Psychology MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
Lady with short hair writing on a whiteboard

This Psychology MSc – available to study on-campus or 100% online - could be your entry point into a career as a professional psychologist, even if your first degree isn’t in psychology.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)
100% online study

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course code

On-campus - HLST236
Online - HLST237

Start date

September 2023
January 2024

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Ask a question

Course overview

The on-campus course starts in September, the online course starts in January.

Accredited1 by the British Psychological Society (BPS), this is a specialist conversion course designed for non-psychology graduates who wish to pursue a career as a psychologist.

You will be given the chance to gain an insight into behaviour from a variety of perspectives in the core fields of cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, history and philosophy of psychology, individual differences, biological and social psychology.

  • Opportunity to gain a thorough grounding in core psychological theories and methodologies, as well as their origins, history and development.
  • Aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding and application of psychological theory and research, you will explore qualitative and quantitative research methods to help you conduct your own empirical research project.
  • You will have the opportunity to build the knowledge and skills necessary to fully appreciate the depth and breadth essential to the study of psychology, encompassing traditional and contemporary psychological models, theories, and methodologies.
Hand selecting a user icon in a coloured circle.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

Successful completion confers eligibility for students to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS1, which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

  • Some of the specialist modules allow us to look at how psychology is applied in specific contexts. For example, the ‘Applying Psychology’ module considers its impact within the modern-day world – in areas such as counselling, clinical, forensic, educational, work, and health psychology.
  • We place a significant emphasis on professional research methods, providing you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in planning, carrying out, analysing, and writing about research in applied psychology. You should gain a sophisticated awareness of problems, issues, and ethics in applied research in psychology. You will also have the chance to conduct several practical research exercises and will produce an extensive piece of independent research that combines your interests and your supervisor’s expertise.
  • Our innovative teaching and learning incorporate numerous active learning methods to encourage your participation and deepen your understanding of specific subjects. 91% of students found our Psychology courses intellectually stimulating in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021.
  • You will be taught by our highly respected and experienced course team, which includes Chartered Members and Associate Fellows of the BPS. Many are research active, and their teaching excellence has been recognised as Associate Fellows, Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Recent staff projects have included expectancy and placebo effects in alcohol and other drugs, psychometric test development and validation, analysing personality traits and coping styles in UK police officers and the varieties of developmental dyslexia in Greek children. Please note staff may be subject to change.
  • You will also have the opportunity to gain a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice upon successful completion of the Leading and Creating Organisational Health and Wellbeing module and meeting the CMI learning outcomes.
  • A global top 300 university for Psychology according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

The British Psychological Society

British Psychological Society (BPS)

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the 2022/23 intake and upon successful completion confers eligibility to apply for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Graduates must achieve a 50% average for all modules contributing to the accredited MSc Psychology Conversion degree (BPS Standards for the Accreditation of the Masters Programme in Psychology). Graduates who do not meet this requirement will exit with a non-accredited award. To achieve the necessary number of credits for all awards (accredited and non-accredited), graduates must achieve the necessary 40% pass mark for all modules contributing to the award.

This course is currently undergoing a periodic review. Following any changes that are made to improve the course, we will apply for re-accreditation for 23/24 entrants. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

CMI 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 for the 2022-23 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.

What you'll study

This one-year conversion course is designed to give you the chance to have an intensive but rewarding journey through each semester as we cover the key approaches to psychology and explore practical research skills in your journey towards producing your own independent research project. Additionally, this course includes a CMI Professional Development module. Each of the participating postgraduate courses have an individually tailored version of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Professional Development module. Please see Accreditation and professional recognition section.

Modules

  • The focus of the module is designed to give you the chance to gain direct practical experience of how to design, conduct and report psychological research with specific focus on an experimental methodology. The module will progress from exploring the conceptual understanding that is necessary to develop research proposals, through the practical considerations involved in the design and implementation of research designs, to exploring the skills and knowledge required to summarise, analyse, and present research findings.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to explore the inter-relationship between behaviour and biological processes. We review basic principles of nervous and endocrine system structure and function before considering specific areas of interest to the biological psychologist such as the role of sleep, the nature of addiction, behavioural genetics, and pain.

    Compulsory

  • This module examines psychological development from the pre-natal period through to adolescence drawing on key theoretical concepts and research findings. You will be encouraged to develop your critical evaluation skills and to develop a critical understanding of modern developmental psychology. An emphasis will be placed on the application of developmental psychological theory to applied settings and real-world issues such as education and the identification of developmental problems and the development of interventions to help children with developmental problems.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of the module is to introduce you to the historical and philosophical issues which provide a context for the modern study of psychology. The module outlines the field of psychology from its origins in the philosophy and the natural sciences of the 18th century through to the perspectives and sub-disciplines of psychology as a modern, scientific, and applied discipline.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of the module is to enable you to conceive a topic for dissertation, conduct background literature reviews on this topic, and develop a complete and approved proposal including consideration of ethics for your research dissertation.

    Compulsory

  • The dual aim of this module is to provide you with a firm grounding in qualitative and non-experimental methods and techniques commonly used in applied psychology. The module will focus on encouraging you to develop a critical knowledge and understanding of different selected qualitative designs and analytical approaches used in applied psychology research. To this end, you should learn how to analyse, report, interpret and write-up qualitative research in line with the BPS code of ethical conduct. The second aim of the module is to provide you with the opportunity to gain a critical appreciation of correlational designs, psychometric scale development, reliability and validation processes, and regression-based techniques utilised in contemporary psychology research.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to develop your understanding of key cognitive processes such as memory, language, attention, and problem-solving. Contemporary research and theory will be considered, and you will be encouraged to develop evaluative and critical thinking skills when considering this. An emphasis will be placed on exploring how cognitive psychological theory can be applied in everyday settings.

    Compulsory

  • This module is designed to give an in-depth exploration of applied topics in social psychology. You will consider and explore both the traditional and critical philosophies underlying contemporary social psychological research and a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives. You will be encouraged to develop your critical evaluation skills and to develop a critical understanding of modern social psychology.

    Compulsory

  • The main aims of this module are: to introduce you to a selection of applied areas in psychology; to include various psychological theories as they are applied to the area and examples of types of research that are appropriate to those areas; and to provide career information surrounding professional practice in those areas. Within each area, you will explore issues of current interest in the field and will have the opportunity to develop skills which would be useful to a psychologist practising in the field. Applied areas presented may vary from year to year according to the expertise available within the department but may include occupational psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, educational psychology, clinical psychology, counselling psychology and developmental psychology.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to focus attention on the role of the individual within the study and development of psychology. The module integrates your previous psychological knowledge by explaining the nature of the developed individual as seen from various perspectives. These perspectives include the psychoanalytic, behavioural, cognitive, biological, and humanistic. You will also summarise and attempt to measure human psychological characteristics and cover the main areas of theory, research and debate concerning individual differences. Finally, you will investigate the philosophical implication of these attempts by questioning the original scientific paradigm of psychologists involved in attempting such measurement and explanation.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this project is to engage you in supervised, but independently undertaken, empirical research at an advanced level. You will be encouraged to integrate and practice the skills acquired during the course and to investigate in depth at master’s level an area of specific interest to you. Additionally, you will be expected to demonstrate a critical and evaluative understanding of the research process including the ethics, issues, and problems in conducting empirical research in psychology.

    Compulsory

  • The modules cultivate the development of practical skills and attributes expected of post-graduates and demanded by employers across all business sectors. They have been created to demonstrate a contemporary reflection of management challenges that postgraduate students are likely to face as they complete their studies to enter the world of work, enabling students to become “work ready” graduates with professional skills and behaviours for professional practice. The modules are contemporary in content and endeavour to create opportunities for students to focus on current issues and explore emerging themes.

    Compulsory

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.

Teaching psychology at Coventry University has been the most gratifying life experience. Students love learning about different aspects of human behaviour and can connect their daily lives with the subject area. I have a particular interest and expertise in mindfulness and mental wellbeing. My teaching philosophy surrounds incorporating various elements of the ancient and modern mindfulness movement so that we can achieve the highest learning and life satisfaction.

Dr. Chetak Nangare, Lecturer in Psychology, Mindfulness and Compassion, 2022
Chetak Nangare leaning against a seat

How you'll learn

The on-campus course starts in September, the online course starts in January.

On-campus

The on-campus full-time route typically requires two days' attendance per week over one year, and the part-time route requires one day of attendance per week over two years.

This course is taught using a mixture of lectures, small group seminars and practical 'hands-on' skills workshops. Core course content will be delivered during the interactive lectures, while the associated seminars and workshops offer opportunities for you to explore topics more independently, receive guidance on coursework assignments, begin to apply your knowledge and develop your academic and transferrable skills.

We consciously embrace a variety of learning styles, using PowerPoint lecture notes, videos and media clips, discussion-based group work and student-led presentations. You will often be provided with recommended reading materials to engage with prior to, and outside of teaching sessions, such as book chapters, journal articles or other web resources. Student reps work collaboratively with the course director and the students are a part of a supportive social group. Where possible, we endeavour to highlight the many different applied areas of psychology, with past students hearing from an ex-police hostage and crisis negotiator from West Midlands Police, as well as educational and forensic psychologists (subject to availability). You are allocated a personal tutor who helps not just with personal but also long-term career aspirations.

Explore our campus

Online

The online course is studied part-time over two years.

