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Health Psychology MSc (online)

Create impactful change in healthcare with a Health Psychology Masters

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.

Duration

Two years minimum, four years maximum, part-time

Intakes

January, March, May, July, September, November

Fees

£746.20 per 15-credit module

Application deadline

Request information for all deadline details.

Location

100% Online
Flexible and enhanced student support

Entry requirements

UK 2:1 Honours degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for GBC membership of the British Psychological Society (OR a national or an international equivalent e.g. PSI).
*This programme is only open to Psychology Graduates*

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.

 

About this programme

A global rise in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and chronic illness means the field of health psychology is more vital than ever in helping equip the healthcare sector with a better understanding of health behaviours and promote healthier lifestyles and well-being.

Our Health Psychology Masters programme will enhance your professional skills and theoretical understanding of the field, while also teaching research methods and statistical techniques that will enable you to take your career to the next level.

If you’re looking to train as a health psychologist, or work as a healthcare consultant, public health advisor or in another health-related field, our course will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve your aspirations.

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Learn more about BPS accreditation

Read our FAQs

health psychology careers

“Health psychologists investigate the psychology behind health behaviours, driving better outcomes for individuals and communities. Our Health Psychology MSc is designed specifically to impart students with all the necessary skills to become future leaders of the field.”

Dr Ellen Henderson, Course Director of Ulster’s Health Psychology MSc

Key highlights

  • A BPS-accredited online Masters – Gain critical Stage 1 training on your journey to becoming a Registered Health Psychologist in the UK.
  • Study anywhere, anytime – Our flexible online programme allows busy professionals to balance their studies with existing commitments.
  • Find your research specialism – Conduct your own Research Project in a health psychology specialism of your choice.
  • Help tackle society’s biggest health challenges – Be at the forefront of a groundbreaking field and help transform healthcare delivery through your research.
  • Advance your career – Gain specialist knowledge and apply your learnings immediately to boost your prospects in the field.
  • Excellent student support – A dedicated Student Success Advisor will be available to answer all your queries and give you guidance from registration right through to graduation.
  • Ulster ranks as a Top 10 UK university for psychology The Guardian University Guide (2024)
  • Top 10% in UK fo research impact Ulster University (Ref 2021)
  • Top 30 The Guardian University Guide (2024)

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.

“I have developed my skillset at a pace that suits me. I have been able to delve deeply into topic areas that interest me and apply this learning in the real world. I feel more confident in myself as I have refreshed my theoretical knowledge and sharpened my analytical skills.”

Oteri Kueberuwa, online MSc Health Psychology student at Ulster

  • Fees and funding

    Cost per 15-credit module: £746.20

    Fees are payable on a module-by-module basis as you progress through the course*. In the 2023/24 academic year, modules are priced at £49.75 per credit point, so a 15-credit module will cost £746.20.

    The number of credits you take will be determined by your chosen award, as outlined below:

    Master of Science: 180 credits

    A 10% Alumni Discount is available for eligible candidates.

    *Tuition fees may be subject to an annual inflationary increase each academic year in line with Ulster University’s terms and conditions. The increase will come into effect for the September teaching period each year.

  • Why choose Ulster?

    Ulster University is renowned for its world-class teaching and facilities and holds more than 20 years of experience in delivering online courses. The School currently ranks as a Top 10 UK university for psychology (Guardian University Guide 2024).

    The School also has an excellent reputation for delivering world-class research. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, 100% of our research was assessed as having world-leading or internationally excellent impact.

    This Masters course was the first BPS-accredited online programme of its kind in the UK. It is designed by leading faculty at Ulster University, including professional health psychologists and chartered psychologists with strong academic and clinical backgrounds.

  • Programme Outcomes

    • Display in-depth knowledge and understanding or the appropriate and ethical use and application of qualitative and quantitative methods and statistical analyses used in health psychology.
    • Demonstrate critical awareness and understanding of professional behaviour in a variety of contexts with other health professionals and client groups.
    • Critically evaluate theories of behaviour change applied to health-related behaviours and cognitions.
    • Identify and apply the techniques appropriate to research in the field.
    • Identify and apply the skills necessary for the assessment of psychological factors in the field.
    • Achieve Stage 1 Training in becoming a Registered Health Psychologist.
  • Careers

    Students undertaking the BPS-accredited Health Psychology Masters will gain Stage 1 training, an essential step to becoming a Registered Health Psychologist.

    According to the BPS, Health Psychologists are found in a range of settings, including, but not limited to, hospitals, community health settings, research units, local authorities and public health departments.

    After graduation, opportunities include:

    • Further study – specialising in advanced research areas such as pain management, aging, drug abuse, addiction behaviours and beyond.
    • Human health sector careers – helping people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness and to encourage healthier lifestyles.
  • Student support

    Student success is at the heart of everything we do and one of the most popular aspects of online learning at Ulster is the excellent level of student support.

    As a distance learning student, you’ll receive support from course academics and a Student Success Team, who will be on hand to guide you from day one right through to graduation.

    “The best support out of the other three unis I’ve been to.”

    – John Hughes – Ulster Online MSc student

     

    “All the support was fantastic, and the monthly calls are very helpful and reassuring.”

    – Emma Spittles, Ulster Online MSc student 

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.

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