As a high school student interested in psychology, the subject can feel both fascinating and complex. You might wonder what it looks like beyond textbook definitions and classroom discussions. Psychology courses in Australia for high school students can help you study behaviour, mental health, communication, social interaction, neuroscience, and research through more focused academic learning.

Picture yourself learning about criminal profiling through a mock investigation, exploring social psychology through university lectures, or studying resilience, motivation, and emotional intelligence through interactive online modules. By spending time studying psychology, you’ll gain insight into how people think and behave, explore different psychology specializations, and experience university-style learning before college.

How do you choose the right psychology courses in Australia for high school students?

It can be difficult to decide which psychology programs are actually worth your time. Some courses are too broad, too theoretical, or disconnected from how psychology is used in the real world. That’s why it helps to look for programs that combine academic content with practical applications and accessible learning formats.

Universities and online learning platforms across Australia offer psychology courses covering areas like mental health, criminal psychology, emotional intelligence, wellbeing, social psychology, behavioural science, and human development. You’ll find programs that focus on hands-on workshops, flexible online learning, case studies, university-level discussions, and practical self-development strategies. 

To make the search easier, we’ve put together a list of the 12 psychology courses in Australia for high school students. These programs were selected for their accessibility, academic quality, practical learning opportunities, and exposure to different areas of psychology.

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online psychology course and summer courses in Australia.

12 Psychology Courses in Australia for High School Students

1. Bond University Psychology Experience Day

Location: Bond University, Gold Coast Campus, Australia
Cost: Free
Dates: May 29th
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Year 10, 11, and 12 students, plus one parent per student; international students are welcome to apply

At Bond University’s Psychology Experience Day, you get a hands-on introduction to psychology through interactive workshops, discussions, and activities focused on human behaviour, social interaction, learning, and well-being. You’ll spend the day exploring topics like how the brain works, the psychology behind decision-making, and the relationship between technology and human behaviour alongside Bond academics and current university students. The experience is designed to feel less like a lecture and more like an immersive preview of studying psychology at university.

You’ll also hear about psychology career pathways and Bond’s APAC-accredited programs, including information about progression into fourth-year psychology studies. The event is hosted on Bond’s campus and led by faculty members; you get direct exposure to the learning environment and teaching style before applying to the university. 

Why it stands out: Unlike many short psychology workshops aimed at high school students, this experience combines practical activities, university-level discussions, and direct interaction with faculty in a full-day campus setting, giving you a more grounded look at what studying psychology in Australia can actually feel like.

2. Immerse Education’s Sydney Psychology Summer School

Location: Sydney, Australia
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Immerse Education Psychology Course offers a comprehensive two-week deep dive into the science of the mind and behavior. Designed for ambitious high school students, the curriculum covers developmental psychology, cognitive theory, memory, emotion, and perception.

Through rigorous academic seminars, interactive group projects, and experimental design workshops, participants learn to think critically about human behavior in small classes (7-10 students). Each student also completes a self-directed personal research project under the guidance of expert tutors from prestigious universities (usually Oxford, Cambridge, or Ivy League). You can apply here!

Why it stands out: You’ll study under expert academics, be guided daily by a university student mentor, complete a project you can show in future applications, and experience genuine university college life, with other campuses worldwide as alternatives.

3. Introduction to Psychology – ACS Distance Education

Location: Online, Australia
Cost: AUD $726
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment; international students are welcome

ACS Distance Education’s Introduction to Psychology course gives you a broad overview of foundational psychology topics through flexible online study. Across seven lessons, you’ll cover areas like personality theory, motivation, developmental psychology, consciousness, learning, memory, and behavioural psychology while completing assignments and self-assessment exercises from home.

Because the course is fully self-paced, you can explore psychology in depth without balancing strict schedules or live classes. You’ll also spend time learning major frameworks from psychologists like Freud and Maslow while building a general understanding of how psychologists study behaviour and mental processes.

Why it stands out: The course goes beyond basic introductory concepts by covering developmental psychology, personality theory, altered states of consciousness, and motivation in significant detail, making it more academically comprehensive than many short online psychology programs aimed at beginners.

4. Certificate of Psychology – Australian Online Courses

Location: Online, Australia
Cost: AUD $499
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment to all students

The Certificate of Psychology from Australian Online Courses introduces you to the scientific study of human thought, behaviour, development, and mental health through eight online units. You’ll explore topics ranging from cognitive psychology and personality theory to developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods, and applied psychology in fields like business, education, and sports.

