Overview
Accredited by British Psychological Society (BPS) for the 2020/21 intake, this course is designed to help you become a practising health psychologist. Upon successful completion of the course you will have completed stage one training - the first step towards Chartered Membership with the BPS and registration as a health psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (registration fees payable to the HCPC and BPS apply). Successful completion of the course will enable you to use your knowledge and skills to deploy psychological techniques to a range of healthcare scenarios to promote physical health and general wellbeing, and to improve patient outcomes.
You’ll be taught by our highly experienced course team, which includes staff who have worked in a variety of settings as practitioners and/or researchers in areas such as pain management and the management of long term conditions, smoking cessation, public health, clinical health psychology and community health (please note staff may be subject to change).
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
British Psychological Society (BPS) - Accredited Health Psychology
Accredited by the British Psychlogical Society (BPS)*
This course is currently accredited by the BPS and is recognised as Stage 1 training towards becoming a qualified Health Psychologist. Upon graduating with this accredited award you will be eligible to apply to Stage 2 (doctoral level) training.
To be awarded an accredited degree, graduates must achieve a minimum of 50% pass mark on first attempt for all modules contributing to the accredited MSc degree (British Psychological Society Standards for the Accreditation of the Masters Programme in Health Psychology, October 2017). Any subsequent attempts are capped at 40%. Graduates who do not meet this requirement will exit with a non-accredited award. To achieve the necessary number of credits for all non-accredited awards, graduates must achieve a minimum of 40% pass mark for all modules contributing to the award.
The course includes the Entrepreneurship module, accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Please visit the CMI website for full details on the CMI accreditation.
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules, but is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to these modules, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Our Facilities
Hospital Wards
We have two fully-equipped mock hospital wards, each containing 4 beds. The wards are built to NHS standards and contain moveable beds, first aid equipment and patient monitoring tools.
Ambulance
Our facilities include a mock ambulance, which students can use as part of their studies, to help simulate the patient journey. This gives students the opportunity to learn in situations that mirror real life scenarios.
Strength and Conditioning Suite
Our multi-purpose suite is equipped with multiple Olympic lifting platforms, a 20m gait analysis track, an anti-gravity treadmill and even a 3D motion capture system!
Course information
The MSc Health Psychology at Coventry University builds on your undergraduate knowledge and skills to provide an in-depth understanding of health psychology. Used in a range of applied settings, health psychology helps promote healthier lifestyles (e.g. supporting people to lose weight or stop smoking), helps people to live well with long term conditions (e.g. self-manage their diabetes appropriately) and to improve the healthcare system (e.g. advise doctors about better ways to communicate with patients).
Course Specification
Download PDF
Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
Developed with a focus on future employability, this course places emphasis on teaching of health psychology as it is applied in real-world situations. For example, the development of public health intervention and effective communication to appropriate audiences, such as patients or medical professionals.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain a thorough grounding in the core psychological theories, themes, issues and practical skills that are central to the practice and application of psychological research into behaviour relevant to health, illness and health care. We also host an exciting programme of guest speakers (subject to availability) to keep you abreast of the latest developments and trends, which have recently included PhD students, public health consultants, epidemiologists, researchers and therapists.
- A focus on real-world application to develop transferable skills designed to enhance your employability
- Highly-experienced academics with expertise in a range of areas including mindfulness, psychosocial aspects of illness, infant feeding, LGBT health, critical and community health psychology (please note staff may be subject to change)
- Expert guest lecturers which in the past have included practising health psychologists and health psychology researchers (subject to availability)
- A diverse range of assessment methods based on real-world scenarios
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology to support your learning and research (subject to availability)
- Opportunities to attend international field trips.Please note that we are unable to guarantee any international field trip opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Our main study themes are:
- Research and research methods: Develops your ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research of relevance to health psychology. You will have the opportunity to gain appropriate skills and capabilities to collect and analyse data, using a range of techniques and research methods.
- Contexts and perspectives in health psychology: You will have the opportunity to learn about historical and current theories and approaches in health psychology, as well as an awareness of related disciplines, such as medical sociology, medical ethics, behavioural medicine, public health, health policy and health economics.
- Physiological and psychosomatic disease processes: Builds a fundamental understanding of the physiology of health and illness, to appraise and evaluate evidence relating to the epidemiology of health and illness, including acute and long-term conditions, stress and psychoneuroimmunology.
