psychology conversion personal statement

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Psychology (Conversion) MSc – 2024 entry

Key information.

Start date: September 2024

Open events and webinars

Why choose this course

• Study a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited curriculum, designed to challenge the world view of individuals looking for a career change
• Access our state-of-the-art psychology facilities, including a six-room virtual reality suite and two observation laboratories, and use the latest equipment to conduct experiments
• Learn from lecturers who are active researchers in key psychological areas such as behavioural, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology
• Join one of our research groups to take part in seminars and workshops, and benefit from our links with renowned research institutions across the world
• Get the experience needed to secure Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS, a marker of expertise within the sector, and join the 100 per cent of our postgraduate psychology graduates who go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA).

Advice for new psychology masters students

What you will study

We’ll evolve your knowledge of the theories and practical applications of contemporary psychology, with emphasis on how psychology is applied in practice. You'll learn about the core areas of psychology, including cognitive, developmental and social psychology, the biological bases of psychology and individual differences. You’ll explore the brain, behaviour, personality and psychopathology, building an understanding of the conceptual and historical issues in psychology.

You'll develop the research and statistical skills needed to conduct independent research projects under our expert supervision. You’ll also complete a research dissertation that will allow you to carry out experiments and start or join existing projects on important topics in the field. We’ll match your interests with the expertise of our academic staff, ensuring you get the best support possible. These collaborations have seen previous students’ work being published in top-tier journals.

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Psychological Intervention (CBT) PGDip

Social Psychology MSc

Samantha Buss

What I love about my course is the diverse mix of individuals coming from different fields. This allows for a rich exchange of perspectives and ideas, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Connor Salter

The lecturers and academics that teach our modules are incredibly knowledgeable in their areas, which often leads to fascinating discussions in lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Our  facilities  have recently undergone a £5m investment, giving you access to the latest equipment, including a six-room virtual reality suite to simulate real-life scenarios and two observation labs. With our equipment you can conduct experiments using electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). You can also monitor eye tracking and physiological measures such as earlobe temperature, heart rate and galvanic skin response, both in the lab and remotely, using mobile data loggers.

You’ll also have access to an extensive library of psychometric and clinical tests, 20 bookable project rooms, a breakout space, equipment lockers and a computer lab.

Teaching staff

You’ll be taught by  lecturers  who are active researchers, ensuring everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to employers. These may include:

• Dr Chris Askew , an expert in adult and child psychopathology
• Dr Fabio Fasoli , an expert in social psychology
• Dr Ines Violante , an expert in psychological neuroscience.

Research groups

You’ll be invited to join one of our  research groups , where you’ll participate in discussions about research topics, findings and publications, and you’ll benefit from our links with renowned research institutions across the world. We also have a host of external speakers that visit us and present their work, and a collection of seminars and workshops, allowing you to network with like-minded individuals.

Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of:

• Laboratory-based practicals
• One-to-one supervision
• Online learning

Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays, reading and research.

There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures  that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.

Professional recognition

MSc - British Psychological Society (BPS) Accredited against the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Careers and graduate prospects

We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.

100 per cent of our postgraduate psychology graduates go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA). Our alumni complete additional study to take on roles as clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, occupational psychologists and sport and exercise psychologists, in addition to counsellors and therapists. They work for NHS trusts, healthcare organisations, and charities, amongst others.

The broad and transferrable skills that you’ll develop are also highly relevant in other fields, including advertising, consultancy, human resources, recruitment and teaching. Many of our graduates go on to complete a PhD, investigating an area of personal interest.

Learn more about psychology careers on the  BPS website .

Kelly Sarigianni

I now demonstrate all my knowledge and experience through my current role as an Admissions Counsellor at the American College of Greece.

Marie-Claire O’Kane

I decided to complete a Psychology PhD, investigating the future of work and the impact Covid-19 has had and will have on employee engagement.

Research centres and groups

Programme leader

Prof Michael Pluess

Accreditation.

Student support

Personal tutor

All taught students are assigned a personal tutor to support you while you study.

Student life

At Surrey we offer the best of both worlds – a friendly campus university, set in beautiful countryside with the convenience and social life of Guildford on your doorstep.

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff.

The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:

• Psychology (Conversion) MSc

Year 1 (full-time)

New students will receive their personalised timetable in Welcome Week. In later semesters, two weeks before the start of semester.

Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled on one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.

View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.

Contact hours

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.

Entry requirements

A minimum of a 2:1 UK honours degree, or recognised international equivalent, in the following: 

• Human resources
• Human sciences
• Natural sciences
• Social sciences
• Social work.

GCSE maths and English (language/literature) C are also required.

Please ensure that you include a personal statement outlining your strengths, weaknesses and motivation. The statement should demonstrate your understanding of Psychology as a discipline, detail the areas of Psychology that interest you, along with any relevant work experience or skills. You should also demonstrate clearly why this course is a good fit for you, and how you might use the course in your future career. The statement should be no more than two pages in length.

We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet the typical requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. Applications with other degree subjects, or those without relevant GCSEs, may be considered by the Faculty on a case-by-case basis.

This is a regulated course that requires declaration of criminal convictions at the application stage, please visit our  criminal convictions web page for more information.

Do I meet the requirements for this course?

We require you to submit a full application so that we can formally assess whether you meet the criteria published. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an outcome based on an enquiry (via email, webform enquiry, phone or live chat).

International entry requirements by country

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have an Australian bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve one of the following: 

• Bachelor (Honours) degree (four years) with 2:1 honours (division B / 2). ​
• Bachelor ordinary degree (three Years) with Distinction (approximately 70%).

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve one of the following:

• Bachelor (Honours) degree (four years) with 2:2 honours (division B / 2). ​
• Bachelor ordinary degree (three years) with Credit (approximately 65%).

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 2.0 overall where 1 is the highest.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 overall where 1 is the highest.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have completed a Bakalavr/Specialist Diploma with a GPA of 4.3 or 77.5% overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have completed a Bakalavr/Specialist Diploma with a GPA of 3.9 or 70% overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 4.7 or 85% overall.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have completed a four-year degree from a recognised Bangladesh university.

For courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of at least 3.25 out of 4.0 (65%), 3.5 out of 4.0 (70%), or 3.75 out of 4.0 (75%), depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 (60%), 3.25 out of 4.0 (65%), or 3.5 out of 4.0 (70%), depending on the institution at which you studied.

You can apply for our undergraduate masters courses if you have a Belgian bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 14 out of 20 or 70% overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 12 out of 20 or 60% overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a B overall, 65% or GPA 3.5 out of 5.0 at masters degree level.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a C overall, 55% or GPA 2.5 out of 5.0 at masters degree level.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a Bacharel Licenciatura, Licenciado or professional title from a university in Brazil.

You can apply for our MPhil/PhD courses if you have a masters degree from a university in Brazil.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a minimum GPA of 7.5 out of 10. 

For courses that require a 2:2, you must achieve a minimum GPA of 6.5 out of 10.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 8.5 out of 10.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a bachelors degree at 2:2 or above from Brunei University of Engineering, Business and Computing, Universiti Brunei Darussalam or Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours degree or GPA 3.2 / 65% from an honours degree. 

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours degree or GPA 2.7 / 55% from an honours degree.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a first-class honours degree.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a bachelors degree from a university in Bulgaria.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 5 out of 6.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 4 out of 6.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have a bachelors degree with either:

• Grades of 70%, B overall, or a GPA of 3.0/4 where pass mark is 50%
• Grades of 75%, B overall, or a GPA of 3.0/4 if the pass mark is 60%.

For degrees that require a UK 2:2, you must have either:

• Bachelor’s degree, where pass mark is 60%, with 70%, GPA 2.5/4, GPA 5.1/9 or C overall
• Bachelor’s degree, where pass mark is 50%, with 65%, GPA 2.5/4, GPA 5.1/9 or C overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, the grade requirement depends on the institution you have studied at in China. Our usual requirement is between 70% and 75% overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve between 65% and 70% overall, depending on the institution at which you have studied.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA or 4.0 out of 5.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA 3.0 out of 5.0.

You can apply for our MPhil/PhD courses if you have a masters degree.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a bachelors degree from a university in the Czech Republic.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve either a GPA of 1.5, a B, velmi dobře ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2.0, dobře ‘pass’ (pre-2004) in your bachelors degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve either a GPA of 2.0, a C, dobře ‘good’ (post-2004) or 3.0, dobře ‘pass’ (pre-2004) in your bachelor degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 10.0 out of 12.0 in Bachelors degree / Candidatus Philophiae / Diplomingenior / Professionsbachelor.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 out of 12.0 in Bachelors degree / Candidatus Philophiae / Diplomingenior / Professionsbachelor.

For courses that require a UK 2:1, you must complete one of the following:

• A bachelors degree from a recognised institution with 75% or GPA 3.0 overall
• A bachelors degree from the American University of Cairo with 3.0 GPA or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must complete one of the following:

• A bachelors degree from a recognised institution with 70% or GPA 2.8 overall
• A bachelors degree from the American University of Cairo with 2.7 GPA or a C overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve either a GPA of 4.0, 81% or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve either a GPA of 3.0, 71% or a C overall.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a Kandidaatti.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 out of 5.0.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a French Bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 12.0 out of 20.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 11 out of 20.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a German bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 2.5, where 1 is the highest.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0, where 1 is the highest.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.25 or a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.5 or a 2:2 honours degree.

