Danai Papadaki
Psychology, MRes
Introduction
This MRes degree programme provides you with comprehensive training in the skills required for psychological research. You will attend lectures and participate in hands-on workshops, and complete a research project supervised one-on-one by an academic member of staff.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MRes
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September
The University of Aberdeen has one of the longest established departments of Psychology in the UK with a long tradition of high-quality research training.
The Masters of Research (MRes) course consists of several smaller taught modules and one large research module, lasting for one year of full-time study. The taught courses develop core skills required for research, including reviewing the literature, managing projects, preparing funding applications, disseminating your research through presentations and papers, and communicating with non-academic audiences. There will be training in IT skills, advanced statistics, and sessions on both quantitative and qualitative research design. These are taught using a combination of lectures and workshops, and use frequent assessment and feedback to ensure you develop a deep understanding of the skills and knowledge needed for a successful research career.
A major component of the MRes is the individual research project, supervised by an academic member of staff. These present an opportunity to put the acquired research skills into practice and work with experts in the field to answer cutting-edge questions in psychology. Please see a list of potential research projects that staff are willing to supervise.
What You'll Study
- Stage 1
-
Compulsory Courses
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
-
This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
- Introduction to Postgraduate Process & Professional Research Skills 1 (PS5015)
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15 Credit Points
The initial lectures of this course provide introductory information that is essential for new postgraduate students. The subsequent lectures and assessments develop essential research skills and knowledge such as academic writing, ethics and grant writing.
- IT Skills for Researchers (PS5016)
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15 Credit Points
In order to conduct research in Psychology, students will need to use specialized software and learn some basic programming. This course provides instructive lectures on how to use some of the more widely adopted and useful software suites and programming languages, accompanied by workshops in which students perform PC based exercises to practice their skills.
- Basic Research Methods for Postgraduates (PS5302)
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15 Credit Points
A thorough understanding of common statistical techniques and the ability to apply them is essential to conduct research in Psychology. This course provides lectures on the most important statistical techniques in Psychology accompanied by workshops in which students perform PC based data analysis exercises.
- Critical Review (PS5043)
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15 Credit Points
In this course, students will develop a critical review of the current literature in the area of their thesis project. This is the first step towards completing a professional level piece of research under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
- Stage 2
-
Compulsory Courses
- Professional Research Skills (PS5520)
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15 Credit Points
This course provides lectures on a range of more specific and/or advanced research skills than those provided in Term 1 such as Philosophy of Science and Career Development.
- Advanced Research Methods for Postgraduates (PS5801)
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15 Credit Points
This course covers statistical topics that go beyond the scope of what is normally taught at undergraduate level. The topics covered help researchers surpass the limitations of standard statistical approaches (e.g. NHST).
- Research Communication (PS5560)
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15 Credit Points
In this course, students will develop research dissemination skills and present the research project they are conducting under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
- What can Qualitative Psychology Tell US About People? (PS5566)
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15 Credit Points
You will learn how different qualitative methodologies can enhance our understanding of people. This course will cover a wide range of methodologies and their different applications, including discursive analysis, grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, ethnography but also theory-based analysis and framework analysis. Lectures will be semi-flipped, in that you will be asked to do some reading beforehand, which will be the basis for interactive elements within the lecture.Note that some of the research articles included are on topics that may be sensitive, e.g., grief, suicide and eating disorders.
Optional Courses
course added
- Stage 3
-
Compulsory Courses
This course runs over the whole session.
Assessment: By a combination of written examination and course work, as prescribed for each course. In addition, MRes candidates must must submit a dissertation on their project, and will be required to undergo oral examination.
- Research Project for Postgraduate Students in Psychology (PS5060)
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60 Credit Points
A major component of the MRes is the Research Module. For this, students complete their own research project supervised by a member of staff who is an expert in the relevant field. They also attend departmental seminars and present their research at a postgraduate psychologia.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page. In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| UK | |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | £11,100 |
| Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year | £11,100 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year (University of Aberdeen Graduates *) | £7,000 |
| Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (University of Aberdeen Graduates *) | £7,000 |
| EU / International students | |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | £26,250 |
| Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year | £26,250 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *) | £18,250 |
| Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *) | £18,250 |
Funding Opportunities
Alumni Discount Scheme - we are pleased to offer a 20% discount for postgraduate tuition fees to all alumni who have an undergraduate degree from University of Aberdeen.
Please note that the Aberdeen Alumni Discount cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other scholarship award.
Scholarships
All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Teaching consists of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes. A lot of research training is through hands-on learning by designing and running studies and analysing data in close coordination with supervisors. Most of the teaching proceeds in small groups, allowing for individual support and feedback. The research project is guided by individual meetings with the supervisor. A further member of staff, the assessor, will provide feedback on all assessments related to the research module.
You can supplement your required courses with a wide range of other courses and skills training sessions offered by the University of Aberdeen. Being part of an active and collaborative research unit means you are also welcome at our many informal seminars, research meetings, and workshops.
Learning Methods
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Assessment Methods
Assessment includes weekly worksheets, small projects, essays, exams, oral ad poster presentations, and a final thesis reporting your research project.
Why Study Psychology?
- You will be introduced to state-of-the-art research concepts and theories taught by award-winning teachers and world-class researchers, exposing you to the latest thinking in the field.
- You will benefit from the key research strengths within the School of: social psychology, neuroscience, language, perception & attention and cognitive psychology.
- A major focus of the MRes is in designing and running a unique research project to a professional level and working closely with an academic supervisor. Many of our MRes projects have been published in internationally renowned journals.
- You will have the opportunity to gain experience using specialised laboratories and equipment including those for brain imaging, eye movement recording, movement analysis and visual neuroscience.
- You will learn skills in communication, analysis, statistics and critical thinking which will be an excellent preparation for a future career in research.
- To help you get a job we have an employability programme for our students which includes online resources, career talks and networking events.
- The MRes in Psychology is recognized as compliant with the UK Economic and Social Research Council training guidelines, and the school is a member of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science.
- Founded over 100 years ago, the School of Psychology at Aberdeen is one of the oldest in the UK.
What Our Students Say
Pauliina Vuorinen
Andreea-Iona Dragusin
Natasha Dore
Entry Requirements
View the list of potential projects and staff research interests on our School website to select areas of research which interest you. You should specify in your personal statement three members of academic staff that you might be interested in doing a research project with during the MRes. Note that this does not commit you or the School to carrying out a project with these particular supervisors. You are welcome to contact potential supervisors during the application process to find out more about their research interests. You do not need to prepare a research proposal at this stage.
A list of staff and their research interests and example projects can be found on our School website.
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
A 2:1 degree in Psychology or a cognate discipline.
Please check our International student pages for country or territory-specific requirements.
Please enter your country or territory to view relevant entry requirements.
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Eligibility details and further information are available on our dedicated page.
Aberdeen Global ScholarshipEnglish Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
- Reference
- a reference letter from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time you may wish to use your current or most recent employer, or another professional person
Careers
This programme provides an excellent platform for those students wanting to pursue a career in psychological research, particularly those wishing to study towards a PhD. The transferrable skills included in the MRes programme would also be useful for careers in other fields. Potential careers for MRes Psychology graduates include human factors, industrial research, data science and business administration. Many employers seek psychology graduates as people with an understanding of human behaviour and knowledge of data processing.
Career Opportunities
- Industrial Researcher
What our Alumni Say
Silke Jensen
Laura Prosser
Our Experts
The School of Psychology provides an exciting and vibrant research environment. Our degrees are taught by a range of experts across our 3 research themes, Cognition, Perception and Attention and Social Cognition.
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Joost Rommers
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Facilities
Psychophysiology Centre
This facility consists of several spacious rooms that house electroencephalographic (EEG) equipment and sound-attenuated, shielded testing booths.
Eye Tracking Facilities
The School of Psychology has four in-house eye trackers. The Eyelink 1000 system allows the recording of eye gaze at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz.
Sir Duncan Rice Library
The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.
Find out moreGet in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX