What to expect from a psychology masters at Surrey

Ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction*, our School of Psychology has a range of masters courses that provide a wealth of personal, professional and academic opportunities. Here's what you can expect from a psychology masters course at Surrey.

You’ll develop your professional skills

We host professional skills seminars throughout the semesters to develop your transferable skills and career awareness. Sessions include how to use AI appropriately, top tips for using academic literature, how to pursue a PhD in psychology, and pathways into specific fields of psychology, such as clinical, environmental, and health.

You may have the opportunity to collaborate with a local organisation on your dissertation, which is a great opportunity to showcase the real-world impact of your research. Previous students have collaborated with Surrey County Council and local charities.

We have an excellent track record of graduate employability, with 97% of our psychology masters graduates in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2025, HESA).

The staff are incredibly friendly and supportive with your studies and helping you think about life after graduation. They get you really involved in the research community by hosting seminars where internal and external speakers come to present their research – something that helps you develop your interests and network. George Murrell, Environmental Psychology MSc

You'll 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 give talks on their work and research. We also regularly review our course and module offerings to ensure that what we are teaching is up to date and incorporates advances in the field.

Take a look at our latest news stories to learn more about our academics’ research and visit our Surrey Minds blog on Psychology Today.

You can be actively involved in our research

There is a huge amount of exciting, impactful research being carried out in our School of Psychology and we strive to create an inclusive research culture for students and staff. As a psychology postgraduate student, you’ll have the opportunity to join one of our research groups, where you can discuss research findings and current problems in the field.

Our School also hosts seminars on different areas of psychology, which are free to attend and delivered by experts from Surrey and external guest speakers. Recent topics have included: 

Why habit theory has underperformed and how we can fix it 
Selective roles of sleep in memory across the lifespan 
How friendship groups influence our behaviour.

My experience on this masters really set me up with the tools and skills to succeed with my research, which was featured by the British Dance Sport Association. Nia P, Psychology (Conversion) MSc

You'll benefit from fantastic facilities

Our facilities include an open-plan teaching space, a computer lab with 90 computers and a comfy common room available for all students to use. You'll have access to onsite laboratories for experimental studies, which include neuropsychology and cognitive equipment, and six rooms for VR/XR research. There is also an excellent Baby Lab 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.

Take a virtual tour of our School of Psychology

We've 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 provides excellent conditions for research and teaching. We're also part of the CUBIC centre, which allows access to MRI scanning facilities.

You’ll be part of a well-connected community

You’ll connect with fellow students from countries around the world, of different ages and from different backgrounds. Some of our students are trained professionals, including architects, civil engineers and counsellors, who are studying at Surrey to advance their skills. Others have come straight from an undergraduate course as they look to expand their knowledge after graduating. You’ll get the chance to network with your peers, through School events and on some of our shared modules.

We also host a summer conference for our MSc students as a chance to regroup and connect after finishing the semester and before dissertations are due. Students are invited to return to campus, give presentations on their dissertation, discuss feedback, and socialise – ideally by our lake if the sun is shining!

You’ll also be able to join the Psychology Society which is for anyone interested in the subject, and there is a new Neurotechnology Society. There is also a Postgraduate Society for all students at the University.