Program Overview

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Psychology - MSc

2026/27 Full-time Postgraduate course

Award:

Master of Science

Faculty:

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

School:

School of Psychology

eLearning:

This course is taught online so you can study where you want, when you want.

Start date:

September 2026

Overview

Forge the career you deserve with an MSc Psychology (Conversion) course at Ulster University.

Summary

This course is pending accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Our MSc Psychology (Conversion) course has been designed by leading academics at Ulster University to provide students with the knowledge and skills to forge a successful and rewarding psychology career.

Learning from research-active staff with strong academic and clinical backgrounds, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the core areas in psychology, from social and cognitive through to psychobiology. Learn about research methods, and gain transferable skills to prepare you for success in your chosen career.

Upon successfully completing the full programme, the official title which will appear on your graduation certificate will be ‘MSc Psychology’.

About this course

About

Looking to break into the dynamic field of psychology? Perhaps you already possess an unaccredited psychology qualification, or you studied a completely different subject at undergraduate level. Whatever your background, this programme will provide you with a recognised qualification to help bridge the gap and accelerate your psychology career.

Here at Ulster University, we have an established reputation for our world-class teaching, facilities and outstanding research, promoting an environment that enables our people to thrive and succeed. As an Ulster Online student, you’ll gain all the support you need and become part of our truly global network. This 100% online course will enable you to gain a valuable qualification at a time and pace that suits you, whilst benefitting from the expertise of our world-leading, research-active staff which includes fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), distinguished academics and practitioners, and Chartered Psychologists.

Attendance

100% Online
Flexible and enhanced student support

Start dates

• September 2026

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching methods are diverse and planned in a manner appropriate for a scientific education in psychology. As well as aiming to cover an appropriate curriculum toward this end, our course teams endeavour to take account of the following factors:

• The profile of the student group, in terms of differing personal characteristics, educational backgrounds and initial levels of competence.
• The need to enhance personal and transferable skills, and to foster the development of attributes related to enterprise.
• The need to actively engage students with the academic curriculum and enhance the quality of the student learning experience.
• The value of constructive feedback in building confidence and the competencies needed to meet the demands of a higher education course.

The need to actively engage students with a research-led academic curriculum is at the heart of this development. To this end, weekly sessions in each module will be structured around three learning phases with a variety of learning activities employed to facilitate each phase. The first and second phases are i) Learn and ii) Explore Further. They are largely characterised by knowledge acquisition; the third phase is iii) Investigate and is characterised by application and analysis of the key concepts visited earlier on the week. The learning hours may vary across the different activities depending on the weekly focus.

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand.

Year one

Research Project

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will provide students with the skills to develop a substantial piece of work of their own, enabling them to demonstrate their understanding and the application of advanced research methods to a practical research issue of relevance to psychology and at a level of scholarship appropriate to Masters level.

Social Psychology

Year: 1

Status: C

The module will develop the students' knowledge and understanding of social psychological explanations related to common behaviours such as attitude formation, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal attraction, social influence, and aggression.

Cognitive Psychology

Year: 1

Status: C

This module presents the core concepts in contemporary Cognitive Psychology with an emphasis on the empirical basis of knowledge in the area, links with other areas of psychology and on everyday applications.

Psychobiology

Year: 1

Status: C

Psychobiology is a core area of psychology and introduces students to the biological basis of behaviour. The module is structured so there is a wealth for information on signal transmission, brain structures, genetic inheritance prior to the introduction of behaviours where a biological basis is well understood. There is an emphasis on real world applications of knowledge obtained from various methodologies from case reports, to FMRI of the living brain.

Developmental Psychology

Year: 1

Status: C

This module introduces students to current knowledge of biological, cognitive and psychosocial development. The module includes lectures, workshops and both individual and group work from the outset.

Psychology of Mental Health

Year: 1

Status: C

This module provides students with a comprehensive insight into current debates and issues in the field of mental health research and practice. An emphasis is placed on prioritising psychological and social factors (as opposed to biology) to help conceptualise mental wellbeing and psychological distress. It will be relevant for students with an interest in the area of mental health, particularly those who intend to pursue a postgraduate career in professional psychology.

Quantitative Research Methods

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will provide students with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in relation to planning, deigning, conducting, analysing and reporting psychological research. The emphasis throughout will be on relating methodological concepts to applied psychological research contexts, in particular the psychology of experimental and quantitative methods. The module aims to equip students with the basic experimental, statistical inference and methodological skills necessary to understand, conduct and evaluate psychological research by employing a range of quantitative approaches, designs, and methods.

Individual Differences

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will discuss the nature and origins of individual differences in major psychological attributes, involving a range of individual difference abilities and personality traits. It will attempt to provide a grounding in the theory and practice of psychological assessments, including interpretation of psychometric test scores. Attention will be paid to the ethical and historical context of the topics and introduce the contemporary literature and research directions.

Qualitative Research Methods

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in relation to planning, designing, conducting, analysing and reporting qualitative psychological research at a postgraduate level. The module aims to equip students with the qualitative skills necessary to understand, conduct and evaluate qualitative psychological research.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

Entry Requirements

To enrol on this course, your application will require:

• At least a 2.2 honours degree in any subject from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard.
• Or an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma (postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, or an approved alternative qualification).
• Evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

Non-Standard Entry

In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route and/or exemption from modules.

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements (e.g., they hold a lower degree classification) may still be considered and assessed on a case-by-case basis.

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

• English language requirements
• Your country

Exemptions and transferability

The academic team would consider providing the option for exemptions if the student can evidence that they meet the criteria outlined in the University's Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) policy.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

The content covered in our MSc Psychology (Conversion) programme is designed around requirements set by the BPS and relevant to current practices.

After completing this BPS-accredited MSc Psychology (Conversion) course, you’ll be eligible to obtain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and be part of a respected community of psychology professionals.

This conversion course has been designed to boost your employability and career prospects by bridging your knowledge and skills gap. Some typical career paths for graduates include:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Educational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Health Psychologist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Teacher
• Further Education as a PhD Student
• Mental Health Practitioner
• Counsellor
• Researcher

Fees and funding

10% Alumni Discount

Are you a graduate of Ulster University? Did you know you could be eligible for a 10% fees discount.

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

2026/27 Fees

Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2026/27 fees will be announced in due course.

See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2025/26 entry.

View Available Scholarships

See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.

Additional mandatory costs

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.

There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.