Skip to the content
 

Fourth Year Psychology

Frequently Asked Questions

CONTENTS:

  1. Choice of Course
  2. Applications
  3. Entry Requirements
  4. Post 4th Year

Choice of Course

I am very interested in talking to someone about my options of study with Monash. I also need information on fees, etc. What would be the best way to go about it? Would it be possible for me to come and see someone on campus, or what do you suggest?

The first source of information should be the 4th Year Psychology website. Should you require further information you should contact the 4th Year Administrative Officer at 4thyearpsych.enquiries@med.monash.edu.au who will provide the information required or refer you to the relevant course coordinator for more specific information.

 

If I want to do my learning outside normal business hours, can I do off-campus study?

The Honours program has a substantial component that occurs during normal business hours. In addition, the degree requirement stipulates that full-time students must be able to devote at least 4 days per week to their studies, of which at least two days must be during the normal business hours of the University (9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday). For part-time students the requirement is two days commitment to studies; at least one of which is during the normal hours of business. There is no provision to study Honours in an off-campus mode.

 

I am a Behavioural Neuroscience 3rd year student and cannot decide whether to apply for Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience or Psychology Honours, or both. What is the difference? Will either one limit the type of research project that I do, and/or my career options?

If you are eligible for both then you are welcome to apply for both, since this can be done on the one application form. There are very distinct differences between the two courses both in terms of content and higher degree and/or career opportunities. To start with, only Psychology Honours is an APAC accredited 4th year program. So, the Psychology Honours program is tailored to students who would like the option of continuing with psychology with the view to a career in professional psychology. To this end it includes a major research component (50%), as well as a substantial coursework component. The Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience 4th year program, on the other hand, is designed to provide BBNSc Honours students with the opportunity to develop highly specialised research skills in an area of behavioural neuroscience. These skills will ultimately increase their employment prospects and/or provide them with the opportunity to undertake further research in the field. It necessarily has, therefore, a very heavily weighted research project component (87.5%) and a minor coursework component (12.5%). Choice of research projects is necessarily limited for ALL Behavioural Neuroscience Honours students (regardless of specific Honours program) to an area broadly within the behavioural neuroscience discipline.

 

As a third year Behavioural Neuroscience student, I have several options in 4th year, depending on my 3rd year unit electives. I have the option of applying for Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience, and one of Psychology Honours, Pharmacology Honours, Genetics Honours, Physiology Honours, Biochemistry Honours, etc. What qualifications will I end up with after an honours year?

All BBNSc students who complete Honours, whether it be Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology, Genetics, etc, will graduate with BBNSc (Hons) - which simply means an undergraduate Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience degree WITH Honours. As 4th year BBNSc students, you are restricted to 'behavioural neuroscience-based' research projects within whatever discipline you choose.

 

I am interested in working in child psychology (3 - 5 year olds). Which area of psychology does that come under and which campus and courses will help me focus on that speciality?

The specific training for child psychology takes place in the postgraduate years in either a Doctor of Psychology (D.Psych) or a Masters in Psychology (e.g., the Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology of the Master of Psychology (Counselling)). Entry into a D.Psych or M.Psych course requires completion of a Bachelors degree with an APAC accredited 3 year major sequence in psychology (either as part of the degree or as a Graduate Diploma in Psychology) and an accredited 4th year either in an Honours year or a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology(offered by Faculty of Education from 2010). We recommend that students who wish to apply for entry into the D.Psych course undertake the Psychology Honours program at 4th year.

 

I am interested in the "Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology" course. From where can I find out information about it?

From 2010 the Faculty of Education will manage and teach this course. Please contact the Faculty of Education for more information.


Back to Top

Entry Requirements

I am currently approaching the third year of my course. I was browsing the psychology postgraduate homepage and I was wondering where I can find the entry requirements for Psychology Honours?

Psychology Honours: Applicants must possess a degree and must have completed an accredited major in Psychology with a 70% average grade or better in third year core (i.e., non-elective) psychology units.

However, because of limitations in School resources and availability of supervision, it is necessary to limit entry, and therefore the recent cut-off mark for entry to Australian campus program has been in the 75% - 80%+ range. .

Behavioural Neuroscience Honours: Successful completion of the undergraduate BBNSc degree, and a 70% average or better in 24 credit points of core third year behavioural neuroscience units. Note – where a special case can be made, applicants who achieve a 65-69% average for their core BNS units MAY be considered

 

I would like to know more about the eligibility for getting into the 4th year psychology program in the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine. As indicated on the website, an overall distinction average is needed in 3rd year units. Does this apply only to the four core 3rd year PSY units, or the best four 3rd year PSY units (including PSY electives), or all 3rd year PSY units? And, would they not look at 1st or 2nd year PSY units at all?

The criterion used for selection is the average mark calculated over the 3rd year CORE psychology units only (i.e., not elective units, and not 1st and 2nd year PSY units).

 

I am currently approaching the third year of my course. I was browsing the psychology postgraduate homepage and I was wondering where I can find the entry requirements for Psychology Honours?

Information about the Psychology Honours course and the Behavioural Neuroscience Honours course.

 

I would like to know what I have to do to demonstrate my academic competence and gain entrance into the 4th year program, due to my poor performance in 3rd year core psychology units. I am happy to take up some single units to increase my chances.

Students may repeat a unit they have already passed for the purpose of access to Honours if their first attempt at the unit had been adversely affected by personal, financial or health problems. Should they be eligible:

  • the marks over the two years will be averaged, with the proviso that such averaging will not result in a reduction of the second mark by more than 10%.
  • a student who has attempted a unit for the first time will have precedence over a repeating student where both students have achieved the same result for the unit.

Back to Top

Applications

Do you know when the site will be open for applications and when the closing date will be?

Each year the web-site for applications opens some time in September and will close on the 31st October for intake into 4th year courses for the following year.

 

Do the 4th year psychology courses have a mid-year intake?

Neither the Psychology Honours program, nor the Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience 4th year program has a mid-year entry.

 

Do Monash students get preference in the selection process?

Psychology Honours: Entry is open to all university graduates meeting the eligibility criteria.

Behavioural Neuroscience Honours: Entry is restricted to graduates of the Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience course.

 

Back to Top

Post 4th Year

Do I have to do the Masters degree if I finish Psychology Honours, before going to the PhD?

As long you achieved an honours grade of H1 (1st class) or HIIA (2nd class-upper), you are eligible for Ph.D. candidature, provided that you have a supervisor who is willing to take you on. Entry into the D.Psych program requires the same level of honours grades but also involves a selection interview.

 

I understand that entry into a Doctor of Psychology (D.Psych) degree would require a Bachelors Degree with Honours in Psychology.

Honours in Psychology is the primary route to entry into the D.Psych programs. To apply for entry to a D.Psych program you will need to achieve a grade of H1 (1st class) or HIIA (2nd class-upper). Another, avenue to the D.Psych would be following a Masters degree in Psychology.  For further information about Psychology Doctoral programs, please see the postgraduate webpages