How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Western Australia: A Three-Year Bachelor of Psychology Plus Honours, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is in Perth, Western Australia. Its undergraduate psychology degree is the three-year Bachelor of Psychology (course code BP030), built around the Psychology Extended Major; a Psychological and Behavioural Sciences major is also available in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on UWA’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. The degree and the path to becoming a psychologist

• Bachelor of Psychology: three years full time, 144 points (24 units), with intakes in Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (July) at the Perth (Crawley) campus. It covers development and abnormal psychology, groups and organisations, cognition and perception, and research methods and statistics.
• Accreditation: the Bachelor of Psychology (BP030) and the combined degrees with Arts, Commerce and Science are level 1 programs accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The Psychological and Behavioural Sciences major is also accredited, with a different fee band.
• Becoming a psychologist: after the extended major (or the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences major), complete a one-year Honours in Psychology, which has conditional APAC accreditation and makes graduates eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, then postgraduate study (for example clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, industrial and organisational or business psychology).

2. Requirements: high schools in China

• The Gaokao is accepted for direct entry. The Bachelor of Psychology requires a minimum ATAR of 80 with no subject prerequisites. UWA’s Gaokao conversion (out of 750; Shanghai is out of 660 and scaled accordingly):
  • about 65% (488–491) equals ATAR 70;
  • about 70% (525–528) equals ATAR 80;
  • about 72.5% equals 85, about 76% equals 90 and about 82% equals 94.
• Graduation certificate only: UWA lists the Chinese Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate as a recognised qualification when combined with SAT or ACT results taken within two years of graduation (for example, ATAR 80 equals SAT 1170 or ACT 24).
• Subject equivalents: UWA’s table maps Gaokao mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology at 65% or higher to WA courses; English has no equivalent. Meet the English requirement separately as below.

3. Requirements: Canadian high schools

• Provinces: high school diplomas from Canadian provinces and territories other than New Brunswick and Quebec.
• Conversion: the average of five or six final-year subjects. UWA’s table shows a 70 average equals ATAR 80, 75 equals 85, 80 equals 90 and 87 equals 94, so BC students need roughly a 70 average for the Bachelor of Psychology.
• Prerequisites: none for the Bachelor of Psychology; Canadian subjects are individually assessed for equivalence where needed.
• English: Canadian matriculation results outside specific listed ones are assessed case by case for the English requirement.

4. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; One Skill Retake is accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: 82 (20 in speaking and writing, 17 in listening and reading), or 4.5 on the 1–6 scale (4 in writing, 3.5 in listening, speaking and reading). Institution code 7496.
• Other tests: PTE 64 (no band below 60); Duolingo 125 (speaking 115, writing 125, reading 115, listening 110).
• Exemptions: for example, at least one recent full-time year of degree study in Canada (excluding Quebec), the US, the UK, Ireland or New Zealand.

5. Transfer students

• From a university: at least one full-time semester of degree study at AQF level 7 or higher in Australia with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 7).
• From vocational study: completion of an AQF level 5 (diploma) qualification or higher.
• Credit: you can ask for credit or advanced standing in your application and apply for more after enrolling.
• Internal transfer: UWA students with at least 24 points and a weighted average mark of 50 can transfer into the Bachelor of Psychology in the two yearly transfer windows.

6. Timeline for 2027 entry

• Intakes: Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July); you can apply up to two years ahead.
• Deadlines: domestic and onshore applicants apply by 19 February 2027 for Semester 1 and 16 July 2027 for Semester 2. UWA lists earlier dates (11 January and 7 June 2027) for a set of countries that does not include China or Canada. Some courses have different dates, so check the course page.
• Fee: a non-refundable AUD 150 application fee applies to direct and agent applications.
• Offers: you receive an offer or conditional offer by email and must accept and make the first payment before it expires.

7. Tuition and scholarships

• Tuition: international students pay an annual course fee charged per credit point; use UWA’s fee calculator. The course page does not yet list 2027 international fees.
• Global Excellence Scholarship: for 2027 entry, open to students from all countries: 10% off tuition with an ATAR of 85, 20% with 90, each year for the normal duration of the course. No separate application; UWA assesses it automatically once final transcripts arrive and states it in the offer letter. By UWA’s conversions, about 72.5% on the Gaokao or a 75 Canadian average roughly equals ATAR 85.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao around 70% (about 525 of 750) for ATAR 80; with only a graduation certificate, add SAT or ACT
• IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL or Duolingo
• Pay the AUD 150 fee; apply by 19 February 2027 for February entry

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• High school diploma with a final-year average of about 70 in five or six subjects (ATAR 80)
• An average of 75 brings a 10% tuition reduction, 80 brings 20%

Transfer students:

• At least one full-time semester of degree study with a 4.0 GPA (out of 7), or an AQF level 5 qualification
• Request a credit assessment in your application

Sources: The University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Psychology; Psychology (Extended Major); Handbook: Bachelor of Psychology; International applicants; International and overseas qualifications; Entry standards; English language requirements; International student fees; Global Excellence Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry. Check UWA for the latest details.