Psychology is quickly gaining momentum as one of the most popular undergraduate degrees for high school leavers. It attracts a broad range of students and can lead to a diverse range of career pathways from human resources, social work and counselling to working as a clinical psychologist. Here is the ATAR score that you will need to study psychology for each university in Queensland.
As different universities have different selection criteria and there are so many universities offering undergraduate psychology courses, it can be difficult to get a definitive score for entry, though in general you should aim for an ATAR between 68 and 93.
As you can see, this is a large range so below we’ve broken down the ATAR score requirements you’ll need to study psychology in Queensland for each university. The most common undergraduate psychology degree is the Bachelor of Psychological Science which is offered by several universities. Some also offer a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree which attracts a higher ATAR cutoff.
University of Queensland ATAR For Psychology
The University of Queensland offers the most prestigious and in-demand undergraduate psychology degree in the state, and as a result its entry requirements are the highest. In fact, The University of Queensland is ranked 32 in the world for Psychology according to the QS World University Rankings. Its psychology degree includes an honours year and takes 4 years to complete. Here are the ATAR scores required to study psychology at UQ for 2022:
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 99.95 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 94.65 | 95.80 |
| Lowest: | 89.40 | 93.00 |
As you can see, the median unadjusted ATAR a student had that was accepted into the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree at the University of Queensland in 2022 was 94.65. If your goal is to become a psychology student at UQ, we recommend aiming for this goal, or even above to ensure that you remain competitive for future years as cutoffs continue to change. UQ offers 2 bonus points if you are studying Specialist Maths, and 2 bonus points if you are studying a language other than English. In 2022, the lowest adjusted ATAR to gain entry was 93. You can read more about their adjustments scheme here.
QUT ATAR For Psychology
If you want to study psychology at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), you will also need a strong ATAR though the score is slightly lower than UQ’s. QUT’s psychology degree is their Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) and has a duration of 3 years. They also offer several 4-year double degrees which include their psychology degree which are summarised below. Here are the ATAR scores that were required for psychology at QUT:
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Business (ATAR: 77.00)
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)/Bachelor of Justice (ATAR: 77.00)
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (ATAR: 87.00)
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Social Work (ATAR: 77.00)
- Bachelor of Nursing / Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) (ATAR: 86.00)
Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 99.95 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 85.85 | 86.60 |
| Lowest: | 70.35 | 77.10 |
The median unadjusted ATAR needed for entry into QUT’s Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) was 85.85 in 2022. We recommend aiming for this goal, or above it, to ensure you have the best chance of gaining admission into QUT’s Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) as selection ranks continue to change each year. QUT offers several adjustment schemes and bonus points, and the lowest adjusted ATAR to gain entry was 77.10. You can receive 2 bonus points for studying Specialist Maths, 2 for Physics, 2 for Aerospace Systems or Engineering, and 2 for a language other than English. Read more here.
Griffith ATAR For Psychology
Griffith University offers a Bachelor of Psychological Science degree for school leavers. The degree is 3 years full-time in duration. Griffith University requires a relatively high ATAR score for entry into psychology though it tends to be slightly lower than UQ and QUT. Griffith offers a number of double degrees with psychology, listed below. Here are the scores to study psychology at Griffith in 2022:
- Bachelor of Exercise Science / Bachelor of Psychological Science (ATAR: 70.00)
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Psychological Science (ATAR: 82.00)
- Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Business (ATAR: 70.00)
- Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Mental Health Practice (ATAR: 68.00)
- Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Rehabilitation Counselling (ATAR: 68.00)
Bachelor of Psychological Science
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 98.30 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 71.80 | 76.75 |
| Lowest: | 60.20 | 68.20 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into Griffith’s Bachelor of Psychological Science was 71.80. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study Griffith’s Bachelor of Psychological Science. In 2022, students were guaranteed entry into this degree if they achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. Griffith offers adjustment points for several subjects including Specialist Maths, Chemistry and Physics. The lowest adjusted ATAR to gain entry to Griffith’s psychology degree was 68.20. You can read more here.
USQ ATAR For Psychology
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) offers a 4-year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree. Entry remains competitive, though the ATAR score required tends to be on the lower end compared to other universities. Here are the scores to study psychology at USQ Ipswich in 2022:
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 98.00 | 98.00 |
| Median: | 71.90 | 77.90 |
| Lowest: | 64.30 | 68.30 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into USQ’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree was 71.90. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study psychology at USQ. Like the other universities, USQ offers adjustment points for several subjects and other factors which you can read about here. The lowest adjusted ATAR to gain entry into USQ’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) was 68.30.
JCU ATAR For Psychology
James Cook University, located in Townsville, offers a Bachelor of Psychological Science degree and is another popular choice for high school students from Queensland. The degree is 3 years in duration so shorten than some other options. Here are the ATAR scores to study psychology at James Cook University:
Bachelor of Psychological Science
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 92.55 | 98.55 |
| Median: | 80.00 | 83.10 |
| Lowest: | 65.65 | 70.05 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into JCU’s Bachelor of Psychological Science was 80 which you should aim to meet or surpass if your goal is to study psychology at James Cook University. The lowest adjusted ATAR to gain entry into JCU’s psychology degree was 70.05. You can read about their adjustment scheme here.
Bond University Psychology
Bond University’s Bachelor of Psychological Science degree is a popular choice for many students from Queensland. One major advantage of this degree is its duration: unlike other psychology degrees, Bond’s is just 2 years full-time. The ATAR required for admission into Bond University’s Bachelor of Psychological Science is 65, and the university also offers bonus points through their adjustment scheme. Read more here.
Conclusion
Psychology is quickly becoming one of the most popular courses for high school leavers in Queensland. For some students, this is due to their definite career aspirations of pursuing clinical psychology, while for others the degree offers a diverse range of potential career pathways in the future while equipping students with essential, broad skills. If you’re considering studying psychology, don’t get too caught up on the ATAR cutoffs. At the end of the day, your goal in Year 12 should be to get the best possible ATAR that you can achieve. This will give you the best chance of getting into a psychology degree (or any degree) of your choice. If you would like to estimate your ATAR, check out our ATAR Calculator.
Even if you don’t achieve the required ATAR, you can still definitely study psychology. Many students opt to undertake ‘bridging’ courses such as a Bachelor of Science before aiming to enter into a psychology degree via alternative entry pathways. This is 100% a viable option that you could consider if you don’t meet the initial undergraduate entry requirements.
If you or your child needs assistance or support during Year 12, our exceptional and compassionate tutors who have been in your shoes themselves are always willing to support you in reaching your academic goals. Enrol now for a completely free trial session with zero commitments. Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your studies!
