High school psychology students from across Canberra have been given a taste of university life, taking part in lectures and learning about ANU research at the School of Psychology (SoP).

Year 11 and 12 students spent the day getting their head around subjects such as development, social psychology, neuropsychology and cognitive psychology with demonstrations of an electroencephalogram (EEG) test that detects electrical activity in the brain.

ANU researchers use EEG to study conditions such as epilepsy, consciousness during anaesthesia, and mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Year 12 Narrabundah College student Patrick O'Dea said he found the day interesting.

"I'm really interested in the empirical evidence that EEG can find for psychology," he said.

"I'm planning on doing psychology in the future, so I've found out a lot about what that would mean for me as a student at ANU."

Narrabundah College teacher Jo Davis said the day was valuable as students could see how research was carried out.

"The ANU visit connects what we teach in class to current research projects. Students can see how the research is done and they can be part of it," she said.

Professor Michael Kyrios, Director of SoP and President of the Australian Psychological Society, believes it is important for the ANU to build close ties with Canberra college students and their teachers.

"We can expose students to a range of current and interesting research projects. We hope to spark their curiosity in psychology and to show them what ANU can offer," he said.

Professor Kyrios said it was important for students to know that studying psychology helps improve understanding of how best to improve the lives of people and communities.

"ANU Psychology is in the top 30 Psychology departments in the world and is committed to giving students the best possible education in basic research and applied psychology," he said.

Students indicated they would strongly recommend an event like this to others and that they found the day eye-opening and useful.

"Everyone who was involved in the day hopes this type of visit will become a regular event involving colleges across the ACT," said Professor Kyrios.

Students who attended were from Narrabundah, Hawker and Canberra Colleges.​