1. Honours Programme Information
The BSocSci Honours in Psychology (01243019) degree provides advanced academic and research training focused on developing critical conceptual skills and an in-depth understanding of Psychology. The purpose of postgraduate studies in Psychology is ultimately not only to gain insight into the fascinating field of human behaviour but also to learn how this knowledge can be applied in different personal and professional contexts while transferring these skills to various work contexts and contributing to society. Please consult the
2025 Honours Yearbook Entry for additional information.
2. Admission Requirements
- A relevant bachelor's degree with specialisation in Psychology, with a minimum of six-semester modules in Psychology, of which at least two-semester modules must have been obtained on second-year level (e.g., SLK 210, SLK 220 or equivalent), and third-year level (e.g., SLK 310 and 320 or equivalent)
- A weighted average of 70% must be obtained for Psychology modules completed during the second and third year of study, respectively (refer to point 4 below for an explanation of the weighted averages)
- The compulsory research module on third-year level (e.g. RES 320 or equivalent) should have been included in an undergraduate degree and passed with at least 50% (compulsory)
|
Please note: A 70% average on either the second or third-year level will not guarantee acceptance into the Honours (Psychology) programme, as limited spaces are available (e.g., only the top achievers will be considered during the selection process)
|
3. Application Information, Compulsory Documents and the UP Online Application Process
Both prospective and currently enrolled applicants must complete the relevant UP Application Process (refer to point 3d - Step 2 below) on or before 31 July 2025. Prospective applicants also need to upload all the compulsory documentation by NO later than 31 July 2025 to be considered for the selection process.
3a. Application Information
It is crucial that applicants familiarise themselves with the following information:
- Applications will open on 01 April 2025
- Applications will close on 31 July 2025 for all applicants (both RSA and Foreign). NO late, incomplete applications or outstanding Academic Records will be accepted after 31 July 2025 at midnight.
- IMPORTANT: Applicants who are still in the process of completing the third year level (e.g. SLK 310 or SLK 320), should submit the application after the semester 1 examination results are available. Thus, do not apply until you have your final results for your first semester modules available (reflected on your academic record) to upload with your application (e.g. SLK 310 semester 1 final mark).
- Please note this is not a first-come, first-acceptance programme; it is a selection programme based on the available marks at the time of the selection process
- The Honours Selection Committee (HSC) needs all the second-year results and, at a minimum, the first-semester mark of the third-year Psychology module(s) in order to conduct the selection for the 2026 intake.
3b. Compulsory Required Documents
The compulsory documents listed in section 3c must be uploaded as part of the application process. Failure to do so will result in disqualification/rejection, and NO late applications, submissions or academic records will be accepted:
Crucial Information Regarding the Required Documents: It is advisable that applicants familiarise themselves with the required documentation needed by both UP and the Department of Psychology, as all the required documentation must be uploaded on or before 31 July 2025. Therefore, prepare all the documentation to be uploaded in PDF format, each named correctly (refer to point 3c), before starting the application process. No documents will be accepted via email, courier, or in person after the submission of the UP Online Application Process on 31 July 2025.
|
3c. Applicants need to submit the following documentation as part of the UP Online Application Process to be considered for the selection process:
- Copy of your full ACADEMIC RECORD (from each university where studies were completed, or if not yet completed, e.g., still busy with third-year studies). Only submit the application after you receive your final third-year Semester 1 results, as reflected on your Academic record
- For the ACADEMIC RECORD (AR), please name your pdf document with YOUR INFORMATION as AR_Surname_Student# (e.g. If your surname is Mahlangu & your student number is 23189378, you will name your document AR_Mahlangu_23189378). This is essential to ensure that we match the correct AR with each applicant
- Failure to submit an Academic Record consisting of all of the second year Psychology marks and at least the Semester 1 third-year Psychology marks will result in your application being rejected/declined due to an incomplete application
- Copies of completed DEGREES, should you already have obtained your undergraduate (UG) degree (e.g. BA General if completed)
- Save and upload a copy of your degree certificate in pdf format named WITH YOUR INFORMATION as Degree_Surname_Student# (e.g. BAdegree_Mahlangu_23189378)
- Certified Copy of SAQA Certificate (relevant to foreign qualifications only, e.g., completed in USA, Botswana, etc.)
- Save and upload a copy of your SAQA Certificate in pdf format named with YOUR INFORMATION as SAQA_Surname_Student# (e.g. SAQA_Mahlangu_23189378)
- Should an applicant have a disability, please mention the specific disability (e.g. visual impairment) in the applicable section on the UP Online Application Process. The applicant also needs to submit an official document in support of this disability such (e.g. letter from a medical specialist)
- Save and upload a copy of your disability documentation in pdf format named with YOUR INFORMATION as: Disability_Surname_Student# (e.g. Disability_Mahlangu_23189378)
IMPORTANT: Do NOT upload a motivation or curriculum vitae. We will NOT consider any other documentation other than the compulsory Academic Record (AR), as the selection process only involves the academic performance of an applicant (i.e., we only consider second and third-year Psychology and Research final marks)
Failure to upload the relevant documents with your application will result in the application being regarded as incomplete, and it will not undergo further processing. The required documentation will only be accepted via the
UP Online Application Process (relevant for prospective applicants) on or before the closing date of 31 July 2025. Documents (e.g.
Academic Records) will not be accepted via mail, courier or in person.
Inability to comply with or adhere to the instructions specified on this webpage and the
UP Online Application Process (relevant to prospective applicants) will result in the application being disqualified and rejected as unsuccessful.
