Masters Degrees (Physiological Psychology)

Why Surrey?

Our innovative MSc Health Psychology programme applies the theories, methods and techniques of psychology to issues of health and illness.

These are integrated into the psychological processes related to the maintenance of health, the promotion of the psychological wellbeing of the physically ill, and the normal and pathological responses to ill health and stress.

Programme overview

Our MSc Health Psychology programme will equip you with a sound knowledge of theories and practical issues relevant to health psychology.

You will consider the psychological and physiological responses of the individual to ill health, as well as the social and community contexts of health-related behaviours and healthcare systems.

The programme will equip you with a sound knowledge of theories and practical issues relevant to health psychology, in addition to a solid understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research.

The programme, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), provides the academic component (Stage One) on the route towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Programme structure

This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time over two academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

• Conducting Health Psychology Research
• Chronic Conditions
• Psychological Aspects of Health Care
• Maintaining Health Throughout the Lifespan
• Dissertation
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Aspects of Experimental Psychology
• Crafting Research: Linking Theory and Methods
• Ergonomics and Human Factors
• Psychological Neuroscience: Psychophysics and fMRI
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Health Psychology
• Psychology of Sustainable Development
• Key Questions in Environmental Psychology: People & Places
• Contemporary Health Psychology and Professional Practice

Educational aims of the programme

The aims of the programme are:

• To provide students with advanced knowledge and understanding of theory and practice in Health Psychology in accordance with the 15 competence requirements pertaining to Stage 1 of the British Psychological Society criteria for achieving Chartered Status in Health Psychology
• To train students in the informed and systematic application of the research-practitioner involving problem analysis and formulation, intervention design and evaluation
• To enable students to harness relevant theory and evidence in the integrated formulation of a wide range of commonly encountered health problems and issues
• To produce students equipped with the basic interpersonal, technical and creative skills required for the effective analysis and formulation of health problems, and for the effective design, implementation and evaluation of health interventions
• To prepare students for professional work pursued in a highly responsible, self-regulated, self- efficacious and politically sensitive fashion
• To facilitate self-reflection in support of personal and professional development via constructive feedback

Programme learning outcomes

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas: 

Knowledge and understanding

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Health psychology as an applied science
• The relevance of theory to professional practice
• Theory and evidence pertaining to the core areas as detailed by the british psychological society: context and perspectives in health psychology, epidemiology in health psychology, biological mechanisms of health and disease, health-related behaviour, health-related cognitions, individual differences, stress, chronic illness/disability, lifespan, gender and crosscultural perspectives, health care contexts, applications of health psychology, research methods, empirical research project, measurement issues and professional issues
• Basic and advanced research design and methods of investigation (qualitative and quantitative), data analysis principles and techniques
• The contemporary economic and political context of health care work
• Place and value of health psychology within an interdisciplinary framework

Intellectual / cognitive skills

Students will be able to:

• Critically assess and comment on both published and unpublished sources of research and commentary on health psychology issues
• Critically weigh up the contributions and limitations of health psychology in addressing various problems and issues
• Analyse and theoretically formulate various problem scenarios and issues pertinent to the practice of health psychology using a range of models and theories consistent with the principle of integrative practice
• Design, conduct and evaluate health psychology research and researchbased health psychology interventions
• Analyse and take into consideration the economic and political context of a health problem or issue in the process of designing and implementing tailormade interventions
• Reflect on particular case examples (hypothetical and real) with a view to informing theory development/elaboration in an iterative fashion

Professional practical skills

Students will have the skills to:

• Select, design, implement and evaluate a wide range of research techniques pertinent to research and research-based practice in health psychology
• Acquire some preliminary skill in designing research-based health interventions
• Analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data in a competent and critical manner
• Present/communicate their work in a professional manner for both academic, non-academic and business audiences, in both written and verbal (one-to-one, group) formats
• Apply problem-solving strategy and techniques
• Prioritise work, multi-task and manage time under pressure

Key / transferable skills

Students will be able to:

• Communicate ideas, principles, theories and problem formulations by oral, written and visual means
• Elicit high quality information and data from field sources
• Operate within a problem-solving research-based practitioner framework
• Conduct oneself in a professional (accountable, responsible), self-regulated and constructively critical fashion
• Use interpersonal and social skills as appropriate
• Apply analytical skill in a problem solving context
• Use information technology
• Pursue continuous improvement via self-reflection and other forms of professional and personal development activity

Global opportunities

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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Course Summary

The Graduate Diploma in Psychology offers a fast route to eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) - the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Course details

The Graduate Diploma in Psychology comprises seven modules that make up 160 credits in total. The course therefore provides you with a thorough grounding in the theory, themes, issues and practical skills that are central to any undergraduate psychology course. You will also be allowed to participate in up to one additional module per semester free of charge; but will not be assessed in such modules.

The 2006 British Psychological Society (BPS) regulation for Graduate Diploma students means that if you APL for any of the 20 credit modules you are required to take a substitute module at level 6. However, you can APL only 50% of the level 5 modules, and not the dissertation.

You will conduct and submit a research project as part of this course, and must achieve 160 credits with an overall mark of at least 50 percent, to be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership with the BPS.