- Client groups and other stakeholders: Provides the knowledge and skills to progress to working with a range of client groups. This encompasses cross-cultural perspectives (e.g. those relating to ethnicity or religion); sex and gender differences; children and the role of the family in health and illness; and death, dying and bereavement. We also aim to cover how you may work with other professionals, exploring leadership and the role of collaborative working.
- Health-related behaviour and cognitions: Enables you to critically evaluate theoretical models of health-related behaviour and cognitions. This should include: health enhancing and compromising behaviours; efficacy and control beliefs; attributions; health beliefs and attitudes; social representations of health and illness; symptom and risk perception; and decision-making by health psychologists, patients/clients. We will also examine the ways that factors such as personality, health literacy and emotional intelligence impact on these.
- Interventions: applications of health psychology: You will have the opportunity to learn to compare and contrast a range of interventions applicable to health psychology settings and health and well-being outcomes, for example, cognitive-behavioural approaches and motivational interviewing. We should cover: health needs assessment; the process of formulation, based on assessment, which informs choice of intervention; management of acute and long-term conditions; behavioural change techniques; and health education and promotion.
- Healthcare and professional settings: You will have the opportunity to learn about the skills needed to work in a range of health settings, including appropriate use of communication and interviewing skills, such as development of rapport and trust, questioning, reinforcement, reflection of content and feeling, and non-verbal communication. We also examine the impact of a range of situations - such as hospitalisation - on adults and children and preparation for stressful medical procedures.
- Measurement issues: You will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of psychometric issues and how to administer psychometric tests relating to the development of outcome measures for acute and long-term conditions, stress and coping, health-related quality of life and other psychological outcome measures .
- Professional issues:You will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own professional development, be aware of the legal, statutory and ethical obligations and restrictions on health psychology practice in the UK context.
This course can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years, normally attending university two days a week (full-time) or one day a week (part-time), starting in September. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please contact ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk for more information about studying this course part-time.
The course is designed to inspire and engage you through a range of techniques which encourage lively, interactive learning, and by drawing on relevant research and professional practice. Teaching will be delivered in a number of ways through a mixture of classroom-based lectures, workshops and seminar activities including group work and debates. Some of the learning may be ‘flipped’ whereby you view a lecture online to free up class time for practical activities, classroom discussion and debate.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include: designing a behavioural change intervention, multi-media presentations, a reflective portfolio, a mini-systematic review and an empirical dissertation.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Synthesise and critically evaluate theory and evidence relevant to health psychology
- Apply a range of research methods applicable to advanced scholarship in health psychology and awareness of ethical issues
- Self-reflect on professional development and be aware of legal and ethical obligations involved in practicing health psychology
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills relevant for working with a range of diverse client groups across the life-span, with other professionals, in a range of health care contexts
- Demonstrate an awareness of global health issues and the importance of cultural sensitivity within health care and other professional contexts
- Understand applications of health psychology and have a critical awareness of issues relevant to psychological assessment and interventions
- Apply health psychology in innovative and creative ways, including the use of digital technologies
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of entrepreneurship and the theories and practices of strategic leadership
Teaching will normally take place over 2 days per week (full-time) and 1 day per week (part-time), however you will be expected to undertake additional study outside of these times. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake approximately a further 30 hours of self-directed study each week. For example this could involve completing the recommended reading that accompanies your lectures, working on coursework assignments, taking part in group work and exam revision.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
We offer a multicultural, international experience attracting students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and different countries, particularly Malaysia, China, India, Nigeria, Germany, Bulgaria, who provide global insight and experience.
There may be opportunities to take part in international field trips (subject to an additional cost and availability) which is supported by the University’s Centre for Global Engagement. For example, previous students have taken part in a trip to Sri Lanka where they had the opportunity to teach at a partner institution, visit hospitals and attended an international psychology conference.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any study abroad opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
International experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Course essentials - additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas. This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment or materials.EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
Knowledge and skills developed on successful completion of the course can be applied in many different settings including hospitals, local authorities, universities, schools, charities, social enterprises and organisations.
Where our graduates work
Graduates of the course have gone on to a range of positive destinations including further study such as Stage 2 (doctoral-level) training in health psychology, PhD study or a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Others have applied their skills in a range of roles such as Health Improvement Advisor, Wellbeing Practitioner, Workplace Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Healthy Lifestyle coach, Public Health Practitioner and Research Assistant/Fellow.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