3d. Application Process
Applicants are required to complete a two (2) step check and application process to apply for the Honours (Psychology) programme:
Step 1: Checking Minimum Requirements
- Applicants must ensure they meet the minimum academic requirements to apply for the programme (e.g. minimum average of 70% for second-year Psychology modules, a minimum average of 70% for third-year Psychology module(s), as well as a Research module on third-year level)
- The minimum criteria are listed above in point 2 (admission requirements) on this webpage as well as on the 2025 Honours Yearbook Entry
- Applications will not be processed if the applicant does not comply with the minimum requirements, resulting in automatic rejection
Step 2: UP Online Application Process:
- All prospective students are to complete the compulsory UP Online Application Process for consideration and possible selection into the Honours (Psychology) programme, and includes uploading the required Academic Record (points 3b and 3c above)
- All currently enrolled UP students need to complete the compulsory Internal UP Application Process through the Student Portal (Student Portal >> Student Centre >> Internal Application). The SLK and RES marks will be obtained from the UG Programme Mark Administrator if you are completing these modules at UP
4. Selection Process (concise version)
- The BSocSc Honours in Psychology is a very competitive programme with limited spaces available. Consequently, we only accept the top-performing applicants. An average of 70% will not guarantee acceptance into the programme
- Selection is based on marks only! Do not submit your CV or other motivational letters, as it will not be considered!
- The marks used for the selection process are based on a weighted average: a weight of 40% to second-year and a weight of 60% to third-year Psychology marks.
- Phase 1 entails the capturing of the second year Psychology module marks, and should the average be less than 70% (minimum requirement), the applicant will be excluded from the next (Phase 2) process. The application will, therefore, be marked as unsuccessful due to not complying with the minimum requirements
- Phase 2 of the selection process considers whether an applicant has completed or is busy completing a Research module at third-year level. If no research module is listed on the Academic Record, the application will be marked as unsuccessful due to not complying with the minimum requirements
- Phase 3 entails the capturing of the available third-year Psychology marks at the time of the selection process (e.g. applicants must submit an Academic Record consisting of at least the Semester 1 third-year Psychology module marks). Failure to submit any third-year Psychology module marks during the application process will result in the application being marked as unsuccessful due to an incomplete Academic Record
- Phase 4 entails the conditional acceptance process, which will likely be completed by 31 Oct 2025 (fluid, might be a bit later)
- Conditionally Accepted Applicants must submit a Final Full Academic Record by Tuesday, 16 Dec 2025 at midnight to [email protected] for consideration in the final selection process
- Conditionally accepted applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements after submission of their final academic records will forfeit their place in the programme (e.g. fulfilling all the requirements to obtain your undergraduate degree, maintaining an average of above 70% for Psychology, as well as completed a Research module on third-year level).
- Once the admission requirements are fulfilled, transformation, gender and disability are taken into consideration
- NO feedback or correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome of the selection, e.g. rejected/declined with relevant reasons
5. International Students
International applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply to the Department of Psychology. However, all international applicants must have their foreign qualifications evaluated by the
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before applying to the University of Pretoria for possible acceptance into the programme. A foreign qualification can be defined as a degree completed outside of South Africa, in another country such as Botswana, UK, USA or other. Please visit the
Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications (SAQA) webpage for more information. The SAQA certificate indicates qualification equivalence and should be submitted as part of the application process.
Please visit the 2025 Info Guide and, more specifically, point 5. International Students section (pages 17 & 18) for more information, or alternatively, contact the international office directly at [email protected] for assistance.
International applicants should familiarise themselves with the
International Students webpage for immigration requirements, special orientation programmes, general rules and regulations, yearbooks, payment information, online registration, the info guide, student cards and accommodation.
6. Student Support Centre (SSC)
Please contact the SSC for assistance with online application issues at
[email protected], as the Department cannot assist in this process.
7. Duration of Study
- The programme is presented full-time (one year)
- Classes will only be presented during day-time and class attendance is compulsory
- The medium of instruction is English
- Lectures are only offered on campus and in person. No distance or remote learning/lectures are offered
8. Programme Content
This general honours programme in psychology requires a total of seven (7) modules to pass the degree, with three core (C), and any four electives (E). The availability of elective modules is subject to departmental resources, and not all modules are presented each year. The modules and descriptions currently available (2025) are listed below and may change for 2026.
8a. Core Modules
The following core modules are compulsory:
- SLK 751: Theories and Paradigms
- SLK 761: Research Report
- SLK 764: Research Methodology
8b. Elective Modules
The following elective modules are currently (2025) available, but could change for 2026:
- SLK 753: Community Psychology
- SLK 755: Psychological Assessment
- SLK 756: Psychopathology
- SLK 760: Neuropsychology
- SLK 766: Therapeutic Psychology
- SLK 768: Capita Selecta (currently presented as "Introduction to Arts-Based Research")
9. What Career Opportunities Exist after Completing the Honours Programme
Various options to explore in terms of further studies or
possible career opportunities after completing the honours programme in psychology exist. A workshop will also be presented to enrolled Honours students during the first quarter of 2026:
9a. Become a Psychometrist:
- Search for a Higher Education Institution (HEI) that offers a programme of equivalence in psychometry to become a Psychometrist
- However, consult the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) regarding additional modules or training that may be needed to meet the requirements for this chosen area of training
9b. Apply for Selection and Admission into Professional Master's (MA) or Academic Master's (MA) Programmes
9c. Other Career Opportunities
Students can make use of their knowledge of psychology and research to follow careers in areas such as:
- Community and Social Development
- Health and Welfare assistance
- Education (e.g., teaching)
- Social Research (e.g., marketing research, monitoring, and evaluation)
- Human Resources and Employee Wellness
- Services for people with disabilities and the ageing
- Government, Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Organisations
Click here for an interesting presentation on Studying Psychology (UG to PG)
10. Contact Details
Please contact Ms Tayla Ponter at
[email protected] should you need further information.
~Information Revised on 31 March 2025~
Virtual Campus
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App