MSc Health Psychology
University of Surrey
Key Information
Campus location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 25,000 / per year *
Application deadline
01 Jul 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* full-time UK students: £10,500 | part-time UK students: £5,250/year; overseas students: £12,500
Introduction
Why Choose This Course
- Study a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited curriculum, designed to give you an insider’s perspective on theories, methods and techniques of health psychology, and the relationship these have with health and illness
- Access our state-of-the-art psychology facilities, including a six-room virtual reality suite and two observation laboratories, and use the latest equipment to conduct experiments
- Learn from lecturers who are active researchers in eating behaviour, fatigue, stress, obesity and much more
- Join our Health Psychology Research Group to take part in seminars and workshops, and benefit from our links with renowned research institutions across the world
- Get the Stage 1 qualification needed to progress onto Stage 2 training, to become a chartered health psychologist with the BPS.
What You Will Study
You'll study the psychological processes involved in maintaining health, the pathological responses to ill health and stress, and the promotion of well-being among the physically ill. You'll learn theories and practical issues relevant to health psychology and gain an understanding of different approaches to research.
You’ll explore a range of applied topics, such as living with chronic conditions, health issues impacting health psychology, how we can help people maintain their health across their lifespan, psychological aspects of healthcare, and the use of cognitive behavioural therapy for health psychology. We'll also give you an insight into qualitative and quantitative research methods, ensuring you have a solid foundation to collect, analyse and interpret different kinds of data.
Research Groups
You’ll be invited to join our Health Psychology Research Group where we investigate topics, including behaviour change, chronic conditions, governance, policy processes, risk appreciation, and stress and fatigue.
You;ll participate in discussions about research topics, findings and publications, and you’ll benefit from our links with renowned research institutions across the world. We also have a host of external speakers who visit us and present their work, and a collection of seminars and workshops, allowing you to network with like-minded individuals.
Teaching
Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of:
- Group work (e.g. discussion groups)
- Lectures
- Online learning
- Role plays
- Seminars
- Workshops.
Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays and reading.
There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.
Professional Recognition
MSc - British Psychological Society (BPS).
Successful completion of this program fulfils stage one of the requirements towards Chartered Membership of the Society and full membership of the Division of Health Psychology.
Admissions
Curriculum
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programs based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45, 75, or 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programs follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each program. These are all outlined in the program specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes
Year 1
Full-time
- Advanced Research Methods and Design
- Contemporary Health Psychology: Research and Practice
- Maintaining Health Throughout the Lifespan
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Chronic Conditions
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Health Psychology
- Psychological Aspects of Health Care
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Dissertation 8000-10000 Words
Part-time
- Advanced Research Methods and Design
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Health Psychology
- Quantitative Research Methods
Year 2
Part-time
- Contemporary Health Psychology: Research and Practice
- Maintaining Health Throughout the Lifespan
- Chronic Conditions
- Psychological Aspects of Health Care
- Dissertation
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester.
New students will receive their personalized timetable in Welcome Week, and in subsequent semesters, two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the Academic Hive.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
We offer career information, advice, and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University. Our graduates have lifetime access to Surrey Pathfinder, our online portal for appointment and event bookings, jobs, placements, and interactive development tools.
On successful completion of this course, you’ll have the necessary Stage 1 training required to progress onto Stage 2 training. To become a chartered health psychologist, you’ll need to complete Stage 2 training. 100 percent of our psychology graduates go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes survey 2023, HESA). Our alumni take on roles as health advisors, prison therapy assistants, projects officers, and public health officers, working for NHS trusts, healthcare organizations, and charities.
The broad and transferrable skills that you’ll develop are also highly relevant in other fields, including behavioral analysis and well-being. Many of our graduates go on to complete a PhD, investigating an area of personal interest.
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English Language Requirements
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