Applied Psychology (Conversion) (Taught)

This BPS-accredited course is open to Honours graduates from any discipline wishing to take the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. You gain in-depth knowledge and skills around conceptual and historical issues as well as individual differences, social, cognitive, developmental and biological psychology. We offer a range of assessment approaches, including podcasting and webpage design, to equip you with modern skills for the workplace. You also carry out your own piece of empirical research aligned to your career aspirations and our staff expertise.

Course accreditation
This Psychology Conversion course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited conversion with 50% or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training.

Facilities and specialist equipment
Access to specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments that are dedicated to the Psychology department. These include:

• Cognitive neuropsychology lab

• Virtual-reality lab

• Research cubicles containing up-to-the-minute equipment and technology such as a driving simulator; eye-tracking software; a physiological data-acquisition system; EEG; podcasting equipment; and KAT Walk Mini 5 omnidirectional VR treadmills

• Data-analysis software

• Experiment and survey-building software

Career-powered links

Our courses are reviewed and developed in conjunction with a panel of industry professionals from the NHS, mental health support and commercial organisations to ensure they align with the needs of employers, opening a variety of career pathways.

Our teaching and assessments are developed working with industry professionals and build skills in applying psychology to real-world issues.

Student experience
Our staff’s research and practice expertise directly informs their teaching, creating a focus on the real-life application of psychology including reading development; cognitive function in long COVID; and prevention of gender-based violence.

Benefit from membership of our Student Research Institute, providing opportunities to engage in research; work with staff as an assistant; and attend specialist research conferences.

Experience a wide variety of teaching methods including blended digital and seminars; problem solving; virtual-reality simulations; computer-based activities; and guided learning.

Gain first-hand experience of psychology in action through course contributions from specialist speakers.

Benefit from field trips including visits to the charity Headway UK, who support those with head injuries, or observing real-life court cases from the public gallery at Luton Crown Court.

Take part in our final-week, in-house Escape Room, building on what you have learned about social aspects of leadership, groups and the cognitive aspects of problem solving.

Benefit from our friendly, approachable staff and easy access to academic support.

Once you complete the course, you can progress with us in health psychology, forensic psychology or research degrees. You will have gained the skills and competencies needed for a variety of psychology routes and related careers.

Course modules

You study a range of units that develop your scientific knowledge, professional practice and research skills, preparing you to make a real impact in psychology and related fields. All units are worth 15 credits apart from your dissertation, which offers 60 credits towards your Master’s award. You complete your dissertation in the final semester but will conduct your research, design and draft it across all three semesters.

Semester 1
Research methods: quantitative and qualitative – Demonstrate strong knowledge of applied psychology research methods by producing worksheets and a report.
Cognition and performance – Using an information-processing approach, apply cognitive theories to performance in the real world and everyday behaviour.
Developmental psychology – Explore how this psychological approach can explain individuals’ change and development across their lifespan.
Personality, intelligence and assessments – Understand abnormalities in behaviour better through deeper study of personality, intelligence and individual differences.

Semester 2
Advanced research methods (applied psychology) – Build on your understanding and skills in applying qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Biological and neuropsychological perspectives of behaviour – Explore how these psychological approaches can help in understanding behaviour, including behavioural abnormalities.  
Social psychology – Examine key theories in social psychology and apply them to real life in areas such as group dynamics, relationships and social behaviour.
Applied psychology – Apply psychology to the real world including mental health and wellbeing fields; working with children and young people; and Chartered Psychology routes.

Semester 3: Dissertation completion
Your independent research project provides an opportunity to investigate a specialised topic within psychology. Guided by expert supervision across all three semesters, you will design and conduct an original piece of research for completion this semester, presenting it in the format of a publishable journal article.

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.

The course uses a variety of teaching methods to provide a curriculum based on the competencies that are required for psychologists and on the research and expertise of the staff. Methods include:

• simulations

• computer-based activities

• case studies

• the virtual learning environment (VLE) known as BREO.

The teaching activities are also dictated by the fact that this is a science-based course so you have the opportunity to design and take part in research projects as part of both learning and assessment. In preparation for the dissertation, you learn about a range of research methods and advanced statistical analyses so you are well prepared for the research project in which you generate research aims or hypotheses, conduct research, analyse the results and report them in the context of theory and current knowledge. The VLE provides a means of accessing sites elsewhere that illustrate various topics and that allow you to practise relevant skills.

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.

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

• British Psychological Society