Applied Psychology MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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This course provides a comprehensive overview of Clinical, Counselling, Child and Educational Psychology, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to apply psychology within a variety of settings.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time
18-20 months (with professional experience)

Course code

HLST183
HLST184 (with professional experience)

Start date

September 2025

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

Applied Psychology MSc will help prepare you for a range of roles within the fields of applied psychology, including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

  • Develop knowledge of theory and fundamental principles of Clinical, Counselling, Child and Educational Psychology
  • Explore the applications of psychology in a range of settings with real-life scenarios
  • Develop research skills needed to assess and inform evidence-based practice.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • Aimed at graduates who have previously studied psychology and want the opportunity to further their knowledge to an advanced level.
  • Option to follow a ‘professional experience’ opportunity2 route, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
  • Taught by a team of dedicated, experienced professional staff, some of whom have worked as professional psychologists (staff may be subject to change).
  • We offer excellent facilities and equipment such as that for eye-tracking and brain monitoring, the latter using an electroencephalogram (EEG).
  • Opportunity to gain a CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice1, upon successful completion of the relevant module.

MSc with Professional Experience

The MSc with Professional Experience provides you with the opportunity to undertake a six-month professional experience either on or off campus2. Professional experience opportunities (whether within an external company or within the university) are subject to a competitive application and selection process. Such experiences may be paid or unpaid, and this will depend on what is being offered and agreed with the host organisation or university.

Professional experience opportunities are subject to competitive application and selection, will normally be undertaken for three to five days per week for 18-22 weeks over two semesters. If you are not successful in securing professional work experience outside the university, you will have the opportunity to undertake campus-based professional experience, which will deliver similar learning outcomes through supervised projects and activities designed to offer students the opportunity to integrate theory with an understanding of professional practice. Please note that fees for students on the Professional Experience route are higher than the standard fees payable by students on the MSc course without professional experience (see fees section for more information)

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 by the following professional bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.


I have thoroughly enjoyed being an Applied Psychology MSc student. The course has built and expanded my existing knowledge, and provided me with a more applied skillset. The skills from the course, particularly from the counselling psychology module, gave me the confidence on following a long-lasting dream of becoming a mindfulness teacher for which I am currently undertaking a qualification.

Alexandra Negoita, Applied Psychology MSc, quoted in 2021
Students using an electroencephalogram (EEG)

What you'll study

This postgraduate course centres on the study of psychology at an advanced level, incorporating quantitative and qualitative research methods, ethics in psychology, professional practice and areas of applied psychology.

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.


How you'll learn

The Applied Psychology MSc can be studied for 12 months full-time, or ‘with Professional Experience’ for 18 months. This course is taught in groups in lectures, seminars and workshops. You will have the opportunity take part in, design, conduct and analyse the results of psychological experiments, using specialist equipment and computer software.

Where possible, we also invite guest lecturers from professional backgrounds to deliver individual sessions for the applied option modules (subject to availability).

If you choose to study the Applied Psychology with Professional Experience MSc you will also have the opportunity to work one-to-one with an academic supervisor on the professional experience modules.


Teaching contact hours

In a typical teaching week, you will have a minimum of 10 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This generally includes large and small lectures, seminars and workshops.

You can also book 1:1 appointments with your tutor/project supervisor if you would like additional support.

In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 30 hours per week of self-directed study, including completion of course assignments, conducting the research project or completing the internship and reading/note-taking in relation to the weekly lectures/seminars/workshops.

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.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Formal examinations
  • Coursework.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Psychology.

Applicants holding an equivalent professional qualifications and experience will be considered but must have a degree in either psychology or a relevant discipline, with at least 120 credits of psychology.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

For the with professional experience option, please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Psychology.

Applicants holding an equivalent professional qualifications and experience will be considered but must have a degree in either psychology or a relevant discipline, with at least 120 credits of psychology.

For the ‘with professional experience option, please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component area

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £21,250 (with prof. experience)  
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £21,250 (with prof. experience) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £21,250 (with prof. experience) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £21,250 (with prof. experience)  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Facilities include eye-tracking and brain monitoring equipment, the latter using an electroencephalogram (EEG)4.


Careers and opportunities

The specialist focus provided within this course aims to be an ideal springboard for Doctoral programmes in educational or clinical psychology. Alternatively, if you decide you wish to enter professional practice, you always have the option to follow up with a BPS-accredited course and work towards Chartered Psychologist Status (additional fees will apply).

The modules are designed to develop your professional skills and knowledge of ethical guidelines and considerations in psychology, and explore and engage in activities that will develop professional and transferable skills. As such, many of our previous graduates have been able to pursue careers in areas other than psychology, such nursing and teaching.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

On successful completion of this programme, you should be equipped with the skills and knowledge, and in the case of the extended course, substantive professional experience, to enter employment in the health services, public health organisations, local and central government, academia or as assistant psychologists.


How to apply

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