Psychology

The 4-year MSci in Psychology is an advanced undergraduate degree, adding a further research-focused year to our well-established BSc Psychology degree. Our MSci leads to a master’s level qualification, giving you expert scientific training in the relationship between the mind, brain, and behaviour, providing the ideal springboard towards a range of specialist careers.

Over the first three years, you will study the psychological and neuro-scientific processes that underpin activities such as thinking, reasoning, memory and language, learning about the effects of brain injury, and exploring ways to improve health-related behaviour.

In the final year, you will have access to a range of master’s-level modules, allowing you to tailor your studies towards your personal interests and career aspirations. These options cover a diverse range of topics including clinical psychology, mental health, and research methods.

You will also have access to an exclusive research practice module working alonside research experts at the School of Psychology, which can include primary data collection, meta-analyses, secondary data analysis on large datasets and research dissemination.

Our approach to teaching, which includes lectures, personal tutorials, academic seminars, workshops, and practical research classes, encourages effective team-working and high-quality oral communication skills. Throughout the programme, you will develop excellent research, written, and critical analysis skills, as well as a high degree of numeracy and ICT ability.

It is also possible for you to study some of the modules each year through the medium of Welsh, should you choose to, which will provide you with the ability to use your skills in a wider variety of employment contexts.

Our School of Psychology has an outstanding reputation both in the UK and internationally. In the most recent research assessment, we were proud to maintain our research culture with a strong record of translating science into real-world consequences, with 100% of our impact rated as internationally excellent (REF2021).

The course is validated by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and, providing you achieve at least a 2:2 in your degree, you will be eligible for Graduate Membership of the BPS and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), the first step to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Cognition I: Basic Processes; Individual Differences and Clinical Psychology; Academic Success: Skills for learning, skills for life; Social and Developmental Psychology; Biological Psychology; Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods; Professional Development and Applications of Statistics and Research Methods

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Brain and Behaviour; From Individuals to Society; Cognition II: Higher Level Processes; Development Across the Lifespan, Research and Experimental Methods; and Employability Skills.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Systematic Reviews in Psychology; Contemporary Issues in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice; Evolutionary Perspectives on Psychology; Understanding Neurodiversity; Psychology of Building a Better World; Cognitive Neuroscience in Clinical and Forensic Settings; Introduction to Environmental Psychology; Learning, Psychopathology and Gambling; Lifestyle and Environmental Factors in Mental Health and Wellbeing; Psychology of the Food System; and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan. You will also undertake an independent research project.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology; General Adult Clinical: Complex Mental Health Conditions; The Process of Psychology; Assessment and Formulation in Forensic Contexts; Data Analysis; Quantitative Perspectives on Psychology: From Measurements to Models; Meaning and the Individual; Addiction, Addictive Behaviours and Eating Disorders; Psychology of Health and Wellbeing: Theory and Applications; Clinical aspects of brain and behaviour through the lifespan; The Practice of Psychology; and Research Process

You will have around 10 hours of scheduled lectures and practical classes each week with additional module related seminars and personal tutorials scheduled throughout each semester.

Independent and self-directed study is an integral part of each module to support your learning and development, you will also learn through lectures, personal tutorials, academic seminars, workshops and practical research classes.

During your third year, you will work collaboratively with psychology staff on an independent research project. Some of our students even go on to publish their independent research projects in academic peer-reviewed journals and present their findings at national and international research conferences.

In the final year, you will tailor your studies towards your interests or career aspirations, with 120 credits of optional masters level modules.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• British Psychological Society

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS