Do you have an undergraduate or conversion degree in psychology? If so, this programme could be for you.
Our MSc in Health Psychology is BPS-accredited and constitutes Stage 1 Training towards becoming a Registered Health Psychologist in the UK.
The programme will allow you to specialise in the increasingly critical area of health and illness management, placing you on the pathway to becoming a Registered Health Psychologist or working in research, public health, healthcare consultancy, community healthcare or charity.
Upskill on your terms with our 100% online distance learning Masters.
Entry requirements
Please note, this is not a conversion course – you must have an existing Psychology degree to enrol.
To enrol in the course, applicants will require
EITHER
At least a 2:1 honours degree in psychology conferring eligibility for GBC membership of the British Psychological Society (or National/international Equivalent e.g. PSI).
OR
An accredited MSc Psychology conversion course with a merit grade or above
PLUS
Evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grades A-C or equivalent).
Important information to note:
If you have a Psychology degree but do NOT hold Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS), you will need to apply for it before joining this MSc programme. Speak to an Enrolment Advisor for guidance (complete the form on this page)
It can take up to 8 weeks for the BPS to review your application for GBC, so please make sure to apply as soon as possible so that you can be enrolled in the next intake. Read the blog for more information.
English language requirements
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement. Ulster University also recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Modules
Our flexible programme is structured to allow you to take on the course at your own pace and enable you to fit studies around your work and life commitments.
Graduates of this programme will emerge with skills covering an extensive range of disciplines. The course comprises six core modules:
- Bio-Behavioural Mechanisms Underlying Health
- Individual Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Methods and Issues in Research and Practice (MIRP)
- Social, Cultural and Family Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Context and Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Models and Applications in Health Psychology (MAHP)
- Dissertation: You will also be required to conduct in-depth research and write a Dissertation on an area of particular field interest at an appropriate Masters level of scholarship.
To complete the full MSc degree, you need to successfully complete all modules as well as the dissertation to earn the necessary 180 credits. Through your dissertation, you will have the opportunity to apply your newly acquired skills and knowledge to solve health and illness challenges.
Faculty
Ulster’s Faculty of Life and Health Sciences is a leading provider of health-related education, with a strong reputation in the field. The School of Psychology at Ulster is currently ranked 6th in the UK for psychology (Guardian University Guide 2024) and was the first UK university to provide a distance learning, BPS-accredited Masters in Health Psychology.
Our teaching staff are a dedicated and research-active group of academics, including registered health psychologists. Our psychologists have links with several professional organisations including the Public Health Agency and Health Trusts. The School of Psychology is also actively involved with the Division of Health Psychology at regional, national and international level.