If you are applying for a masters degree, it is compulsory to seek the support of our appointed in-country agent, at no extra cost, who receive extensive training from Surrey to support you with the application and visa process. Further details and contact information available .

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a bachelors degree with an overall score of 7.0 out of 10 from a university recognised by NARIC/Eccits.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a bachelors degree with an overall score of 6.5 out of 10 from a university recognised by NARIC/Eccits.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a Egyetemi Oklevél (university diploma) with a GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0. Or a Főiskolai Oklevél (college diploma) with a GPA of 4.51 out 5.0. Or Alapfokozat with 4.0 out of 5.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a Egyetemi Oklevél (university diploma) with a GPA of 3.51 out of 5.0. Or a Főiskolai Oklevél (college diploma) with a GPA of 4.0 out 5.0. Or Alapfokozat with 3.51 out of 5.0 overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve at least an overall average of 60% or 65% in your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve at least an overall average of 55% or 60% in your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve at least an overall average of 65% or 70% in your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a Sarjana 1/Diploma IV with a 3.0-3.5 GPA, depending on the BAN-PT accreditation status of your institution of study.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a Sarjana 1/Diploma IV with a 2.8-3.3 GPA, depending on the BAN-PT accreditation status of your institution of study.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a Sarjana 1/Diploma IV with at least a 3.5 GPA overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 15.0 out of 20.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 12.0 out of 20.0 overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a bachelors degree (four years) with 75% overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a bachelors degree (four years) with 70% overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree, you must achieve a bachelors degree (four years) with 80% overall.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have an Irish bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours degree.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have an Italian bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve the Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti certificate or Diploma di Laurea with an average minimum mark of 90 out of 110 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve the Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti certificate or Diploma di Laurea with an average minimum mark of 80 out of 110 overall.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a Japanese bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a minimum of 76% or a B+ overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a minimum score of 70% or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a minimum score of 82% or an A overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a bachelors degree with 76% overall or a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a bachelors degree with 68% overall or a GPA of 2.6 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a bachelors degree with 84% overall or a GPA of 4.0 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 4.25/5.0, 3.7/4.33 or 3.4/4.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.4/4.33 or 3.0/4.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 4.5/5.0, 4.0/4.33 or 3.8/4.0 overall. The grade requirement depends on the institution at which you have studied.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours degree or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours degree or a C overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a first-class honours degree or an A overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a bachelors degree with 3.33/4.0 overall or a masters degree with 3.0/4.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a bachelors degree with 2.6/4.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree, you must achieve either a bachelors or a masters degree with 4.0/4.0 overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 6.0 out of 8.0, 8.0 out of 10 or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 5.0 out of 8.0 or 6.0 out of 10 overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a B overall, a score of 12 out of 20 overall in either a Bachelor Degree, Licence or Maîtrise.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a C overall, or a score of 11 out of 20,in either a Bachelor Degree, Licence or Maîtrise.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 8.0 out of 10.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 out of 10.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree, you must achieve a GPA of 9.0 out of 10.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 16 out of  20.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 14 out of 20.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 18 out of 20.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0/4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.67/4.0.

2:1 - Bachelor's degree (honours) with 70% overall (second class, upper division). Bachelor's degree (general) with 90% overall.  

2:2 - Bachelor's degree (honours) with 55% overall (second class, lower division). Bachelor's degree (general) with 80% overall.  

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 8.0 out of 10, or 16 out of 20.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 out of 10, or 14 out of 20.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a bachelors degree, HBO certificate or doctoral certificate from a university in the Netherlands.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 out of 10.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 6.0 out of 10.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a B+ overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a B- overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve an A- overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.2/4.0 from the AUN or 3.3/5.0 from other universities.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.7/4.0 from the AUN or 2.8/5.0 from other universities. If you have relevant work experience, you may be considered with a GPA of 2.4/5.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 2.5, where 1.0 is the highest, or a B overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.25, where 1.0 is the highest, or a C overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or 3.2 out of 4.0, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.7 or 2.9 out of 4.0, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 3.3 or 3.5 out of 4.0, depending on the institution at which you studied.

To enrol on a masters course at Surrey, you will need the equivalent of a 2:1 or 2:2 degree from a recognised university. If you would like advice on the requirements from the country in which you are studying, please email  [email protected] .

To enrol on a masters course at Surrey, you will need the equivalent of a 2:1 or 2:2 degree from a recognised university.

If you would like further information on the requirements from the country in which you are studying, please email  [email protected] .

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.6 or 2.8 out of 4.0 (65 or 70%), depending on the institution at which you studied. If you have studied a two or three-year bachelors degree plus a masters degree, you must achieve a GPA of 2.8 or 3.0 out of 4.0 (70% or 75%), depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 or 2.6 out of 4.0 (60% or 65%), depending on the institution at which you studied. If you have studied a two or three-year bachelors degree plus a masters degree, you must achieve a GPA of 2.6 or 2.8 out of 4.0 (65% or 70%), depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree, you must achieve a bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.8 or 3.0 out of 4.0 (70% or 80%), depending on the institution at which you studied. If you have studied a two or three-year bachelors degree plus a masters degree, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or 3.2 out of 4.0 (75% or 80%), depending on the institution at which you studied.

You can apply for our postgraduate masters courses if you have a Polish bachelors degree or above.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1: 

Bachelors degree  

Any of the following with 4+ (4.5) / B overall (dobry plus / fairly good).  

Dyplom Tytuł Licencjat (bachelors degree, started after 2006)  

Dyplom Tytuł Inżynier (bachelors degree, started after 2006)  

Masters degree  

4 (4.0) / C overall (dobry / good).  

Dyplom Tytuł Magister (masters degree) If awarded from 2001.  

For courses that require a UK 2:2:

Any of the following with 4 (4.0) / C overall (dobry / good).  

3+ (3.5) / D overall (Satisfactory).  

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have achieved the Portugal Licenciado/Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) with a GPA of 16.0 out of 20.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have achieved Portugal Licenciado/Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) with a GPA of 14.0 out of 20.0.

For courses that require a UK first, you must have achieved Portugal Licenciado/Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) with a GPA of 18.0 out of 20.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.8 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve an overall GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have achieved the Diploma de Licenta with a GPA of 8.0 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have achieved the Diploma de Licenta with a GPA of 7.0 overall.

For postgraduate taught courses, a Specialist Diploma and Baklavar will all be considered as suitable qualifications for entry depending on grades and subjects studied.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 4.1 our of 5.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.9 out of 5.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve 75% overall or a GPA of 3.5/5.0 or 3.0/4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve 65% overall, or a GPA of either 3.25 out of 5.0 or 2.6 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve 80% overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.8/5.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.75/4.0 or 3.4/5.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 1.5, grade B or 'very good' overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.0, grade C or 'good' overall.

The following qualifications are accepted as equivalent to a UK bachelors degree:

• Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazi
• Univerzitetni diplomant
• Diplomirani.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have achieved any of the above qualifications, with a score of 8.5.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have achieved any of the above qualifications, with a score of 7.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve 70% overall or a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve 60% overall or a 2:2 honours degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a Haksa GPA of 3.2/4.3 or 3.4/4.5 overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a Haksa GPA of 2.8/4.3 or 3.0/4.5 overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 out of 10.0 or 2.0 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 6.0 out of 10.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have achieved 80% from a three-year bachelors degree or 60% from a four-year special bachelors degree or a five-year professional degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have achieved 70% from a three-year bachelors degree or 55% from a four-year special bachelors degree or a five-year professional degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must have achieved a majority of VG / AB / B / Vall Godkand.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must have achieved a majority of G / BA / C / Godkand.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of between 7.0 and 8.0 out of 10.0, 2.2 out of 5.0, or 5.0 out of 6.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of between 6.0 and 7.0 out of 10.0, or 4.5 out of 6.0.

For courses that require a UK first, you must achieve a GPA of between 8.0 and 9.0 out of 10.0, 2.7 out of 5.0, or 5.5 out of 6.0.

Our grade requirements for postgraduate courses vary depending on the institution at which you have studied:

• For postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, our minimum grade requirement is 73%, 78% or 88%
• For courses that require a UK 2:2, our minimum grade requirement is 68%, 73% or 83%
• For courses that require a UK first, our minimum grade requirement is 78%, 83% or 93%.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 2.8 or 3.0 out of 4.0, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.6 or 2.8 out of 4.0, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of between 2.8 and 3.0 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of between 2.6 and 2.8 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 4.0 or a 2:1 honours degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or a 2:2 honours degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you will need to have completed one of the following:

• Dyplom Bakalavr (after 2007) with 80% overall
• Specialist Diploma (five years) with a GPA of 4.3 out of 5.0
• Dyplom Magistra (before 2006) with a GPA of 4.3 out of 5.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you will need to have completed one of the following:

• Dyplom Bakalavr (after 2007) with 70% overall
• Specialist Diploma (five years) with a GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0
• Dyplom Magistra (before 2006) with a GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0.

For courses that require a UK first, you will need to have completed one of the following:

• Dyplom Bakalavr (after 2007) with 90% overall
• Specialist Diploma (five years) with a GPA of 4.6 out of 5.0
• Dyplom Magistra (before 2006) with a GPA of 4.6 out of 5.0.

Please note that Dyplom Bakalavr (before 2007) is not suitable for entry.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, or 80% overall.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0, or 75% overall.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 overall, or 85% overall.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.8 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 7.0 or 7.5 out of 10.0 overall, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 6.5 or 7.0 out of 10.0 overall, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 7.5 or 8.0 out of 10.0 overall, depending on the institution at which you studied.

