Five reasons to study for a masters in psychology at Surrey

Our postgraduate psychology courses will provide you with a wealth of personal, professional and academic opportunities. Here are our top five reasons why you should choose Surrey for your postgraduate studies.

Credit: University of Surrey

1. Learn from leading experts in the field

Our academics are research-active in the world of psychology and use their findings to inform their teaching. This means your postgraduate studies will remain current, tackle real problems and address global challenges – so when you graduate, you can apply your knowledge to today’s world.

In addition to our dedicated academics, we host guest lecturers who bring their research into seminars and lectures. We also constantly refresh our curriculum to teach topics that address current societal challenges when applicable.

You will learn a range of advanced methods and techniques in psychology and discover how they are applied to develop knowledge in your field.

2. Benefit from fantastic facilities

Our School has recently undergone a major refurbishment to enhance our environment including an open-plan teaching space, a new computer lab with 90 computers, and a comfy common area available for all students to use. Our courses ensure you have both theoretical and practical experience and our facilities provide you with an interactive workspace.

You'll have access to excellent facilities including the onsite laboratories for biological and cognitive psychology and six rooms for VR/XR research. There is an excellent Babylab with eye-tracking facilities suitable for use with young children and we have two observation labs which can be used for both teaching and research.

We've also recently invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment including eye-trackers, devices for recording physiological measures such as heart rate and skin conductance, brain stimulators, and mobile devices to monitor and alter brain activity to ensure that our School receives excellent conditions for research and teaching. We're also part of the CUBIC centre, which allows access to MRI scanning facilities.

Throughout my studies, I’ve used lots of the psychology facilities and equipment, including the student research laboratories, the observation laboratories and the Computer Laboratory. These have helped me develop my research project and improve my understanding of psychological processes that take place under specific conditions. Michal Frackowiak, Social Psychology MSc

Michal Frackowiak, MSc Social Psychology

3. Join an associated research group

As a psychology postgraduate student, you’ll have the opportunity to join one of our research groups.

We have several groups researching a range of different areas, including:

These groups hold frequent meetings to discuss research and current problems in the field, and their work contributes to research across the globe. As a member, you’ll begin your research journey into the trends and issues affecting the world of psychology today.

4. Take your studies abroad

A selection of our postgraduate courses offer opportunities to acquire valuable European experience by working or conducting research abroad during your degree or shortly afterwards.

Use our online search tool to discover where you could go.

5. Boost your employability and professional skills

100 per cent per cent of our postgraduate psychology students go on to employment or further study*, with many starting or continuing their careers as psychologists and psychoanalysts in organisations such as the Royal Mencap Society, the NHS and in private practices. Our graduates have also gone on to work in a variety of other positions in teaching and marketing, as well as in academia. This includes a community of alumni who’ve chosen to continue their research at Surrey.

Find out more about our postgraduate psychology courses

*Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA