Applied Psychology MSc

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing.

  The MSc Applied Psychology offers six modules, one of which will help you to build on your prior understanding of Research Methods and to apply your methodological expertise to a Masters-level empirical dissertation.

  The modules will consist of both practical and theoretical/critical skills tuition within the field of applied psychology, increasing transferable skills into vocational areas (e.g., educational/work/organisational/social health services, research) as well as providing an academic pathway towards a vocationally based research. This will provide a clear route for both domestic and international students to progress to doctoral research (either academic or clinical).  You will also undertake a professional work-based learning placement to enhance your chances of securing employment after the programme has been completed.

  As the only University in the UK to be awarded Changemaker status, you will be encouraged to engage in projects that are socially impactful, addressing current emotional wellbeing and performance issues within various settings. Areas included within the Changemaker directive such as mental health issues, wellbeing of employers and pupils are explicitly addressed as part of the module content within the three pathway specific modules.

  Module information can be found on the Award Map:

  • MSc Applied Psychology (Positive Psychology)
  • MSc Applied Psychology (Psychology in Business and Organisations)
  • MSc Applied Psychology (Psychology in Education)

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• Entry Requirements

  To meet the standard entry criteria, you are required to hold a minimum of a GCSE ‘C’ Grade (or Internationally recognised equivalent) in Mathematics.

  You should also have completed an Honours degree in Psychology (single/joint honours) of at least 2:2 classification. Due to the use of statistical methods within psychology, you should be able to evidence that you are familiar with the following topics:

  • Means and standard deviations
  • Distributions, hypothesis testing and statistical significance
  • t-tests
  • Correlation coefficients
  • Variables and measurement

  Applicants who do not meet the standard admissions requirements will be required to demonstrate their background knowledge of Psychology and Research Methods by means of an online test in addition to their application and interview.

  All applicants will be invited to a short interview with the Programme Leader, or nominated representative, to establish their suitability for and commitment to the programme, as well as to ensure the programme is appropriate in relation to their career aspirations. This will usually be conducted over the telephone or by Skype.

  Applicants who may intend to conduct work in a setting with individuals classed as vulnerable (e.g., children, individuals suffering from mental health conditions) will need to ensure that they have an up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – 6.5 overall (or equivalent) or the Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English.
    with a score no lower than 6.0 for writing and no remaining band/component below 5.5 for postgraduate study

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  21/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £7,470
  • UK – Part Time: £830 per 20 credits
  • International Full Time: £14,000

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK and EU – Full Time: £7,425
  • UK and EU – Part Time: £825 per 20 credits
  • International – Full Time: £13,750

  Postgraduate Loans

  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 21/22 you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from Student Finance England.

  Scholarships and Bursaries

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Special Features

  Facilities and equipment available:

  • Three dedicated psychology technicians available to support students
  • Six research cubicles
  • Perception lab
  • Observation suite
  • BioPac MP30, MP36 & MP36r: A tool for measuring EEG, ECG, EDA and Respiration.
  • Bitalino smart wearables: enables anyone to create projects for wearable health tracking.
  • SmartBCI 18-channel wireless EEG: An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a device used to measure the electrical activity of the brain. An EEG tracks and records brain wave patterns.
  • Muse EEG: Muse is a wearable brain sensing headband. The device measures brain activity via 4 electroencephalography sensors.
  • Rubber Hand Illusion: The illusion comes on when the real and fake hands are stroked at the same time and speed for a minute or two.
  • HTC Vive VR Headsets: The HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset developed by HTC and Valve Corporation. The headset uses “room scale” tracking technology, allowing the user to move in 3D space and use motion-tracked handheld controllers to interact with the environment.

