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MSc

Psychology Conversion

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

1 Year

Start

September 2023

Delivery

Campus Taught

Looking for a change of career? If your goal is to become a professional Psychologist, but you studied another subject at degree level, then our MSc Psychology Conversion course offers you a flexible route towards the career you’re looking for. You’ll get to explore the full breadth of psychology and tailor your studies to your interests and career goals.

If you’re fascinated by the way people act, react and interact, Psychology sheds light on it all – giving you the chance to explore the mechanics of the human condition.

How can we improve our ability to detect lies? What role does stress play in our lives? How can professionals improve their performance at work? How can we improve the mental health and wellbeing of society? Psychology offers the answers to these questions and more – helping you learn how to apply scientific methods to measure, understand and explain beliefs, decision-making processes and behaviour across a wide range of psychological settings.

Discover the core areas of psychology, develop key skills and tailor the course to your own interests.  The course also includes the opportunity to undertake an individual research project and to potentially engage in work-based learning.

Why study with us

This is a flexible route for non-psychology graduates into further postgraduate training to become a professional psychologist.
You will receive Student Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) as part of your course fees. This entitles you to access the member areas of the BPS website, careers resources, discounts on publications and receive their monthly magazine, providing you with an understanding of the latest developments within Psychology.
You’ll gain an accredited psychology qualification that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Then, following further postgraduate training, you could become eligible for Chartered Membership (CPsychol).

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Susanne Shrewsbury - MSc Psychology Conversion

What you'll do

You will undertake an in-depth individual research project, enabling you to further explore your own interests in psychology.
You will have the chance to tailor the course in a way that reflects your interests and career aspirations. You could opt to study clinical psychology, forensic psychology, the psychology of health and elite sporting performance, child psychology, and much more.
You’ll attend timetabled classes at the University on one day each week and arrange the remaining study time over the rest of the week in a way that suits you. Those will other family and work commitments are advised to study part-time, usually over two years, but it is also possible to take the course full-time (allowing a similar amount of time as you would for a full time job) in one year.

Module overview

Course delivery

Following the pandemic, we have found that some courses benefit from a blended learning and teaching approach. Therefore, the majority of your teaching will be face-to-face on campus aside from a small amount of online teaching where we have learnt it works best.

85%Face-to-face

15%Online

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Our range of subjects and study modes can support your goals, take your next step with a postgraduate degree.

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Academic expertise

Accreditations

This course is accredited by the BPS, the learned and professional body, incorporated by the Royal Charter, for Psychology in the UK. We will provide you with the breadth and depth of knowledge that allows you to graduate with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) provided you achieve at least a lower second class honours degree.

We have excellent links with professional psychologists working in applied psychology practice in a number of areas, such as health, forensic and sport. Through these connections, you will gain insights into the application of psychology in a wide range of settings.

Future careers

Successful completion of this course allows you to apply for further professional training in psychology. Depending on your career aspirations, you could opt to focus on specialist areas such as clinical psychology, health psychology, forensic psychology, child psychology or sport psychology.

This degree course offers an ideal first step for a career in psychology. Many of our graduates aiming to work as professionals across this field go onto postgraduate training, including our own BPS-accredited master’s programmes.

However, you won’t be limited to just one field or discipline. With the skills that a psychology degree provides, you’ll have the option, following further education and training, to explore careers in areas such as the Police, Prison Service, NHS, social and community services, health authorities, the pharmaceutical industry, and the education sector.

Fees and funding

2022/23

Full-time£7800 per year

Part-time£867 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14500 per year

2023/24

Full-time£8,400 per year

Part-time£933 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£15,500 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

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You’ll be taught together as a group, using a mixture of lectures, workshops and seminars across all three semesters. Online learning facilities are used to support classroom teaching, for the submission and marking of coursework, and for independent learning.

In addition to classroom teaching, the course includes substantial elements of independent learning, so you’ll also develop your skills in this area. A range of assessment methods are used (eg unseen exams, class tests, empirical research projects, presentations and coursework).

You’ll have access to the postgraduate room in the Library – a quiet study space with networked PCs, a small meeting area and a large presentation screen. This area provides an additional resource for our postgraduates alongside the extensive laboratory facilities in the Darwin Building.

The course consists of 180 credits and runs across three semesters. In semesters one and two, which run from September until June, you’ll focus on classroom-based modules. During semesters two and semester three (semester three runs from June to August) you’ll take your dissertation module and also the unique professional development module. Both modules involve supervised independent study.

All the modules are compulsory, as they reflect the content of the British Psychological Society (BPS) core syllabus and completing them is what makes you eligible for accreditation. There are, however, opportunities to tailor the course to reflect your own individual interests and aspirations, particularly as part of the professional development and project modules.

To complete the course you’ll need to gain an average mark of at least 50% across all modules. You’ll be awarded a Merit if your average mark is over 60%, and you’ll be awarded a Distinction if your average mark is over 70%.

You’ll normally receive the MSc Psychology Conversion award in early September, with your graduation ceremony taking place in November or December (although you may be able to receive your award at other times of the year, particularly if you’re studying part-time).

You’ll be taught in modern facilities in a School that produces nationally and internationally excellent research.  Progression is possible within the School onto a number of professional training courses in psychology for those who successfully complete the conversion course.

After successfully completing this course you’ll be in a position to undertake further education and training in psychology to work towards your chosen career.

You can also find out about the different areas of psychology and the wide range of careers available by visiting the British Psychological Society (BPS) website.