One of the more useful aspects of the program is its flexibility, since you can complete all coursework entirely online at your own pace with no exams or fixed deadlines. Throughout the course, you’ll complete reflective tasks, short reports, and written exercises that help you engage with psychological concepts rather than just memorizing terminology. 

Why it stands out: The curriculum covers both foundational theory and applied psychology across multiple industries, giving you a broader picture of how psychology connects to real-world careers beyond clinical practice alone.

5. Positive Psychology – Bond University

Location: Bond University, Gold Coast Campus and online, Australia
Cost: AUD $50
Dates: May 1st or September 25th
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students worldwide in Years 11 and 12

Bond University’s Positive Psychology program introduces you to the science of well-being, happiness, mindfulness, and human strengths through a mix of online modules and in-person workshops. During the course, you’ll explore topics like goal setting, gratitude journaling, resilience, habit formation, and positive psychology research while learning practical strategies connected to mental wellness and personal development.

Rather than focusing only on theory, the course emphasizes practical techniques you can actually apply in your daily life, including mindfulness and reflective exercises. You can either complete the workshop component alone or finish the full Learn for Credit experience with additional readings and assessments for academic credit opportunities through Bond University. 

Why it stands out: This program blends academic psychology with practical well-being strategies in a format specifically adapted for high school students, while also offering the possibility of university credit through Bond’s Learn for Credit initiative.

6. Emotional Intelligence and Motivation – CQUniversity Australia

Location: Online, Australia
Cost: AUD $45
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to all learners, no entry requirements

CQUniversity’s Emotional Intelligence and Motivation micro-credential introduces you to the fundamentals of emotional intelligence (EQ) and how it connects to motivation, self-awareness, and performance. Through two hours of self-paced online learning, you’ll explore strategies for recognizing emotions, improving interpersonal awareness, and identifying positive motivators that influence both your own behaviour and the behaviour of others.

Because the course is designed as a micro-credential, it focuses on practical, immediately applicable skills rather than heavy academic theory. You’ll also receive a digital badge and Certificate of Completion that can be added to portfolios or professional profiles after finishing the course.

Why it stands out: Unlike broader introductory psychology courses, this program concentrates specifically on emotional intelligence and motivation in a short, low-cost format that emphasizes practical self-development and professional skills.

7. Criminal Psychology Course – International Career Institute (ICI)

Location: Online
Cost: AUD $1,088 upfront or payment plan available
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions with enrolment cut-off dates
Eligibility: Open enrolment with no previous education or work requirements; international students can apply

ICI’s Criminal Psychology Course introduces you to the psychological factors behind crime, criminal behaviour, aggression, rehabilitation, and law enforcement through a fully online diploma program. You’ll study topics like offender profiling, courtroom psychology, mental disorders and crime, eyewitness testimony, youth crime, aggression, and the ways psychology is used by police and correctional systems.

One of the more distinctive parts of the program is its focus on how psychology intersects directly with policing and the legal system, including profiling, courtroom behaviour, and offender assessment. Because the course is self-paced, so you can move through the material around your school schedule while still covering a fairly broad range of criminal psychology topics. 

Why it stands out: Unlike general psychology courses, this program focuses specifically on the psychology of crime and law enforcement, giving you exposure to forensic and criminal psychology concepts that are usually introduced much later in university study.

8. InspireU Extend Program

Location: The University of Queensland (St Lucia Campus), Brisbane, Australia
Cost: Free (The organizers fully cover travel, meals, and accommodation costs)
Dates: June 29th to July 3rd
Application Deadline: May 17th
Eligibility: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students in years 10 to 12; international learners are ineligible because the program is exclusively for Indigenous Australian students

The University of Queensland organizes a 5-day residential camp specifically for Indigenous high school students preparing for college. You will choose a specific academic field like psychology, agriculture, architecture, business, or computer science for their personalized campus experience. You will participate in specialized workshops, visit working laboratories, and complete interactive sessions with active industry professionals.

University experts provide direct advice regarding college admission scores and high school subject selection. You will sleep in accommodations near the physical campus to experience authentic university life. The organizers pay all transit costs, including flights and shuttles, to help students from across Queensland attend easily. You can begin applying here!

Why it stands out: Students receive a fully funded residential campus experience while gaining specific advice about their future college applications.

