Youâve read everything there is to know about studying a Bachelor of Psychology at UNSW, but now you want to get a little more insight.
While having the info about course formats, assessments and major options is definitely a must, there are certain details that you can only get from an expert in the subject. And who better to ask than someone who has literally done the course from beginning to end?Â
Meet Danika. Sheâs a certified UNSW Bachelor of Psychology expert, currently in her final year as an Honours year student.
We sat down to have a chat with her so we could find out all the hot goss about the course that you wonât find in a handbook. Read on to see what she had to say!
Why should you study a Psychology Degree at UNSW?
Top 3 Pros of a Psychology Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Psychology Degree
Things to Know Before Starting UNSW Psychology
What Makes this Degree Different
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Psychology degree at UNSW?
We couldnât have said it better ourselves â this course is a fantastic option for anyone who is dead-set on a career in Psychology. It will teach you absolutely everything you need to know to get a strong foundation in all of the areas in the discipline.
Itâs the second best Bachelor of Psychology degree in the country, boasting world-class facilities and a very impressive faculty. In other words itâs academic heaven for all of you Psych buffs reading this!
Top 3 Pros of a Psychology degree
#1: Itâs a Flexible Course
Everything in life is about balance, which is why the course offers 8 electives. While itâs true that the course is very Psych-focused, thereâs still a lot of room for you to explore whatever your heart desires â âI personally spent most of my electives studying French,â explains Danika.Â
This is definitely a massive pro, as some courses offer very few or zero electives. Electives are a great way to get a well-rounded education and they may help you find a passion you never even knew you had.
#2: The Amazing Faculty
A course is only as good as the people teaching it. You could have the best labs and the best facilities, but without a good teacher, they wonât get you very far.
âAll senior academics and PHD students that I came into contact with were top-notch and highly regarded in the academic world [âŚ] you could tell that these people had a real talent and passion for their field,â she says.Â
#3: Fantastic Exchange Opportunities
UNSW has exchange partners all over the world, but not every student has access to them. Sometimes it can be hard to line up your courses with another university overseas.
Because UNSW Psychology has so many electives, you can pretty much go anywhere if you plan your courses well â the world really is your oyster. âI personally went to Geneva in Switzerland for a semester and had a great time learning their way of doing Psychology and also understanding a very different way of life,â says Danika (and weâre very jealous).
Top 3 Cons of a Psychology degree
#1: Post-graduate Study is Necessary to Become a Psychologist
This one might be one to take out on the Australian education system rather than UNSW, but itâs still a little frustrating. According to Danika, a Bachelor of Psychology alone will not get you very far in the field, âYou really need postgraduate education to get anywhere with this degree.âÂ
You could probably break into another industry like communications, or any writing-focused industry without a Masters. If youâre set on Psychology though, youâre gonna need a Masters, or âfour more years of internships.âÂ
#2: There Arenât Any Majors
Whether youâre interested in Clinical Psychology, Organisational Psychology, or Forensic Psychology, it doesnât matter because, âThe Bachelor of Psychology restricts you to having no specific âmajorâ or âminorâ other than Psychology itself.â
This means youâll have to study all areas of Psych, including the ones you donât like. Youâll only be able to pick a specialisation once you start your Masters (hang in there!).
#3: Not Much Interaction in Tutorials
This probably doesnât seem like a massive con, but trust us when we say that after a while itâll make you want to pull your hair out! According to Danika, âTutorials are usually 20-30 people, they encourage discussion between classmates, but theyâre not always successful at doing so!âÂ
Without class participation in a communication-heavy subject like Psychology, the tutorials might feel like they go on forever. Why not turn this con into a pro by taking the class discussion into your own hands?
What do you wish you had known before starting the degree?
#1: You Wonât be Job Ready After Graduation
âThe four years really donât equip you for any practical work except for research, so if you start this degree, be prepared to do at least 6 years total, if not 8 or 10 to finally be practicing as a psychologist somewhere,â recommends Danika.
Itâs definitely important to keep this in mind before you start. If your heart is set on Psychology though, this really shouldnât be too much of a problem. Itâs also not too hard to internally transfer at UNSW, so donât stress too much!
#2: The Community is a Little DisjointedÂ
âThe culture can also be a little disjointed because there are hundreds of people in your classes who you have never met before, that may be taking Psychology as an elective or as a minor,â explains Danika.Â
Thatâs why itâs definitely a good idea to put the effort in to join a society or do some extracurricular activities that will allow you to meet some new people.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?Â
One of the cool things that UNSW Psychology offers is a research internship right on campus. Youâll need an average mark above 80 to qualify for it, and if you do we definitely recommend you take the opportunity.
Danika says, âI found it extremely helpful to learn the skills for the Honours year, and found the whole process very supportive with a great cohort of only 20-40 people each term.â If you do choose to head for a career in research, itâs also a great networking opportunity and introduction to research-based work.
What are the possible career paths?
As we already said, youâll need a Masters degree to become a practicing Psychologist, but career paths donât always take a traditional path.
You might decide to go straight into research, or maybe youâll use your psychology skills to become a management consultant. You could even jump ships into communication or journalism!
Danika points out that studying âOccupational Therapy, Speech Pathology or even Physiotherapy, will get you a job easily after four years,â but if you really want to become a Psychologist then this is definitely the course that you should go for!
Cody Williams is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education. While Cody studied a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and French Studies at UNSW, he quickly realised that his dream job would have him sit happily behind a keyboard. Codyâs digital writing career started with an internship at Bauer Media where he was writing for ELLE and Harperâs BAZAARâs online publications. Once he had a taste for writing he never looked back, moving to Brisbane soon later to work as a Producer for Channel Nine Queensland. After a year in television media, he dusted off his online writing shoes so he could put them to good use, stamping out some scorching-hot career and educational resources at AOS.