Psychological Studies, MSc

Psychological Studies, MSc

Introduction

The MSc Psychological Studies programme is designed to introduce graduates from other disciplines to the study of psychology, as a first step to pursuing a career in this area.

**Please note that there will be no 2024 intake for MSc Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology**

Study Information

Study Options

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MSc
Duration
12 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
September or January
Location of Study
Aberdeen

Psychologists study the full range of influences that affect behaviour, from the biological to the social. They also study how we perceive our environment; how we think, learn and remember; how we communicate and interact with others; how we differ from one another in personality and abilities; and how these change and develop throughout our lifetimes.

The MSc Psychological Studies will introduce you to the study of psychology and provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in psychology or in other areas where a scientific understanding of human behaviour is important. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in an area of psychology best suited to your interests or career aspirations, by choosing from a range of elective courses, some of which can be studied online, including mental health and organisational psychology.

Completion of this Psychological Studies conversion programme could act as the first step to a professional career in psychology and will open up various options to you. Completion of a further 1-year masters programme in a specialist area such as health psychology or occupational psychology will enable you to pursue these specialist career paths. Alternatively, you may wish to use the conversion qualification as means to gain a BPS accredited qualification or as the basis for a career in the many areas where a knowledge of human behaviour is beneficial. You may be interested in pursuing a research career in psychology and may choose to go on to complete an MRes in Psychology as the first step to a PhD.

Available Programmes of Study

MSc

Psychological Studies

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen More
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More

Psychological Studies with Organisational Psychology

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen More
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More

Psychological Studies with Mental Health

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen More
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More

Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen More
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More

Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programme(s) above.

We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Fee Information

Additional Fee Information

  • Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.

Funding Opportunities

Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.

Scholarships

Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.

How You'll Study

A variety of teaching methods are used, including lectures, tutorials, group work and practicals.

The course also makes the most of digital technology, including the recording of lectures for revision purposes.

Students are expected to actively engage in independent study and in group work, to consolidate learning.

Learning Methods

  • Group Projects
  • Lectures
  • Tutorials

Assessment Methods

There are different types of assessment throughout the programme including written coursework assignments, examinations, and the research project.

Why Study Psychological Studies?

  • Successful completion of the MSc will provide you with graduate basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS which also opens up career paths in specialized areas of professional psychology, such as counselling psychology, health psychology and occupational psychology.
  • You will be situated within an international level research environment and taught by academic staff who are at the forefront of psychology research.
  • You will be provided with a personal tutor from the academic staff, who will have responsibility for supporting you throughout your studies and will also provide employability advice and guidance.
  • You will benefit from the excellent employability programme within the School which aims to provide you with the skills and opportunities to enhance your career prospects and increase your likelihood of securing employment upon graduation.
  • The School of Psychology at Aberdeen is one the oldest academic psychology units in Britain and can lay claim to one of the earliest academic psychology appointments.

What Our Students Say

Joshua Bugg

Joshua Bugg

Joshua tells us what attracted him to our psychology conversion programme and how the skills he has learned on the programme will help him in his future career.

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson

The lecture programs have all been very interesting and well delivered, and the tutorials have been engaging. The lecturers and tutors are very approachable/accessible/enthusiastic too, which has made it so easy for me to enjoy myself while studying.

Anupriya Vyas

Anupriya Vyas

Anupriya Vyas

The research led learning environment at the School of Psychology opens doors to various learning opportunities. My next step is to apply theoretical knowledge gained in my course and gain experience in a clinical environment.

Entry Requirements

**Please note that there will be no January 2024 intake for MSc Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology**

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

Applicants must have at least a lower second class Honours degree (or equivalent) in any discipline. Some prior study of Psychology at University Undergraduate Level would be preferred, but is not essential.

Please check the In My Country pages to find out if your degree is equivalent.

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English 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

Careers

The MSc Psychological Sciences will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to apply scientific methodology to understanding human behaviour in all areas of life, including business, education, and health and social care. You will also gain important transferable skills, such as the ability to analyse data, think analytically, and communicate effectively, that are valued across the entire job market.

You will also gain important transferable skills, such as the ability to analyse data, think analytically, and communicate effectively, that are valued across the entire job market.

Successful completion of the MSc will provide you with graduate basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS, which also opens up career paths in specialised areas of professional psychology, such as counselling psychology, health psychology, and occupational psychology.

You may be interested in pursuing a research career in psychology and you will have the option to go on to complete an MRes in Psychology as the first step to a PhD.

Career Opportunities

  • Doctoral Researcher
  • Health Psychologist
  • Occupational Psychologist

Accreditation

The MSc Psychological Studies and programme variants are accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS).

  • MSc Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology
  • MSc Psychological Studies with Mental Health
  • MSc Psychological Studies with Organisational Psychology

This degree holds accreditation from

Image for useful fact about this Subject

REF 2021

Overall 94% of our Psychology research ranks as world leading or internationally excellent

Psychology at Aberdeen

Watch this short clip to see what you can expect when you study Psychology at Aberdeen

What our Alumni Say

Vanessa Yu Ho Wong

Vanessa Yu Ho Wong

Job Details
Senior Performance and Quality Analyst, Cabinet Office
Graduated 2021

Former student Vanessa tells us more about her experience of studying psychology at the University of Aberdeen and how the skills she learned from her MSc and PhD study have helped her in her career.

(Wesley) Muxuan Li

(Wesley) Muxuan Li

(Wesley) Muxuan Li

Job Details
PhD student
Graduated 2019

What I enjoyed most about studying at Aberdeen was my interesting conversations with the lecturers and professors, they are all very friendly and helpful. I have become better at figuring out the logic of situations from a psychological perspective. I have also become a keen learner, eager to learn new things and absorb new knowledge.

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
Professor Jason Bohan

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Facilities

Image for Sir Duncan Rice Library
Sir Duncan Rice Library

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 more
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Psychophysiology Centre

Psychophysiology Centre

This facility consists of several spacious rooms that house electroencephalographic (EEG) equipment and sound-attenuated, shielded testing booths.

Image for Eye Tracking Facilities
Eye Tracking Facilities

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.

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX