Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc Psychology (Conversion) (Online) (4-year part-time)
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Psychology (Conversion) (Online) (4-year part-time) | Programme code | PNS4PSYEDU01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Distance Learning Part Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
Psychologists are interested in why we do things, how we do them and how we relate to others as well as to the world at large. As a result, Psychology plays an important role in drawing together techniques, theories, findings and professional practice from several areas of expertise to address complex and socially and economically important questions about behaviour. Psychologists study people at all stages in their lives from birth to old-age, assessing how people perceive the physical and social world around them, how they think and use ideas, how they vary in intelligence and personality and how they are influenced by particular environments such as work, school and family. Psychology is the systematic and scientific study of behaviour and experience. As such it has a wide range of applications, such as in industry and commerce, in education and in health and social services.
This programme is shared between the schools of Psychology and Education at the University of Exeter.
Psychology Department
Based in the Washington-Singer Laboratories on Exeter’s Streatham campus, the University of Exeter’s Psychology department is an expanding centre for academic teaching and research, committed to providing its staff and students with a friendly and stimulating intellectual environment. We are one of the UK's top Psychology departments, providing high quality programmes for intelligent and highly-motivated people, whatever their background. Our teaching staff are recognised internationally for their academic excellence and world-leading research investigating mood disorders, human cognition, animal behaviour, and social, environmental and organisational psychology.
The School of Education
The School of Education is one of the most diverse and highly regarded schools of Education in the country. The School is 6th in the UK for world leading and internationally excellent research in Education and influencer of national education policy. It is particularly well known for its research into Special Educational Needs, Professional Learning, Writing, Social Mobility and STEM. The School is located on the historic and beautiful St Luke’s Campus and provide excellent support for all our postgraduate students including one of Britain’s best Education libraries.
This Masters programme is specifically designed for graduates with a non-psychology background wanting the flexibility of online study. The programme will be part-time and the core content will all be delivered asycnchronously so that you can study at times that are most convenient for you. No previous knowledge of Psychology will be assumed although during the course of the programme we will provide you with a solid grounding in all major areas of psychology and our teaching is inspired and informed by our internationally-rated research. The course has been designed to be stimulating, flexible and relevant to the needs of a career in psychology, with a strong reputation for intellectual rigour, academic excellence and practical value. The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society conferring eligibility to apply for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
This Masters could, therefore, be your first step towards becoming a professional psychologist, e.g., a clinical, educational, or occupational psychologist (although entry into all these professions will require further postgraduate training). It will also give you valuable academic, personal and professional skills that can be used in a variety of sectors such as education, business, health and the media. Our programme is designed to provide a fantastic platform whatever your choice of future career.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
We aim to promote the values described by McGovern et al (2010), providing an intellectual environment that allows you to develop into, ‘critical scientific thinkers and ethical and socially responsible participants in their communities’ (p.10).
Specifically, the aims of the programme are:
- To provide an education of high quality in a stimulating and supportive environment that is enriched by research and/or current practice in the discipline;
- To provide training in scientific skills of problem analysis, research design, evaluation of empirical evidence and dissemination;
- To provide a range of academic and key skills that will prepare you confidently for employment, future study, or training for professional practice;
- To provide a thorough grounding in a range of skills, including statistical analysis and research design and methodology, necessary to satisfy the criteria for accreditation as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis of Chartered Membership under the scheme administered by the British Psychological Society
- To promote specialist capabilities in specific areas of psychology congruent with the research focus of the Psychology department and the School of Education
In doing so, we aim to encourage you to develop into individuals who, on graduation, will:
- Have a well-defined vocabulary and basic knowledge of the critical subject matter of Psychology
- Value the intellectual challenges required to use scientific thinking and the disciplined analysis of information to evaluate alternative courses of action
- Take a creative and amiable sceptic approach to problem solving
- Apply psychological principles to personal, social and organisational issues in work, relationships and the broader community
- Act ethically
- Be competent in using and evaluating information technology
- Communicate effectively in different modes and with many different audiences
- Recognise, understand and foster respect for diversity
Be insightful and reflective about your own and other’s behaviour and mental processes
4. Programme Structure
The MSc Psychology (Conversion) is a four year part-time programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme can also be studied part-time in up to five years.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Note: You will study one module per term. Please discuss the details with your programme team. NOTE this programme variant is only open to self-funded students due to the duration being ineligible for Postgraduate Student Loan support.
165 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYM220Z | Research Project | 60 | Yes |
| PSYM221Z | Introduction to Statistics | 15 | No |
| PSYM222Z | Research Methods and Conceptual Issues in Psychology | 15 | No |
| PSYM223Z | Social Psychology | 15 | No |
| ERPM006Z | Cognitive and Developmental Psychology | 15 | No |
| PSYM225Z | Biological Psychology | 15 | No |
| ERPM007Z | Personality and Individual Differences | 15 | No |
| ERPM008Z | Children and Young People's Mental Health | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYM227Z | Clinical Psychology | 15 | No |
| ERPM010Z | Educational Psychology | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge about a range of core subject areas as defined by the British Psychological Society, with in-depth specialisation at the forefront of the subject in certain areas. | Activities will include online asynchronous lecture material, weekly tasks to get you thinking about the material just covered, statistics exercises, engagement through module forums, and research carried out as part of the research project. Students will progress through a teaching programme that is gradually more self-managed, with the option of support from the personal tutor system. Independent study and practice also forms a major part of our teaching and learning methods. | A variety of different types of coursework, including written essays, research reports, critical reviews, lay summaries, shorter-answer questions, and statistical reports. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
4. Apply skills of scientific writing and presenting results. | Activities will include online asynchronous lecture material, weekly tasks to get you thinking about the material just covered, statistics exercises, engagement through module forums, and research carried out as part of the research project. Students will progress through a teaching programme that is gradually more self-managed, with the option of support from the personal tutor system. Independent study and practice also forms a major part of our teaching and learning methods. | A variety of different types of coursework, including written essays, research reports, critical reviews, lay summaries, shorter-answer questions, and statistical reports. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Think independently, critically and creatively. | Activities will include online asynchronous lecture material, weekly tasks to get you thinking about the material just covered, statistics exercises, engagement through module forums, and research carried out as part of the research project. Students will progress through a teaching programme that is gradually more self-managed, with the option of support from the personal tutor system. Independent study and practice also forms a major part of our teaching and learning methods. | A variety of different types of coursework, including written essays, research reports, critical reviews, lay summaries, shorter-answer questions, and statistical reports. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
You will be allocated a student support advisor . Student support advisors can assist on most aspects of student experience are can to refer you to more specialist support services, both within the Faculty and elsewhere across the University where relevant, including to module leads for academic related matters.
Core content for the programme will all be available online and asynchronously to allow maximum flexibility in when you study to fit around your other commitments. We will encourage you to engage with each module on a weekly basis, however, through studying of the weekly material and engagement in module forums. This will make sure that you keep on schedule. All assessments will be coursework-based to again provide you with flexibility as to when you study. You will get marks back on modules before starting the next set of modules, this will provide you with feedback on your progress to date and we will support you and provide advice if your marks are not what you are looking for.
All module-based learning resources and student handbooks are hosted by the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE), the University's on-line Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). ELE provides an online set of integrated tools to support e-Learning activities and enables students to access course materials and use tools such as Discussion Forums and Quizzes to interact online. A variety of these tools enhance the learning and teaching activities for every Psychology module, allowing students to access all materials remotely, for example, lecture videos, supporting texts and formative self-test quizzes.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Psychology (Conversion) (Online) (4-year part-time)
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 16042021 |
Date of last revision | 23/06/2023 |
|---|
