Fourth Year Psychology - FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
CONTENTS:
- Choice of Course
- Applications
- Entry Requirements
- Post 4th Year
I am very interested in talking to someone about my options of study with Monash. I also need information on fees, HECS qualification 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 finish the "Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology" course, is that equivalent to Honours of Psychology?
It is equivalent in the sense that both courses are accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and as such you are eligible for Associate Membership of the APS. Similarly, either course will give access to a full range of coursework Masters Degrees in Psychology offered Monash and other institutions. However, completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology does not provide ready access to Higher Degree by Research doctoral programs such as the Ph.D. and D.Psych courses.
If I want to do my learning outside normal business hours, do I have to do off-campus study?
While components of the Honours and on-campus Postgraduate Diploma courses are offered after hours, both have substantial components that are available during normal business hours. In addition, the degree requirement of the two courses stipulate that full-time students must be able to spend at least 4 days per week on 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. If you are unable to meet these requirements then the best option is to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology in off-campus mode.
I am a Behavioural Neuroscience 3rd year student and cannot decide whether to apply for Behavioural Neuroscience Honours 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 I would 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 APS 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, as well as theoretical essay and substantial coursework components. The Behavioural Neuroscience Honours program, on the other hand, is designed to provide BBNSc 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 highly weighted research project component (87.5%) and a very minor coursework component (12.5%). Choice of research projects is limited for Behavioural Neuroscience Honours students to an area within the behavioural neuroscience discipline (not necessarily supervised by someone within the psychology department).
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 Behavioural Neuroscience Honours, and one of Psychology Honours, Pharmacology Honours, Genetics Honours, etc, etc. What qualifications will I end up with after an honours year?
All BBNSc students who complete Honours, whether it be 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 post graduate years in either a Doctor of Psychology (D.Psych) or a Masters in Psychology (e.g., the Masters in Child and Educational Counseling). Entry into a D.Psych or M.Psych course requires completion of a Bachelors degree with an APS 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. Note, however, that access to D.Psych courses directly from the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology is highly unusual.
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What are the minimum entrance requirements for the 4th year courses?
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 subjects. However, while the minimum requirement is an average of 70%, in practice the cut-off for entry has been in the 75% - 80%+ range over the last five years.
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 subjects.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology: Applicants must possess a degree and must have completed an accredited major in Psychology with a distinction average grade or better in third year core (i.e., non-elective) psychology subjects.
I would like to know more about the eligibility for getting into 4th year programs in Monash. As indicated on the website, an overall credit is needed in 3rd year subjects. Does this apply only to the four core 3rd year PSY subjects, or the best four 3rd year PSY subjects (including PSY electives), or all 3rd year PSY subjects? And, would they not look at 1st or 2nd year PSY subjects at all?
The criterion used for selection is the average mark calculated over the 3rd year CORE psychology subjects only (i.e., not elective units). For the Honours courses the minimum requirement is a High Distinction (80%) average, and for the Postgraduate Diploma the minimum requirement is a Distinction (70%) average. However, since both of these courses have quotas on the number of places available, the actual cut-off scores for entry are usually greater than the minimum required, varying from year to year depending on demand.
I am currently approaching the third year of my course (e.g. Bachelor of Psychology and Marketing/Management). 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, as well as that for the Behavioural Neuroscience Honours and the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be found at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/4thyear/ .
What is the cut-off in terms of percentage mark in order to qualify for a place in the Honours course?
There is no fixed cut-off for entry into Psychology Honours (though the minimum entry requirement is a 70% average), rather it varies from year to year according demand for the course and the number of places we have available. Over the past 5 years the cut-off has varied between 75% and 80%, but that should not be taken as an indication of future cut-offs.
I would like to know what I have to do to prove to my academic competence and gain entrance into the 4th year program due to my poor performance at 3rd year level in PSY? I am happy to take up some single subjects this semester etc to increase my chances.
Students may repeat a subject they have already passed for the purpose of access to Honours if their first attempt at the subject 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 subject for the first time will have precedence over a repeating student where both students have achieved the same result for the subject.
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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 in September and will close on the 31st October for intake into 4th year psychology courses for the following year.
Do the 4th year psychology courses have a mid-year intake?
The on-campus Honours and on-campus and off-campus Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology courses do NOT have a mid-year entry. However, the off-shore (Singapore) offering of the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology has a July intake.
Do Monash students get preference in the selection process?
Psychology Honours: Preference is given to graduates of Monash University, however, a small quota of places are available to outstanding external applicants (i.e., non-Monash graduates).
Behavioural Neuroscience Honours: Entry is restricted to graduates of Monash University's Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience course.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology: Entry is open to university graduates meeting the eligibility criteria.
I am interested in doing my 4th year of psychology at Monash and was wondering whether you could either send or direct me to the application forms required to apply for these courses (Honours and Postgraduate Diploma).
There is a single application for the Psychology Honours, Behavioural Neuroscience Honours and Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology courses. This is a web based form and will be available in September each year at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/4thyear/. Applications close on October 31st, for entry into the courses for the following year.
Since I am a Monash student, am I right to say that I don't need 2 referee reports for my application to the Postgraduate Diploma?
Until 2003 all applications for a place in the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, regardless of the institution from which the applicant received their Bachelor's degree, were required to supply two referee reports. This is NO longer a requirement, i.e., referee reports are not required for entry into any of the 4th Psychology courses at Monash University.
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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 degrees. To apply for entry to a D.Psych degree you will need to achieve an honours grade of H1 (1st class) or HIIA (2nd class-upper). Another, avenue to the D.Psych would be via a Masters in Psychology following a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology. For further information about Psychology Doctoral programs, please see the postgraduate webpages .
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