For direct entry these range from a 2:1 to a 2:2 UK honours degree. Our Pre-Masters programme offers another route into Surrey for specific programmes.

• For courses that require a 2:1 you would need 12/20 in a relevant bachelors degree.
• For courses that require a 2:2 you would need 11/20 in a relevant bachelors degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a GPA of 2.8 out of 4.0. 

For courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0. 

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve a 2:1 honours (second class, upper division) Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve a 2:2 honours (second class, lower division) Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you would need 12/20 in a relevant bachelors degree.

For courses that require a UK 2:2, you would need 11/20 in a relevant bachelors degree.

Czech Republic

Hong kong sar, international students in the united kingdom, netherlands, new zealand, other african countries, other east asian countries, other european countries, other middle eastern countries, other south american countries, other south asian countries, other south east asian countries, saudi arabia, south africa, south korea, switzerland, united arab emirates, united states of america, other international qualifications.

If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, you can apply for a Pre-Masters Programme at the Surrey International Study Centre.

Upon successful completion and achievement of the required grades of the Pre-Masters Programme, you can progress to a masters degree at the University of Surrey.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic: 7.0 with 6.5 in each component.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Selection process

Applicants will need to submit:

• Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates showing how you meet the entry requirements
• CV showing previous work experience
• A personal statement outlying your strengths, weaknesses and motivation. The statement should demonstrate your understanding of psychology as a subject, the areas of psychology that interest you, any relevant work experience, and how you wish to use the course in a future career
• Contact details of two references (preferably including at least one academic reference).

Recognition of prior learning

We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.

If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.

There are restrictions for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.

Fees per year

Full-time - 1 year

• These fees apply to students commencing study in the academic year 2024-25 only. Fees for new starters are reviewed annually
• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.

View the list of fees for all postgraduate taught courses.

Payment schedule

• Students with Tuition Fee Loan: the Student Loans Company pay fees in line with their schedule.
• Students without a Tuition Fee Loan: pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
• 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
• 50% in January of the same academic year.

The exact date(s) will be on invoices. Students on part-time programmes where fees are paid on a modular basis, cannot pay fees by instalment.

• Sponsored students: must provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of study.

You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance .

Scholarships and bursaries

We're committed to making sure that we offer support for students who might need it.

Early payment discount - September

Vice chancellor’s future leaders award, apply online.

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

1. Select your course

Select the course you wish to apply for.

To apply online sign in or create an account.

Admissions information

Once you apply, you can expect to hear back with us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.

Our code of practice for postgraduate admissions policy explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

University of Surrey Admissions

University of Surrey Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH

Psychology Conversion (MSc) 2024 entry

The information on this page is for 2024 entry. If you are considering applying for 2025 entry or later, some of these details may differ and we advise you to check the page again before you apply. To receive a notification of when applications open for 2025 entry, please register your interest .

The MSc in Psychology is a conversion route for students who hold an undergraduate Honours degree in a subject other than psychology. The programme provides a detailed knowledge of the core areas of psychology and principal theoretical and methodological issues in the field.

Application deadline

Friday 16 February 2024.

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.

The School of Psychology and Neuroscience hosts a weekly seminar programme typically held in the Old Library of the Psychology Building.

These seminars include public lectures, open School discussions and papers presented by a variety of guest lecturers from the UK and abroad. Following the seminar, a reception is typically held in the departmental common room. 

The School also hosts an annual Jeeves Lecture as part of its seminar programme. The lectures are given by eminent psychologists and neuroscientists. Staff, students and members of the public are welcome at this lecture. 

See the  psychology and neuroscience seminar programmes .  

Home £11,680

Overseas £29,950

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships     Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Most students intend to pursue a career in research or clinical psychology. Thus, many graduates go on to research assistantships or PhD places. Others have obtained positions in government, healthcare, or business.  

The MSc focuses on psychology as a science rather than as a clinical service, but many graduates pursue careers by obtaining research assistantships at teaching hospitals or other mental health centres or by taking a second Masters degree specialising in mental health.  

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

Many Psychology graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. 

What to do next

Online information events.

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Postgraduate online visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online visiting days.

School of Psychology and Neuroscience website

• Staff & students

MSc Psychology (Conversion)

Course information.

1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Course overview

This programme is the first of its kind at the University of London. It offers a scientific approach to the study of human behaviour, giving a broad understanding of psychological theory and research, and will help develop your understanding of the processes influencing how people think, feel, behave, and interact.

The programme is particularly well suited to those interested in a career change into the field of Psychology, or who have previously studied some psychology (but where the previous qualification does not meet the BPS criteria for GBC).

Develop your core psychology skills

• The programme covers all the core areas of psychology, namely Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology, Individual Differences & Personality, Social Psychology and Developmental Psychology, as well as thorough training in research methods.
• You will also get to choose at least one option module covering topics such as Topics in Neuropsychology, Magic & The Mind, Psychology & Law, Social Psychology of Social Problems, Addictive Behaviours, and Psychopathology. All modules are taught by national and international experts in the field and students will also receive tutorials in small groups.

Learn from experts in excellent facilities

• This programme will allow you to work alongside academics who are experts in their fields. You may have the opportunity to get involved in world-class research taking place in the department, specifically in your MSc research dissertation. Faculty members sometimes run their own research labs, which may give you the opportunity to develop your understanding of a broader range of psychological issues alongside your formal education.
• The Goldsmiths Department of Psychology gives you access to fantastic facilities, including laboratories, an EEG suite for brain research, an infant lab, and visual perception and attention laboratory. You will also be able to choose from a vibrant suite of postgraduate specialist modules as your option module, allowing you to get a flavour of niche areas of psychology.

Accreditation

This masters is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Upon passing the MSc, you'll be eligible to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) through the BPS. This is a necessary requirement to apply for any professional training programmes in the field of psychology in the UK.

These include

• Clinical Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Counselling Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Organisational Psychology

Please note that a programme that makes you eligible for GBC is simply the entry requirement for professional training and in itself does not allow you to call yourself a psychologist. Please see  the BPS website for further information.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Ashok Jansari or Jan de Fockert .

What you'll study

You will also study the following:

• Biological Substrates of Psychology (15 credits)
• Research Methods and Statistics (30 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Please note, it is not necessary to have a strong background in maths to study and do well in the statistics module. If you are concerned about this module, we offer a free ‘bootcamp’ before the start of the academic term. This bootcamp introduces you to basic concepts which will help you transition into the formal lectures at the start of term. Information on this bootcamp will be communicated to students when the details are finalised.

You will also take a 15-credit module offered by the Department of Psychology, from a list provided annually by the department*. Some recent examples include:

*Please note that optional modules change each year depending on staff availability because of circumstances such as research leave, maternity leave, etc, as well as timetabling constraints. Therefore, we cannot guarantee which modules will be available.

Assessments

For each of the core modules, you'll have one coursework assignment per term. A number of different forms of assessment are used including essays, oral presentations and poster presentations. You'll be provided training in each of these formats. In addition to these assessments, most modules will have an exam at the end of the year.

How the course is delivered

This masters is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical lab work. Due to the practical nature of the course, it is delivered in person, and cannot be studied online.

Most of the modules are taught in formal lectures. A number of core modules also have tutorials, which are delivered by a specialist academic from within the department. Tutorials also give you the opportunity to work with and learn from students from other programmes.

For some of the modules, you will be in lectures that are shared with students on other postgraduate programmes while for others, you will be in lectures shared with undergraduate programmes; this is done so that you receive teaching in each module that is necessary for BPS accreditation.

For certain modules, you'll also have regular lab classes which are designed to give you the opportunity to put your learning into practice. You'll also regularly meet with your personal tutor in small groups, to help support you throughout the course.

We try to concentrate our teaching as much as possible, and typically, this will mean coming to campus three days a week. Timetables are always subject to change from year to year and a fixed timetable is only available towards the end of September.

Part-time study

Details of the structure of part-time study can be found below in our programme specification. In your first year, you'll complete taught modules. In your second year, you'll complete the final two taught modules as well as your research dissertation. Your timetable will be dependent on the optional modules you choose.

Download the programme specification .

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least an upper second class standard.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification ) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees.

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £10740
• Home - part-time: £5370
• International - full-time: £17860

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

• Details of  your academic qualifications
• The  email address of your referee  who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
• Copies of  your educational transcripts   or certificates
• A  personal statement  – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online.  Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Application deadline

There is no set deadline for applications, however, as this is a popular programme, we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.

Find out more about applying .

Find out more about the staff teaching on this programme:

• Ashok Jansari
• Fockert, Jan de

Find out more about the research being carried out in the psychology department .

Similar programmes

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MRes Research Methods in Psychology

This programme trains you in the fundamental aspects of quantitative and qualitative research, including research design, data collection and data analysis, and provides practical, ‘hands-on’ experience.

MSc Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience

This exciting MSc aims to equip you with a rigorous grounding in the theory and practice of behavioural neuroscience for progressing to further postgraduate studies, such as Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programmes or PhD programmes.

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• MSc/PgDip Psychology (Conversion)

Psychology (Conversion)

How are our personalities formed? Why is it important to evaluate psychological evidence from a critical perspective? Why are ethical considerations crucial when planning to undertake psychological research?

Course overview

Explore the history of modern psychology, the development of social identity, and the workings of the human brain. Develop a critical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and achieve Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist.

Designed for students who have a degree without accreditation from The British Psychological Society (BPS), our course opens doors to various opportunities and further education within the field of psychology. 

We teach this course entirely online, covering each unit over a series of topic weeks. You’ll typically learn through ‘mini lectures’ (available as video presentations), online discussions, readings from core e-texts, and other forms of learning activity.

Some of t...

What you need to know

• When does the course start? September 2024

12 months full-time

24 months part-time for MSc

21 months part-time for PgDip

• Where will I study this course? Online

Features and benefits

“We have a dedicated team of academics and support tutors who will help you develop your core psychological knowledge and allow you to further explore your interests with our optional units. To move your career toward psychology, you’ll learn to problem solve; make critical judgements; plan your personal and professional development; develop your written and verbal communication skills and design and manage a psychological project. You can study from any location and build connections within our supportive Psychology Conversion community.”  Dr Stephanie Dunn Senior Lecturer, MSc Psychology (Conversion) Programme Leader

Course Information

We deliver this course entirely online, from enrolment through to research project submission and you’ll study through e-learning and our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

The MSc/PgDip Psychology (Conversion) is structured to be convenient to online learners. You’ll study four core units, as well as the core research project unit and option units.

If you study part-time, you will undertake all your core units in year one, with option units and the research project in year two.

Day-to-day, you might study a topic via a mini lecture or  video presentation, discuss the content with fellow students on our online forums and chat spaces, read a few chapters from a core text, and undertake a variety of different learning activities, which are clearly indicated in the unit Moodle areas.

The core units are: Social Psychology and Individual differences; Research Methods in Psychology Cognitive and Biological Psychology; Lifespan and Atypical Development and Dissertation (MSc) or Empirical Project (PgDip).

As well as the core units, you’ll usually study two option units (one on the PgDip route). These focus on professional skills and introduce you to areas of psychology you could specialise in when you graduate.

Some of the option units we’ve run in previous years include Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Conceptual, and Historical Issues in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Health Psychology, Coaching Psychology, and Clinical Neuroscience. For each specialist unit, you’ll learn from lecturers with expertise in these areas of Psychology.

All content is delivered remotely, so you won’t need to attend our campus in Manchester city centre for this course. However, support is provided throughout the course, by each of the Unit Leads, through Moodle and Microsoft Teams.  

You’ll also have a personal tutor, who provides you with both academic and personal support throughout the course.

To help you study at masters level, we organise a number of online skills sessions in areas such as critical writing, literature review, and career options.  You can also access these facilities on-campus if you wish. 

Accreditations, Awards and Endorsements

Accreditation.

The British Psychological Society

Students on the full-time route only have one year of study, with induction in September 2024 and completion of the final research project in September 2025. Please note as degree confirmation will not be until December it is not possible to go onto further study for courses starting in September 2025.    Our innovative and diverse curriculum masters level modular conversion course is delivered entirely online by e-learning and Virtual Learning Environments. There is no physical attendance requirement.    We have derived the content for the programme from the BPS/QAA benchmark stipulations for Psychology.   Alongside the core units, you'll choose one (PgDip) or two (MSc) optional units which may include: 

Forensic Psychology

Educational psychology.

• Conceptual and Historical Issues in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Coaching Psychology

Clinical neuroscience, health psychology.

Students on the part-time route study complete all of the core units in their first year of study, moving onto the optional units and dissertation/empirical project in their second. 

Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Through this unit we aim introduce you to two core areas of psychology: Social Psychology and Individual Differences. We'll organise the content into broad themes related to human behaviour and interaction, encouraging consideration of how social psychological and individual differences approaches can assist our understanding of any topic. 

Research Methods in Psychology

The unit develops an applied and critical understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods in psychology enabling the development of theoretical and philosophical understandings alongside practical skills and experience. 

Cognitive and Biological Psychology

We've derived the content for this unit from the BPS/QAA stipulations for Biological Psychology (“biological bases of human and non-human animal behaviour, hormones and behaviour, behavioural genetics, neuroscience, typical and atypical neuropsychology, comparative and evolutionary psychology”); and Cognitive Psychology (“attention, perception, learning, memory, thinking, problem solving, decision making, metacognition, language, consciousness and cognitive neuropsychology”).    On this unit, you'll also cover, discussion and evaluation of theory, methodology and quantitative analysis, methods in cognition research and biological psychology. You'll explore brain damage and disorders, neuroimaging, the localisation of function and real-world illustrations of research and experimental design.    You'll reflect on your personal and professional development as part of the formative tasks for this unit. 

Lifespan and Atypical Development

In this unit you'll explore a range of developmental psychological topics over the course of the lifespan, including atypical development. 

Study and assessment breakdown

10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:

• Full-time 60% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 40% independent study
• Part-time 60% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 40% independent study
• Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
• Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination

Here's the core and optional units you'll be studying in your second year.

Dissertation - Psychology (MSc)

In this unit we'll introduce you to first-hand research experience. You'll design, analyse, and write up a report.    In more detail, you'll identify research questions in any area within psychology, subject to the availability of knowledgeable supervisors and apparatus. You'll prepare research proposals as well as ethics forms and submit these to the Postgraduate University’s Ethics Committee for approval prior to commencing the research.     You'll design and carry out your investigations under supervision of a member of staff. It is expected that all projects will involve the collection of information or the analysis of existing datasets. Research may utilise whatever method or methods most suitable to address the identified aims.  

Empirical Project - Psychology (PgDip)

Students will identify their research questions in any area within Psychology, subject to the availability of knowledgeable supervisors and apparatus). They will prepare research proposals as well as ethics forms and submit these to the Postgraduate University’s Ethics Committee for approval prior to commencing the work. Students will design and carry out their investigations under supervision of a member of staff. It is expected that projects will involve analysis of existing datasets. Research may utilise whatever method or methods most suitable to address the identified aims. The research may be qualitative or quantitative and or collaborative with external agencies (if necessary). Reports will be written up in the form of an APA journal article. 

Option units

In this unit we'll provide you with an introduction to the main theories, research and practice of health psychology. You'll cover a range of different theories and topics that relate to health psychology. 

The overall aim of this unit is to provide a critical overview of forensic issues in psychology, examining both the theoretical and practical underpinnings of forensic psychology. The unit critically examines key areas of forensic psychology, including current theories, research and developments in forensic psychology.     Key concepts and theories in the following areas will be outlined and evaluated: theories of offending behaviour, the context of practice in forensic psychology (including evidence-based practice and the scientist-practitioner approach), applications of psychology to criminal justice processes, working with specific client groups encountered in forensic psychology, using and communicating information in forensic psychology practice, and assessment and interventions with client groups.  

Conceptual and Historical issues in Counselling and Psychotherapy

In this unit we aim to introduce to the conceptual and historical foundations of the main approaches to counselling and psychotherapy.

In this unit you'll explore the core topics in the clinical neurosciences. You'll cover neuroscientific perspectives on, and interventions in neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health issues, neurological conditions and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. 

In this unit we'll introduce you to coaching psychology, taking an applied approach, with an emphasis on empirical research of practice. We'll organise the content into three broad themes: applied coaching practice, ethical and professional considerations, and evidence-based coaching. 

This unit presents an introduction to the theories, research and practice of contemporary educational psychology. There has been a longstanding interest in the applicability of psychology to education - this discipline now provides information beneficial to multiple professions, including teaching, paediatricians and practicing educational psychologists.     Educational Psychology draws upon key aspects of multiple areas of psychology including developmental, cognitive, social and neuro-psychology, demonstrating the valuable links between these areas. The research gained in educational psychology is able to form the basis for developing interventions in providing optimum classroom environments and reducing behaviours that may result in barriers to education.     On completion of this module, students will therefore have a knowledge base enabling them to understand theories relating to education and how these can be applied to the real world. This module also adopts a particular focus on specific developmental disabilities, giving students a greater understanding of these and how schools can implement strategies to reduce barriers to education for some of the most vulnerable pupils.

Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.

• a virtual experience campus tour
• chats with current students

Taught by Experts

Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.

We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.

Entry Requirements

In accordance with the British Psychological Society's requirements, applicants are required to hold a minimum of a lower second class (2:2) UK honours degree (or international equivalent).

Applicants to the MSc route need not have studied any psychology before. 

Applicants to the PgDip route must have studied 60 credits of psychology at Level 4 or above. Transcripts will be reviewed by the admissions team and/or admissions tutor to assess eligibility. If you have any questions, contact the Psychology admissions team on [email protected].

What to Include in Your Personal Statement

The personal statement should clearly discuss the following points:

• How your ongoing career plans would benefit from studying this psychology course
• Your commitment, motivation, and ability to dedicate appropriate time and resources to the course (we strongly recommend around 40 hours per week for full time routes, and around 20 hours per week for part time routes)
• Your familiarity with relevant IT  

In addition, your personal statement will be evaluated on the strength of academic writing and clarity of communication.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here .

Fees and Funding

Uk and channel island students.

Distance learning fee: £1056 per 20 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

EU and Non-EU International Students

Distance learning fee: £2056 per 20 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Information

A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Costs

Specialist costs.

Optional estimate : £400

other Costs

All of the e-books and journals required for the course are available from the library. Students will need a computer or laptop (Chromebooks are not advisable since they do not always support the necessary software) and a headset to facilitate their learning.   

Career Prospects

When you graduate, you’ll be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist in the UK which means that you can continue with further study to specialise in a particular field of psychology, including Doctoral study.

