NEW STUDENTS
Navigating university can feel like trying to read signs in a language you don’t speak. We’ve gathered the essential materials for you, so you don’t have to go looking.
Understanding Your Degree
Psych (Honours)
Who is the degree for? Students interested in becoming a registered psychologist. An honours year and postgraduate are required for official registration.
How is it structured? Three years are spent building foundational knowledge in psychology. Followed by a fourth year of advanced coursework and an independent research thesis (guided study + big report).
What will you study? How the brain works, why certain behaviours occur, the difference between learning naturally and via teaching. As well as how to do research and statistics (more important than you think).
What is honours? Honours is built into the degree but you still need to apply and be approved for entry. It develops advanced research skills and is generally required for post graduate study.
Where can it lead? A postgraduate (masters or doctorate). The difference between an honours degree and a normal degree is minimal without a post graduate.
You can’t become a registered psychologist without a postgraduate.
Psych Science
Who is the degree for? Students interested in psychology but wanting greater flexibility.
How is it structured? Three years are spent building foundational knowledge in psychology.
What will you study? This degree is exactly the same as an honours degree. You’ll learn everything they do, except there won’t be as much pressure on grades.
Can you become a psychologist? No. You can still apply for an honours year if you have the grades, but without a postgraduate, becoming a registered psychologist is impossible.
Where can it lead? A bachelor degree opens many doors, and with the rise in mental health issues, employers often appreciate a deeper understanding of behaviour. While this degree cannot lead directly to becoming a registered psychologist, you can still find jobs in: human resources, marketing and consumer behaviour, community services, research assistant positions, government positions, and more.
Most people use this degree as a stepping stone in finding a corporate job. And then they climb the corporate ladder.
Counselling
Who is the degree for? Students passionate about psychology and counselling.
How is it structured? Your three year degree is split into building foundational knowledge of psychology, and practicing skills in counselling through group work and placement.
What will you study? The first year and a half of this degree is almost identical the other two degrees, but then you focus on more practical skills in counselling and wellbeing.
Can you become a psychologist? No. Counsellors don’t require postgraduate study and generally handle less intense cases. Counsellors are a bit like nurses and psychologists are a bit like doctors in the field of mental health.
Where can it lead? Once you’ve finished this degree, you are done. And now you can find a job helping people. For example: counsellor, youth worker, community services, family support, school wellbeing roles, and so on.
This is where to go if you want to handle therapy-like situations without doing at least six years of study.
Summary Table
Comparison Table
Psych (Honours)
Psych Science
Counselling
Duration
4 years
3 years
3 years
Professional Placement
4th year only
Focus
Research & Statistics
Foundational Psychology
Counselling practice
Registration Pathway
If transferred into a fourth year study
Therapeutic Practice
Limited
Limited
Best For
Becoming a registered psychologist
Bachelor degree & understanding
Becoming a counsellor
Concerned you’ve chosen the wrong degree? Don’t worry. All three start exactly the same. If you want to move from psychology into counselling, you can do so before the start of the second year and get full credit for the classes you’ve already completed. And if you’re studying a Bachelor of Psychological science, you can still apply for the Honours year from your degree at the end of the third year, and go on to become a registered psychologist. Learn more about where your degree can take you below.
Using Griffith Systems
Learning@Griffith
A hub for all your courses. Use this to access content like mini-lectures, readings, assessment information, and everything else.
Student Connect
Struggling with something? Student connect is a good place to go to ask questions. They’ve probably heard it before so don’t feel bad.
Library Resources
School requires study. Look here if you need to book a room in the library or brush up on how to research something. They offer free refreshers.
Griffith Apps
There are two main apps that can help students stay connected. The Griffith App, which will give you easy access to campus maps, useful info, and course info. And canvas, which is the mobile version of Learning@Griffith.