MSc — 2026 entry Psychology (Conversion)

This module provides a foundational introduction to biological psychology. It examines how neuroscientific research informs understanding of brain function, behaviour, and cognition, while requiring students to engage with empirical evidence and scientific communication.The module explores the structure and function of the nervous system across the lifespan, including neural communication, brain organisation, development, ageing, and the biological bases of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Students will engage critically with empirical research in biological psychology and consider how neuroscientific methods are used to investigate brain-behaviour relationships in both typical and atypical functioning.Research methods teaching will introduce key approaches used to measure and study brain function, with an emphasis on the interpretation, evaluation, and communication of neuroscientific evidence. Through the assessment strategy, students will also develop advanced scientific communication skills and critical awareness of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the interpretation and presentation of research.

Social Psychology investigates how our cognitions (thought processes), affective states (feelings and emotions) and behaviours are related to the social world. This module will introduce you to key concepts, theories, methods, and findings in Social Psychology. The course covers core BPS curriculum in social psychology. Through successful completion of this module, students will develop an understanding of Social Psychological topics including: attitudes and behaviours change, social influence, emotions, prejudice and discrimination of minority groups.      

This module equips students with the skills to design and undertake academic research in psychology, in preparation for developing their own dissertations. The module will cover key aspects of research design, including literature review, forming hypotheses, ethical conduct, and study design and methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will propose a study design; implement the study via small-scale data collection and analysis; and present and discuss the findings in an individual research report. 

This module explores key theories, methods, and findings in social and cognitive development across the lifespan. It integrates theoretical understanding with critical evaluation skills, enabling students to analyse and critique developmental research. Through lectures and seminars, students develop the ability to evaluate studies and propose new research, while gaining insight into how development is shaped by social, cultural, and individual differences.

This module covers the core BPS theme of individual differences: the many and varied psychological ways in which humans differ from one another. Specifically, we will discuss and critically evaluate key issues of contemporary significance in the areas of personality, intelligence and psychopathology, synthesising them all together to form a broader understanding of the concept of individual differences as understood by contemporary psychologists. We will also use these principles to better understand the individual differences present in students¿ own lives. Students will write an essay that allows them to apply some of the key individual differences to a real world problem of their choice, and critically evaluate their usefulness in explaining real world issues. This will develop and assess students¿ independence, literature searching and critical thinking skills.

This module will provide an introduction to the major topics and issues within cognitive psychology. This will be done through a series of lectures and research based workshops, which will provide student with an opportunity to integrate their developing knowledge of cognitive psychology with practical skills relating to cognitive research methods.

It is a requirement of the University that taught postgraduate programmes include a dissertation and/or major project module. For this module, students will conduct their own piece of empirical research in an area relevant to their Masters course under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. For the assessment, students will write either a qualitative or mixed-method research report of a comparable length to a published single-study journal article.Overall student workload: 600 hoursThis includes 12 hours of tutor supervision. These hours will include development of theoretical framework, aims and hypotheses, recruiting samples, fieldwork and liaison with key personnel as appropriate, data recording and analysis, interpretation and writing up. Specific times for these subsections cannot be given as they vary from project to project.

The module introduces students to basic statistical theory and critical thinking, building throughout the year towards an intermediate level of understanding of statistical analysis and reporting. It aims to develop students' understanding of statistical methods and foster the skills needed to think critically about psychological research. Teaching involves a combination of theory lectures and practical workshops with real world research examples. Each week, lectures cover a specific statistics or critical thinking topic. This is followed by a workshop that typically focuses on applying and practicing the theoretical content of the preceding lecture. Together, lectures and workshops provide knowledge of statistical analysis and critical thinking from both a theoretical and practical perspective, resulting in a good introduction and grounding in statistical research methods. 

This module equips students with the skills to design and undertake academic research in psychology, in preparation for developing their own dissertations. The module will cover key aspects of research design, including literature review, forming hypotheses, ethical conduct, and study design and methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will propose a study design; implement the study via small-scale data collection and analysis; and present and discuss the findings in an individual research report. 

Social Psychology investigates how our cognitions (thought processes), affective states (feelings and emotions) and behaviours are related to the social world. This module will introduce you to key concepts, theories, methods, and findings in Social Psychology. The course covers core BPS curriculum in social psychology. Through successful completion of this module, students will develop an understanding of Social Psychological topics including: attitudes and behaviours change, social influence, emotions, prejudice and discrimination of minority groups.      

This module explores key theories, methods, and findings in social and cognitive development across the lifespan. It integrates theoretical understanding with critical evaluation skills, enabling students to analyse and critique developmental research. Through lectures and seminars, students develop the ability to evaluate studies and propose new research, while gaining insight into how development is shaped by social, cultural, and individual differences.

This module covers the core BPS theme of individual differences: the many and varied psychological ways in which humans differ from one another. Specifically, we will discuss and critically evaluate key issues of contemporary significance in the areas of personality, intelligence and psychopathology, synthesising them all together to form a broader understanding of the concept of individual differences as understood by contemporary psychologists. We will also use these principles to better understand the individual differences present in students¿ own lives. Students will write an essay that allows them to apply some of the key individual differences to a real world problem of their choice, and critically evaluate their usefulness in explaining real world issues. This will develop and assess students¿ independence, literature searching and critical thinking skills.

This module provides a foundational introduction to biological psychology. It examines how neuroscientific research informs understanding of brain function, behaviour, and cognition, while requiring students to engage with empirical evidence and scientific communication.The module explores the structure and function of the nervous system across the lifespan, including neural communication, brain organisation, development, ageing, and the biological bases of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Students will engage critically with empirical research in biological psychology and consider how neuroscientific methods are used to investigate brain-behaviour relationships in both typical and atypical functioning.Research methods teaching will introduce key approaches used to measure and study brain function, with an emphasis on the interpretation, evaluation, and communication of neuroscientific evidence. Through the assessment strategy, students will also develop advanced scientific communication skills and critical awareness of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the interpretation and presentation of research.

This module will provide an introduction to the major topics and issues within cognitive psychology. This will be done through a series of lectures and research based workshops, which will provide student with an opportunity to integrate their developing knowledge of cognitive psychology with practical skills relating to cognitive research methods.

The module introduces students to basic statistical theory and critical thinking, building throughout the year towards an intermediate level of understanding of statistical analysis and reporting. It aims to develop students' understanding of statistical methods and foster the skills needed to think critically about psychological research. Teaching involves a combination of theory lectures and practical workshops with real world research examples. Each week, lectures cover a specific statistics or critical thinking topic. This is followed by a workshop that typically focuses on applying and practicing the theoretical content of the preceding lecture. Together, lectures and workshops provide knowledge of statistical analysis and critical thinking from both a theoretical and practical perspective, resulting in a good introduction and grounding in statistical research methods. 

It is a requirement of the University that taught postgraduate programmes include a dissertation and/or major project module. For this module, students will conduct their own piece of empirical research in an area relevant to their Masters course under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. For the assessment, students will write either a qualitative or mixed-method research report of a comparable length to a published single-study journal article.Overall student workload: 600 hoursThis includes 12 hours of tutor supervision. These hours will include development of theoretical framework, aims and hypotheses, recruiting samples, fieldwork and liaison with key personnel as appropriate, data recording and analysis, interpretation and writing up. Specific times for these subsections cannot be given as they vary from project to project.