Depending upon the field of psychology you choose to specialise in the future, some of the places you might work in are local authorities, social services, prisons, sports clubs, the NHS or private hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, corporate sector and civil services.

For further information about psychology careers, please consult the British Psychological Society .

Want to know more

Register your interest, got a question.

Please contact our course enquiries team.

Get advice and support on making a successful application.

You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.

Manchester is your city, be part of it

Your new home, your new city, why university, related courses, childhood development and wellbeing in practice, forensic psychology (bps accredited), forensic psychology practice, psychological wellbeing in clinical practice.

Programme Review Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. For further information on when we may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our Terms and Conditions .

Important Notice This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most up to date information for your chosen course of study.

Confirmation of Regulator The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory framework can be found at officeforstudents.org.uk .

All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current Student Protection Plan .

How to Write a Psychology Personal Statement Worthy of Oxbridge!

This blog leads you through some of U2’s Oxford and Cambridge-educated Psychology graduates’ tips for building content for, writing and structuring your Psychology personal statement. Most University level Psychology courses do not require that students have taken Psychology at A-level or IB (in fact, some professors advise that students don’t take it, because the A-Level/ IB syllabus is so different from what you learn at University). So, how do you demonstrate your aptitude for the course at university level? Whether you have studied Psychology at school, or are starting afresh, this blog will teach you how to ensure your Psychology personal statement stands out to interviewers for the top UK universities.

Tips for your Psychology Personal Statement

Few students will have written anything like a UCAS personal statement before - an approximate side of A4 on what exactly you have to offer. For some general tips on how to write a high-level and original personal statement, check out our blog on 10 Top Tips for Writing a Standout Oxbridge Personal Statement .

Your personal statement should integrate your personal interests, subject knowledge and extracurricular experience. For Psychology, we suggest focusing on three main areas: (1) highlight your personal interest in psychology and link this more explicitly to the range of ways you have explored the subject; (2) emphasise your academic abilities and how these will ensure you suit the course e.g. You may mention your mathematical/ scientific abilities and how this complements/ facilitates your interest in empirically studying human behaviour; (3) discuss extra-curricular activities and how these also relate to your subject interest. E.g. Essay competitions, projects, lectures etc. We have provided guidance on each of the three key points below, how to weave them together and structure your personal statement. Take heed and you should have all the tools you need for writing a standout Psychology personal statement!

(1) Highlight your personal interest in psychology and link this more explicitly to the range of ways you have explored the subject

If you have an initial interest in Psychology, but have not had a chance to explore it in-depth, or beyond the school syllabus, this should be the first step. Do not regurgitate your school syllabus. You’ll need to read and research the subject, refining your interests and building evidence of your wider exploration e.g. through reading books, articles and scientific research papers.

Ideas to direct your wider subject exploration:

One way of developing an early understanding of key aspects of Psychology is to briefly look at the compulsory modules of the courses that interest you and gain an initial overview of key themes/ topics through reading and research. E.g. The undergraduate psychology course at Oxford University covers: Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Neuroscience, so you could try to gain a quick appreciation of each module through research. Cambridge also provide a useful A-Z of key topics in Psychology.

After an initial introduction into broad areas of psychology and what they involve, focus in. Which areas pique your interest most? Keep a file with notes on each topic, read articles to extend your knowledge, and remember to relate concepts to your personal experience (e.g. examples from everyday life, real-world applications of concepts) so you don’t end up turning your personal statement into an essay. Why does [Insert topic] make you want to study Psychology at degree level? What catalysed your interest in [Insert topic]? Can you think of examples in your everyday life that relate? :

E.g. Following some research, you may find you are interested in Social Psychology, in particular group identity. What interests you about it? You may have read about ‘outgroup homogeneity’: the failure to see differences between members of out-group. Can you think of examples in your everyday experience? E.g. Racial prejudice?

Conversely, you may have started with thinking about racial prejudice, if that is something you are particularly passionate about, and that could have led you to research the psychology behind it, which could have brought you to Outgroup homogeneity. Either method is great. When it comes to writing your personal statement, it can be best to start with the personal experience/ interest and mention how this spurred you on to the academic research/ how your interest deepened with wider exploration.

Psychology Personal Statement Reading Recommendations

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – Oliver Saks: This book provides case histories of patients who have suffered a range of neurological disorders. E.g. Patients who have lost their memories, patients with violent tics, those with disabilities, but who are mathematical geniuses.

Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman : Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences laureate, Kahneman, developed ‘Prospect theory’, a theory of the psychology of choice, which has been central to the relatively new field of behavioural economics. The book provides a good overview of a variety of key topics and is particularly useful for those with a penchant for economics (thinking about interdisciplinarity and how your subjects of interest link is always great for your personal statement), or for those simply interested in real-world applications of theories. Try to think of examples from your everyday life e.g. How decision making can be influenced by advertising and product placement.

Bad Science - Ben Goldachre: Dr Ben Goldacre is the author of the Bad Science column in the Guardian. This humorous book should encourage you to critically appraise articles that you read and stimulate a broader discussion on subjectivity/objectivity and empiricism in psychological research. Humans introduce bias into all research - e.g. Look into the spurious findings of fMRI research when researchers do not adequately account for ‘noise’ in the data.

The Memory Illusion – Dr Julia Shaw: Forensic psychologist and memory specialist, Dr Julia Shaw, uses the latest research to show the many ways in which our brains can be led astray by memory. Learn about how errors in reconstructing memory reflect inherent biases. If you would like to learn more about memory, check out our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™’s Mind-Enhancing Articles for Psychology, where our Oxbridge psychologists examine the role of memory and other key psychology topics/ questions.

Also try to read some scientific papers and start thinking critically about them, and stay updated on developments in psychology and psychology in the news. E.g. Through reading The New Scientist - Psychology News , Neuroscience News , Naked Scientist Psychology articles & podcasts, or the Royal Society of Psychology research articles, podcasts and blog posts.

(2) Emphasise your academic abilities and how these will ensure you suit the Psychology course

Throughout your personal statement, you should demonstrate how you have built skills in preparation for university and for studying Psychology . To begin preparation, brainstorm your academic abilities and skills, and how these ensure you will suit the course/s you are applying for. Extensively research your top university choices, and see if they have a page dedicated to what they want from applicants. Fill a table as in the example below to help you relate your skills to the study of Psychology.

(3) Discuss extra-curricular activities and how these relate to your subject interests

Many students mistake “extra-curricular activities” for non-subject-related activities such as sport, art, or music. Whilst you can mention these at the end of your personal statement, you are much better off mentioning co-curriculars that directly link to your subject, especially if applying to Oxford or Cambridge (non-academic activities should be 2-3 lines maximum to round-off your personal statement in this case).

If you can’t think of co-curricular activities to mention, now is the time to start finding opportunities to take part in! Here are some ideas:

Psychology Essay Competitions

Minds Underground hosts a Psychology Essay Competition each year. This year, the competition includes a Psychology Research Proposal Challenge, which is perfect for demonstrating independent research & initiative, and will encourage you to learn about experimental design, data collection, handling and analysis.

Also check out Oxford and Cambridge-run essay competitions e.g. Newnham College runs a Psychological & Behavioural Sciences competition each year.

Research Projects

You could task yourself with curating your own independent research project to mention on your personal statement.

3 Example Psychology Projects:

Investigating the effects of colour, word type, or other non-semantic factors on memory/reaction time/false memory recall of word lists

Influence of age/gender/multilingualism or any number of other factors on memory, number & word processing, any easily quantifiable metric.

An investigation into behavioural economics in the style of Kahneman & Tversky, looking at Type 1 & 2 decision making and how this can be influenced, for example, by advertising and product placement.

If you are looking to undertake a project under the tutelage of a Psychology subject expert, we also run specialised guided research projects through Minds Underground, usually a month in duration, with weekly project tutorial sessions (these are paid). E.g. “A Psychology or Medicine Project with a Research Associate for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Oxford University Hospital Trust (NHS)” or “Psychiatrists & Pharmaceuticals: Alzheimer’s Research Project” with Psychology & Philosophy Oxford graduate, Georgia, who is studying for an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at UCL.

The aim is to combine teaching of high-level subject-specific content with exposure to real-world applications of these concepts, giving you the opportunity to undertake a project that is both useful for a university application and potential future career. The projects are great to mention on personal statements, and make impressive talking points at interview, particularly for top UK universities such as Oxbridge (our project hosts are all Oxbridge-educated), who favour applicants with an interest in scientific research. 

Societies, Summer Schools & Lectures/ Talks

 Are you part of your school’s Psychology Society ? If the school doesn’t have one, could you start one up? Or if they have a STEM society, could you introduce a Psychology element or invite speakers for lectures?

We host a fantastic Psychology Summer School for university applicants, hosted by our team of Psychology Oxbridge graduates. The weekly sessions, running from July to September, will provide a taster of University level Psychology, to provide material which students can write about in personal statements, an discuss during their interviews

There are a plethora of online lectures and talks for you to access online - E.g. Gresham College Psychology lectures, or Ted Talks on Psychology

Additional Psychology Personal Statement Advice for those applying to Oxbridge: Oxford, Cambridge

Applying to leading courses like Cambridge's Psychological and Behavioural Sciences or Oxford's Experimental Psychology course requires a tailored approach in your personal statement. Here's how you can make your statement stand out for these Oxbridge courses, compared to non-Oxbridge programmes:

Research-Centric Focus:

Highlight your interest in research from the very beginning. Discuss specific research projects you've been involved in or research findings that have fascinated you.

Look into the cutting-edge research conducted at Cambridge or Oxford and see if anything aligns with your academic interests.

Interdisciplinary Connections:

Emphasise your readiness to explore the interdisciplinary aspects of psychology. These Oxbridge courses often connect psychology with other fields. Mention your interest in related subjects such as neuroscience, biology, or even philosophy, if relevant.

Discuss how these interdisciplinary connections will enrich your understanding of psychology and your research capabilities.

Critical Thinking and Independent Study:

Both Cambridge and Oxford value independent learning and critical thinking. Share your experiences with independent research, coursework, or self-study that demonstrate your ability to think critically and engage deeply with psychology.

Specific Course Features:

Relate some of your content to the unique features of the course at either Cambridge or Oxford. For example, Cambridge's Psychological and Behavioural Sciences course includes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding human behaviour. Oxford's Experimental Psychology course focuses on research design and data analysis.

Explain how these aspects align with your academic goals and career aspirations.

Use of Research Methods:

Try to demonstrate your familiarity with research methods and data analysis tools, as these are central to both courses. Highlight any coursework or projects that have developed your skills in these areas.

Looking Beyond the Classroom:

Mention your involvement in psychology-related co-curricular activities, such as higher level topic areas, clubs, volunteer work, or internships, to demonstrate your dedication to the field beyond academic requirements.

You could seek guidance from your teachers or one of U2’s Oxbridge Psychology tutors, who are familiar with the specific requirements and expectations of Oxbridge courses. They can provide invaluable insights and help you refine your personal statement. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Next Steps: Drafting & Structuring Your Psychology Personal Statement

Try to narrow your interests down to 2 or 3 topic areas which you can use as overarching themes for your personal statement, e.g. (1) Theories of Mind, of Consciousness, (2) Psychology & Gender, (3) Social Psychology - Group Identity.

Ensure you can address these themes in depth. Have a range of resources to draw from e.g. a scientific paper, a book, research you undertook as part of an essay competition.

Ensure a strong narrative , including linking of concepts between key sections.

Demonstrate personal critical analysis to show your engagement and interest in the subject.

Example Psychology Personal Statement Structure

Aim for around four main paragraphs:

1st paragraph (introductory): What is your motivation to study Psychology? Be specific: what do you want to explore at university? What is distinctive about studying Psychology that makes it worthwhile? Ensure you talk about what motivates your study of the subject now, not a catalyst from your childhood as the interviewer will find it clichéd and less relevant.

2nd paragraph: Explore your interest in [Insert topic] through [Insert activity: e.g. Summer School]. Which of your abilities did this highlight? Link the topic to an interest in [Insert research form: An experiment, article etc.]. Link this to [Insert another activity e.g. a Cambridge lecture on X].

3rd paragraph: Link to paragraph two. This paragraph can follow the same format, but deal with a different topic/ theme.

4th paragraph: Mention extra-curricular activities that don’t relate to your subject interests really briefly (e.g., music, volunteering, anything else of relevance) and demonstrate how these have built skills in preparation for university and for studying Psychology.

You could mention your other A-Level/ IB subjects, perhaps describing how they have enhanced your study of Psychology. 

You could mention any prizes or roles of responsibility which you have had at school, including any clubs that you might organise, such as the school newspaper or student council.

It can be useful to conclude your personal statement by returning to your aptitude for studying the subject in a final few lines . Which core skills do you possess which will equip you to excel at degree level? It’s important to strike a balance between enthusiasm for the subject and evidence of skills.

Example Successful Psychology Personal Statement

Below, we have included an example successful Cambridge Psychology personal statement, written by one of our 1st Class Cambridge PBS tutors. N.B. The statement is by no means perfect, but should provide an exemplar for how to weave your academic interests and co-curricular endeavours into your statement.

Over 100 trillion synapses connect to form neural networks in the brain – an engine so close to home yet more enigmatic than some of the cosmos. How can the very matter we use to think and learn unlock mysteries of the universe, yet not know exactly how it stores memories? It is these existential questions that fuel my fascination for studying the delicate mechanisms of our minds. Year one of my A-levels, what started as curiosity became increasingly interesting to me. Psychology lessons were deeply thought-provoking, particularly when biological and cognitive psychology were the topics of study. The biology behind the metaphysics of consciousness and perception has since captured me, especially when considering neurological disorders. Fascinated by these phenomena, last year I attended a lecture by Baland Jalal; he discussed his own research into a cure for sleep paralysis, as well as demonstrating his enthusiasm for the field which was a perfect cross-section of various disciplines that I love. To further explore this new intricate field of interest, I read “The New Science of Consciousness” by Paul Nunez; this book offered me a profound insight into the philosophy and “hard problems” that this science faces; whilst explanations for Alzheimer’s and Free Will are difficult to retrieve, the questions we need to ask are even harder to formulate. Cures for neurodegenerative diseases are currently beyond our grasp, which I believe will be changed with further years of research that I would be honoured to be a part of. The challenges and speculations associated with understanding the brain and our behaviour draws me into the subject as I enjoy combining abstract and logical thinking to decipher problems. Both studying logical programming in Computer Science and my EPQ (an investigation into creating a handmade Wilson Cloud Chamber) showcase the interface of these types of thinking. Self-teaching has been a critical aspect of advancing my knowledge of Neuropsychology as at A-Level there is no depth into more peculiar cases (many of which I discovered after reading “The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat” by Oliver Sacks) such as Anton-Babinski Syndrome – a rare symptom of brain damage that causes people to be “cortically blind”, yet inexplicably deny their blindness. Using my own learning techniques, in Year 12 I helped tutor students in Year 7 physics classes. The significant change in learning style developed my methods of tutoring, teaching me to work with and teach peers of varying ages and enhance my ability to describe difficult concepts in an appropriate and understandable way. During year 12 I was accepted onto the Sutton Trust US Programme – a competitive Fulbright programme for high-achieving state-school students. I was one of 150 students picked from 1000+ applicants. Learning to deal with additional, international examinations and workload alongside school, being the guitarist in a band, and rock-climbing has been essential for my personal development, allowing me to handle substantial pressure. I was awarded a visit to Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s graduate laboratories where I saw leading research into many disciplines of science. This year however I decided that the more specialised curriculum offered in the UK was better suited for me – nevertheless, I am still an alum and volunteer for the programme and was chosen to be an advisor at USA college day this year. I gave individual advice to hundreds of young people, ensuring they had information and advice they needed to pursue undergraduate studies ideal for them. As a member of my school’s Student Wellbeing team, it is evident to anyone that a distinct and recurring interest of mine is to help people. I believe this perfectly ties into my desire to research the brain, as I am driven to be part of the research that will prevent neurodegeneration, aid mental illness and answer the fundamental questions that make us human. As written by Paul Nunez, “The phenomenon of consciousness is the major unsolved challenge of our age”.

Finally, remember not to start thinking about your personal statement too late! The content building part is by far the most important - without well-thought out content and a wide range of evidence for your independent exploration, you will not be able to write an engaging personal statement. The writing part will be easy if you have lots of exciting content to draw from.

Best of luck!

Looking for a Personal Statement Tutor or Support For Your Wider Psychology Application?

Psychology personal statement tutoring.

U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a Psychology personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidates own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.

Oxbridge Psychology Tutoring

We have a large team of Oxbridge-educated Psychology mentors including 1st Class, Master’s and PhD level graduates, who support students throughout the process, including personal statement, admissions test and interview preparation.

The Process:

1) We suggest an Oxbridge Psychology graduate as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Psychology at the University of Oxford and Cambridge, and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation and the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour diagnostic session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) U2’s approach for regular Psychology application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview - this may sometimes stretch from A-Level standard to First Year Undergraduate. Mentors ensure each student refines their interests within Psychology, and is exposed to a range of key themes and topics. Throughout there will be a focus on the experimental side of psychology, by centring the course on real studies, and discussing the techniques and limitations involved in psychological experiments. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during interview.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects , Psychology summer school and Oxbridge mock interview days . Honing the skills necessary to succeed for Oxbridge ideally requires long-term preparation and mentoring presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the very best Oxbridge has produced.

Sessions from £75/h + VAT.

Related Blogs and Resources

How to Prepare for Your Oxbridge Interview

University Entry, Application & Admissions Tutoring

Oxbridge Psychology Interview Preparation Guide

How To Get a 9 In English GCSE: Our Oxbridge-Educated GCSE English Tutors’ Top Tips for 2024

Applying for french at university in 2024 what to read and watch for your personal statement and oxbridge interviews.

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• Postgraduate study
• Taught degree programmes A‑Z
• Psychological Studies (conversion)

Postgraduate taught  

Psychological Studies (conversion) MSc

Education open evening: Thursday 18 April, 17:30 - 19:00

Come along to the School of Education open evening. Discover our wide range of postgraduate programmes and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) teaching qualification.

• Find out more and book your place

This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited conversion programme is designed to provide you with a broad and critical awareness of psychological theory and practice. You will be provided with opportunities which allow you to focus on aspects of psychology with particular relevance to your own experience and interests.

• Academic contact: [email protected]
• Teaching start: September
• MSc: 12 months full-time

Why this programme

• You will study the fundamental and specialised theories, principles and concepts, which are informed by developments at the forefront of research in psychology.
• You will utilise a significant range of skills, techniques, practices and materials, which are associated with psychology.
• This is a conversion degree for students who have no previous studies in the area of psychology. You will have the opportunity of a change in direction, to pursue a career, either academic or professional, in psychology.
• Successful completion of this programme makes you eligible for BPS Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC).

Programme structure

You will take seven core and three optional courses, followed by a research project/dissertation. You will also be allocated an academic supervisor to advise you on your individual research project. Please check the  FAQs for more information. 

Core courses

• COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES (PGT CONV)
• PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• RESEARCH METHODS 1 (PGT CONV)
• RESEARCH METHODS 2 (PGT CONV)
• SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• DISSERTATION (PGT CONV)

Optional courses

• APPLIED QUALITATIVE METHODS (PGT CONV)
• CLINICAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• CURRENT ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY_PSYCH STUDIES
• EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (PGT CONV)
• PERCEPTION AND VISUAL COGNITION_PSYCH STUDIES
• PROFESSIONAL SKILLS_PSYCH STUDIES
• PSYCHOLOGY OF ADULT LEARNING (IMAESC)

Programme alteration or discontinuation The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract .

Career prospects

As this programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, you are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the Society (GBC). Our graduates have successfully progressed to further academic study and professional training in the field of psychology. Graduate final destinations after completing further mandatory study include clinical, educational and counselling psychologists, and research associate.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024-25

• Full-time fee: £11130

International & EU

• Full-time fee: £30240

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of  £2000 within four weeks  of an offer being made. Home applicants are required to pay a deposit of £700 within four weeks  of an offer being made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

This programme requires some students to pay a deposit to secure their place.

If you are an international student, we will only issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once the deposit has been paid.

Your offer letter will state:

• how to pay the deposit payment
• the deadline for paying the deposit

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% handling fee will be deducted.

Deposits will be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

• Where the University is unable to offer you a place.
• Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
• Applicant can prove that they have applied for a visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but the VISA has been refused. The applicant must have shown 'real intent' to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to obtain their visa.
• Applicant does not meet his / her conditions of offer: this may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide a language test which was taken after the date that the deposit was paid).

Deposits will not be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

• Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and credit it against the applicant’s account for securing their place for the following year of entry.

Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the programme start date stated on your offer letter.

Requests made after this date will be subject to discretion.

• Find out more about Deposits

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

• Southeast Asia Distinction Award

The University of Glasgow is excited to announce the new Southeast Asia Distinction Award for highly qualified students from this region. This scholarship is available to students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme on any eligible degree programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• GREAT Scholarships 2024- Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering 4 scholarships to students in Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc by Research courses). All eligible courses can be viewed under the 'eligible programmes' tab on this webpage. 

The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

• The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship is accelerating exceptional Disabled Students through masters’ programmes into leadership positions to create change.

Do you have ambitions to change the world? Are you pioneering in your field? Are you creating change for Disabled People? Let us open some doors.

We are searching for individuals who choose to use their lived experience of disabling barriers to make a difference. To create change.

Applications open 2pm 15 January 2024.

Please see  Snowdon Trust, Investing in Disabled Students  website for more details.

• Banco de Mexico

The Mexican National Bank (Banco de Mexico) provides special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study. The University of Glasgow in partnership with Bank of Mexico FIDERH is offering a fee discount to holders of a Bank of Mexico FIDERH loan. See the FIDERH website for further information.

• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.

The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:

• No need for collateral from students or parents - ensuring equality of access
• Favourable, better-than-market interest rates
• Pay-back terms that allow graduates up to two years to find work before beginning repayment.

Please visit the  Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website  for more information.

• PGT Excellence Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has a total of 20 PGT Excellence Scholarships available to UK students entering any of the University’s Colleges.

• Climate Leadership Scholarships

Cop26 was held in Glasgow from 31 st October – 12 th November 2021 and the University of Glasgow recognises the importance of universities in tackling the climate emergency. Glasgow is part of the newly formed  Cop26 Universities Network , a growing group of over 80 universities working together to promote a zero-carbon future. Alongside vital research being carried out by our academics, Glasgow recognises that urgent action is needed on our campuses, and we aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.  We believe that the climate emergency can only be addressed by implementing long-term sustainability policies and our Green Glasgow strategy details our action plan for the next decade.

In recognition of the vital need for action to combat the climate emergency the University of Glasgow is excited to launch our Climate Leadership Scholarships. We have 20 scholarships available to UK students entering any of our Colleges on a PGT programme which engages with the climate emergency.

As a world-changing research-led University we are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers working across disciplines to address the climate emergency.

• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend of EUR 1,100 (for the academic year 2024/2025) and travel bursary of EUR 250.00 as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.

Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)

Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

• Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

For further information, please refer to the  Chevening website .

• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Schemes

Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO ),  with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

• EU Welcome Award

The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.  

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the EU Welcome Award to new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount.  This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the EU Welcome Award.

• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  

The University is offering up to 15 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

• University of Glasgow African Partners Award

The University of Glasgow African Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of the University partners across Africa:  African Partners List 2024 .

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2023/24.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

Applicants much hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages)

• Emerging Asia Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to introduce an exciting new award designed to support students from a selection of underrepresented 'frontier and developing' Asian countries . 

The University of Glasgow is offering 8 scholarships for highly qualified international students from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Students must be starting a one-year postgraduate taught masters programme, in any discipline, for the academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver with stipend for one year that can not be combined with any other scholarships. 

• University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from our partner The University of the West Indies in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of The University of the West Indies.  

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for students, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

Those who apply must hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages);

• University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has several International Leadership Scholarships available to International students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fees discount.

• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from the Caribbean, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

• CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)

The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful CONICyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award

The University of Glasgow has 40 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to students from low and middle income countries, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline, in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• India Merit Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to announce a new India Merit award for 2024 entry to acknowledge highly qualified Indian postgraduate taught offer holders. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

• University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award (Nigeria)

The University of Glasgow has 10 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to Nigerian students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.  

This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.

For more information visit the SAAS website .

• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested   Postgraduate Master’s Loan  of up to £11,570   to help with course fees and living costs. You have to  repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan  at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

• Alumni Discount

In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2024/25. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, International Summer School programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.

• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

Postgraduate Master's Finance

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time Postgraduate Master’s course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019, you can apply for Postgraduate Master's Finance and receive up to £17,000 as a combination of grant and loan:

• a maximum grant of £6,885 and loan of £10,115 if your household income is £18,370 and below
• a grant of £1,000 and loan of £16,000 if your household income is not taken into account or is above £59,200.

For more information visit  Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Doctoral course (such as a PhD) from 1 August 2019 you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,700.

• Postgraduate Access Scholarship

The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants who met any of our widening participation criteria , or equivalent, at undergraduate level. The value of each scholarship is £4,000 and they are for students undertaking a one or two year Taught Masters programme. For two year Taught Masters programmes, the scholarship is available in year one only.

• Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.

For more information visit  www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate  .

• Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship. The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance . The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the  Accommodation Services section  on the website.

Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.

Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.

• The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent in any subject.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.5
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

Toefl (ibt, my best or athome).

• 79; with Reading 19; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 24
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 59 with no subtest less than: Listening 59;Reading 60; Speaking 59; Writing 74

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Oxford English Test

• Oxford ELLT 7
• R&L: OIDI level no less than 7 with Reading: 25-26 and Listening: 18-19
• W&S: OIDI level no less than 7

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years.
• students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our  enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas
• This one-year masters programme is eligible for a new, streamlined visa application process: find out more

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see  how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see  Application System Help .

• Name and Date of birth:  must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
• Contact Details : Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Choice of course : Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
• Proposed date of entry:  Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
• Education and Qualifications : Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
• English Language Proficiency : Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
• Employment and Experience : Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference : Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2024, all applicants.

As there is extremely high demand for places on this degree programme, the University has established an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.

Round 1 application dates

1 October 2023 to 22 November 2023 . All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 4 February 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 10 January 2024 .

Round 2 application dates

23 November 2023 to 22 January 2024 . All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 25 March 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 23 February 2024 .

Round 3 application dates

23 January 2024 to 15 March 2024 . Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 13 May 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 12 April 2024 .

Round 4 application dates

16 March 2024 to 1 May 2024 . Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 21 June 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 31 May 2024 .

Round 5 application dates

2 May 2024 to 15 June 2024 . Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 5 August 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 10 July 2024 .

All international applications submitted by 22 January 2024 (application rounds 1 and 2) will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 23 January 2024 , priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.

More information about this programme

• Background and aims

This programme is jointly delivered by the Schools of Education and Psychology.

Related programmes

• Academic Practice [MEd: Online distance learning]
• Adult Education, Community Development & Youth Work (CLD Standards Council Accredited) [MEd/PgDip]
• Childhood Practice [MEd/PgDip]
• Children's Literature & Literacies [MEd]
• Children’s Literature, Media & Cultural Entrepreneurship (Erasmus Mundus International Master) [IntM]

more related Education programmes

Health & Wellbeing

• Applied Neuropsychology [MSc(MedSci)/PgDip]
• Clinical Neuropsychology [MSc(MedSci)/PgDip]
• Clinical Neuropsychology Knowledge & Practice [MSc(MedSci)]
• Clinical Neuropsychology Practice [PgCert]
• Clinical Psychology [DClinPsy]

more related Health & Wellbeing programmes

Psychology & Neuroscience

• Behavioural Science [MSc]
• Brain Sciences [MSc]

more related Psychology & Neuroscience programmes

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• How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
• Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z
• How to apply for a postgraduate research degree
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Psychology personal statement example 63.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to apply for a postgraduate conversion course in Psychology at the Glasgow Caledonian University.

