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Deakin University

  • 21% international / 79% domestic

Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science

  • Bachelor

Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science develops your understanding of human behaviour and builds the skills needed to become a successful nurse.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
4 years full-time
Course Code
D387, 079499D
ATAR
76.5

About this course

Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science develops your understanding of human behaviour and builds the skills needed to become a successful nurse. With a wealth of real-world skills gained through your clinical placements, you will graduate ready for work as a registered nurse from the #16 ranked nursing School in the world.* You will also be eligible to pursue further study towards qualification as a registered psychologist.

This combined degree helps you understand personality, the brain, emotion, underlying mental processes and the factors that lead to changes in behaviour. You will learn in our purpose-built clinical simulation centres, which replicate real-world hospital and community settings with state-of-the-art equipment. Plus, you will put your knowledge to work with 800 hours of clinical placements in various metropolitan, regional and rural healthcare settings, under the supervision of qualified practitioners.

Do you have good communication and decision-making skills and want to make a genuine difference in people's lives?



The wide range of units within the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science provides you with a scientific knowledge base for mental health practice, including psychological testing and measurement, mental health promotion and research.

Graduate with solid clinical experience and the knowledge and skills to comprehensively care for patients and their families.

As one of the most research-active schools in Australia, our School of Nursing and Midwifery also boasts some of the best facilities and resources available.

With so much diversity and growth in the healthcare sector, you will be in the best position to follow your interests and shape your future. The nursing component of your degree provides eligibility to become a registered nurse through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Similarly, the psychology stream of your degree is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). This is the first step in your journey to becoming a registered psychologist.

To progress your career in psychology, an approved fourth year of psychology study such as our
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
or
Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)
will allow you to apply for provisional registration with the PsyBA and seek associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society. In order to gain general registration, provisional psychologists must complete a further two years of postgraduate study. They can then choose to complete further supervised practice in order to specialise in a specific area of psychology.

* 2023 ShanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

Career pathways

As a registered nurse with psychology experience, you will be a unique graduate who can pursue career opportunities around the world, in a range of work settings, including:

  • mental health rehabilitation
  • youth work
  • careers counselling
  • community development and work/life counselling
  • hospitals
  • homes
  • hospices
  • aged care settings
  • clinics
  • schools
  • universities
  • community health centres
  • government agencies and private industries.

There are a wide variety of career opportunities available to graduates from both nursing and psychology degrees. If you wish to learn more about the diverse careers available to psychology graduates please visit deakin.edu.au/psychology/psychology-careers.

Alternatively, if you are interested in pursuing a professional career in psychology, your next step involves enrolling into an approved 'fourth year' of psychology study (such as Deakin's Graduate Diploma of Psychology or honours in psychology), after which you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and seek associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists can then complete either two years of supervised practise, or two years of postgraduate study - such as Deakin's Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational), or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) (with supervised practice completed outside the degree).

Course structure

To complete the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science students must attain 32 credit points. Units (think of units as 'subjects') may be worth 1 or 2 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value in the course structure below. Most students choose to study 4 credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year. All units in this course are core units (these are compulsory).

The course consists of 32 credit points of study which includes the following:

  • 16 core units worth 20 credit points from Bachelor of Nursing
  • 11 core units worth 11 credit points specific to psychology
  • 1 foundation unit worth 1 credit point

There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake clinical practicum outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with clinical placements are your responsibility.

If you are studying at Waterfront (Geelong) and Warrnambool some units may only be available online in years two, three and four. If you are enrolled at the Waterfront (Geelong), you will be required to take some units at Waurn Ponds (Geelong).

See course entry Bachelor of Nursing (H326) or Bachelor of Psychological Science (H344).

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete

  • Academic Integrity Module DAI001
  • Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

    Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

    Credit for prior study or work

    The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater.

    You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

    Enrolled Nurses

    Enrolled nurses who hold a Diploma of Nursing (approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) and are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), can be granted up to 6 credit points of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards this degree.

    Please obtain further clarification by contacting a Student Adviser in Student Central enquire.