Psychology Courses at UNISA 2026/2027
Are you interested in studying psychology at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2026? With a wide range of courses available, UNISA offers students the opportunity to pursue their studies in psychology.
UNISA offers a wide range of psychology courses, from undergraduate degrees through to Honours, Master’s, and Doctoral qualifications. The programmes are structured to progressively build knowledge and skills, ultimately leading to professional registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES AT UNISA
- Undergraduate Degrees — The primary entry-level qualification is the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (90180), designed to develop a student’s understanding of the basic principles of psychology and community functioning. UNISA also offers combined Bachelor’s degrees that integrate psychology with other disciplines, including:
- Bachelor of Arts Communication Studies and Psychology (99311 – CPS)
- Bachelor of Arts African Languages and Psychology (99311 – ALP)
- Bachelor of Arts Psychology and History (99311 – PSH)
- Bachelor of Arts Psychology and Theology (99311 – PST)
These combined degrees are eligible as prerequisites for postgraduate Honours programmes. Key undergraduate modules include PYC1511 (Introduction to Psychology), PYC1512 (Foundations of Sub-Disciplines of Psychology), Social Psychology (PYC3711), Abnormal Behaviour and Mental Health (PYC3712), and Cognitive Psychology (PYC3713).
- The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology programme at UNISA is the critical gateway to all professional Master’s degrees and HPCSA registration. It provides students with theoretical knowledge and applied skills in psychology. UNISA offers three distinct Honours specialisations, each requiring 120 credits:
- BA Honours in Psychology — Psychological Counselling (99422 – COU)
- BA Honours in Psychology — Community and Health Psychology (99422 – CHP)
- BA Honours in Psychology — Applied Psychology for Professional Contexts (99422 – APP) — requires an APS/AS of 60
Applications for Honours programmes for 2026 must be submitted between 3 June and 17 June 2026. Admission is highly competitive due to limited spaces.
- For those interested in Clinical Psychology, UNISA offers the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (90119), a selections-based programme that leads directly to registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the HPCSA. It runs over three years full-time and includes a 12-month internship designed to conform to HPCSA requirements. Applications open on 2 May 2026 at 08h00 and close on 22 May 2026. Selection tests and interviews are scheduled for the week of 29 June to 2 July 2026.
- The Master of Commerce in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (90116) trains researchers who can contribute to the development of organisational theory and practice, leading to registration as an Industrial Psychologist.
- The Master of Arts in Psychology General (98402 – GEN) provides a research-focused master’s degree for those pursuing academia, research institutions, or further doctoral studies.
- UNISA also offers Postgraduate Diplomas, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology of Education (90163) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry (90185), which serve as standalone qualifications or bridging qualifications towards a Master’s degree.
- At doctoral level, UNISA offers the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, including specialisations in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (90042 IOP) and Psychology of Education (90058 PSY). Please note: The Doctor of Psychology (90036) is being phased out for new students as of 2026 and will only be available to students previously registered for it.
- In addition to the core psychology curriculum, UNISA also offers modules in Anthropology (APY1501) and Philosophy (PLS2601), which the Department of Psychology recommends for students majoring in Psychology to broaden their interdisciplinary perspective.
So if you’re looking for an extensive list of psychology courses offered by UNISA then look no further. With its wide range of courses and modules available, UNISA is sure to have something for everyone interested in pursuing a career in psychology.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PSYCHOLOGY COURSES AT UNISA
- For undergraduate admission, students must meet UNISA’s general entry requirements, which include a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification. English must typically be completed up to the required level, and students may need to include modules in Linguistics or African Literature depending on their chosen degree combination.
- For Honours admission, applicants must have completed an appropriate undergraduate degree with a sufficient number of credits at NQF Level 7 and have achieved a strong academic average. The Applied Psychology for Professional Contexts stream (99422 – APP) additionally requires an APS/AS of 60. Spaces are limited and selection is competitive.
- For admission to the MA in Clinical Psychology (90119), applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree with a relevant Honours degree or an accredited four-year BPsych degree. The programme is selections-based — meeting academic requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants must also submit a research outline aligned with the department’s focus areas.
- For the MA in Psychology General (98402-GEN), applicants must possess an appropriate bachelor Honours degree or a 480-credit bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 96 credits at NQF Level 8.
- For the MCom in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (90116), applicants must hold an appropriate Honours degree or a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry.
- For Doctoral admission, applicants typically need a master’s degree in Psychology with a minimum average of 60%, along with a well-developed research proposal that aligns with the department’s focus areas.
- For foreign qualifications, an equivalence assessment from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is mandatory before an application can be considered.
- Students in professional psychology programmes are required to register with the HPCSA shortly after commencing their first year of a Master’s degree.
APPLICATION FOR PSYCHOLOGY COURSES AT UNISA
- Are you looking to apply for psychology courses at the University of South Africa (UNISA)? If so, you have come to the right place. Kindly follow the steps on how to apply for admission at UNISA HERE.
Key application deadlines for 2026 are:
- General Master’s and Doctoral degrees: Opens 7 January 2026 — Closes 31 March 2026
- MA in Clinical Psychology: Opens 2 May 2026 at 08h00 — Closes 22 May 2026
- MA in Clinical Psychology selections (tests and interviews): Week of 29 June – 2 July 2026
- Honours and limited Postgraduate Diplomas: Opens 3 June 2026 — Closes 17 June 2026
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