Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc MSc Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine and Culture
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc MSc Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine and Culture | Programme code | PTS1PSYPSY16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
This MSc programme, which is the first in-person degree of its kind in the UK, offers you the chance to study in the emerging and leading-edge field of psychedelic studies. Psychedelics (literally ‘mind-manifesting’) have demonstrated great therapeutic potential in addressing various mental health conditions. At the same time, underground scenes and subcultures in Europe and North America and traditional cultures around the world, make use of psychedelics for healing, creating community, enhancing aesthetic appreciation, hedonistic release, philosophical speculation, and in expressions of religiosity and festivity. Although psychedelics remain unlicensed for non-medical use in many countries (including the UK), we are starting to see a change in attitudes towards (and in some cases a lifting of the prohibition of) these fascinating substances. Consequently, there has never been a better time for you to engage in this ground-breaking new field.
Psychedelics affect mind, medicine and culture in equal measure, and so we deliberately take a transdisciplinary and transcultural approach. In this degree you will therefore gain knowledge and understanding of key theories and methods from both science and the humanities, including neuroscience, psychopharmacology, psychological therapy, and clinical approaches as well as anthropological, historical, and philosophical approaches and their respective critical and qualitative methodologies (e.g. ethnography, participant observation, critical theory, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics and discourse analysis). You will also study research methods and statistics and conduct a final project that enables you to explore in more depth some specific research topic within the field. Consequently, this MSc will equip you with the skills you need to progress in a career in psychedelic research. You will benefit from studying with some of the leading experts in the field at the University of Exeter.
This unique MSc programme is delivered in-person at Exeter. Your learning will consist of lectures, readings and interactive activities, as well as a range of formative and summative assessments.
This programme has been developed not only for therapists, counsellors, and psychiatrists who are interested in branching out into the psychedelic sphere, but also for those with a growing interest in psychedelic research generally, who would like to continue their studies in this field.
Distinctive features include:
- First in-person academic programme of its kind in the UK
- Transdisciplinary and transcultural perspective
- Working with experts in the field
- Lively and enthusiastic teachers
- Prepares you to work in the emerging field of psychedelic research
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
You will receive a broad, comprehensive knowledge of issues that pertain to the psychedelic field. For this reason, the programme adopts perspectives from both the sciences and the humanities. This is an academic rather than practical qualification though it is intended to prepare those of you who wish to become practitioners with detailed information about cutting-edge psychedelic research from leaders in the field, contextualised within broader cultural and philosophic issues. It is also intended for those with a general interest in psychedelic research who may wish, with the help of leading experts, to advance their studies and careers.
Specific educational aims include training you in the clinical, alternative, ethnographic, and historical practices of psychedelic therapy and use; in metaphysical perspectives pertaining to psychedelic experience; in the neurosciences related to psychedelic research; and in specific ethical theories and issues deemed important in psychedelic research and wider activity (such as medicalization, prohibition, and decoloniality).
You will study on-campus, in-person. Your learning will include such activities as: lectures; guest lectures or interviews with leading experts in the field; student seminar discussions; tutorials; self-directed learning.
4. Programme Structure
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.
150 credits compulsory modules, 30 credits optional modules
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYM248 | Psychedelics - Mind: Metaphysics and Neuroscience | 15 | No |
| PSYM249 | Psychedelics - Medicine: Clinical Application and Evaluation | 15 | No |
| PSYM250 | Psychedelics - Culture: History, Anthropology, Ethics | 15 | Yes |
| PSYM221 | Introduction to Statistics | 15 | No |
| PSYM202 | Behavioural Science Research Skills | 15 | No |
| PSYM251 | Current Research Issues in Psychedelics | 15 | No |
| PSYM252 | Project Psychedelic | 60 | No |
Optional Modules
Choose 30 credits from the following list:
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Psychedelics on campus options 24-25 | |||
| PHLM013 | Philosophy and Psychedelics | 15 | No |
| PSYM230 | Advances in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience | 15 | No |
| SOCM049 | Magic and Ritual | 15 | No |
| HPDM029 | Nature, Health and Wellbeing | 15 | No |
| PSYM225 | Biological Psychology | 15 | No |
| SOCM023 | Social Theory | 15 | No |
| NEUM003 | Behavioural and Systems Neuroscience | 15 | No |
| HPDM055 | Qualitative Methods and Process Evaluations | 15 | No |
| BIOM534 | Medical Mycology | 15 | No |
| HPDM122 | Planetary Health | 15 | No |
| ARAM226 | Oral History: Principles and Practice | 15 | No |
| ARAM257 | Philosophising Magic: From Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages | 15 | No |
| CLAM101 | The Western Dragon in Lore, Literature and Art | 15 | No |
| CLAM263 | Magic and Folklore in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 15 | No |
| PSYM223 | Social Psychology | 15 | No |
| PHLM007 | Current Issues in Mind and Cognition | 30 | No |
| PHLM008 | Mind, Body and World | 30 | 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 a comprehensive understanding of the history of psychedelics and psychedelic therapy, their metaphysical and neuroscientific foundations, and the ethical and cultural considerations shaping the field. | Lectures, seminars, tutorials, attendance of fortnightly colloquium (in-term), Q&A sessions with experts in field, self-directed learning, research participation. | May include: Presentations, debates, exams (short-answer questions, and multiple-choice questions), essays, case studies, project reports, funding proposals, critical reading responses, vivas. |
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: | |
3. Critically evaluate evidence and practice within the psychedelic field. | Lectures, seminars, tutorials, attendance of fortnightly colloquium (in-term), Q&A sessions with experts in field, self-directed learning, research participation. | May include: Presentations, debates, exams (short-answer questions, and multiple-choice questions), essays, case studies, project reports, funding proposals, critical reading responses, vivas. |
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: | |
5. Presentation skills | Presentations, debates, exams (short-answer questions, and multiple-choice questions), essays, case studies, project reports, funding proposals, critical reading responses, vivas. | May include: Presentations, debates, exams (short-answer questions, and multiple-choice questions), essays, case studies, project reports, funding proposals, critical reading responses, vivas. |
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 personal tutor who will remain with you throughout the programme. Personal tutors are able to provide guidance and feedback on assessment performance, guidance in generic academic skills and pastoral support. They are also able to refer you to more specialist support services, both within the Faculty and elsewhere across the University.
In addition, you can expect reasonable access to all teaching staff through drop-in ‘office hours’ and specific appointments, and will in addition receive formative feedback from various discussion groups/in-lecture exercises throughout the delivery of each module and therefore receive essentially continuous feedback during the taught component of the programme. Your progress will be monitored and you can receive up-to-date records of the assessment, achievements and progress at any stage.
All module-based learning resources and student handbooks are hosted by the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE2), the University's on-line Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). ELE2 provides an online set of integrated tools to support e-Learning activities and enables you to access course materials and use tools such as Discussion Forums to interact online. A variety of these tools enhance the learning and teaching activities for every Psychology module, allowing you to access most materials remotely, for example, lecture videos, supporting texts and formative self-test quizzes.
You will have access to the computer cluster in the Washington-Singer Laboratories, when not in use for teaching or assessment purposes, along with the pay-per-print laser printer installed there. University IT Services provide a range of central services, including open and training clusters of PCs - available on a 24/7 basis.
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 MSc Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine and Culture
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | Date of last revision |
|---|
