Masters Degrees
Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus |
Streatham Campus and St Luke's Campus, Exeter |
| Typical offer | 2:1 Honours degree |
|---|---|
Fast Track (current Exeter students)
Programme contacts: Dr Lamprini Psychogiou and Dr Angeliki Kallitsoglou
Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72
Top 100 in the world for Psychology
Ranked 87th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject 2026 and 82nd in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2026.
11th in the UK for internationally excellent research in Psychology
REF 2021 based on 4* and 3* research, submitted to UoA4 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Top 10 for Psychology in 3 major UK league tables
6th in the Guardian University Guide 2026; 7th in the Complete University Guide 2027; 10th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Internationally-respected social, environmental and organisational psychology research group, and a major centre for cognitive, clinical and neuroscience research
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. BPS accreditation confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
We usually require a minimum 2:1 Honours degree. No specific subjects are required.
Please note that, in some cases, students undertaking research projects as part of a dissertation may be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.
Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
This programme is specifically designed for graduates who have not previously taken a psychology degree. You will be able to study at a Russell Group university and obtain a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Psychology degree and gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS that will allow you to work as a psychologist in a variety of different fields (e.g, education, clinical, forensic, organisational).
The programme offers general training in social, biological, cognition and developmental psychology and personality and individual differences, as required by the BPS, but also provides the opportunity to specialise in clinical or educational psychology. You will have the option to choose from a wide range of modules across the field of psychology.
Studying MSc Psychology Conversion, you will also have the opportunity to conduct high-quality research and work with academics who are experts in their field.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
165 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Cognitive and Developmental Psychology | 15 | |
| Personality and Individual Differences | 15 | |
| Children and Young People's Mental Health | 15 | |
| Research Project | 60 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | 15 | |
| Research Methods and Conceptual Issues in Psychology | 15 | |
| Social Psychology | 15 | |
| Biological Psychology | 15 | |
This module provides an introduction to two core areas of psychology: cognitive and developmental psychology. Cognitive psychology concerns the study of mental processes and developmental psychology deals with the changes that happen as we grow.
Through research-led teaching in combined seminar and lecture sessions you will be introduced to a variety of different perspectives in order to develop your knowledge and understanding of cognition and development across the lifespan.
The module will introduce you to classical and contemporary theoretical viewpoints and it will offer you an opportunity to engage with recent research in the fields of cognitive and developmental psychology You will also be encouraged to apply this knowledge and understanding to key societal issues and consider implications for education and wider society
This module is a compulsory module for MSc Psychology Conversion programme students, and it has no pre-requisites.
The aim of the module will be to introduce you to cognitive and developmental psychology.
This module focuses on current and historical understanding of personality and individual differences. We will review the main theories of personality and use contemporary empirical evidence to explore the complex relationship between personality and behaviour. In-depth examples of the complexity of individual differences will be provided, and some sessions will focus on personality disorders and problems assessing and classifying such disorders. The module will also enable you to examine some of the broader societal issues relating to individual differences in personality.
This is a compulsory module on the MSc Psychology Conversion programme. There are no pre-requisites to this module.
The module will aim to introduce you to theories, research and practice in relation to the psychology of personality and individual differences. In the pursuit of this we aim to:
2020 NHS Digital data showed that 1 in 6 children and young people had some form of diagnosable mental health condition and that this is a risk factor for a range of negative outcomes. This module will introduce you to the key mental health and wellbeing issues which children and young people face in contemporary society. This might include a focus on depression, anxiety and self-harm, but also childhood vulnerability, adverse childhood experiences, trauma and loss. It also considers the context, behaviour and features in education and society that impact on children and young people's mental health.
This is a compulsory module on the MSc Psychology Conversion programme. There are no pre-requisites to this module.
The module aims to help you to develop:
- A broad and critical understanding of children and young people's mental health, drawing on knowledge from contemporary practice, policy, theory and research and from a range of different academic disciplines
- An appreciation for the ways in which mental health issues might combine with children and young people's developmental needs and difficulties (e.g. in relation to adverse childhood experiences or autism).
- Familiarity with contemporary research in this area of interest and with the ways in which this research might be conducted with participants in these populations
This module is the culmination of the practical training and learning on the Masters degree and allows you to demonstrate your competencies, incorporating many of the research skills and data analysis techniques you will have developed. You will negotiate your project topic through a structured process and be closely supervised throughout the duration of your research project by an academic member of staff whose personal research focus aligns with your topic.
You may be allocated to a supervisor in either the Department of Psychology or the School of Education. All supervisors have expertise in some area of psychology. You will usually work with a project partner, another student engaged in the same piece of research and may work in groups, depending on the nature of the project. Your supervisor will carefully manage this aspect, in order to ensure that each student recognises their individual responsibilities. Working in a team helps you learn useful skills that employers value and gives you great experience for future jobs.
Whether you are working in a group or not, you will write the final report on your own, and will prepare an individual research poster to be submitted with your final report.
This module will give you training on a variety of different statistical techniques commonly used in research conducted by psychologists. As such, it provides core skills required for the research project that you will take as part of your Masters. The aim is to provide you with knowledge of commonly used tests such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression. The module discusses conceptual issues and provides hands-on experience of using statistical software (Jamovi) for carrying out such analyses in the practical classes accompanying the lectures. Whilst basic mathematical skills are required, the module does not assume Mathematics A level or degree- level experience.
The central objective of this module is to provide you with the skills to carry out research in psychological domains, analyse relevant datasets using statistical software to carry out between and within-subjects ANOVA and multiple linear regression, and interpret the results, allowing you to then report your findings using relevant reporting conventions. These skills will assist you in your Research Project.
A broader objective is to equip you with the skills to understand published research papers that employ these methods and forms of analysis, allowing you to understand the Methods and Results sections of such papers and provide opportunities for critical appraisal of the methods used to collect and analyse data, and to critically assess the conclusions drawn by the authors.
This module will provide you with basic skills necessary to understand and conduct research in psychology. You will gain an understanding of the main scientific research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, their advantages and disadvantages, and areas of application. You'll get first-hand experience of participating in psychological research. You will also acquire skills in writing (scientific) reports and using library and online resources for scientific research. Finally, you will gain an understanding of ethical issues related to conducting research in psychology. This module is the basis for the rest of your Masters degree.
The aim of this module is to introduce you to important issues such as:
Social psychology seeks to understand how people think, feel and act in relation to others and the world around them. As such, the topics of interest to social psychologist cover much of what humans do, from personal choices to helping others and interactions in groups. Because social psychology is applicable to so many domains, it is also directly relevant to everyday life - by learning about social psychology, inevitably you also learn something about yourself.
This module is structured in two core activities, lectures and practicals/tutorials. The lectures will provide you with a good oversight of key topics in social psychology. Specific areas will be introduced in each lecture; we will identify why it is important,and discuss both classic studies in social psychology as well as new directions in this evolving and exciting field. Practicals/tutorials will be focused on giving you an understanding of research methodologies used in social psychology and their limitations as well as teaching you how to run basic social psychological analyses on a set of data. You will also learn to write about social psychological research. Learning will also be based on Question & Answer sessions.
In this module you are introduced to the basic concepts of the physiological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the generation and control of behaviour. Topics covered include the structure and functions of brains including both typical and atypical development, neuronal communication, how genes, hormones and neurotransmitters in various physiological processes affect behaviour, cognition, emotions, motivation and development, comparative and evolutionary psychology. Although largely focused on the human body and brain, the module also transmits how research on different animal model systems has advanced the understanding of the mechanisms and functions of the human nervous system, cognition and behaviour.
The primary aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamental biological mechanisms underlying human and animal behaviour with a focus on neurophysiology, functional anatomy of the human brain, perception, communication, development and evolution of nervous systems. You will develop a firm foundation of knowledge in neuroscience and physiology of behaviour that links to cognitive and clinical psychology.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Educational Psychology | 15 | |
| Clinical Psychology | 15 | |
This module provides an introduction to applied psychology in educational settings. Educational psychology is concerned with how children and young people learn and the factors that influence learning and school engagement (cognitive, behavioural, social-emotional, environmental, ecological). In this module, you will become familiar with the role of the educational psychologists in working with teachers, parents, learners and other stakeholders to understand, assess, and support additional learning needs in formal and informal educational contexts. This module is a key starting point for anyone considering a career in educational psychology, enabling them to understand the nature of the role and acquire foundational knowledge and skills.
The module aims to help you to:
Clinical Psychology is a major area of Applied Psychology that makes a difference in people's lives by helping them deal with a range of problems. From depression and anxiety, psychosis and drug problems through to managing the effects of brain injury or the risk of heart attacks. The module involves the use of psychological theories - such as Psychodynamic or Cognitive Behavioural and the collection of evidence for 'what works' - to guide practice. In this module clinical psychologists give lectures that provide overviews to major mental health and neuro-developmental disorders, providing you with a valuable insight into how such problems arise, the treatments that may be offered and to what benefit. This module provides a key starting point for anyone considering a future in applied psychology enabling them to understand the true nature of the role.
To provide an overview of how clinical psychologists understand major psychological disorders from a bio-psycho-social perspective. The specific aims of the module are:
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
As part of your studies you will be required to complete a Dissertation which will count towards your final mark. You will be allocated a supervisor who will support you from start to finish. Your allocated supervisor will be from either of our Psychology or Education departments. We use an algorithm to assign supervisors, considering both student preferences and supervisor availability. We cannot guarantee your top preference or a specific supervisor, but the process ensures a fair outcome.
The MSc Psychology Conversion course was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The lecturers in each module made sure to teach at a pace that was suitable for all students, regardless of whether they had a psychology background or not. I’m leaving this course with a sense of preparedness for a career in Psychology, and a whole new arena of knowledge.
We studied a range of subjects, from the biological aspect of psychology to education-based subjects. This holistic approach to the course allowed me to explore and determine the field of psychology that I’m interested in pursuing.
I also had support from my lecturers and personal tutor whenever I required it. All of our modules provided us with the skills required for our thesis, and further research in the field.
Deeksha
MSc Psychology (Conversion)
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£13,300 full-time; £6,650 part-time
£28,900 full-time; £14,450 part-time
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
We are pleased to offer the University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply.
Our staff are recognised internationally for their academic excellence, high-quality research and applied output. They actively research the areas of psychology they teach, so their expertise feeds directly into our research-led courses.
10-12 hours per week on average. This is a professional intensive course. We recommend reviewing the modules' description to help understand the workload and expectations.
You will be allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. You will also have access to specialist helpdesks for statistics and assessment feedback which are run by postgraduate tutors.
Assessments will comprise examinations, essays, critical reviews, reports, posters and oral presentations.
Throughout your study you will use a range of innovative teaching facilities, such as an online learning platform, various 24/7 computer pools and audio-visual suite, 24/7 library, study spaces and specialised equipment. There are also extensive research facilities including eye tracking, EEG/ERP, tDCS, TMS laboratories, audio-visual recording suite and an MRI scanner.
All the modules you take will be underpinned by research-led learning. You will learn about classic studies as well as cutting-edge research in the core areas of psychology (e.g., cognitive, biological, social, developmental psychology, personality and individual differences, as well as potentially clinical and educational psychology). During the course you will learn to critically evaluate this research, identifying its strengths and weaknesses. The course will culminate with your undertaking a large-scale research project, making a novel contribution to a field of Psychology, under a supervisor who is an expert in that area.
Members of staff have strong research links with universities in other countries and there is a flourishing international community. We work in partnership with a variety of public and private sector organisations to ensure our research is relevant to policymakers.
This programme is specifically designed to enable students with a non-psychology background to pursue a psychology-based career, many of which require a BPS-accredited degree for further training. This degree will therefore help prepare graduates for a subsequent career in, for example, clinical psychology, educational psychology, organisational and occupational psychology, and forensic psychology.
You will acquire a number of skills on completion of the programme, including enhancing your ability to think critically and solve problems, to learn through teamwork and be engaged in a student-led project. You will also become an engaged and participative leader in debates on psychological issues, and the diversity of assignments you will complete will make you adaptable and resilient.
Our careers teams at the Career Zone can help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.
