PMPSLOGY - MSc Psychology

The MSc Psychology offers a broad curriculum in psychology and is designed for suitably qualified (see Section 21) non-psychology graduates and graduates with non-accredited psychology degrees who wish to qualify for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). The course covers the BPS’s GBC curriculum, with teaching and learning strategies across the programme reflecting the focus on knowledge acquisition and critical review skills. In addition, students' research skills and ethical understanding relevant to psychology is supported throughout the programme. Teaching and learning strategy within modules will also encourage students to become more engaged in their own learning, to empirically investigate different psychological hypotheses, to manage their workload effectively, utilise relevant technology where possible and to reflect on their own work.

The teaching and learning strategy consists of lectures, seminars, and workshops (including those in the dedicated computer laboratories). The scheduled teaching programme for full-time students consists of 1 full day in both the autumn and spring semesters. In addition to formal teaching time, students are expected to devote considerable time outside of this to independent study. This focus on independent (but supported) learning is particularly evident within the dissertation module, as well as being integrated across other core modules via subject specific research methods.

The MSc Psychology offers a broad curriculum in psychology and is designed for suitably qualified non-psychology graduates and graduates with non-accredited psychology degrees who wish to qualify for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). The aims of the MSc Psychology are to:

1. provide a programme which builds on students’ prior study of psychology and which deepens students’ understanding of the core areas and approaches in psychology;
2. provide advanced training and expertise in the design, analysis, evaluation and presentation of research in psychology;
3. ensure an understanding of the conceptual issues, research history and the current issues in the area of psychology that it covers;
4. ensure that the wide range of skills that students following the course develop may be generalised to a broader context.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced scholarship in Psychology

2. Apply knowledge with originality, based on a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in Psychology

3. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in Psychology

4. Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses

5. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences

6. Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level

7. Advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level

8. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations

9. Learn independently for the purposes of continuing professional development.

Module Code
PY7011
PY7012
PY7015
PY7017
PY7018
PY7019
PY7P91

Learning Outcomes LO1 - LO9

The course is assessed through a variety of tasks that allow for the demonstration of academic learning and educational scholarship. These include unseen written examinations, practical reports, essays, case studies, poster presentations, a project proposal and a dissertation. In addition, the formative assessments support students in development towards summative assessments. The course team aims to provide feedback on written (non-exam based) work within a two-week period from the submission date. Assessment forms part of the learning process and demonstrates to students the outcome of their efforts within the learning process. Given this, the assessment process supports understanding of where progress can be made.

1. Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) is not permitted on this course.

For the MSc award, all modules are identified as cores.

This MSc Psychology is a conversion course and by its very nature is an integral part of personal
development planning for those who are looking to train and pursue a career in psychology. This is actively supported within the course with formative feedback provided earlier on in modules, so that students can reflect on their progress so far. In the Dissertation module, students are encouraged to reflect on their project proposal before progressing with their research and supervisors will encourage students at the start of the process, to clarify their area of research and assess its ethical value as well as generating a series of informal deadlines throughout the project to ensure the more formal deadlines are met.

Students also receive information within modules, regarding how the knowledge and competencies from the course can be applied to a wide range of settings. Formative feedback is provided on coursework, and can be requested on examinations, which focuses on assisting students to improve their personal and academic skills.

The course has been designed to meet the master's degree characteristics produced by
the QAA (Level 7 descriptors). In addition the course aligns with the BPS's GBC curriculum.

Successful completion of this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree will make you eligible for Graduate Membership and Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). GBC is required to obtain Chartered status whereafter you can use the letters CPsychol after your name.

To obtain the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) through studying the Psychology PG Dip, you need sufficient Psychology qualifications.

The Psychology PG Dip only requires completion of 120 credits, but that in isolation is not enough to gain Graduate Basis for Chartership. GBC is only given when students have completed 180 credits.

Successful completion of this course opens opportunities to enter postgraduate training in chartered areas of psychology. The course is also excellent preparation for further research or study in non-chartered areas of psychology.

After completion of this conversion degree, you’ll qualify for a Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). This will allow you to progress to a postgraduate professional training programme in an area of psychology including forensic, clinical, health, educational, occupational and counselling psychology.

The University offers BPS accredited course in Counselling Psychology Professional Doctorate.

You will be required to have:

• a lower second class honours degree (or above) or overseas equivalent
• Mathematics GCSE at grade C (grade 4) or above (or equivalent)

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.