Semester 1 (Level 5)

Biological and Atypical Psychology (20 Credits)

The overall aim of Biological and Atypical Psychology is to introduce students to the study of the brain and its interaction with the environment (e.g. behaviour). The module covers the structure and function of the nervous system from the micro (genetics and neurons) to the macro (gross anatomy and function of the nervous system) as well as applied aspects such as the biological psychology of mental health, addiction, stress and other psychologically relevant aspects of biological psychology.

Atypical psychology is embedded in each of these topics. Lectures present the background concepts, theories, and related issues while seminars involve a variety of learning activities including lab-based demonstrations of neuroanatomy, physiological measurement of behaviour, group discussions of talks by leading academics in the field, and use of online activities to self-assess and develop students’ understanding of key issues.

Students' ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a short group presentation and accompanying 500 word essay, and by a 1.5 hour unseen examination (60 multiple choice questions).

Individual Differences (20 Credits)

This module examines the concepts, theories, methods and findings in the psychology of personality and intelligence. A key component is principles of measurement and psychometric testing in the study of similarities and differences between people. A variety of learning activities, including guided reading, lectures, and seminar activities will be employed throughout the module. Students’ ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a written portfolio and by an unseen examination.

Further Research Methods (20 Credits)

This module takes students beyond the introductory level in their research methods training in psychology and will cover some more key concepts/ issues and additional methods at a more advanced level. It will cover some more complex experimental designs, survey designs, psychometrics, and more advanced qualitative methods. The lectures will provide an overview of the key concepts, issues and procedures while the workshops will provide hands on experience of the research process. As part of the process students continue to develop skills in all aspects of the research process getting closer to the goal of becoming competent in carrying out independent research projects.

Semester two (Level 5)

Lifespan Development (20 credits)

This module examines the concepts, theories, methods and findings in the field of developmental psychology. The module takes a lifespan perspective, focusing on human development from early childhood through to later developmental stages such as adolescence, adulthood and old-age. A variety of learning activities, including guided reading, lectures, and seminar activities will be employed throughout the module. Students’ ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a critical review and an unseen examination.

Cognition in Action (20 credits)

An overview of cognitive psychology is given by going through a range of classical topics such as perception, attention, imagery, memory, problem solving, decision making, thinking, language and concept formation. A variety of practical exercises are undertaken and several methodological approaches are visited.

Social Psychology (20 credits)

Social Psychology focuses on a variety of issues concerned with the social and interactive aspects of human behaviour. The module provides an overview of the main areas of study and introduces the diversity of social psychology, presenting the findings on a variety of topics central to social psychological enquiry. In addition, this module lays the foundation for subsequent study and research that may be pursued for the dissertation. It provides a basis for further academic consideration of these issues in social psychology.

Semesters 1 and 2 (Level 6)

Graduate Diploma Psychology Dissertation (40 credits)

This module helps you conceptualise and carry out a piece of empirical psychology research, to a standard suitable for submission for publication. You will learn how to present research ideas to peers and the wider academic community in verbal and poster presentations. It is the practical and theoretical realisation of what you will have learned in the Further Research Methods modules and other theory-driven modules.

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Health psychologists apply their knowledge of psychology and health to understand illness and promote health and wellbeing. They aim to enhance psychological and emotional outcomes for individuals who are ill or who have a disability.

Course details

They develop healthcare policy and work to improve the healthcare system.There is an urgent need to produce graduates who have experience of an interdisciplinary approach and who can apply both their academic knowledge to understand and contribute to the development of topics in health psychology as well as their practical skills to enhance practices such as stress and pain management in clinical health contexts. Furthermore, skills acquired by postgraduate psychological researchers are needed to promote evidence-based practice in healthcare.

The health psychology programme at Teesside presents a coherent programme of study which, at the same time, reflects the major debates and produces graduates who can creatively and innovatively contribute to the development of their field. The programme encourages you to develop your own interests within health psychology and to explore how health psychologists can work within these specialist areas. Health psychologists work in a variety of settings including the NHS, universities, private practice, health-related organisations, within communities and schools.

Professional accreditation

The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society and provides Stage 1 practitioner training, a pre-requisite for Stage II training in Health Psychology and Chartered Psychologist status.

What you study

The course comprises six core modules that aim to develop your knowledge of how psychology can be employed to facilitate and protect health, and develop your ability to effect change and suggest alternatives in healthcare provision.

You will explore current issues in health psychology, and gain transferable and practical skills to facilitate progression in the field of health psychology. Supported by a research methods team with expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods, you will critically evaluate the nature and practice of research in health psychology, study research ethics and integrity and systematic reviewing, and develop skills in advanced research design and analysis.

The programme aims to develop writing and presentation skills that are transferable to practice, including conference presenting and writing for publication. Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged to think critically and reflect upon your skills development. Emphasis is given to the study of clinical and professional skills and you will be equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to enable effective communication with patients and health professionals. You will explore our range of physiological measures, have an opportunity to practice assessment techniques and will gain knowledge of interventions including mindfulness, guided imagery and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Opportunities are provided for you to gain work experience in healthcare practice as well as to work alongside academic staff to conduct health psychology research and evaluation. The programme has strong links to organisations providing a range of volunteering opportunities as well as external agencies, including the NHS and within the public health sector.

Modules
-Applied Research Methods
-Clinical and Professional Skills in Health Psychology
-Current Topics in Health Psychology
-Health Psychology in Context
-Interventions in Health Psychology
-Research Project

Modules offered may vary.

