Behaviour and Cognition
|
Course code
PSYC3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Health and Developmental Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Psychology for Organisations and Communities
|
Course code
PSYC3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cognitive Neuroscience
|
Course code
PSYC3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Neuroscience of Language
|
Course code
PSYC3025
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Psychological Interventions and Applications
|
Course code
PSYC4000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Interviewing and Interpersonal Skills for Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC4001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Skills for Psychological Assessment
|
Course code
PSYC4002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Psychology Research Project
|
Course code
PSYC4004
|
Units
24
|
|
|
Course name
Psychological Research Evidence in Professional Contexts
|
Course code
PSYC4800
|
Units
6
|
Work Integrated Learning description
WIL courses give you real‑world experience as part of your degree.
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Work Integrated Learning in Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC3900
|
Units
6
|
|