Why choose the School of Sport, Psychology and Social Science
Our teaching and assessments are developed working with industry professionals and build skills in applying psychology to real-world issues.
Our MSc courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society, enabling you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training.
Our courses are reviewed and developed in conjunction with a panel of industry professionals from the NHS, mental health support and commercial organisations to ensure they align with the needs of employers, opening a variety of career pathways.
About the course
This BPS-accredited course is open to Honours graduates from any discipline wishing to take the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. You gain in-depth knowledge and skills around conceptual and historical issues as well as individual differences, social, cognitive, developmental and biological psychology. We offer a range of assessment approaches, including podcasting and webpage design, to equip you with modern skills for the workplace. You also carry out your own piece of empirical research aligned to your career aspirations and our staff expertise.
For further course information, contact Dr Joseph Adonu
Course accreditation
This Psychology Conversion course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited conversion with 50% or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training.
Facilities and specialist equipment
Access to specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments including:
- Cognitive neuropsychology lab
- Virtual-reality lab
- Research cubicles containing up-to-the-minute equipment and technology such as a driving simulator; eye-tracking software; a physiological data-acquisition system; EEG; podcasting equipment; and KAT Walk Mini 5 omnidirectional VR treadmills
- Data-analysis software
- Experiment and survey-building software
Student experience
Our staff’s research and practice expertise directly informs their teaching, creating a focus on the real-life application of psychology including reading development; cognitive function in long COVID; and prevention of gender-based violence.
Benefit from membership of our Student Research Institute, providing opportunities to engage in research; work with staff as an assistant; and attend specialist research conferences.
Experience a wide variety of teaching methods including blended digital and seminars; problem solving; virtual-reality simulations; computer-based activities; and guided learning.
Assessments are designed to be authentic, reflecting workplace practice.
Gain first-hand experience of psychology in action through course contributions from specialist speakers.
Benefit fromfield trips including visits to the charity Headway UK, who support those with head injuries, or observing real-life court cases from the public gallery at Luton Crown Court.
Take part in our final-week, in-house Escape Room, building on what you have learned about social aspects of leadership, groups and the cognitive aspects of problem solving.
Benefit from our friendly, approachable staff and easy access to academic support.
Once you complete the course, you can progress with us in health psychology, forensic psychology or research degrees. You will have gained the skills and competencies needed for a variety of psychology routes and related careers.
Register your interestÌý
Course Leader - Dr Joseph Adonu
I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with the British Psychological Society and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of England and Wales (SFHEA).
I currently co-ordinate and teach on undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses in addition to supervising research students. My supervision covers areas of social psychology and culture, such as marital experience in cultural context, romantic love, personal relationships, psychology of achievement aspiration and personal development, etc.
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Course Leader - Dr Joseph Adonu
I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with the British Psychological Society and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of England and Wales (SFHEA).
I currently co-ordinate and teach on undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses in addition to supervising research students. My supervision covers areas of social psychology and culture, such as marital experience in cultural context, romantic love, personal relationships, psychology of achievement aspiration and personal development, etc.
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You study a range of units that develop your scientific knowledge, professional practice and research skills, preparing you to make a real impact in psychology and related fields. All units are worth 15 credits apart from your dissertation, which offers 60 credits towards your Master’s award. You complete your dissertation in the final semester but will conduct your research, design and draft it across all three semesters.
Semester 1
Research methods: quantitative and qualitative – Demonstrate strong knowledge of applied psychology research methods by producing worksheets and a report.
Cognition and performance – Using an information-processing approach, apply cognitive theories to performance in the real world and everyday behaviour.
Developmental psychology – Explore how this psychological approach can explain individuals’ change and development across their lifespan.
Personality, intelligence and assessments – Understand abnormalities in behaviour better through deeper study of personality, intelligence and individual differences.
Semester 2
Advanced research methods (applied psychology) – Build on your understanding and skills in applying qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Biological and neuropsychological perspectives of behaviour – Explore how these psychological approaches can help in understanding behaviour, including behavioural abnormalities.
Social psychology – Examine key theories in social psychology and apply them to real life in areas such as group dynamics, relationships and social behaviour.
Applied psychology – Apply psychology to the real world including mental health and wellbeing fields; working with children and young people; and Chartered Psychology routes.
Semester 3: Dissertation completion
Your independent research project provides an opportunity to investigate a specialised topic within psychology. Guided by expert supervision across all three semesters, you will design and conduct an original piece of research for completion this semester, presenting it in the format of a publishable journal article.
For an at-a-glance list of modules for this course, download the course specification.
The course uses a variety of teaching methods to provide a curriculum based on the competencies that are required for psychologists and on the research and expertise of the staff. Methods include; simulations computer-based activities problem based learning case studies and the virtual learning environment (VLE) known as BREO. The teaching activities are also dictated by the fact that this is a science-based course so students will have the opportunity to design and take part in research projects as part of both learning and assessment. In preparation for the dissertation they will learn about a range of research methods and advanced statistical analyses so that they are well prepared for the research project in which they generate research aims or hypotheses conduct research analyse the results and report them in the context of theory and current knowledge. The VLE provides a means of accessing sites elsewhere that illustrate various topics and that allow students to practice relevant skills.
Careers
As a Graduate Chartered Member of the BPS, you will be eligible to apply for specialist Master's and/or Doctoral degrees to become an occupational, forensic, health, educational, counselling, sport or clinical psychologist. This will then enable you to work in services such as health education and the justice system as a chartered psychologist.
You will have acquired specific knowledge in research methods and other core areas in psychology (such as developmental psychology) to put you in a position to continue your studies within Psychology with a PhD.
Your Master’s qualification will also open up a range of graduate posts in other sectors where you can gain experience, increasing your chance of later going back to these specialist pathways in psychology.
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
International
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
