Cognitive Psychology is a fascinating area of psychology that is relevant to a range of problems in the modern world. For instance, how; do mobile phones distract attention during driving? What factors influence our purchasing decisions? What are the effects of brain injury and aging on cognition and behaviour? Cognitive psychologists use techniques from psychology and neuroscience to address these and other issues and can have careers in academic, military, and industry research or, with additional clinical training, work with patients suffering from cognitive limitations arising from brain injury. Studying our MSc in Cognitive Psychology will give you exposure to advanced training with specialist cognitive neuroscience methods such as EEG and eye-tracking, research design and statistics, and the opportunity to explore a range of contemporary findings in cognitive psychology with our expert academics in a friendly small group setting. Importantly, you will be directly involved with cutting-edge research that is geared towards your interests and personal skills development.
Our MSc Psychology programmes are designed to foster a vibrant and collaborative peer culture amongst our MSc students. Several of our modules are shared by all four of our MSc psychology programmes. We also know it’s vital that you develop the advanced specialised skills you will need to pursue careers in your chosen fields. Throughout your MSc degree you are supported and encouraged to focus your work to help you conduct in-depth explorations of your specialist subjects and personal interests.
You will undertake a double weighted Advanced Study module in Cognitive Psychology (30 credits).
The module develops students' knowledge and critical understanding of classic and developing areas of cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Indicative topics include attention, executive functioning, memory (short- and long-term), false memory, cognitive neuropsychology, cognitive ageing, face and object perception, emotion contagion, neuroimaging, psychobiology, and metacognition.
All MSc Psychology undertake the following core modules designed to help you engage with the pluralistic nature of psychology and understand the broader field within which your specialised interest sits:
In addition to the core modules all students can tailor their research methods training to suit their needs and interests by choosing one of the following option modules:
Research is a key emphasis in our programmes and you will be supported by a specialist tutor in your chosen field to undertake original research as part of the Research Preparation (15 credits) and Dissertation (60 credits) modules.
Projects within cognitive psychology span a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, attention, visual perception of faces, effects of alcohol on cognitive performance, changes in memory due to ageing, analysis of EEG and eyetracking data, and studies of neuropsychological deficits in brain injured patients. Our expert staff and specialist facilities can support a range of projects across the field.
The course is of one year duration for full time and two years for part-time.
The course is assessed through written coursework, unseen examination, verbal presentation of research, and independent research written up as a dissertation.
Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate programme. Limited support is available for research-related expenses.
31st May 2018
There are substantial scholarships available, please see this link: http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/internationalfunding/postgraduate/
or
http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/
How do children learn to reason in increasingly abstract ways? How do they learn language with such remarkable speed and fluidity? How do children use their reasoning and language skills to help them explain and understand people’s behaviour and emotions? Why does the amount of information that we can hold in mind at once increase from early childhood to adulthood? Why does children’s ability to control their own thinking, attention and behaviour improve as they get older? How does the development of children’s brains affect their behaviour, memory and ability to learn?
In this taught programme on Developmental Cognitive Science, you will learn how questions like these can be addressed using research techniques from several inter-related disciplines (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Computational Science, Neuroscience, Linguistics).
This programme aims to enhance your understanding of key theoretical and practical issues about typical and atypical development in children and young people, from a cognitive science perspective. It also aims to equip you with the skills required to conduct independent scientific research that addresses key issues in developmental cognitive science.
The University of Edinburgh has a long tradition of research expertise in developmental psychology and in cognitive science. This programme brings these two strands together focusing on a developmental cognitive science approach to both typical and atypical development in children and young people.
You will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, for example by having the opportunity to select option courses and attend research seminars across different disciplines.
You will undertake the following:
Core courses (worth 100 credits in total):
2 option courses worth 20 credits in total:
And a Dissertation in Developmental Cognitive Science (60 credits)
The overall aim of the proposed programme is to advance students’ understanding of how questions about developmental changes in children’s cognitive abilities can be addressed using scientific methods drawn from a range of fields, including developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, computational modelling, neuroscience and linguistics. More specifically, the programme aims to:
Students who successfully complete the programme will be able to:
Career opportunities for graduates from this programme include:
Find out more about scholarships and funding opportunities:
Understanding the relationship between brain, cognition and behaviour is one of the biggest challenges the scientific community is currently working on. Computational cognitive neuroscience is a young and exciting discipline that tackles these long-standing research questions by integrating computer modelling with experimental research.
This Masters programme will foster a new generation of scientists who will be trained in both neuro-computational modelling as well as cognitive neuroscience. Its core topics include:
The programme is suitable for students from a variety of disciplines including - but not limited to - psychology, computing, neuroscience, engineering, biology, maths and physics. Students with no prior programming experience are welcome.
Graduates of this Masters will acquire a unique set of complementary skills that will make them extremely competitive in securing research or analyst positions in both academia and industry.
You will study the following core modules:
You will also undertake a 60 credit research project investigating an aspect of cognitive neuroscience using computational modelling, advanced data analysis methods, or a combination of these techniques. Culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation, the project will be carried out by combining the computational, experimental and data analysis skills that students will acquire over Term 1 and 2.
Option modules
You will choose one option from the following two modules:
You will also choose one of the following 4 options:
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Graduates of this programme will have the following assets in their portfolio:
Such a cross-disciplinary profile will make graduates of this Masters particularly competitive on the job market, especially when applying for positions that require complementary expertise and skills.
The course prepares students for employment in areas including cognitive neuroscience, IT consultancy, cognitive robotics, as well as large enterprises developing software systems inspired by human cognition (e.g., web-search engines, systems for natural language processing, information extraction, data mining and human-computer interaction).
The course is also ideal preparation for further study at PhD level.
Studying both cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology will give a thorough grounding in the scientific investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying human behaviour and the effects of brain injury on cognitive function. You will be taught the theoretical and biological foundations of cognitive science, and undertake advanced training in statistics and neuropsychological research methods.
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. It is a branch of both psychology and neuroscience, overlapping with disciplines such as biological psychology, cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. Cognitive neuropsychology uses data from single cases of individuals with brain injury or neurological illness to refine theoretical models of cognitive processing.
You explore topics including:
Our research is challenging and ground-breaking, with 90% rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014), placing us in the top 15 in the UK. We are supported by some of the most prestigious funding bodies, including the ESRC, European Commission and the Leverhulme Trust.
We are a warm and friendly Department, and we wish to welcome recent graduates of psychology (or a closely related subject such as cognitive science). This course is popular with international students (particularly those from North America). Our students receive a high quality Masters degree within one year and benefit from small class sizes and strong research training.
Develop a broad knowledge of psychology on a course that can be tailored to broaden your mind and develop your career.
This newly developed master’s programme has been designed for those who have an interest in psychology and want to follow a course that is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
As a master’s student you can take advantage of our cutting-edge research laboratories, neuroimaging facilities, and resources for observation. Teaching is also informed by our three in-house NHS clinics (Anxiety & Depression, Speech & Language Therapy, Autism and Berkshire Memory & Cognition Clinic), and the world-renowned Charlie Waller Institute for evidence-based psychological treatments.
You will be taught by leading academics who combine research and theory to provide you with the skills to go on to your future career. We will provide you with a modern, wide, evidence-based introduction to psychology as a science, in excellent facilities all set in our lovely Whiteknights campus.
The programme follows the structure of our successful BSc in Psychology, and includes optional specialist modules such as Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for those interested in Clinical Psychology.
We cover all the important sub-disciplines of psychology, including:
A number of features make our programme unique in the UK. Our special seminars and enhanced teaching and assessment approaches are aimed specifically at graduates from other disciples, and we offer sessions designed specifically for conversion students that cover skills and information to enhance employability.
As part of the programme, you are required to have an understanding of statistics, but we understand that many students will have minimal knowledge when they start on the degree, so we provide support seminars in parallel with the main teaching sessions.
We offer an optional component so that you can tailor your degree according to whether you are interested in the fundamental science of the mind and brain or would prefer to pursue a career in a clinical psychology-related field. An optional Research Placement module is also available, giving you the opportunity to work in one of our world-class research laboratories. We even offer an opportunity to learn a language.
Throughout the course you will gain practical experience, and learn how to devise your own experiments, culminating in designing and conducting your own MSc research project. This project will be supervised by one of our academic staff — there is a huge range of possible disciplines and topics to choose from.