First of all, I have a great interest in the subject and would like to study it academically. This will allow me to explore a completely different field of expertise, as I will be able to further my career by pursuing postgraduate studies or participating in research projects in the future.

Secondly, as a volunteer with the Zeitgeist Movement, a non-political global organisation that advocates a sustainable development of our civilization through education, I believe that learning becomes an imperative.

While studying at the University I gained some basic knowledge in Psychology, having studied about 200 hours in lectures and coursework.

Behavioural mechanisms were the main area of research. Nature or nurture? This rather simplifying notion about the influences of one or the other has been debated over the years. Since the moment Sigmund Freud had discovered that behaviour is driven by inner forces that must be suppressed, the study focus was changed dramatically. The outstanding work by Wilhelm Reich gave another perspective in science of psychology. He showed that our behaviour is not influenced by mere physical, emotional and psychological factors. It depends and reflects upon surrounding environment that combines economical, political and social elements.

Then after Personality Psychology we were introduced to the basics of Social Psychology that fascinated me. Nowadays it draws my attention due to current social events occurring on a global scale, such as revolutionary uprising in Arab countries or Occupy Wall Street and Stop the G20 events, etc.

How does our mind work and what influences our personal and mass behaviour? To answer that in the light of today's social awareness protests is to understand that all our actions get triggered by internal and external forces. Some studies have shown that our individuality is determined solely by genes (famous Twin Study). Others insist on purely cultural and societal influences treating people as “social organisms”. After familiarising myself with Fear of Freedom by E. Fromm, I'm inclined to think that we are a combination of the above. Historically, we are conditioned by our cultural environment, but constantly add new features to our dynamic character. We strive for freedom, we are capable of compassion and co-operation – qualities that make us humans. Coupled with the ability to “know oneself”, it should bring a total transformation of conscience into all areas of society for a better, sustainable world. I feel that this course would provide me with a fundamental grasp to collaborate on the matter from psychological point of view.

As a part of ongoing self-education, I watch documentaries and read various books to expand my knowledge of the subject. For example, “Century of the self” by BBC inspired me to read on Sigmund Freud, Edward Bernays and Wilhelm Reich. I also enjoyed the works of James Gilligan, J. Krishnamurti, Erich Fromm and Gustave le Bon.

In conclusion, I believe that this programme would be the first step towards accredited postgraduate study in Social Psychology.

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This personal statement was written by Ebanashka for application in 2012.

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Thank you ever so for you article post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.

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Successful Personal Statement For Psychology At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Psychology applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Psychology Course at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection.

Read on to see how this candidate demonstrates their academic interests and initiative.   

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

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Psychology Personal Statement

How does the mind work? The mind is a mystery housed within the most complex mechanism known to man: the human brain. My innate curiosity compels me to find out more about such a mystery through the study of Psychology.

I have long been interested in how our minds differ: for example, why have I always been a strong mathematician while my brother finds it challenging? Being a musician, I found Kathryn Vaughn’s research supporting a correlation between musical and mathematical abilities particularly thought provoking, while I have also wondered whether my childhood obsession with jigsaws helped me develop problem-solving skills, which are particularly relevant in Geometry: the area with the biggest rift in our abilities. Ann Dowker’s argument, in ‘Individual Differences’, that educational methods influence such differences was also particularly compelling. Therefore, in my gap year, whilst helping struggling learners in KS3 Mathematics at a local school, and, when I help educate children in Tanzania as an International Citizen Service volunteer with the VSO charity, I will evaluate the success of different educational methods. This will give me experience of carrying out my own research, and, will develop skills such as empathy, which is important in the more sensitive areas of Psychology. Furthermore, I recently assisted a University of Oxford researcher conducting follow-up assessments with children in local primary schools. These measured reading-age, language comprehension and numeracy level, and are used to gauge and refine the Catch-Up charity’s numeracy intervention programme. As some of the children being assessed were from a control group, my involvement also enlightened me to ethical aspects of research.

Differences that occur in the criminal mind are also of great interest to me. As an elected Student Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau earlier this year, where I learnt about Rudolf Hoess. Hoess exterminated thousands of families, yet lived with his own family just outside the camp. This ignited an interest in complex behaviour; therefore I read Stanley Milgram’s research into whether ‘the Germans are different’, and learnt about his Theory of Obedience. This developed an interest in Forensic Psychology, and I subsequently attended a Forensics course at Nottingham University, where I learnt about a Forensic Psychologist’s role, during Mental Health tribunals, for example.

Deterioration of the mind, and methods to counteract this, also interest me. Reading the Psychologist has given me an insight into how the effectiveness of such methods could be analysed using a high-resolution 3D brain atlas; while a presentation from Claire Rytina enlightened me to useful cognitive treatment designed to rebuild and retrieve memory following her Viral Encephalitis. I have also voluntarily worked at a Nursing Home with some Dementia sufferers, and noticed that many sufferers enjoyed me playing music from their past, and sometimes, this triggered some of their memories. This made me wonder whether the music stimulated neurones which had lain dormant for years, similarly to when neurones are used for the first time, as Hubel and Weisel’s nature/nurture research has shown. Studying this in A level Biology gave me an interest in neuroscience, while Biology also stressed the importance of controls and fair tests, which are invaluable during Psychology experiments too. My mathematical skills in statistics will also be beneficial when analysing empirical evidence; and, the deep level of analysis and evaluation used for varying sources in A level History will be useful when studying case studies, while my essay techniques will help me when writing reports, and when considering issues from different perspectives.

Overall, I feel that my broad interests and skills will enable me to thrive as a Psychology student at a demanding University, where I would also make a positive contribution to University life.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This statement is powered by a broad range of academic interests — all of which the candidate has explored to a deep and commendable level. They are able to articulate how these interests came about, why they are important and how they intersect. In so doing, the candidate clearly demonstrates their ability to think independently, undertake independent projects and foster a wide-ranging curiosity. Furthermore, they clearly illustrate how their academic interests have had a bearing on their actions outside of the classroom; activities that require a substantial amount of initiative and endeavour.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

While the consideration of a range of different areas of psychology is illustrative of a consistently curious individual, this statement would have benefited from greater cohesion as an overall piece. The candidate could have also found a less rhetorical way of opening their statement; their tone at this point is not a mode of speech that they return to elsewhere, and as such, it seems somewhat like a non-sequitur. Their prose thereafter is much more engaging, and it seems unfulfilling and irrelevant to include such mystifying text at the start.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This candidate maturely presents their academic interests and particular areas of personal pursuit. As a result of this, they are able to demonstrate moments at which they have taken impressive amounts of initiative, and have really gone out of their way in order to experience their academic interests outside of the classroom. They are thereby able to fashion themselves as a curious, energetic, academic individual, who is able to think independently and develop their own work. There are potential areas for stylistic improvement within the statement, but they do not hinder the overall impression given of a capable and committed candidate.

This Personal Statement for Psychology is a great example of demonstrating academic interest and initiative. The candidate’s interest and passion are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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Psychology Personal Statement

My desire for wanting to pursue psychology in higher education not only stems from a personal perspective but also from hearing and reading about people not receiving adequate treatment for various psychological illnesses such as depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. In the same way research into attachment has helped to improve childcare practices I would like to use my degree in psychology to improve the treatment of mentally ill patients, especially in third world countries where mental health care is restrained by resource constraints.

Psychology is a subject that really stimulates my mind and my desire to challenge my perception of mental health.   As well as this, my interest has come from a personal point.  Witnessing a family member with mental health issues has made me want to understand why he behaves that way and why his illness cannot be treated in the same way we treat a common cold. There is so much information on the anatomy of the human body however I feel like we have not explored far enough into the human mind to find out the underlying causes that explain our daily behaviour.  Furthermore, coming from an African background whereby there is a stigma surrounding mental health or what is considered abnormal behaviour has only pushed me to further educate myself on a topic that may not be understood my many.

Spending a week of my summer holidays at a summer school at I was able to go into more depth and detail on topics in psychology than I had been able to in college. During this week I learnt about evolutionary psychology which explained the concept of mate selection. Prior to the summer school it had never occurred to me that there were deeper underlying factors that influenced how we select our partners.  A session on social psychology proved to be very intriguing as it applied social identity to the consumer and from this I was able to gain an understanding on why we are drawn to certain brands. I found these taster sessions to be highly interesting as I realised that psychology can be applied to various areas of life. This further reinforced my decision that psychology is something I want to do at degree level.

Furthermore, I took the initiative to find a mental health expert and discuss their job.  They informed me that their occupation involved assessing and talking to patients about their problems and discussing the best way to plan and deliver their care.  I found this to be relevant to my aspiration to be a counselling psychologist as it would involve similar duties. Seeking further information helped me to look beyond more than university and to begin considering a variety of career paths  that I could pursue with my degree.  This as well as attending the summer school and open days at different universities has been very helpful in providing an insight to what studying psychology will be like and what careers a degree in psychology could lead to.

Being a prefect  and a class representative has helped me learn how to deal with different personalities and how to handle difficult situations which I believe to be useful skills for a degree that largely involves  interaction with people.  These leadership positions have taught me how to manage my time and how to deal with conflicting priorities as well as moral dilemmas.  Studying in university will require good time management in order to deal with an increased workload and having roles of responsibility from an early age has prepared me well enough to be able to deal with the jump of going from sixth form to university.

In conclusion, with my personal interest in understanding human psychology as well as my academic background, I am convinced that I will enjoy and excel studying a degree in psychology. I intend to use this degree to pursue a career as a professional in mental health or counselling.

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