Queen's University Belfast

MSc Psychological Science

You might be a recent graduate or someone who’s been at work for a while and wants to change direction.

You’ll be fascinated by how psychology underpins everything we do and aids our understanding of behaviour – not just of people, but of animals too.

Please note that the MSc Psychological Science (Conversion) programme is intended for students who have completed a degree in a subject other than Psychology, to undertake an intensive foundational course and achieve a Psychology qualification which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and entails Graduate Membership of the BPS. It is not an advanced specialism degree in Psychology, but rather covers the core areas of Psychology and associated research skills as required for BPS accreditation.

We ask that you take note of this when considering your application. If you require further information about the content or structure of the MSc Psychological Science (Conversion) programme, please feel free to contact us.

The degree confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society, and many graduates will go on to complete training in one of the 7 registered professions of psychology, as well as undertake many other jobs (management, HR, analysts) where a psychology degree is of benefit.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Employment after the Course

WHERE COULD YOU BE IN FIVE YEARS TIME?

You might have your eye on a career in clinical or educational psychology.

The qualification you’ll gain allows you to go on and undertake training to qualify as a professional psychologist, e.g., clinical, educational, forensic, etc.

Or you could return to your existing job with a valuable qualification and a greater understanding of what underpins the world around you.

But the applications of this course are far-reaching. We at Queen’s created a spin-out company, Adoreboard, which analyses customer data to help brands understand how people feel about them online.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic, and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this the Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Taught modules are delivered over two semesters.

Full-time students follow taught modules in Semester 1 (Autumn) and Semester 2 (Spring) and they carry out an independent research project and write their MSc thesis (dissertation) in the summer.

Part-time students normally complete three taught modules in year 1, and one taught module and a research thesis (dissertation) in year 2, however there is flexibility in module selection during part-time study.

The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete four taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 7,000 word research dissertation (60 CATS points).

One other exit qualification is available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules

Course Content

Our MSc Psychological Science Programme focuses on the scientific inquiry of topics from eight key areas in Psychology, to build understanding and critical insight throughout your degree programme. These areas are:

1. Biological Psychology – The biological basis of behaviour: neuroscience, genetics, and animal behaviour
2. Cognitive Psychology – The mental processes underlying thinking, memory, language, and learning
3. Conceptual & Historical Issues – Considers where the discipline has come from, where it’s going, and the big unanswered questions in psychology
4. Social Psychology – How we perceive ourselves and others, interact in groups, and are influenced by culture and society
5. Developmental Psychology – How we grow and develop from conception to old age
6. Research Methods – How we collect and analyse data to better understand the mind and behaviour
7. Perception – How we interpret sensory information to understand and interact with the world around us
8. Individual Differences – How we differ from one another in traits, abilities, and motivations

You’ll learn everything from how people behave as social groups to how the brain works. You will also learn methodological analysis skills. Your research project will take place over the summer.

Course Details

The programme will provide a contemporary curriculum which covers the core topics in psychology, using a variety of teaching methods and assessments that is informed by current research, scholarship and application.

The programme will develop critical awareness of issues in the scientific and applied areas of psychology and the methodological skills to critically examine and interrogate the discipline of psychology in all its facets.