Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. It is one of the most interesting and challenging areas of scientific enquiry with the potential to benefit both individuals and society as a whole.
The School of Psychology at UNSW is located in the Faculty of Science and has approximately 30 academic staff, 1600 undergraduate students and 150 postgraduate students. Members of the School study a diverse range of topics such as children’s development of language and knowledge, how mood affects our social behaviour, teamwork in organisations, bias in eyewitness testimony, the brain mechanisms underlying pleasure and pain, the effect of ageing and brain damage on memory, how the visual system perceives a three-dimensional world, and the causes and treatment of psychological disorders ranging from psychopathy to depression and post-traumatic stress.
We offer a broad range of undergraduate courses in the major areas of psychology that not only communicate contemporary knowledge but also train general skills in research design, critical thinking, statistical analysis and written and oral communication. Our postgraduate programs in clinical, organisational and forensic psychology provide intensive professional training, and our PhD program offers the opportunity for advanced study in a range of specialised research fields.
What makes our School distinctive is the quality of our academic staff. We earn more competitive research funding and publish more Tier 1 journal articles per academic than any other School in Australia. Our academics are very well connected within Australia and internationally. Historically, the School has played a leadership role in research, teaching and professional issues. The School has an academically rigorous but supportive culture, excellent research facilities, and offers great opportunities for students, visitors and collaborators.
We welcome you to our School and invite you to explore our website.
Professor Simon Killcross Head of School
School News and Events
Psychology gets new Head of School Prof Simon Killcross has taken over duties as Head of School from Assoc Prof Brett Hayes, who was the acting Head of School for a year.
Angela Nickerson awarded Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship Angela Nickerson has been awarded a Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship by the American Australian Association, which allows her to undertake postdoctoral research for 12 months in the United States.
Men unprepared for retirement according to survey Men are planning for their financial security in retirement but not for their happiness, according to Dr Joanne Earl of the School of Psychology, the co-author of a recent study.
Fourth International Conference on Psychology Education The Fourth International Conference on Psychology Education (ICOPE) will be held in Sydney, Australia, at the University of New South Wales, from July 8 to 11, 2010. The theme of the conference is: "Global Psychology Education: Promise for the Future".
Prof Simon Killcross has taken over duties as Head of School from Assoc Prof Brett Hayes, who was the acting Head of School for a year.
Angela Nickerson has been awarded a Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship by the American Australian Association, which allows her to undertake postdoctoral research for 12 months in the United States.
Scientia Professor Richards Bryant has been named a 2009 Australian Laureate Fellow by the Australian Research Council. 
The sixth William James Prize for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness was awarded to Dr Joel Pearson in Berlin, Germany, on the occasion of the 13th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.
Men are planning for their financial security in retirement but not for their happiness, according to Dr Joanne Earl of the School of Psychology, the co-author of a recent study.
The Fourth International Conference on Psychology Education (ICOPE) will be held in Sydney, Australia, at the University of New South Wales, from July 8 to 11, 2010. The theme of the conference is: "Global Psychology Education: Promise for the Future".
