Whether you have recently graduated from your psychology undergraduate degree, or you’ve been working in the field for years, this course equips you with a scientific and theoretical understanding of health psychology.
As well as theory we help you develop your practical skills in clinical workshops. You’ll see those tools and techniques in action during your 100 hours of placement. Our extensive contacts mean we offer a range of options across the NHS, as well as other settings like healthcare companies and charities.
You’ll have the chance to explore a topic in more depth in your research project. It’s a great opportunity to join a research group working on an ongoing study, using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Working in a team gives you a real flavour of academic research as a career.
“We have a core research identity focused around individuals with long term conditions and multimorbidity. We look at how health psychology can support their illnesses. One of the ways this influences the course is our approach to practical clinical skills and developing interventions informed by our research.”
Dr Joe Chilcot, Admissions Tutor
Watch our Open Evening Presentation to find out more about the Health Psychology MSc.
BPS Accreditation
The course is stage 1 accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) who highlighted four areas of particular strength:
1. The opportunity for students to undertake a placement that provides invaluable experiences for students and to gain professional skills which will benefit them in seeking employment.
2. The availability of personal support from the staff and the quality and timeliness of feedback on their assessments.
3. The integration of the course with other health psychology provision and other applied psychologists in the region.
4. Students are well prepared to undertake further professional training (stage 2) in health psychology as a result of their introduction to a range of therapeutic interventions and the process of conducting a systematic review.
Format
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
Health Related Behaviours, Cognitions & Emotions
Lectures (36 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (14 hours) | Self-study time (100 hours)
Psychosocial factors of Chronic Illness and Disability
Lectures (36 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (14 hours) | Self-study time (100 hours)
Psychology and Health Care Delivery
Lectures (36 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (14 hours) | Self-study time (100 hours)
Health Psychology in Action & Professional Development
Lectures (24 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (100 hours) | Self-study time (161 hours)
Basic and Advanced Research Methods and Statistics
Lectures (60 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (20 hours) | Self-study time (350 hours)
Research Project
Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (500 hours) | Self-study time (80 hours)
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Course Assessment
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework and practical work. The study time and assessment methods typically give an indication of what to expect. However, these may vary depending upon the modules.