MSc Psychology
Overview
What is the MSc Psychology?
The MSc Psychology is a one- or two-year degree studied at our Colchester Campus.
You’ll gain a strong understanding of the theories and approaches in psychology today, preparing you to answer the world’s current challenges.
If you hold an undergraduate degree in a subject other than psychology or an undergraduate psychology degree that wasn’t accredited by the British Psychological Society, this advanced fast-track conversion course is for you.
Why this course
The MSc Psychology gives you one of the most immersive and exciting experiences of studying human thoughts and behaviours in the UK. Your learning (like our research) would focus on innovative solutions to real societal challenges, so you’ll develop the skills and knowledge to make a measurable difference in our world.
This course provides you with an accredited psychology degree and a Masters-level understanding of the subject in just one year (two if studied part-time), compared to studying another undergraduate degree and a Masters over 4 years.
When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for professional training in any branch of professional psychology.
Who should apply
- Future chartered psychologists, therapists and counsellors
- Students wanting to work in neuroscience, health or data analysis
- Those aiming to further research in psychology
- Analytical thinkers with a scientific approach to psychology
What you’ll learn
- Different approaches: Explore cognitive, developmental and social psychology
- Research: Grasp a range of research methods and statistics for psychology, then undertake your own research project
- Advanced study: Dive deep into the brain, personality and the psychology of health
Your learning experience
- Expert teaching: Learn from award-winning teachers and prize-winning researchers who are international experts in their areas
- Specialist facilities: Access the world’s first videogame lab, the leading infant lab in the East of England and our multimillion-pound centre for brain science
Careers and outcomes
An MSc Psychology degree prepares you for diverse careers in:
- Chartered psychology and counselling: Clinical psychology, high-intensity therapy, mental health and wellbeing practice, occupational therapy
- Civil services: Forensic psychology, intelligence analysis
- Education: Educational psychology, Special Education Needs (SEN)
- Business and finance: Consumer psychology, market research
- Postgraduate study: MSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology, MSc Research Methods in Psychology, Masters by Dissertation (MSD)
- Research: Psychology research
Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates from this course have progressed to roles in national and international organisations, including:
- NHS
- St George’s Hospital Medical School
- Allied Health Care
- Tavistock Institute of Human Relations
- Thinking Spaces
- Anna Freud Centre
- Essex County Council
Professional accreditation
Accredited against the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This accreditation signifies that you have obtained a high standard of psychology education, and is a crucial step for several career paths - including becoming a chartered psychologist. Your degree will be recognised by employers as a mark of quality, and ensures the curriculum you study covers the necessary knowledge and skills for professional practice.
- Top 125 (Top 25 in the UK) for psychology in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026
- Top 150 (=9th in the UK) for psychology in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025
- 20th in the UK for research outputs in psychology (REF 2021)
Meet the researchers
"My multidisciplinary experiences from studying psychology at Essex and work experience in the industry have strengthened my curiosity in tracing the field of visuospatial cognition. I've also benefitted from a scholarship, which has meant so much more to me than just financial support. It's represented acknowledgment, opportunity, and a belief in the value of investing in my efforts and aspirations."
Asuka Onishi, MSc Psychology
Course content
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: CORE
This research dissertation is an empirical investigation which is written up with a 10,000 word-limit. The project provides students with an opportunity to apply the statistical and research skills learnt, in an original piece of research. The topic will be chosen from a selection offered by members of staff in the department.
View MSc Psychology Research Project on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: CORE
Students will gain a wide understanding of the relationship between the human brain (and other physiological mechanisms) and behaviour. The brain is an extremely complex organ, and many areas of interest to psychologists are as yet, beyond the reductionist approach adopted here. However, the module is designed to establish the possibility that most behaviours, even our deepest thoughts and feelings, arise from a combination of electrical and chemical interactions in the central nervous system.
COMPONENT 03: CORE
This module gives students a detailed review of personality, intelligence and individual differences. It provides a parsimonious account of theories and approaches to personality and individual differences. Several areas of Psychology will be covered, including cognitive, trait theories and biological.
