Health Psychology MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
Accredited by British Psychological Society (BPS)1, this course is designed to support you to become a practising Health Psychologist.
Year of entry
2023-24
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Course code
HLST297
Start date
September 2023
Course overview
This course has a strong emphasis on the development and practical application of skills to deploy psychological techniques, explore the latest research, investigate a range of health issues and developments in the field.
- Build upon your undergraduate knowledge and skills, to provide in depth knowledge and understanding of Health Psychology, informed by current scholarship and research, including a critical awareness of different perspectives and current developments within Health Psychology.
- This course supports you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills relevant for working with a range of diverse client groups across the lifespan, with other professionals, in a range of healthcare contexts.
- A focus on real-word application to develop transferrable skills designed to enhance your employability.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- This course is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for Stage 1 Training in Health Psychology1.
- Learn from a highly experienced academic team which includes Health Psychologists and Chartered Psychologists (both BPS registered), and academics with experience in various areas of Health Psychology and have a track record of nationally and internationally published research (staff subject to change).
- A range of expert guest lecturers provide students with insights into practising as Health Psychologists or working in the field of Health Psychology research (subject to availability).
- An exciting and diverse range of assessment methods based on real-world scenarios, practical applications and current health issues.
- Opportunity to support staff research projects and gain experience as a Research Assistant, collaborate with students from other courses in the School of Health and Life Sciences in multidisciplinary team project days, and learn a range of skills such as motivational interviewing, person-centred counselling and implementing behaviour change techniques (all subject to availability).
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

British Psychological Society (BPS) - Accredited Health Psychology
Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the 2023-24 intake. It 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 training.
To be awarded the accredited MSc Health Psychology degree, you must achieve the minimum 50% pass mark for all modules contributing to the accredited MSc Health Psychology degree (BPS Standards for the Accreditation of the Masters Programme in Health Psychology, 2019)
For students who do not pass a piece of coursework (grade below 40%), you will have the opportunity to resit, but any subsequent attempts will be capped at 40%.
Graduates who do not meet the requirement of 50% pass mark across all modules, will exit with a non-accredited award, MSc in Psychological Studies in Health. 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.

Chartered Management Institute
As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute for the 2023-24 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.
Because this course provided me with skills and knowledge directly relevant to the workplace, it helped me progress to the next stage of my career (gaining an Assistant Psychologist post in the NHS). While I received great support from the amazing staff, prepare for a worthwhile challenge!

What you'll study
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 course is designed to inspire and engage you through a range of techniques which encourage interactive learning, by drawing on relevant research and professional practice.
Teaching will be delivered in a number of ways:
- Classroom-based lectures and seminars
- Skills-based interactive workshops
- Group-based seminar activities, such as debates
- Some of the learning will be ‘flipped’ whereby students are provided with lecture materials/learning resources prior to face-to-face sessions in order to free up class time for practical activities and discussion during sessions
- Collaborative learning projects (e.g., we endeavour to provide a yearly Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project (subject to availability), weekly journal club, multidisciplinary team day to explore how knowledge and skills learned on the course are applied in practice).
All modules are supported by Aula (our current virtual learning platform provider) where you can access learning materials, reading lists and other resources. Each module on Aula also has its own discussion board, where you can post questions and interact with staff and other students on the course.
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. 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. Request further information about part-time study.
Teaching contact hours
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 independent study outside of these times.
We encourage our students to think of the course like they would a full-time job and spend around 37 hours on it per week, including teaching time. Part-time students should consider it similar to a part-time job.
You are expected to work roughly 10 hours for each credit on the course including teaching and independent study, so a 20-credit module should take around 200 hours to complete or around a total of 25, eight-hour days.
We are aware that you may have other commitments outside of the MSc (e.g. employment) and we fit teaching into two days of the week to help you to manage multiple commitments. However, this is an intensive and demanding course, so you need to make sure that you are able to fit in full-time (35-40 hours), or part-time studying hours around external commitments. You will be expected to undertake approximately 30 hours of self-directed study each week, as well as attending any live sessions such as lectures and workshops. For example, this could also involve completing the recommended reading that accompanies your lectures, working on coursework assignments, preparing for journal club and taking part in group work..
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.
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 response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/24 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.
Assessment
This course is assessed using a variety of applied and authentic assessment methods such as:
- Designing a behavioural change intervention
- Multi-media presentations (including a conference presentation and a consultant pitch)
- Patient information leaflet
- Mixed methods research paper
- Mini-systematic review
- Empirical project
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.
International experience opportunities2
We endeavour to provide students with a yearly Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project which allows students to network and collaborate with students from an international university (subject to availability). Within the Health Promotion and Behaviour Change module, students will present a health promotion poster-presentation at a behaviour change conference which we will organise with international universities as part of a COIL project (subject to availability).
There may be opportunities to take part in international field trips. For example, previous students have taken part in a trip to Sri Lanka where they had the opportunity to teach at a participating institution, visit hospitals and attended an international psychology conference.
We offer a multicultural, international experience, typically attracting students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and different countries, particularly Malaysia, China, India, Nigeria, Germany and Bulgaria, who may provide global insight and experience.
As a former student on this course, I can say that this course has opened so many doors for me. From developing my skills as a researcher which led to a role as a Research Assistant in a Public Health Department, to developing skills and gaining a qualification as a Smoking Cessation Advisor, the ability to focus on my area of expertise of physical activity, exercise and health, and the opportunity to apply for a PhD where I was given the opportunity to publish my research in a range of national and international journals. This course is an exciting course, filled with opportunities to gain new skills and knowledge with a focus on professional practice.

Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £11,200 | £11,200 in total |
International | £18,600 | 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).
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).
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
As part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, this course will take place at our Coventry University main campus. All sessions will be provided in our Health and Life Science buildings, such as the Alison Gingell Building or the Richard Crossman building.
Specialist teaching facilities4 such as an observation suite, counselling rooms and specialist software, such as OpenSesame experiment builder, E-Prime, SPSS statistical analysis, Pinnacle Studio and NVIVO.
Careers and opportunities
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 lifespan, with other professionals, in a range of healthcare contexts.
- Demonstrate an awareness of global health issues and the importance of cultural sensitivity within healthcare 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.
- To be able to critically evaluate the principles for leading and developing people and a culture of organisational health and wellbeing.
The MSc Health Psychology course fulfils Stage 1 requirements towards becoming a registered Health Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and obtaining Full Membership of the Division of Health Psychology in the British Psychological Society, and seeks to support students in their progression to Stage 2 training, whilst also recognising the relevance of the MSc Health Psychology for working in a range of health settings, for those who may not wish to undertake Stage 2 training. The course supports students’ development of a range of core and transferable skills that are both central to Health Psychology practice and related areas of employment. Knowledge and skills developed on the course can be applied in many different settings including hospitals, local authorities, universities, schools, charities, social enterprises and organisations.
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 Talent Team provide a range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Graduates of the course go 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 apply 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 in a range of different areas such as behaviour change, stress-management interventions and self-management support.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due 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.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. 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.
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