9. Introduction to Social Psychology – UQx (edX)

Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit, optional certificate available for USD $249
Dates: Self-paced, available May 20th to December 31st
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment, no prior experience required; international students are welcome to apply

UQx’s Introduction to Social Psychology course adds a university-level online option to this list of psychology courses in Australia for high school students. Across seven weeks of self-paced study, you’ll examine topics like social influence, prejudice, stereotypes, aggression, nonverbal communication, self-perception, and pro-social behaviour while learning how psychologists study human interaction scientifically.

One of the more engaging aspects of the course is its focus on everyday social situations, helping you connect psychology concepts directly to relationships, communication, and decision-making in real life. The program is designed for beginners, and you can explore university-level psychology concepts without needing previous academic experience in the subject.

Why it stands out: The course is taught by professors from the University of Queensland and introduces social psychology through practical, relatable examples rather than heavy technical theory, making complex behavioural concepts easier to understand early on.

10. The Psychology of Criminal Justice – UQx (edX)

Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit, optional certificate available for USD $99
Dates: Self-paced, available May 20th to December 31st
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment, no prior experience required; all students can apply

The Psychology of Criminal Justice from UQx examines how behavioural science intersects with criminal investigations, legal systems, eyewitness testimony, jury decision-making, and police procedures. Structured around a fictional murder investigation, the course walks you through each stage of the criminal justice process, from crime scene analysis and suspect questioning to courtroom trials and jury deliberation.

Rather than presenting criminal psychology only through lectures, the course uses a case-based storytelling format that makes the learning experience feel much more interactive and investigative. The self-paced structure also allows you to move through eight weeks of content gradually while engaging with videos, discussions, and research-based examples from psychology and criminology. 

Why it stands out: The program combines psychology, criminology, and legal studies through an episode-style investigation format that helps you understand how behavioural science shapes real criminal justice decisions from investigation to trial.

11. Well and Able: Improving the Physical Health of People with Intellectual Disability – UQx (edX)

Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit, optional certificate available for USD $129
Dates: Self-paced, available May 20th to December 31st
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment, no prior experience required; international students can apply

UQx’s Well and Able course explores the physical and mental health challenges experienced by people with intellectual disabilities and examines how healthcare systems can better support them. Across five weeks of self-paced study, you’ll learn about topics like healthcare communication, health inequalities, syndrome-specific conditions, mental health support, oral health, consent, and complex care associated with aging and epilepsy.

One of the more distinctive parts of the program is its focus on communication and healthcare accessibility, especially for non-verbal patients and individuals navigating multiple healthcare systems. While the course is rooted in healthcare and disability studies, it also introduces psychological and behavioural concepts related to well-being, support systems, and social inclusion. 

Why it stands out: Rather than focusing only on clinical psychology theory, this course combines psychology, healthcare, and disability studies to examine real-world challenges surrounding communication, care access, and long-term well-being for people with intellectual disabilities.

12. Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health – The University of Sydney (Coursera)

Location: Online
Cost: Free with optional paid certificate through Coursera
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open enrolment for all students

The University of Sydney’s Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health course explores mental well-being through both psychological and psychiatric perspectives while introducing evidence-based approaches to mental health support. Over five modules, you’ll study topics like resilience, stress management, relationships, positive psychology, exercise therapy, mental illness, psychotherapy, and emotional well-being through lectures led by Australian experts in psychiatry and psychology.

A major strength of the course is its balance between understanding mental illness and learning strategies that support positive mental health, well-being, and emotional resilience. Alongside discussions of mental disorders and treatment approaches, you’ll also examine how lifestyle, creativity, relationships, mindfulness, and healthy routines contribute to psychological well-being. 

Why it stands out: The course combines psychology, psychiatry, and well-being research while featuring both academic experts and lived-experience perspectives, giving you a more human and multidimensional understanding of mental health.

Your Next Step After a Psychology Course

Studying psychology can make familiar situations feel more interesting, from classroom motivation and peer relationships to stress, confidence, and communication.

The psychology courses in Australia for high school students included in this guide introduce these ideas through online modules, campus experiences, case-based learning, and practical psychology activities.

Instead of only asking which course looks best, consider what each one helps you understand about people, learning, wellbeing, behaviour, or future academic interests.

Want to prepare for university with more confidence? Read our University Preparation blogs for subject planning, application support, study advice, and academic next steps.