  Listed below are some of the key tests you can administer within our psychometrics library:

  • Intelligence scales: Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale, Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the Weschler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale x 2
  • Personality measures: NEO Five Factor Inventory & PI-R, Eysenck Personality Scales, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Cattell’s 16PF Form (A&B)
  • Health Psychology Portfolio
  • Mental Health Portfolio
  • Measures of Children’s Mental Health & Psychological Well-Being
  • Child Behaviour Checklist
  • Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking – Verbal/Figural
  • Rorschach test
  • Witkin’s Group Embedded Figures test

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• Experiential Learning Opportunities

  The one-year full time route is suitable for international students and the part-time, two-year programme offers another degree of flexibility. The programme is planned to run on one day a week in addition to the placement hours during two trimesters.

  This postgraduate programme is not seeking BPS accreditation. For individuals interested in pursuing career paths that depend on professionally regulated titles in Psychology and/or BPS Chartership (CPsychol), our MSc Psychology conversion course might be more suitable.

  In accordance with the University of Northampton’s Changemaker status and strategy to “Transform Lives and Inspire Change”, this programme is committed to a set of values designed to develop students to live responsibly; work collaboratively; be resourceful; practice empathy and stay true to their personal values. Integral elements of this curriculum design are the experiential learning opportunities – experiences to help you understand more about the world around you and how this connects to your studies and future. Consequently, you will have the opportunity to meet and network with other inspirational changemakers and people from industry.

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• Research

  The psychology department sits within the Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences. The Centre draws on staff expertise across the social sciences to create specialisms in exceptional experiences & consciousness studies, diversity, community and equality, and health behaviour and prevention.

  Research is supported by national and international funding partners with an emphasis on work that has a direct impact on individuals and their communities, particularly with respect to health and wellbeing. The Centre is intended to support a balanced and sustainable team of committed researchers working collaboratively within a nurturing research culture that gives rise to world-class research in target areas of specialism.

  Our postgraduate students can attend research seminars and become members of our research group.

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• FAQs

  What can I do with a Master’s in Applied Psychology?

  A Master’s degree in Applied Psychology will teach you the knowledge, understanding, and skills you need to work in a broad range of professional context, for example:

  Psychology in Business and Organisations: Private, public and third sectors – Human resources, training & development, personnel management, ergonomics, marketing, customer relations, union representatives

  Psychology in Education: Educational and early years sector – teacher/parent/community support, health & social services, consultancy

  Positive Psychology: Educational sectors, Research and Government agencies, Healthcare facilities, human resources, consultancies/trainers

  The qualifications acquired will also give you the opportunity to continue your studies to Doctoral level, if you wish.

  What is an MSc in Applied Psychology?

  When you complete a Master’s degree in the Applied Psychology programme, you will receive a Master of Science (MSc) degree, which focusses on taking known psychological theories and principles to solve problems being experienced within a wide range of areas in psychology. This is also assessed in form of an independent dissertation project.

  Is the course accredited?

  Although the course is not accredited by the BPS, one of the entry requirements is to have an undergraduate degree in Psychology (joint or single honours). The single honours degree in Psychology is accredited by the BPS and provides you with membership benefits.

  How will I learn?

  Teaching methods used on the Applied Psychology programme include:

  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Work-based learning
  • Blogs
  • Portfolios
  • One-to-one support
  • Private Study
  • Group Work
  • Presentations

  How will I be assessed?

  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Presentations (posters/verbal)
  • Blogs
  • Portfolios
  • Self-reflective work
  • Case Study/Analysis
  • Intervention Proposal
  • Dissertation

  There are no examinations on this course. The Research Methods and Dissertation module supports you in completing a supervised, original and independently undertaken piece of research that is assessed through a 12,000-word dissertation.

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Careers and Employability

Psychology in Business and Organisations

The psychological knowledge and understanding acquired can be applied in a broad range of professional contexts, for example:

Private, public and third sectors – Human resources, training & development, personnel management, ergonomics, marketing, customer relations, union representatives.

Psychology in Education

Educational and early years sector – teacher/parent/community support, health and social services, consultancy.

Positive Psychology

Educational sectors, Research and Government agencies, healthcare facilities, human resources, consultancies/trainers.