School of Psychology

Programme summary for MSc Psychology

About

• UEL is recognised as one of the UK’s leading modern universities and is among the top ten post-1992 universities in the UK for research. The university was also ranked Number 1 for all UK universities for the amount spent on facilities per student by The Times University Guide in 2007.
• The School of Psychology at UEL has a long tradition of excellent teaching and research. Six broad research groups exist: Applied & Professional Psychology Research Group; Brain, Cognition & Behaviour Research Group; Critical Psychology Research Group; Developmental Research Group; Health & Social Psychology Research Group; and Psychology Learning & Teaching Research Group.
• Our School of Psychology offers postgraduate programmes in all main areas of professional applied psychology (it was the first department of psychology in the UK to develop a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology) and therefore benefits from extensive expertise across a range of related areas.
• Students have an opportunity to participate in innovative research with specialists in their fields as part of their research dissertation.
• Its London location and the flexibility of both modes of study (full-time or part-time) and points of entry (either Semester A in September or Semester B in February) meets the differing needs of the diverse types of students applying for postgraduate education.

Structure

This is a programme that can be completed either full-time or part-time. It may be possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period. In Semester A, the modules on offer are Research Methods and Cognitive Psychology & Psychobiology whilst in Semester B, Social Psychology & CHIPS (Conceptual & Historical Perspectives in Psychology) and Developmental Psychology & Personality/Individual Differences are taught. Students wishing to obtain a Masters qualification will then be required to undertake an independent research project in the semester following completion of the core modules; if this occurs at the end of Semester B, the project can take place during the summer period whilst if it occurs at the end of Semester A, the project can take place during the following Semester B.

The programme offers three intermediate awards. A Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology is awarded following successful completion of 60 Level M credits. A Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology with Empirical Project is awarded for achieving 120 Level M credits for the following four modules: Research Methods, Cognitive Psychology & Psychobiology, Social Psychology & CHIPS (Conceptual & Historical Perspectives in Psychology), and Developmental Psychology & Personality/Individual Differences. The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (with Empirical Project) will only be available to those students who have 60 or more Psychology credits in their previous degree and do not want to undertake the final MSc research project. To obtain this qualification, in addition to the four core modules listed above, students will need to complete a Level 3 independent research project worth 20 credits.

Career

The Masters in Psychology can be used in a variety of ways. For some careers (e.g. clinical psychology, educational psychology or counselling psychology), an accredited qualification in Psychology is a prerequisite for entry onto professional training programmes. For others (e.g. occupational psychology) the qualification can be used towards eventual Chartership in the field.

Those students who find the academic side of psychology more appealing will be ideally placed to apply for research positions following completion of their comprehensive empirical project. This can therefore be used as a stepping stone to a research doctorate.

Finally, the skills gained through studying psychology are transferable to a wide range of professional careers.

Support

• On joining the programme you will take part in a relevant and comprehensive Induction programme to help you settle in.
• Students are allocated a personal tutor who can provide support to address learning queries and discuss any issues affecting progress.
• The programme operates a genuine open door policy, which means that members of staff, including module tutors, programme leader and dissertation supervisor are accessible to students and can be contacted through UELPlus and email.
• There are substantial learning, library and research resources accessible on and off campus.
• Lectures and seminars are accompanied by comprehensive lecture notes, handouts and on-line materials, accessible from your home or work place.
• The campus provides computer and experimental labs.
• You will receive training in appropriate research methods, enabling you to develop your research skills and apply these in a variety of settings.
• You will have a dedicated dissertation supervisor who is familiar with the topic area and is there to guide and support you during the specialist research stage.
• Specialist support (e.g. financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is available from Student Services. The University also has disability and dyslexia advisors.

Admission

• An undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent)
• Previous qualifications can be in any discipline and therefore do not need to be in an area of science. (NB: Due to professional body regulations, students cannot enter the programme with AEL or ACL credits). The option of taking the PG Dip ‘(with empirical project)’ is only available to those with at least 60 prior credits in Psychology – see below”
• Students of all backgrounds, irrespective of age, gender or cultural background are encouraged to apply.
• In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

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