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This module aims to introduce you to the study of psychology as a science and enhance your understanding of the philosophical underpinnings, conceptual paradigms and methodological implications within psychology inquiry. It aims to enhance knowledge of the process of conducting research and the application of various research methods to data generation and skills for evidence-based, ethical and legal practice. You will have the opportunity to further reflect on the BPS’s latest Code of Ethics and Conduct, and explore the distinction between ethical and legal practice. You will critically develop your understanding of the application of various analytical approaches to quantitative and qualitative data analysis, interpretation and reporting. Topics, where possible, will make links with other modules, enabling you to apply and demonstrate skills in research implementation and evaluation. By the end of this module you will have an advanced understanding of how psychological research methods can and are used to investigate real world research. Implications of the module requirements for your personal development and your career goals will be reflected on.
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The aim of this module is to explore a range of theories and research findings which relate to our thinking and behaviour in a social world. On completion of this module, you will be familiar with the key issues, main theories, and practical solutions on a variety of topics in social psychology and individual differences domains. You will explore issues of measurement and testing, including psychometric testing. The module will provide you with an awareness of how the historical and cultural factors affected the development of knowledge and the methodological approaches predominantly used in social psychology and individual differences. Examples of the topics which you may explore include social influence, pro-and anti-social behaviour, inter-group dynamics, leadership, close relationships, personality, prejudice, and discrimination. Activities such as group discussions, additional readings, and individual work will be utilised in order to develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current social psychology and individual differences problems. Implications of the module requirements for your personal development and your career goals will be reflected on.
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The module focuses on changes to biological, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of development across the life-span (children, adolescents, young adults, older adults), and is designed for graduates who want to expand their knowledge in several different areas of development while also acquiring a specialism in this area. This module suggests that developmental psychology must be viewed as something important and pervasive: All areas of the study of human existence can only be fully understood if a developmental perspective is adopted in the sense that all behaviour develops either by evolution (phylogeny) or during the lifespan of the organism (ontogeny). Furthermore, this module places developmental psychology in the wider context of studying the human condition by exploring conceptual and historical issues in Developmental Psychology. Consideration will be given to the research methodology underpinning the evidence based explored within the area this module explores by means of critical reviews of research papers. Implications of the module requirements for your personal development and your career goals will be reflected on.
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This module covers the key processes associated with cognition as well as the biological and neurological underpinnings of such cognitive processes. The module also demonstrates cognitive psychology as a specific approach to understanding behaviour with its emphasis on theoretically led hypothesis and the experimental testing of these hypotheses to further develop theory. Additionally, consideration will be given to the research methodology underpinning the evidence based explored within this module and the relevance of historical and contemporary issues. The module will provide in-depth knowledge of the cognitive and biological aspects of psychology including understanding the principles of neuronal transmission, and the fundamentals of neuroanatomy, psychopharmacology, key cognitive processes such as memory, perception, attention, consciousness, language, and applied topics such as stress and sleep. In addition, how neuropsychological functioning relates to cognitive processing. The empirical component of this module will require you to consider and apply the latest BPS’s Code of Ethics and Conduct. Implications of the module requirements for your personal development and your career goals will be reflected on.
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This tutored sixty credit module will provide you with the opportunity to select an area of particular interest within the field of psychology and to design, plan and execute an in-depth research project in your chosen psychology area. The research design should include either quantitative and/or qualitative methods and analyses and draw upon and critically evaluate a range of both classic and contemporary research findings throughout. Your understanding of ethics and the ethical process will be enhanced further in this module. The resulting project should be submitted following University conventions and be to a publishable standard. A research proposal and an approved ethics form will also form part of the assessment for this module.
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This module is designed to equip you with an in-depth knowledge of psychological theory relevant to the improvement and maintenance of psychological wellbeing and sound mental health. Within this module you will explore key theoretical models which attempt to explain and predict health-related behaviour and examine the practical applications of these models on health, wellbeing and illness. A multitude of health interventions will be reviewed and critically evaluated. Consideration will be given to the research methodology underpinning the evidence based explored within this module. The module with further enhance your critical understanding of the ethical, pragmatic, cultural and legal issues related to research or advanced scholarship, and practice in psychological wellbeing and mental health. Implications of the module requirements for your personal development and your career goals will be reflected on.
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This module covers the key concepts related to psychological distress and mental wellbeing. The module will present different models of psychological distress including biological, psychological, social approaches as well as integrative bio-psychosocial models. The pervasiveness of medical views will also be discussed with typical use of terms such as mental illness, disorders, abnormality and clinical psychology as well as concepts of categorical (caseness) and dimensional views of psychological distress/illness. The module will include an historical account of mental distress and then focus on key psychological disorders and discuss their aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Students will be encouraged to consider their own opinions and those of others as it relates to these topics. Consideration will be given to the research methodology underpinning the evidence based explored within this module. Implications of the module requirements for student employability will be reflected on.
MSc Psychology (Conversion)
Master's Degree, Postgraduate, September 2025
Are you looking for a MSc programme that will fascinate your interest in the human mind and behaviour? Are you interested in the scientific underpinning of how people think, act and interact? Are you planning to move into a professional psychology career after completing an undergraduate degree in a different subject area or your current psychology undergraduate degree does not qualify you to start your journey to becoming an aspiring psychologist?
Then this MSc Psychology (Conversion) is the first stage towards your journey towards a professional career in psychology. To work towards becoming a professional psychologist your psychology degree is required to be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). Students who are eligible for GBC with the BPS are then able to continue onto further psychology postgraduate study and supervised training.
- Delivery – this is a blended learning MSc combining online learning with campus-based delivery, providing flexibility to your learning online but complemented by the benefits associated with on-campus teaching, interaction, facilities and the whole on-campus environment vibe!
- Assessment – all coursework-based assessments only
- Minimises over assessment – except for two modules all modules have one assessment
- More than asynchronous learning: the online element also offers live (real-time) sessions from expert psychology tutors
- Personal Tutors (PT) – all students are allocated a PT and group PT and individual PT sessions are incorporated into the programme
- Learning Environment – all housed on the virtual learning environment – for ease of navigation.
- Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Knowledge of multiple perspectives to understand the human mind and behaviour
- Strengthens your transferable (research, analytical and communication) skills that will enhance your employability
- What does it cover?
The programme covers the core strands of psychology, namely Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, Individual Differences, Social, Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology, and Research Methods which are integral to this programme. In addition, you have the opportunity to study a module on Psychological Distress and Mental Health, and Health, Wellbeing & Psychological Interventions. And have the opportunity to select an area of particular interest within the field of psychology and to design, plan and execute an in-depth research project in your chosen psychology area for your Dissertation.
- Programme delivery?
The programme is delivered by blended learning mode, significantly online (90%) but with four campus-based learning days across the programme (10%). The programme follows a scheduled timetable delivery for the live sessions online and on campus.
- Campus-based
The campus-based days will be delivered in the week and there will be two full campus days between September and December and two full campus days between January and June. During these campus-based sessions you will have the opportunity to engage in workshops and seminar work related to the programme content and linked directly to the assessment. The campus-based sessions also afford you the opportunity to engage with psychological equipment. Th campus based sessions allow you to gain hands on practical experience.
- Online
The online element of the programme includes both asynchronous and synchronous learning. The online resources for a module might include a mini lecture or video presentation, online seminar/workshop activities to complete, an opportunity to discuss content with fellow students using the online forums and chat spaces, core reading from texts and journal articles, and self-directed study time, this is all housed on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). In addition, to support your learning further you will have the opportunity to attend scheduled live group tutorial/sessions with your tutor across the programme, which will be delivered on Wednesday’s 12-1pm, 1-2pm and Thursday 12-1pm. These sessions will either consolidate or extend your learning from that week, prepare you for the next session, and allow opportunities for you to ask questions.
- Personal tutor (PT)
You will also have a personal tutor – a psychology academic, who will provide you with both academic and personal support throughout the programme. Both group and individual PT meetings are available during the programme.
- Study Skills
You will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of online study skills session in areas such as critical writing, library searching and careers options. You can also access these facilities on-campus.
One – 20 credit module equates to 36 hours of scheduled contact time and 164hours of independent learning. If you study this programme over one academic year you will study 180 credits.
The campus-based days will be delivered in the week and there will be two full campus days between September and December and two full campus days between January and June.
Online-live sessions – to support your learning further you will have the opportunity to attend scheduled live group tutorial/sessions with your tutor across the programme, which will be delivered on Wednesday’s 12-1 pm, 1-2 pm and/or Thursday 12-1 pm.
All coursework-based assessments consist of: (except for two modules all modules have one assessment):
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- Portfolio’s
- Essay
- Research reports
- Poster presentation with oral presentation element
- Reflective approaches
- Case Study
- Dissertation – in the form of a journal article.
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By completing this rigorous masters degree, it will equip you with a suite of highly transferable graduate employability skills. You’ll build your numeracy, data analysis, critical thinking, literacy, communication, team working, problem solving, presentation, observational, cognitive and organisational / management skills.
As a graduate of this programme you will be qualified for further training to work towards becoming a professional psychologist. Thus you could work towards a career in psychology such as clinical, health, forensic, counselling and educational psychology, as well as broader fields such as education, health, caring profession, human resources, marketing, commerce, civil service, and charities. Alternatively, you can choose to further develop your skills by moving into research, teacher training or further postgraduate studies (e.g., PhD).
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for 2025 entry TBC
Course Fees
The full-time course fee for September 2025 is £9,250 per year.
The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).
Modules
Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes of Module Changes page.
Timetables: find out when information is available to students