Bachelor of Health Science (Professional)
Majoring in Psychology and Forensic Science
75.0
Choose your major
Biomedical Science
Use cutting-edge, interactive tech to understand the human body in a range of health and disease states in our Biomedical Science major.
Clinical Technologies
Learn about anatomy and physiology using cutting-edge med-tech in our Clinical Technologies major, which is endorsed by the Australian Neurophysiological Scientists of Australia (ANSA).
Neuroscience
Learn how to interpret the data generated by MRI and MEG machines to identify healthy brains, brain disorders, and diseases of the central nervous system in our Neuroscience major.
Nutrition
If you've put dietitian or nutritionist on your career menu, learn how food affects our world in our hands-on lab-based nutrition major.
Psychology and Forensic Science
Our Psychology and Forensic Science major prepares you for a rewarding career applying specialist knowledge in psychology to aspects of the law, the justice system and forensic science.
Psychology and Psychophysiology
Our Psychology and Psychophysiology major explores the role of physiological processes in psychology to prepare you for an engaging career on the frontiers of science and technology.
Public Health and Health Promotion
Empower people to live their healthiest lives by harnessing the power of digital technology through our Public Health and Health Promotion major.
Overview
The Bachelor of Health Science (Professional) prepares you for a career promoting physical, psychological and social aspects of health and wellbeing.
You'll have access to the latest technology and facilities at Swinburne – we’re the only university in Australia with MRI and MEG labs on campus.
Plus, all Professional degrees feature a built-in 12-month paid work placement.
Get more for your ATAR
Looking for a uni with state-of-the-art facilities, guaranteed industry experience and a supportive community? Find your dream course and make Swinburne your #1 VTAC preference.
Your major
Our Psychology and Forensic Science major prepares you for a rewarding career applying specialist knowledge in psychology to aspects of the law, the justice system and forensic science. Discover the roles of research and statistics in forensic issues by completing projects on research design and units related to forensic psychology.
Note: This Major is 12 units (150 Credit Points), and is not available for students in a double degree.
Our Psychology and Forensic Science major prepares you for a rewarding career applying specialist knowledge in psychology to aspects of the law, the justice system and forensic science. Discover the roles of research and statistics in forensic issues by completing projects on research design and units related to forensic psychology.
Note: This major is not available to international students through the Bachelor of Health Science (Professional) course. If you are an international student and would like to study the Psychology and Forensic Science major, please go to our Bachelor of Health Science course.
Your industry experience
All our bachelor degrees include a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity. This Professional Degree features a mandatory 12-month paid professional work placement. You'll benefit from Swinburne’s unique industry partnerships, gain invaluable full-time work experience and earn credit towards your degree.
Skills you’ll learn
- Strong communication skills
- Cognitive skills to analyse
- Critical thinking
- Technical skills
- Work effectively in a team
Your career opportunities
- Psychologist (with further study)
- Forensic psychologist (with further study)
- Behavioural therapist
- Medical researcher
- Counsellor
- Youth worker
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Professional accreditations
Why Swinburne?
Ranked Top 500 in Public Health
ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022
The only uni in Australia to have both MRI and MEG at a single site
86% of graduates found employment within 4 months of completing their course
#1 in Melbourne for graduate salary 5 years out - $85.3K (national average $66.3K)
-
"Swinburne provides valuable and unique opportunities to apply what you have learnt in the classroom to real-world situations. This can be through lab experiments, internships, placements or volunteering programs."
Sabina , Bachelor of Health Science (Professional)
Qualifications
Successful completion of:
- the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate qualification or International Baccalaureate.
Non-Year 12 qualifications, Foundation Year and qualifications undertaken overseas will not be accepted.
Guaranteed Entry ATAR
75.0
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer in 2024 [after adjustment factors]
75.05
You’ll be guaranteed a place in this course if you meet or exceed the ATAR Guaranteed Entry Score, provided you meet the course prerequisites.
If your ATAR is below the guaranteed entry score, you can still be offered a place as your ATAR may be adjusted based on subject adjustments, equity schemes or other factors.
Subject adjustments:
- A study score of 25 in Health and Human Development, any Mathematics, Physical Education, any Science or Sociology equals 2 aggregate points per study.
- A study score of 30 in Health and Human Development, any Mathematics, Physical Education, any Science or Sociology equals 3 aggregate points per study.
Overall maximum of 15 points. Subject adjustment points are applied to the aggregate, not the ATAR.
Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.
*Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.
Successful completion of:
- the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate qualification or International Baccalaureate.
Non-Year 12 qualifications, Foundation Year and qualifications undertaken overseas will not be accepted.
Course prerequisites
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Apply for a pathway course
Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides credit (advanced standing) to the second.
How credit points work
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science (Professional) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 375–400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
What your course could look like
This is the indicative sequence for Semester 1, 2025 only. You are advised to use the study plan template available via your student portal in conjunction with your course planner to plan your studies. Sequence may also vary depending on advanced standing and exemptions. The unit offering information is correct at the time of publication, however changes may occur.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Anatomy and Physiology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
BIO10004 |
|
Introduction to Health Sciences
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
HEA10001 |
|
Brain and Behaviour
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY10007 |
|
Foundations of Statistics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
STA10003 |
| Semester 2 | |
|
Digital Health Foundations
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
HEA10004 |
|
Introduction to Forensic Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CHE10007 |
|
Fundamentals of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY10008 |
|
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
FOR10001 |
Want to see the full range of electives?
Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Health and Disease Across the Life Course
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
BIO20004 |
|
Developmental Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY20007 |
|
Analysis of Variance and Regression
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
STA20006 |
|
Elective
Elective unit |
|
| Semester 2 | |
|
Cognition and Human Performance
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY20006 |
|
Social Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY20016 |
|
Statistics for Forensics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
STA20008 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Professional placement - 12 months | |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
HEA20003 |
|
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20002 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement B - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
HEA20004 |
| Units of study | Unit code | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |||||
|
Psychology of Personality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY30008 | ||||
|
Elective
Elective unit |
|||||
|
Elective
Elective unit |
|||||
|
Elective
Elective unit |
|||||
|
Professional Placement Co-Major
|
|||||
| Semester 2 | |||||
|
Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
FOR30001 | ||||
|
Mental health diversity, diagnosis and treatment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY30016 | ||||
|
History and Philosophy of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PSY30013 | ||||
|
Professional Placement Co-Major
|
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2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$9,314
Total fee* ($AUD)
$34,928
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$38,960.00
Fees are estimates only
Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
How do I pay my fees?
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Financials
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for HECS-HELP
You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:
- are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365.00
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365.00
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.
Apply through VTAC
International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.
VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.