Sample modules include:
Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.
As a graduate of this course you will be qualified for further training to become a professional psychologist. Our MSc Psychology Conversion degree is accredited by the British Psychology Society and provides you with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
This course is particularly applicable to many careers involving research, data management and analytical thinking. You could go onto a career in a psychology related field such as clinical, forensic, counselling and educational psychology, as well as broader fields such as education, health, human resources, marketing and commerce. Previous organisations that students have gone onto work for include the NHS, civil services, schools and charities. Alternatively, you can choose to further develop your skills by moving into research, teacher training or further postgraduate studies.
Interested in the practice and theory of behaviour therapy? Our PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies offers training preparing you for Level 2 Provisional Accreditation as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (CBP), or for further study. The course is taught by practitioners who are accredited therapists in their own right.
It’s estimated that 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year*. The problem-focused, action-oriented approach used by cognitive behavioural psychotherapists to help people develop personal coping strategies is proving a popular and effective method of treating several mental health conditions. Our PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies (CBP) course prepares you for practice in this in-demand profession.
As a graduate of this course, you’ll be eligible to apply for Level 2 Provisional Accreditation as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). During your studies, we’ll guide you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin CBP practice. You’ll explore the underlying principles and have opportunities to develop skills in the assessment of clients and the analysis of their presenting difficulties. You’ll be encouraged to develop a detailed knowledge of CBP techniques, as well as of models of anxiety disorders and depression, and their application to clinical casework.
This course is ideal if you wish to practice using a cognitive behavioural approach in settings that include the helping or health professions, private practice or management roles where working with people is the prime focus.
* http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/ accessed on 14 December 2017
This course is a Level 2 Accredited training course with British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). This means that on completion of the course, you’ll have met all of the training requirements for practitioner accreditation by the BABCP.
If you’re following the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Qualification in Counselling Psychology (QCoP) by the independent route, the course may be appropriate as part of the required training.
For more information please visit http://www.bolton.ac.uk/postgrad
Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), our online Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology course is ideally suited to anyone who is looking pursue a career in psychology, bringing you one step closer to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Our online Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology conversion course is designed for those who wish to specialise in psychology, giving you the opportunity to learn the distinctive range, depth and integration of skills, knowledge and applications of psychology. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the core, fundamental areas of psychology required by the BPS including biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology and the links between them.
During the course you will gain a scientific understanding of the mind, brain and behaviour, and how they interact with the complex environments in which they exist. You will be given the opportunity to critically evaluate methodologies as well as collect and interpret primary and secondary empirical data, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
You will also learn how to apply critical, analytical and creative skills in scholarly thinking, problem solving, and communication to course material, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development, and limitations.
This programme has three start dates giving you the flexibility to start when it's suitable for you. Apply to start September, January or May.
Visit our website to find out more.
The Cognitive and Decision Sciences MSc at UCL studies the cognitive processes and representations underlying human thought, knowledge and decision-making. It integrates a wide range of disciplines and methodologies, with the core assumption that human cognition and choice are computational processes, implemented in neural hardware.
Key topics include the nature of computational explanation; the general principles of cognition; the scope of rational choice explanation; probabilistic models of the mind; learning and memory; and applications to economics and business. The programme involves training in experimental design and methodology, building computational models and undertaking original research.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000–12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, class presentations, and practical, statistical, computational and experimental class work. Student performance is assessed through online tests, coursework, essays, practical experimental and computational mini-projects, and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Cognitive and Decision Sciences MSc
Students have gone on to find employment in the following areas: research, teaching, lecturing, consultancy, finance, and marketing.
For more detailed careers information please visit the department website.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
On completion of the programme, students will have acquired theoretical and empirical knowledge in cognition science and decision-making, and a broad range of practical research skills. They will have made original contributions to this field in their research projects, and will understand how to apply their knowledge to real-world decision problems. They will also have developed various analytical and logical reasoning skills which can be applied to many domains of research and non-academic work. They will, in addition, have an understanding of the philosophical issues underlying cognitive science and neuroscience.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The programme draws on an outstanding academic staff, ranging across many disciplines, including internationally renowned researchers in psychology, computational modelling, neuroscience and economics.
London is one of the global hotspots for research in cognition, decision-making, and neuroscience; and it is an intellectual hub with a high density of research seminars and scientific meetings that attract leading international researchers.
London is also one of the world's foremost commercial and political centres, with consequent opportunities for high-level applied research; and it is a vibrant, culturally diverse and international city, with world-class music, theatre and galleries.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Psychology & Language Sciences
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This programme combines psychological theory, research, and application to the study of cognitive functioning, its typical development through childhood and ageing, and its deficits as encountered in a range of disordered populations.
We draw on theory and methodologies derived from multiple perspectives including cognitive, clinical, health, educational, biological, and social psychology, along with neuropsychology, neuroscience, and gerontology. In all cases, approaches are informed by research methodologies that provide an evidence base for their implementation. Using this broad approach, the programme aims to improve understanding of cognitive development and its disorders, and to demonstrate how this informs development of new techniques for improving assessment of cognitive functioning, diagnosis of deficits, and delivery of support, intervention, and training in education, gerontology and clinical contexts. Furthermore, reflecting the research-led focus of this programme, advanced-level training in research methods will be provided in dedicated modules and embedded within subject-specific modules.
This rich programme draws on many levels of analysis, aspects of psychological theory, research, practice and policy. You will be taught and supervised by subject experts, who actively research and publish in their area, and work with the NHS, industry, charities and other organisations to improve educational, developmental, clinical, and health outcomes.
The School of Psychology is a large and thriving department which has expanded rapidly over the last five years. There are now over 70 members of academic, research and support staff, including nine professors. We offer high quality research-led teaching and you’ll be actively encouraged to engage in ongoing research. Much of this research is collaborative with government departments, research councils, the NHS and industry.
We offer a lively learning environment with modern facilities for teaching and research, which aims to produce graduates equipped with current knowledge and the ability to apply this to different populations.
The programme offers a unique combination of advanced training in research methods and systematic reviewing; subject-oriented modules designed to explore research-led applied perspectives in development, ageing, and neuropsychology; the opportunity to carry out a research project working under close supervision of leading experts in the area; and a Masters-level elective selected from a range of choices across the university.
Compulsory modules
The programme incorporates a range of teaching methods including workshops, presentations, problem solving approaches and small group discussions, as well as the more traditional lecture and seminar formats. We expect students to spend the remainder of their study time in independent learning, guided by reading lists and assessments.
Innovative forms of assessment such as online group work, short reports, individual and group presentations and case studies sit alongside exams and essays to extend the repertoire of students' skills.
The programme’s exploration of typical and disordered child development, adulthood, and cognitive ageing, and its extensive coverage of research skills, systematic reviewing, and project work, makes this a versatile option for a range of career paths. It will be highly suitable for students wishing to pursue a research-oriented path, with this MSc programme forming a sound basis for subsequent PhD study. The coverage of cognition and its development in healthy and clinical groups should support paths into careers including clinical and educational psychology.
The School of Psychology organises several careers events throughout your time at Leeds. You’ll also have a personal tutor, who’ll offer support through our Leeds for Life approach.
If you enjoy understanding the way we think and interact with the world and different areas in it, especially the behaviours and coping mechanisms displayed within health and health care this advanced degree will enable you to play an active role in solving major health challenges. As a society we have already seen the positive health impacts of therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy and mood control, moving many away from traditional drug therapies to thinking therapies.
As we understand more about the power of the mind we can look at ways to improve our quality of life and impact on others and our life experiences to promote good health outcomes much earlier on and work towards them. This is a highly rewarding field which can have a major impact on people's lives and create more positive outcomes within health services to better manage long term illness, disability, stress and impacts on our coping mechanisms.
The University of Aberdeen MSc in Health Psychology, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society, offers you the opportunity to expand on and apply your knowledge and skills to help solve some of the big health issues facing society today. To be considered it is ideal to have a 2:1 Honours degree in Psychology or equivalent programme overseas which is equivalent to the British Psychological Society accreditation. Topics covered in Health Psychology include:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
This MSc focuses on how individuals construe the social world and the processes that underlie social judgement and behaviour. The programme draws on the research of outstanding academic staff working in the areas of social cognition, social endocrinology, socio-cognitive neuroscience, and judgement and decision-making to provide unique, cutting-edge perspectives on humans as social beings.