Teaching

You learn by knowledge and skills acquisition through directive teaching, group discussions, independent exploration and examination of academic resources. You will work with project data, review professional practice scenarios, and will have an opportunity to present a poster at our annual Teesside University Psychology Conference.

The course is delivered by a team of experts with wide-ranging research, consulting and practice expertise. There are also contributions from practitioners working in the fields of research, consultancy, and NHS practice.

Staff areas of specialism include: breast cancer, complementary and alternative therapies, neurological conditions, doctor-patient communications, psychosocial interventions and sexual health. The team has close links with the Psychology Research Unit within the Social Futures Institute (SoFI) and with AskFuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health.

A range of assessment methods is used, from traditional essays and examinations to a critical review, poster presentation, and a video of you conducting a stress management intervention. You will develop a research proposal including a mini systematic review and will reflect on your skills and development. Your final research project is written in the style of a research article.
Previous students have conducted their final project research on topics including:
-The male pill
-Quality of life and the utility of a guided imagery intervention for individuals with motor neurone disease
-Subject and neural indicators of health-related anxiety as a consequence of using the internet
-Experiences of being a mother with epilepsy
-The effectiveness of weight loss management groups
-Stress management
-Chronic disease

Employability

After Stage 1, you can become a Chartered Psychologist by successfully completing Stage 2 training in Health Psychology. This will confer eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC and use the protected title of ‘Health Psychologist’.

The course team includes experienced supervisors of the British Psychological Society Qualification in Health Psychology (QHP Stage 2). The MSc programme additionally provides you with the skills to pursue a PhD and the course team have the expertise to supervise a broad range of health psychology topics.

Following the MSc, our students frequently progress to a PhD, undertake the QHP Stage 2 and obtain posts within academia, the NHS, and public health services.

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Psychology at Kent offers a supportive, dynamic and diverse environment for creative research and learning.

During your research, you are supported by a panel including a main and secondary supervisor. Your supervisors are individually selected for you based on their compatibility with your research interests. Typically, you meet with your supervisors more frequently at the initial stages of research than during the phases of data collection and analysis.

You receive training in research-specific and broader ‘transferable’ skills, including academic writing, career management and presentation skills. You also have the opportunity to train for an advanced teaching qualification (ATAP). The Advanced Statistics and Methodology module from our taught MSc programme is available for doctoral students that have not already completed an advanced statistics and methods course.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/78/psychology

The School of Psychology

Kent's School of Psychology supports research in a number of areas, including: social psychology; developmental psychology; forensic psychology; cognitive psychology; existential psychology; personality and motivation.

We conduct both basic and applied research in several areas, and we are highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research. We have a long-established international reputation in social psychology, and this is complemented by our strengths in cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology.

Study support

- Postgraduate resources

The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:

- three fully equipped colour video laboratories for face-to-face group research, together with ten satellite laboratories connected via remote-control CCTV and two-way audio links

- 58 research laboratories, all containing networked computers

- a further 80 PCs available exclusively to Psychology students, including a designated MSc computer-networked room providing full email and internet access

- shared offices and a personal, networked computer for research students

- a full range of computer-based experiment generators and productivity software installed on all the School’s systems

- an upgraded laboratory suite with equipment for digital sound and vision recording

- four Brain Vision EEG labs (including one for simultaneous TMS & EEG, and one portable EEG system)

- two trans-cranial direct current electrical stimulators (GVS, Magstim)

- Neuroconn tDCS/tACS electrical stimulator with facilities for simultaneous EEG

- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) PowerMAG Research 100 High Frequency Stimulator

- two Tobii eye-trackers (Tobii X120 & Tobii T60 XL portable)

- one Arrington eye-tracker

- a suite equipped with Bio-Pac recorders to allow for a range of physiological measures to be taken during stressful and other tasks

- specialist laboratories equipped for face processing and vision research

- CRS ColorCal II Colorimeter/Photometer

- CRS Audiofile for synchronized audio-visual presentation

- numerous PC and Mac labs to run behavioural experiments

- Mirror Stereoscopes for dichoptic presentation and stereo vision research

- immersive virtual reality lab (including integrated eye-tracker)

- a social cognition laboratory

- creation in 2010 of the Kent Child Development Unit and research team focusing on how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them.

- Dynamic publishing culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Child Development; Clinical Psychology Review. Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests.

- Researcher Development Programme
Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme (http://www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/skills/programmes/tstindex.html) for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subjectspecific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Careers

Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions.

The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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Psychology at Kent offers a supportive, dynamic and diverse environment for creative research and learning.

During your research, you are supported by a panel including a main and secondary supervisor. Your supervisors are individually selected for you based on their compatibility with your research interests. Typically, you meet with your supervisors more frequently at the initial stages of research than during the phases of data collection and analysis.

You receive training in research-specific and broader ‘transferable’ skills, including academic writing, career management and presentation skills. You also have the opportunity to train for an advanced teaching qualification (ATAP). The Advanced Statistics and Methodology module from our taught MSc programme is available for doctoral students that have not already completed an advanced statistics and methods course.

During term-time, our research groups hold weekly meetings to discuss ongoing work, and weekly seminars also take place featuring external speakers. Numerous data analysis and research methods workshops are available (recent examples include structural equation modelling; hierarchical linear modelling; meta-analysis; EPrime experimental software), as well as individual training opportunities.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/79/social-psychology

The School of Psychology

Kent's School of Psychology supports research in a number of areas, including: social psychology; developmental psychology; forensic psychology; cognitive psychology; existential psychology; personality and motivation.

We conduct both basic and applied research in several areas, and we are highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research. We have a long-established international reputation in social psychology, and this is complemented by our strengths in cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology. The School attracts excellent visiting scholars and postgraduate students from both within the UK and overseas.

Study support

- Postgraduate resources

The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:

- three fully equipped colour video laboratories for face-to-face group research, together with ten satellite laboratories connected via remote-control CCTV and two-way audio links

- 58 research laboratories, all containing networked computers

- a further 80 PCs available exclusively to Psychology students, including a designated MSc computer-networked room providing full email and internet access

- shared offices and a personal, networked computer for research students

- a full range of computer-based experiment generators and productivity software installed on all the School’s systems

- an upgraded laboratory suite with equipment for digital sound and vision recording

- four Brain Vision EEG labs (including one for simultaneous TMS & EEG, and one portable EEG system)

- two trans-cranial direct current electrical stimulators (GVS, Magstim)

- Neuroconn tDCS/tACS electrical stimulator with facilities for simultaneous EEG

- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) PowerMAG Research 100 High Frequency Stimulator

- two Tobii eye-trackers (Tobii X120 & Tobii T60 XL portable)

- one Arrington eye-tracker

- a suite equipped with Bio-Pac recorders to allow for a range of physiological measures to be taken during stressful and other tasks

- specialist laboratories equipped for face processing and vision research

- CRS ColorCal II Colorimeter/Photometer

- CRS Audiofile for synchronized audio-visual presentation

- numerous PC and Mac labs to run behavioural experiments

- Mirror Stereoscopes for dichoptic presentation and stereo vision research

- immersive virtual reality lab (including integrated eye-tracker)

- a social cognition laboratory

- creation in 2010 of the Kent Child Development Unit and research team focusing on how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them.

- Dynamic publishing culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Child Development; Clinical Psychology Review. Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests.

- Researcher Development Programme
Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subjectspecific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Careers

Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions.

The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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This Liverpool John Moores University's MSc in Health Psychology meets the Stage 1 training requirement for BPS accreditation. The course has a strong emphasis on psychological investigation and exploring ethical issues.

-Course available to study full time (1 year) and part time (2 years)
-Fully accredited by the British Psychological Society for Stage 1 Training in Health Psychology
-Academic team includes Health Psychologists registered with the BPS and HCPC and RAPPS Approved Supervisors for trainees continuing onto the BPS Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology or the LJMU Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology
-Teaching is via small groups which means you can expect a high level of academic and pastoral support set within a friendly and informal atmosphere
-Access to world-class facilities in the award-winning Tom Reilly Building

The primary goal of health psychology as a discipline is to contribute to the understanding of how physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual factors influence health and illness within a sociocultural framework.
Recent advances in psychological, medical, and physiological research have led to new ways of thinking about health and illness. This conceptualises health and illness as the product of a combination of factors. The research includes: biological characteristics such as genetic predisposition; behavioural factors such as lifestyle, stress, health beliefs; and social conditions such as cultural influences, family relationships and social support.

The specific programme aims include:

providing an academically rigorous framework through which students can study scientifically the psychological processes involved in health, illness and health care with reference to the application of psychology for:
the promotion and maintenance of health
the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation
the prevention of illness and the enhancement of wellbeing in those affected by illness or disability
promoting students’ awareness of the range of applications of health psychology
providing students with a qualification which meets stage 1 of the BPS’s training towards Chartered Psychologist status

Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Empirical Project
Long-Term Conditions
Research Skills and Methodology for Health Psychology
Analysis for Health Psychology
Fundamental Issues in Health Psychology
Health Psychology: Context and Applications
Stress, Health and Coping
Psychosocial Factors and Health

Further guidance on modules

The information listed in the section entitled ‘What you will study’ is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal Academic Framework review, so may be subject to change. Students will be required to undertake modules that the University designates as core and will have a choice of designated option modules. Additionally, option modules may be offered subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Please email [email protected] if you require further guidance or clarification.

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This course aims to provide you with a sound knowledge of psychology, having been developed to impart the advanced knowledge required to serve your interests and career aspirations. Based at our Hendon Campus in London, you will benefit from the experience of our dedicated and enthusiastic staff. You will have access to some of the best and most up-to-date psychology facilities for teaching and research in the UK.

Why study MSc Psychology Conversion at Middlesex?

This conversion course is for graduates intending to pursue a career in psychology who wish to acquire the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society. You may have a degree in another subject but you will need to have previously studied 60 credits in psychology. Students are introduced to the broad range of theoretical and methodological approaches to psychology and are encouraged to develop a critical approach to studies, evaluating theory and evidence accordingly.

By the end of this course, you will be able to perform quantitative and qualitative data analyses and use statistical software to analyse complex data. You will design, implement, analyse and communicate independent and group project work to an advanced level. You will also be familiar with experimental software to design and run experiments and use psycho-physiological equipment to gather and interpret data.

Course highlights:

- We have excellent employment results: over 90% of our psychology graduates are employed within six months of completing their degree.
- Our psychology teaching and research facilities are unrivalled. They include specialist laboratories and counselling practice rooms.
- Our academics are regularly and widely published - Professor Olga van den Akker, for example, is renowned for her research into psychology and human fertility and Dr Miranda Horvath is widely published for her groundbreaking research into violence against women from a feminist and forensic psychological perspective.
- As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.

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Our MRes Psychology research-focused course will give you in-depth theoretical understanding, knowledge and practical experience of key research paradigms, research designs and statistical techniques used in psychology and, more broadly, in the social sciences.

You will receive extensive training in:
-Quantitative methods: path analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, multi-level modelling, signal detection analysis and non-linear regression models;
-Qualitative methods: focus groups, interviewing skills, IPA, thematic analysis, grounded theory, discourse analysis and conversation analysis.

You will also receive training in meta-analytical techniques, experience sampling, physiological recording methods, eye-tracking and working with children.

Our MRes focuses on various forms of dissemination activity including:
-Writing academic papers
-Preparing posters
-Writing summaries
-Data presentation
-Collaborating and communicating with stakeholders (eg patients, health professionals, teachers, NHS managers)
-Writing and communicating with the public and professional psychologists

You will also develop your critical thinking skills. We encourage you to question the evidence base of many assertions made in the media.

We will train you in the ability to take published articles in a number of domains of psychology and critically analyse components such as theoretical assumptions, methodologies used, data analysis (both qualitative and quantitative) and interpretation of the data. We will point you to wider domains of critical thinking in the realm of science.

This MRes provides one-year, master's-level postgraduate training that constitutes the first year of ESRC 1+3 postgraduate PhD studentships awarded through the ESRC Northwest Doctoral Training College for full-time, part-time and CASE students.

Teaching and learning

Course units are taught using a combination of lecture-seminars, workshops, problem-based learning exercises, worked examples, self-paced online training, student presentations and independent supervised study.

You are required to attend weekly research seminars given by visiting speakers throughout the year, as well as research and career management skills courses, a variety of which are provided by the University's careers service. This training will equip you with both academic and transferable skills, including oral and written communication, time management and information management skills.

You will also have the opportunity to attend a teaching assistant/demonstrators course and language courses provided by the University's Language Centre.

Career opportunities

Our course is designed primarily for students wishing to pursue research careers in psychology. It is also likely to be attractive if you wish to extend your training, with an emphasis on research methods, and if you work in social or health services, or in marketing and cognate disciplines.

Past careers and destinations of our MRes students have included:
-PhD student
-Graduate Market Researcher
-Psychology Assistant
-Independent Mental Health Advocate
-Research Assistant
-NHS Financial Management Graduate Scheme
-Clinical Psychology Doctorate
-Technical Analyst at NICE
-Project Manager in Medical Electronics
-Graduate Researcher

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Anyone interested in child development, or planning to work with children in the future, will be fascinated by this course. As well as core modules in Social, Developmental, Biological and Cognitive Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics that will give you a BPS-recognised Psychology degree, you will take a series of specialist Child Development modules in years one, two and three that will give you a chance to study children’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour in great detail. You will be able to do a work placement in a child-centred setting, and you will complete an original research study under the supervision of an active developmental researcher. If you want to see how children play or how they interact with their carers or peers, you will have access to our purpose-built Child Observation Suite. If you want to see what is happening inside their heads, we have a fantastic Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience lab with a wide range of imaging equipment designed for children of all ages. If you are interested in Educational Psychology, we have lots of links with local schools and other children’s services, providing opportunities to study language development, literacy, peer relations, online safeguarding, antisocial behaviour and bullying.

DBS CHECKS

This course will involve access to children and/or vulnerable adults. You will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB) and we will guide you through this process.

INDUSTRY LINKS

We continuously engage with employers to make sure our curriculum delivers the skills and knowledge industry needs. These include a number of professionals from various sectors, including NHS Trusts, patient groups, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, the Prison Service, police forces, local education authorities, schools and professional sports organisations.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, provided a minimum standard of qualification of second class honours is achieved.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

You’ll be taught by academics that produce first-class research, which has an impact not just in academia but in our working and everyday lives. Much of our psychological research was rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world-leading’ in the last research assessment exercise.

Year 1 is assessed by coursework and Multiple Choice Question exams; Year 2 through coursework, MCQ and essay exams; Year 3 through coursework or essay exams and the project. Percentage of coursework to exams is roughly 50/50.

OPPORTUNITIES

You can get involved in the research carried out by our staff, both as a participant and as a researcher, and not just through your classes and final year projects - there are paid research student internships and part-time research assistant positions available. You can also take part in conference talks, research publications and research grants - our current students regularly publish themselves, or become members of the editorial panel of ‘Diffusion’, UCLan’s own undergraduate research journal.

Some of our graduates pursue a career in psychology by undertaking postgraduate training to become professional psychologists, including our BPS-accredited Master’s programmes. However, UCLan graduates are valued more broadly, and others utilise the skills that our degree encourages to take graduate-level positions in a range of organisations, including the Police, Prison Service, NHS, social and community services, health authorities and in the pharmaceutical industry, and in education and training.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All our Psychology degrees share a common first year, with the opportunity to start specialising from Year 2. You can choose BSc routes in (i) Developmental Psychology, (ii) Forensic Psychology, (iii) Health Psychology, (iv) Neuropsychology, (v) Psychology with Psychotherapy and Counselling and (vi) Psychology and Criminology.

The Psychology syllabus is informed by the professional body, the British Psychological Society (BPS). All core modules are completed by Year 2, after which you can choose your specialism and, if you like, progress straight onto a Master's degree, which can provide stage 1 of your training towards becoming a professional psychologist.

In Year 1 you will attend lectures, seminars, workshops and labs. You will take part in Psychology practicals and develop your skills in statistical analysis and report-writing. Lectures are delivered to large groups, but other classes contain about thirty students. These small groups allow you to develop your understanding of psychology and to practise your communication skills. You should get to know your fellow group members, and learn to use your Academic Advisor as a source of academic advice.

In Year 2, you will study core areas of psychology in more depth, including Social and Developmental Psychology, Cognitive and Physiological Psychology, and Psychological Research Methods. You will continue to develop your skills in psychological research and report-writing but work in smaller groups, and take a role in designing your own studies.

In Year 3, you will complete a double module research project on a Developmental topic. This can be the most exciting part of your degree because it lets you investigate a subject in which you have a particular interest, supported by one-to-one discussions with your supervisor. The rest of Year 3 is made up of a mixture of specialist and general modules including two core Developmental Psychology and Educational Psychology modules.

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This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited conversion programme is designed to provide you with a broad and critical awareness of psychological theory and practice. You will be provided with opportunities which allow you to focus on aspects of psychology with particular relevance to your own experience and interests.

Why this programme

◾You will study the fundamental and specialised theories, principles and concepts, which are informed by developments at the forefront of research in psychology.
◾You will utilise a significant range of skills, techniques, practices and materials, which are associated with psychology.
◾This is a conversion degree for students who have no previous studies in the area of psychology. You will have the opportunity of a change in direction, to pursue a career, either academic or professional, in psychology.
◾Successful completion of this programme makes you eligible for BPS Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC).

Programme structure

You will take eight core and two optional courses, followed by a research project/dissertation. You will also be allocated an academic supervisor to advise you on your individual research project.

Core courses
◾Cognitive psychology
◾Conceptual and historical issues in psychology
◾Developmental psychology
◾Individual differences
◾Physiological psychology
◾Research methods 1
◾Research methods 2
◾Social psychology.

Optional courses
◾Applied qualitative methods
◾Atypical development
◾Clinical health psychology
◾Current issues in psychology
◾Educational psychology
◾Perception and visual cognition
◾Professional skills.

Career prospects

As this programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, you are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the Society (GBC). Our graduates have successfully progressed to further academic study and professional training in the field of psychology. Graduate final destinations after completing further mandatory study include clinical, educational and counselling psychologists, and research associate.

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The Masters in Psychological Science (conversion) is designed to provide a broad and critical awareness of psychological theory and practice. We have particular expertise in quantitative methods, and our course would particularly suit those from a Science background. There will be the possibility for students to specialise in Cognitive Neuroscience or Clinical Psychology in their choice of optional courses. In addition, graduates from the MSc will have a range of generic intellectual and practical skills, including initiative, self-reliance and critical ability, which are easily adaptable to the needs of the labour market. Training in psychological research methods and project work will be included in the programme.

Why this programme

-The school is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 in the UK and top 5 in Scotland, recently achieving 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2015).
-With a 98% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2014, the school continues to meet student expectations combining both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment.

Programme structure

Modes of delivery include lectures, seminars, small group teaching and research projects.

Core courses
-Cognitive psychology
-Human development
-Individual differences
-Physiological psychology
-Research methods
-Social psychology
-Research project

Optional courses (three chosen from over 20 options) for example:
-Atypical development
-Cognitive neuroscience: insights into brain plasticity
-Forensic
-Psychology of biology and mental disorders

Accreditation

MSc Psychological Science (conversion) is accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Career prospects

This MSc can function as both a feeder for a PhD but also as an industry focused qualification. Graduates of this programme may go onto further academic training and pursue a PhD. In addition to the academic benefits of this programme, this MSc will be attractive to a wider job market, to those who do not wish to pursue a PhD but wish to acquire brain imaging techniques and have the academic experience of working within a high quality research environment. The MSc will also prepare those with UG Neuroscience degrees who wish to eventually become academic scientists.

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Want to get to grips with a specialist area of psychology? With our four year flagship programme, you’ll study on one of the first undergraduate masters courses in the UK - putting you ahead of the rest. You’ll build your knowledge of clinical, social, developmental, cognitive and physiological psychology and in your final year you’ll specialise in either behaviour change, cognitive and brain sciences or foundations of clinical psychology. You’ll graduate more than ready for your future career.

You will experience an invaluable placement with a professional psychologist relevant to your chosen pathway as part of your final year. You’ll also have the option of a placement between years two and three. As a successful graduate, you’ll be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society, putting you on the ladder to becoming a professional psychologist.

Key features

-Experience an invaluable placement with a professional psychologist relevant to your chosen pathway as part of your final year. You’ll also have the option of a placement between years two and three.
-Receive funding for your masters year with a student loan. Unlike postgraduate masters courses this course is fully eligible for student loans.
-Focus on and become an expert in a specialist area of psychology that interests you the most, choosing from behaviour change, foundations of clinical psychology or cognitive brain sciences.
-Take your first step to becoming a professional in your field – as a successful graduate, you’ll be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society, putting you on the ladder to becoming a professional psychologist.
-Expand your horizons and experience with opportunities for international exchange and a year studying abroad.
-Develop your skills as a scientist working alongside leading researchers with the Research Apprentice Scheme.
-Maximise your learning with a personal tutor assigned throughout your studies to provide the support and guidance you need to get the most out of your course.
-Shape your own study path with an exciting range of topics available through lectures, optional courses and project supervision.
-Benefit from studying on a course that the Research Assessment Exercise rates as excellent for research and the Quality Assurance Agency praises for its quality of education.
-Immerse yourself in an innovative and imaginative curriculum that’s continually shaped by the latest developments in psychological research.
-Make the most of our specialist facilities – we’ve got 22 labs to choose from, including a virtual reality laboratory with 3D modelling software, sound-proof cubicles with a range of stimulus equipment and computer laboratories. You'll be able to get your hands on everything you need for your own research.
-Receive outstanding student support with our award-winning Psychology eBooks scheme – we’ll give you free eBooks when you start, saving you over £1,500 in printed copies. Our Psychology eBooks scheme won the award for Teaching Excellence in The Guardian University Awards (2013).

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This Masters is designed to provide a broad and critical awareness of psychological theory and practice. Graduates will have a range of intellectual and practical skills, including initiative, self-reliance and critical ability, which are readily adaptable to the needs of the labour market.

Why this programme

◾Psychology at the University of Glasgow is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 in the UK recently achieving 4th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2017).
◾With a 95% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2015, the school continues to meet student expectations combining both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment.

Programme Structure

Modes of delivery include online lectures and seminars.

You will undertake an online practical portfolio and research projects including a dissertation.

Core courses
◾Cognitive psychology
◾Conceptual and historical issues in psychology
◾Human development
◾Individual differences
◾Physiological psychology
◾Research methods
◾Social psychology
◾Research project (Dissertation).

Optional courses (two chosen)
◾A typical development
◾Applied Qualitative Methods
◾Clinical Health
◾Counselling
◾Current Issues
◾Educational Psychology
◾Forensic

Career prospects

This MSc can function as both a feeder for a PhD and also as an industry-focused qualification. Graduates of this programme may go on to further academic training and pursue a PhD.

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The MRes in Neuroscience is designed to provide advanced training in neuroscience research. Students conduct a year-long research project and learn relevant techniques and skills through course work. The overall aim is to give students the necessary skill set to succeed as independent research scientists.

Course information

The MRes in Neuroscience is a full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Highlights

- Intensive week-long introductory module prepares students for the course before the start of Semester 1.
- The course includes a streamlined taught component.
- Students have the opportunity to conduct a year-long project in a single laboratory.

Teaching format

The course begins with a week-long intensive module which continues during Semester 1 with a weekly seminar series. Over two semesters, students will also complete two additional Honours-level modules.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, practicals and guided independent study. The modules are assessed principally by written work and oral presentations.

During Semester 1 and 2, and during the summer months, students will conduct an original research project culminating in a written thesis, which forms the main component of assessed work.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development - http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/taught-programmes/neuroscience/#d.en.556406

Modules

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue (https://portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/catalogue/) which is for the 2016–2017 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2017 entry.

Compulsory modules

- Research Design in Neuroscience: intensive week-long module provides an introduction to designing and carrying out neuroscience research at the postgraduate level.
- Techniques and Skills in Neuroscience Research: examines state-of-the-art neuroscience techniques through critical analysis of primary literature.

Optional modules

Students choose two optional modules (optional modules may vary from year to year; see the University’s position on curriculum development (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/taught-programmes/neuroscience/#d.en.556406)). Examples of optional modules include:

- Neurodegeneration and Aging: develops a detailed understanding of molecular neuroscience at the biochemical and molecular level.
- Motoneurons: From Physiology to Pathology: provides an in-depth knowledge of key aspects of neuronal function and potential dysfunction by focusing on motoneurons.
- Behavioural Neuroscience: allows students to access current research in the area of behavioural neuroscience. Possible topics include motivation, learning and attention.
- Vision: from Neurons to Awareness: develops an advanced understanding of the psychological processes involved in visual perception.
- Neural Basis of Episodic Memory: examines how the brain enables us to remember information from our personal experience.
- Neuromodulation: explores the diverse range of neuromodulatory mechanisms and outlines their importance in information processing in the nervous system.
- Synaptic Transmission: covers recent progress in understanding the morphology and ultrastructure of synapses, neurotransmitter corelease and recycling mechanisms, retrograde signalling, synaptic plasticity, the role of glial cells and the development of neurotransmission.
- Mechanisms of Behaviour: Integrating Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives: explores some of the many physiological and neural systems that modulate patterns of behaviour in a range of species, including humans.

Students on this course will have the opportunity to take new modules in the academic year 2017-2018. The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2017 entry. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2017 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

Research project and thesis

Students will spend one year conducting an original research project culminating in a data-based thesis of not more than 15,000 words. The thesis will describe the research results obtained from the year-long research project and must be submitted by a date specified in August.

If students choose not to complete the thesis requirement for the MRes, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Certificate. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PG Cert instead of an MRes.

After the MRes

Research degrees:

Many of our graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.

The School of Psychology and Neuroscience offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The PhD comprises three years of full-time study and the submission of an 80,000-word thesis.

The Medical Research Council (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/fees-and-funding/scholarships/research-council/mrc/) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/fees-and-funding/scholarships/research-council/bbsrc/) offers studentships for PhD research in health, biological and related sciences covering up to four years of funding and, in some cases, accommodation fees.

Careers:

A large number of Psychology and Neuroscience postgraduates have gained postdoctoral and lecturing positions in universities across the world. The School provides opportunities for students to gain academic experience by being involved in tutorials, laboratory classes and through conducting independent research.

In addition to pursuing careers in academia, postgraduates within the School have gone on to pursue careers in a variety of fields including industry, education and medicine.

The Careers Centre (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/) offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and provides resources specific for neuroscience students (https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/careerdecisions/usingmydegree/neuroscience/).

Contact

School of Psychology and Neuroscience
St Mary's Quad
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JP

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2157
Email: [email protected]

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Learn how different brain functions contribute to cognition, mediate social interaction, and determine mental health, well-being and psychiatric illness.

Who is it for?

This Masters is ideal for those who have an undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related discipline and would like to build more knowledge and skills highly valued both in academic research and the clinical professions. The MSc is an ideal platform from which to progress to PhD studies, particularly in Cognitive or Social Neuroscience. Students will also be well-equipped should they wish to undertake further professional training in Clinical Psychology, or a related discipline.

Objectives

This Masters degree bridges three research and clinical disciplines:
-Cognitive neuroscience (the study of human brain functions such as memory, perception and language).
-Clinical neuroscience (the understanding of neurological, psychological or psychiatric illness via their neural and cognitive antecedents).
-Social neuroscience (the investigation of brain processes that help us communicate, feel, learn and interact with others).

The major aim of this programme is to provide you with a thorough grounding in the neuroscience that underpins human cognitive brain function, clinical, social and affective interaction, and neuropathology.

Teaching will comprise of seminars, lectures, computing and statistics classes, and supervision of an individual research project. Your learning experience during the programme will be enhanced by an invited speaker’s programme of external experts who work in clinical, social or cognitive neuroscience.

Academic facilities

You will have access to all the facilities and laboratories in the Psychology Department. Our members have experience with a wide range of neuroscientific techniques, including neuropsychological testing, psychophysics and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

We have particular strengths in the use of Electroencephalography (EEG), Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Electric Stimulation (a weak current applied to the scalp), in addition to measures of human behaviour (e.g. response times, response errors, and eye movements) and physiological measures (e.g. galvanic skin response and heart rate).

We test neurologically normal individuals, special populations (e.g. people with synesthesia) and people with expertise or acquired skills (e.g. dancers, musicians, athletes), as well as people with brain damage (e.g. neglect or split-brain patients), psychiatric diagnoses (e.g. schizophrenia), sensory deficits (e.g. visual and hearing impairments) and developmental disorders (e.g. dyslexia or autism).

Placements

We help facilitate Clinical placements and are able and offer Research placements within our department.

Clinical placements: Center for Psychological Wellbeing and Neuroscience (CPWN) in collaboration with City and Hackney Mind (CHM).

Teaching and learning

Teaching will be comprised of lectures, seminars, group work and discussions, workshops and tutorials, reports, computing and statistics classes and the individual research dissertation.

You will undertake independent study, supported by the teaching and learning team, and will receive detailed feedback on your coursework. You will be provided with assessment and grade-related criteria which will outline your intended learning outcomes, along with the skills, knowledge and attitudes you are expected to demonstrate in order for you to complete an assessment successfully. You will also be assigned a personal tutor as your primary contact, who will advise you on academic matters and monitor your progress through the programme.

You will find a supportive vibrant research environment in the Department. The course is taught by academics, who are internationally recognised experts in their field with different backgrounds in clinical, social and cognitive neuroscience.

Assessment

Your learning will be assessed through essays, examinations, oral presentations, research methods projects and interpretation of statistical analyses, formal research proposals and a dissertation.

Modules

The programme consists of eight taught modules worth 15 credits each with around 30-34 hours of face-to-face contact, supported by online resources and an empirical research project (worth 60 credits).

You will learn about the latest advances in clinical, social and cognitive neuroscience and develop an appreciation of the reciprocal nature of research and practice in these domains. For example how insights from functional neuroimaging inform our understanding of neurological disorders and how clinical observations inform neurocognitive modelling.

Course structure
-Principles of Neuroscience: Brain anatomy, techniques and paradigms
-Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
-Mental Health, Well-being and Neuroscience
-Fundamental Processes in Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology I
-Fundamental Processes in Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology II
-Social Cognition and the Social Brain
-Statistical models and Research Methods and Programming
-Research Dissertation
-Invited speakers programme

Career prospects

This course will provide you with knowledge and skills highly valued both in academic research and the clinical professions. The MSc is an ideal platform from which to progress to PhD studies, particularly in Cognitive or Social Neuroscience. You will also be well-equipped should you wish to undertake further professional training in Clinical Psychology, or a related discipline.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire in this programme are highly valuable, whether you choose to pursue further research or an applied occupation. They will enhance your employability prospects in a wide range of sectors including the pharmaceutical industry, neuromarketing, the computing industry, science and the media, science and the arts, business or education.

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