This course is taught using a mixture of online pre-recorded lectures and workshops and practical, 'hands-on' skills activities. Core course content will be delivered during the lectures, while the associated workshop activities offer opportunities for you to explore topics more independently, receive guidance on coursework assignments, begin to apply your knowledge and develop your academic and transferrable skills. Staff also offer optional group and one-to-one drop-in sessions hosted online.

We consciously embrace a variety of learning styles, using PowerPoint lecture notes, videos and media clips and discussions through online forums. You will often be provided with recommended reading materials to engage with prior to, and outside of teaching sessions, such as book chapters, journal articles or other web resources.

How online learning works

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

On-campus

On the full-time route, your 'face-to-face' teaching will take place two days per week over one year, with one day per week over two years on the part-time route. In addition, you will be expected to undertake further self-directed study each week, for example, completing the recommended reading that accompanies your lectures, working on coursework assignments, taking part in group work and exam revision.

Feedback from previous participants suggests full-time students should expect to spend up to five full days a week studying (including teaching) and about half of this for part-time.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

Online

This online course has been designed specifically to allow you to study when it is convenient for you. The materials should be available any time of the day or night4. The course material is presented online and contains interactive activities, such as student discussion forums and presentations and other formats. In addition, you will be expected to undertake further self-directed study each week, for example, completing the recommended reading that accompanies your lectures, working on coursework assignments, taking part in group work and exam revision.

Feedback from previous participants suggests students should expect to spend up to 2.5 days a week studying including teaching.

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.

In response to COVID-19, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 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 will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Essays
  • Practical reports
  • Multiple choice tests
  • A test development exercise
  • Case study
  • Presentation
  • Annotated bibliography

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 2023/24 entry.

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

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

Chat with us

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

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.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

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.

Chat with us

Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £11,200   Request fee information
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).

  • 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, the on-campus course will take place at our Coventry University main campus4. Some lessons may be provided in our Health and Life Science buildings, such as the Alison Gingell Building or the Richard Crossman building which hold a range of innovative teaching rooms.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

The Library

The Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops within the library.

Beautiful building surrounded by trees on a sunny day

Jaguar Centre

Our refurbished Jaguar Centre has been specifically designed to provide facilities and services to support our postgraduate students including: social spaces, computer suites and separate areas for small group study.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to: The Health and Wellbeing Centre, The Spirituality and Faith Centre, The Tank Studio, The Careers and the Enterprise Hub.

Careers and opportunities

The course confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) Membership with the British Psychological Society, which forms part of the first stage training requirements in becoming a Chartered Psychologist, upon successful completion of the course.

On successful completion of this course, you will have:

  • A comprehensive and critical understanding of psychology as a discipline (i.e., the core areas and their inter-relatedness, diversity, historical origins, theories, debates and concepts, development, and limitations)
  • A critical approach to the identification, analysis, and evaluation of psychological research evidence and theory (i.e., psychological literatures)
  • A critical understanding of psychological research paradigms, research methods, data analyses, and the ability to work professionally and ethically, culminating in the successful execution of an independent psychology research project
  • A critical understanding of how psychology can be applied to global, real-world questions, situations, and contexts for the benefit of wide-reaching communities
  • A range of transferable skills including, but not necessarily limited to, working independently and within teams, numerical and reasoning skills, digital literacy, communicating effectively in a variety of media to different audiences with scientific argument and sensitivity, appropriate self-management strategies to organise time and workloads
  • To critically evaluate the principles for leading and developing people and a culture of organisational health and wellbeing.

Psychology is used professionally in all areas of life, from education and health to the economy and crime. Psychologists help people of all ages – from young children to teenagers, adults, and the elderly. They support people facing a wide range of circumstances, from the bereaved to those made redundant, victims of crime to the mentally ill.

There are two stages to becoming a Chartered Member of the BPS, requiring a combination of professional education and practice, during which you will choose to specialise in a particular area such as clinical psychology or educational psychology.

In the first instance, you need the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is achieved by completing a conversion course like this if you do not already hold an accredited undergraduate degree. The next stage will involve professional practice and may require further master’s study, depending on the field of psychology you wish to follow. Detailed guidance is available on the BPS website.

Where our graduates work

Our postgraduate degree may open the doors to a variety of positions. Past graduates have gone to work in teaching, human resources, management, and a children’s hospital school, also as a performance analyst, psychological wellbeing practitioner, human rights investigator and child development advisor. Others have chosen to become a trainee educational psychologist, trainee forensic psychologist, trainee clinical psychologist on Doctoral programmes, pursue a PhD and further their academic career as a lecturer or research assistant.

How to apply

  • 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.

You may also like

Coventry University (Coventry) Male student sat in front of shelf of books

Applied Psychology MSc
Coventry University (Coventry) male student sitting in front of a shelf of books

Business and Organisational Psychology MSc
Coventry University (Coventry) Male student sat in front of a shelf of books

Health Psychology MSc

Your next steps

Student life
Accommodation
Fees and funding