The programme provides an understanding of how the human emotional, cognitive and neural systems have evolved to sustain social co-ordination and adaptation to the environment. Key topics include: social perception, motivation, attitudes, embodiment, emotion, social judgement and decision-making, and social neuroscience.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Options may include the following:
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, tutorials and seminars. The Division of Psychology & Language Sciences has advanced technology for the study of socio-cognitive processes, including fMRI, eye-, speech- and motion tracking equipment for dyadic and group settings, as well as a 360ovideo camera. Assessment is through coursework, online assessment and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Social Cognition: Research and Applications MSc
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Graduates have taken up positions in research, marketing, teaching, and management consultancy.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
On completion of this programme students will have acquired an understanding of the processes involved in the construction of the social reality, in particular how cognitive and affective processes guide social judgement and behaviour, and how these processes are implemented in the brain. The students will have acquired methodological skills to design and carry out socio-cognitive research which will enable them to address real-world social problems and/or pursue an academic career. In addition, they will have acquired knowledge related to theoretical and philosophical issues underlying psychological research.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The Division of Psychology & Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour, and language.
Our work attracts staff and students from around the world. Together they create an outstanding and vibrant environment, taking advantage of cutting-edge resources such as a behavioural neuroscience laboratory, a centre for brain imaging, and extensive laboratories for research in speech and language, perception, and cognition.
Opportunities for graduate students to work with world-renowned researchers exist in all areas of investigation, from basic processes to applied research. The division offers a supportive environment including numerous specialist seminars, workshops, and guest lectures.
The role of Psychologists in our every day lives is becoming much more prominent with more emphasis on areas such as cognitive behavioural therapies, mindfulness, and other support to improve our lives now available via the NHS and more people seeking self help methods and private support to cope more effectively with different situations throughout their lives. Psychologists are also much in demand in areas which need understanding of the most common human behaviours to shape products which are helpful to our lives. This can be anything from our smart devices to websites and products we use at different stages of life. Psychologists can also help to determine what benefits are gained from projects which do not have a monetary value attached but are life enhancing. When Psychologists get involved in user centred design areas the effects on how we interact with our world can be dramatically improved, meeting and exceeding our expectations, working when things didn't work for us before and having a beneficial effect on our thinking and mental health. This often can improve physical health.
The MRes degree programme is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in the skills required for a career in psychological research. You will gain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of particular theoretical perspectives, research methods, experimental designs and statistical procedures. You study specific types of people at different stages of life discovering and improving your ability to research and test for specific scenarios which you can then analyse using regression , variance and SPSS. Many projects have been published from this programme into internationally renowned journals.
Introduction to Postgraduate Process
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
For EU, UK, Scotland find out about fees from the programme page
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
Are you determined to pursue a professional career in psychology but don’t have an undergraduate degree in the subject? Our online MSc in Psychology will equip you with the knowledge and understanding of core areas of psychology, and will prepare you to make ethical and evidence-based decisions in the field.
Studied through online distance learning, this course is all about learning the foundations of psychology, focussing on the practical application of evidence based decisions in the field – this isn’t a course for armchair psychologists! You will learn to design experiments to gather and analyse data, and explore everything from how our brain influences our perception of the world, to social interaction, abnormal psychology, approaches to intelligence testing and possible therapies, childhood development & behavioural neuroscience.
Exploring the core areas of psychology, you will learn to back up theories with empirical reasoning through rigorous research.
This Masters is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Through this conversion course, you will be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS), essential for training and pursuing a career as a professional psychologist.
Modules include:
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for this course you must normally have:
And:
For students whose prior learning was not taught in English:
We’ll typically ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to study the course. We may also want references and evidence of relevant experiences.
Don’t have any of the above?
If you don’t already have an undergraduate degree, we may be able to offer you a place on one of our undergraduate degree programmes.
We offer online degrees in a range of psychology subjects. As they are delivered via online learning, they can fit in around your current commitments.
We also offer blended undergraduate degrees that are delivered on-campus 2 days a week at one of our study centres in London, Birmingham and Manchester. These give you the facilities and structure of face-to-face learning with the flexibility to fit other commitments in around your studies.