View Advanced Personality and Individual Differences on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 04: CORE
This module combines the areas of medical and health psychology to explore the biological, psychological and social processes implicated in the development of ill health. We will address questions such as: What psychological processes are involved in modifying behaviours associated with health? How does disadvantage feed into negative health outcomes? Does living in line with our values improve well-being? How do people recognise symptoms in themselves and attribute them to illness? What is the link between early experience and brain development and parents' health-related behaviours? Questions will be addressed from different perspectives and will provide a comprehensive overview of how individuals think about health, how they experience health, and the role that social interactions play in this process.
COMPONENT 05: CORE
Explore classical and contemporary themes of child development such as prenatal and perceptual development, early language acquisition, and cognitive and social development, whilst examining the research methods and designs employed in Developmental Psychology.
View Advanced Developmental Psychology on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 06: CORE
This module explores the basic cognitive processes involved in thinking about the world, interacting with the world, and experiencing the world. Often as users of these processes they just work and the complexity of the underlying operations are hidden; a kind of "user illusion". You will learn about the emerging scientific picture of how these basic processes operate, thereby gaining a better appreciation of the underlying complexity, and a renewed appreciation of the brilliance of these operations. The module will consider examples of human talents; such as bilingualism, as well as human limitations, such as our working memory capacities. The module will cover core areas of cognition as defined by the British Psychological Society such as perception, mental imagery, attention, memory, language, and consciousness. These will be discussed both with reference to laboratory-based experiments, and also how these processes may be disrupted and may breakdown in various conditions, such as dyslexia, amnesia, and other neuropsychological conditions. Finally, the lectures will address how basic cognitive processes apply to complex real-world behaviours.
COMPONENT 07: CORE
This module will give you the background necessary to analyse and understand quantitative data, identifying and implementing appropriate statistical tests and interpreting outcomes. It will provide you with the skills needed for your final research project and knowledge about statistical analyses will be covered to the level required for British Psychological Society graduate membership.
COMPONENT 08: CORE
By studying a range of theory and research surrounding human thinking and behaviour in a social world you will develop a clear understanding of the topics social psychologists are interested in and how they approach their study. You will also discover how theory and research in social psychology might help us to understand current issues in society.
COMPONENT 09: CORE
This module will teach the background necessary to design, implement and report basic psychology research in order to test hypotheses and answer questions about human mind and behaviour. You will learn about a variety of techniques for studying behaviour within psychology. You will learn how to find, read and evaluate scientific research reports and to write your own.
Teaching
- Your modules are taught through lectures, seminars, practical classes, and private study (approximately 12 to 16 hours per week during the autumn and spring term).
- A typical timetable for postgraduate taught students in the Department of Psychology involves a two-hour lecture for each module per week. Some modules involve additional computer labs (normally one hour per week) or seminars (normally two or three per term).
- Most taught modules include joint lectures with undergraduate students and additional postgraduate-level seminars.
- The course also requires private study.
- We host a very active programme of research seminars.
Assessment
- Full-year modules are most often examined using a three-hour examination, and half-year modules by a two-hour examination. All elements are required - applicants with a non-science background should be aware of the requirement to pass statistics.
- Assessment methods in submission of coursework, coursework tests, and examinations. You will be required to submit approximately 15 pieces of coursework throughout the course.
- Your final research project will be completed at the end of your period of study.
Dissertation
- An original psychological study carried out under the supervision of a staff member.
- Maximum of 10,000 words, written up as a research report.
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 degree, or international equivalent in any subject.
This course is not suitable for applicants who already hold a British Psychological Society Accredited degree.
If you already hold a BSc/BA Psychology and are not seeking BPS accreditation we advise you consider the MSc Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology or MSc Research Methods in Psychology courses.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 5.5 in all components.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£11,025
International fee
£23,875
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
Applying
You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.
We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.
For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
Got a question about this course? Chat with one of our academics in the Department of Psychology.
Got a question about this course? Chat with one of our academics in the Department of Psychology.
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