The MSc Psychology gives you a rigorous, evidence-based grounding in how people think, feel, develop and behave. You will study the biological, cognitive, social and developmental foundations of psychology at master’s level, alongside the research, critical thinking and ethical skills to question evidence and apply it in real-world settings.

You will work across the full breadth of the discipline: the biological and cognitive foundations of mind and behaviour, social and developmental psychology, individual differences, and the historical and philosophical debates that have shaped the subject. You will also look at how psychology is used in forensic, clinical, educational and business settings, and plan how your own career could develop in them.

Research runs through the whole programme rather than sitting in one module. You will learn to design, run and write up studies using quantitative methods, from correlations and t-tests through to regression and factor analysis, and qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis and discourse analysis. Everything comes together in a 6,000-word dissertation, supervised by an academic whose expertise matches your chosen topic.

Teaching takes place in person at our London campus, in workshops and lab-based classes, with a consistent cohort that stays together throughout the course. Throughout, you will be encouraged to question dominant perspectives, consider psychology across different cultures and communities, and weigh evidence rather than simply absorb it.

You will finish with a broad understanding of the discipline, hands-on research experience and a clear sense of the professional pathways open to you.

Why study with us

Gain a Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) through the British Psychological Society (BPS), the starting point for further training towards chartered psychologist status, provided you meet the BPS requirements, including passing the empirical research project.

Carry out your own empirical research using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, building the skills to plan a study, secure ethical approval, analyse data and report findings with confidence.
Engage critically with classical and contemporary questions in psychology and contribute to debates on issues that matter locally, nationally and globally.
Explore forensic, clinical, educational and business psychology while reflecting on your own strengths, goals and career pathway.

Key Features

Six modules taught in person and studied two at a time alongside a consistent cohort of classmates.
Research skills are built into the curriculum from the start, with hands-on lab sessions in both quantitative and qualitative methods rather than a single stand-alone methods module.
No exams. Assessment is split evenly between practical tasks (presentations, posters) and written work (lab reports, essays, a research proposal, a portfolio and a dissertation), so you build skills for varied workplaces as well as academic study.
A dedicated Professional Psychology module lets you specialise in forensic, clinical, educational or business psychology and link your learning directly to career planning.
A supervised 6,000-word dissertation, with an academic supervisor allocated according to expertise and protected time on campus for independent research and writing.
Teaching and reading draw on a wide range of social and cultural perspectives, with an inclusive approach that challenges dominant viewpoints within psychology.
Teaching sessions are supported by the virtual learning environment, which includes slides, handouts, reading lists, quizzes and recordings of key content, plus access to the Bookshelf platform for core texts.
Classes are scheduled on two set days a week, starting at 10:00, so the course can fit around work and family commitments.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the MSc Psychology, students will be able to:

Critically evaluate biological explanations of behaviour, including genetics, hormones, emotion and comparisons between human and non-human behaviour.
Critically analyse cognitive approaches to perception, attention, neuropsychology, cognitive bias and social cognition.
Analyse psychological development across the lifespan, including the influence of social, cognitive, cultural and environmental factors.
Evaluate how intelligence, personality, motivation and emotion are shaped by biological, social, cultural, genetic and environmental influences.
Critically examine the factors that shape identity, group processes, attribution, sexuality, culture and power.
Critically evaluate the philosophical, historical and scientific foundations of classical and contemporary psychology.
Design and conduct ethical empirical psychological research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods.
Develop and justify research questions and hypotheses grounded in relevant psychological theory.
Critically apply research methods and evaluate psychological research findings.
Integrate psychological theories, concepts and evidence to understand real-world issues and human behaviour.
Critically appraise psychological literature to develop reasoned arguments and evidence-based conclusions.
Reflect critically on their own progress, respond to feedback and work independently to support personal and professional development.

Modules

Trimester 1:

PS4016 Social and Developmental Psychology with Research: Explore how people think, behave and develop across the lifespan, and design and carry out your own qualitative study.
PS4017 Historical and Future Developments of Psychology: Examine the ideas, studies and debates that shaped psychology, and critically consider where the discipline is heading.

Trimester 2:

PS4018 Cognitive and Biological Psychology with Research: Investigate how the mind and brain process information and drive behaviour, and run your own quantitative lab-based study.
PS4019 Individual Differences, Ethics and Research Methods: Study what makes people different, develop advanced statistical and ethical research skills, and prepare a research proposal.

Trimester 3:

PS4021 Professional Psychology: Discover how psychology is applied in forensic, clinical, educational and business settings, and plan your own career pathway.
PS4022 Psychology Research Project: Complete an independent, supervised research project and report it in a 6,000-word dissertation.

What you'll do

Every assessment is designed with your career in mind, building transferable skills such as presenting to an audience, writing for different readers, analysing data and working ethically.

In your research project you will work with an academic supervisor matched to your topic, with allocated class time for supervision, drafting and independent work on campus.

You will learn through workshops, lab-based classes, discussions, case-study analysis and presentations, backed by independent study.

You will also build key employability skills such as communication, leadership, critical thinking and project management to support your progression into employment or further study.

Careers

The MSc Psychology prepares graduates for careers across a wide range of sectors, including mental health and wellbeing services, education, criminal justice, health and social care, business and human resources, research institutions, and the public and third sectors. Graduates will be able to apply their understanding of human behaviour to support the wellbeing and development of individuals, groups and communities.

The programme equips students with advanced research, analytical and critical-thinking skills, supporting progression into professional pathways in clinical, counselling, educational, forensic and occupational or business psychology, some of which require further postgraduate study and training. Students may also choose to progress to doctoral (PhD) study or academic careers, building on the programme’s strong research-informed foundation.

Graduates will be well placed to work across diverse sectors, contributing to professional practice, programme development, research and policy-making.

Career Opportunities in Psychology

An MSc Psychology gives you a postgraduate foundation in the discipline and a recognised route into further professional training. Depending on your background and the specialism you pursue, you could progress towards roles in clinical, counselling, educational, forensic or occupational and business psychology, some of which require further postgraduate study and training.
The knowledge and research skills you develop are also valued in a wide range of roles outside formal psychology practice, including:

Mental health and wellbeing support
Education and learning support
Human resources and people development
Public health and community services
Criminal justice and related services
Policy and research
Further study, including doctoral research

Assessment

There are no exams on this programme. You will be assessed through a mix of presentations (group and individual), a poster presentation, lab reports, essays, a research proposal, a portfolio and coursework assignments, culminating in a 6,000-word dissertation. Most modules are assessed in two parts of equal weight, and you must achieve 50% or above in each module to pass. You will also complete a short academic integrity training course as a pass/fail requirement.

Entry requirements

A minimum of a lower second-class (2:2) honours degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a subject that does not already confer Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society. If your degree already gives you GBC, this programme is not the right route for you.
Candidates must demonstrate English language proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and entry with advanced standing will be considered in accordance with University regulations.

Timetable

Standard delivery:

Studying on campus 2 days a week which is Monday - Friday (10:00-17:00)

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MSc Psychology