Program Overview

Psychological Science

Overview

The MSc Psychological Science is a one-year Master's course with accreditation from the British Psychological Society, enabling students to pursue a career in psychology even if their background is in another discipline.

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Taught modules are delivered over two semesters. Full-time students follow taught modules in Semester 1 (Autumn) and Semester 2 (Spring) and carry out an independent research project and write their MSc thesis (dissertation) in the summer. Part-time students normally complete three taught modules in year 1, and one taught module and a research thesis (dissertation) in year 2, however, there is flexibility in module selection during part-time study.

Course Content

The course is tailored towards analysing data in the real world. Students will learn methodological analysis skills and the core principles of psychology:

• Psychobiology
• Developmental
• Social
• Individual differences
• Cognitive psychology

Students will learn everything from how people behave as social groups to how the brain works. Their research project will take place over the summer.

Entrance Requirements

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above in any subject or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events, and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) | £8,800 Republic of Ireland (ROI) | £8,800 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) | £9,250 EU Other | £25,800 International | £25,800

Additional Course Costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Career Prospects

The degree confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society, and many graduates will go on to complete training in one of the 7 registered professions of psychology as well as undertaking many other jobs, (management, HR, analysts) where a psychology degree is of benefit.

Modules

Research Thesis Psychology

• Overview: Thesis work will enable each student to undertake a research project using the skills developed in design, experimentation, analysis, and ethics.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Develop a research question from existing literature and information
  • Critical evaluate, identifying both strengths and weaknesses of the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the project
  • Design and undertake an empirical study and appreciate and resolve methodological issues
  • Demonstrate the use of practical techniques and methodologies appropriate to address the research question(s) and understand the strengths and limitations of these techniques
  • Analyse and interpret the findings, identifying the limitations of the analysis and results
  • Draw appropriate conclusions from data analysis, and
  • Produce a scientific report and demonstrate the ability to communicate the results to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Skills:
  • Ability to tackle a substantial research problem and perform all the stages involved including handling subjects and data
  • Identifying and addressing ethical issues
  • Information acquisition, management, and organisation
  • Working in collaboration with a supervisor
  • Project planning and time management
  • Critical evaluation
  • Assimilate, evaluate, and organise information from a variety of sources
  • Develop coherent arguments
  • Manage own learning
• Credits: 60
• Module Code: PSY7094
• Teaching Period: Summer
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Methods, Design and Analysis in Psychology

• Overview: The course will develop skills in research methods and relevant statistical techniques.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of a range of research methods in psychology, their application, and limitations
  • Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of each approach in revealing people’s thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and interactions
  • Understand and critically evaluate the extent to which conclusions about an aspect of behaviour may be influenced by the method used to study it
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of research design and the processes that guide this
  • Demonstrate knowledge and importance of the application of ethical principles in relation to psychological research and potential limitations
  • Demonstrate an understanding of various measurement techniques in psychology and be able to critically evaluate their design and application
  • Display a comprehensive knowledge of quantitative and qualitative techniques and their appropriate use with particular data sets
  • Critically evaluate, using evidence-based reasoning, the relevant issues (theoretical, applied, ethics) that may underlie the use of different techniques used by researchers in psychology
  • Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the issues surrounding the use of significance testing within psychological research
  • Relate issues surrounding various methodologies and techniques used in psychological research
• Skills:
  • Students will learn the following academic skills: data analysis, interpretation, and reporting, literature searching and the use of primary sources, library skills, the use of specialised software, methodological skills, statistical skills, time management, psychological research methods skills
• Credits: 30
• Module Code: PSY7093
• Teaching Period: Spring
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Applications of Psychology in the ‘Real World’

• Overview: The course will develop skills critically evaluating how psychology is applied in a number of different and diverse ‘real-world’ applications with a view to understanding the theory behind the application, the evidence base of the effectiveness of the application, and the ‘stated’ outcomes of the application.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of a range of areas where psychology is applied
  • Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the diversity of application of psychology
  • Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the pathway from theory to application and evaluation of impact
  • Critically evaluate how psychology is applied in the real-world including the critical evaluation of methodologies used
  • Increased psychological literacy
• Skills:
  • A detailed conceptual understanding of the subjects enabling the student to evaluate critically current research and its application and evaluate and critique methodologies used
  • Students will learn the following academic skills: essay writing, literature searching and the use of primary sources, library skills
  • Critical evaluation, an appreciation of diversity in psychology, ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility for their learning
• Credits: 30
• Module Code: PSY7092
• Teaching Period: Autumn
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Core Psychology II

• Overview: This module covers the topics of employability for psychology, conceptual issues in psychology, perception, and developmental psychology.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of psychological theory in an employability context
  • The ability to critically evaluate historical issues, key concepts, and theories as well as empirical evidence and claims in research articles in psychology
  • An advanced understanding of key concepts and theories regarding conceptual and historical issues in psychology
  • An advanced understanding of key concepts and theories of sensory perception
  • A comprehensive understanding and critical awareness of key theories and models explaining typical and atypical psychological development across the life-span
• Skills:
  • During this module, students will obtain certain transferable skills, such as critical evaluation, writing essays, literature reviews, integrating material from different sources, appreciating the application of psychological theories and research
  • In addition, they will acquire skills necessary for preparing for possible careers and the ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility for their learning
• Credits: 30
• Module Code: PSY7091
• Teaching Period: Spring
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Core Psychology I

• Overview: This module develops the topics of social psychology, cognitive psychology, individual differences, and health psychology and psychobiology and animal behaviour.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of key concepts and theories in social psychology
  • Be able to discuss theories and models of human cognition
  • Be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of key concepts and theories in individual differences and health psychology
  • Be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of evolutionary psychology, neurophysiological structures, and applied animal behaviour research
• Skills:
  • Having taken this module, students will show competence in certain transferable skills such as critical evaluation, essay writing, literature search, and the ability to analyse and articulate complex issues at an abstract level
• Credits: 30
• Module Code: PSY7090
• Teaching Period: Autumn
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core