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Masters
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Psychology Conversion Degree (BPS)
MSc
Course Overview
Broaden your analytical mind and develop your skillset with a master’s conversion degree that’s designed to allow you to begin your career in Psychology or broaden your knowledge so that you can apply psychological concepts to your current workplace. Completing a master’s conversion degree allows you to attain Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society.
Are you determined to pursue a professional career in psychology? Do you have a degree that is not Psychology or non-psychology accredited and you wish to obtain graduate basis for chartership with the British Psychological Society? This MSc psychology degree covers a range of fascinating modules - from how our brains influence our perception of the world and how we interact with other people, to childhood development and behavioural neuroscience.
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Find out more about this degree programme and the modules covered by downloading our degree brochure.
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Fast track your career with Arden
Arden courses are designed so that you can study additional programmes alongside them. Find out more about how you can study an additional industry certified course alongside your studies.
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Your BPS membership
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), so you’ll leave with a degree that is recognised in both academic and professional fields. The cost of BPS membership is included while you are actively studying with us, which gives you access to a range of great resources.
Course details and modules
Achieving an MSc psychology conversion qualification allows you to start you learning journey and training as a Psychologist. It also allows for easier transitions into more senior positions, such as management and leadership. Studied through online learning, this course is all about mastering the fundamentals of psychology and learning how to critically analyse theories with applied research and understanding and applying to practice.
Modules
To gain your master’s degree in psychology, you need 180 credits in total, studying the following modules:
- Research Methods (20 credits)
- Social Psychology (20 credits)
- Behavioural Neuroscience (20 credits)
- Individual Differences and Psychopathology (20 credits)
- Lifespan Development (20 credits)
- Cognitive Psychology (20 credits)
- Advanced Research Project (60 credits)
You can study two modules at once, but we’d always recommend studying each module separately until you become comfortable with the demands of a master’s degree. Each 20 credit module typically requires an average of 200 learning hours over the 10-week course; equivalent to a minimum of 20 hours a week. As this is an online psychology master’s, you have the freedom to fit your study hours around your lifestyle, with 24/7 support from us.
How do we assess you?
The way we assess our students provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your strengths in a variety of ways. That’s why we choose a range of different methods to keep track of your progress. For the master’s psychology degree, these include:
- Empirical research report
- Empirical research proposal
- Essay
- Self-reflective writing
- Literature review
- Case study
- Poster
- Presentation
- Dissertation/Empirical Journal Article
Entry requirements
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
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Eligibility
Our MSc Psychology degree has standard entry requirements. To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:
- A UK Honours Degree at a minimum of second class (2.2) or equivalent, that is not a psychology qualification, or not accredited by the BPS
- A maths qualification or equivalent to at least Grade C at GCSE
English Proficiency
- IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent
- Alternatively, a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English is accepted
We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide an English Proficiency letter. More information on this can be found here.
We will consider alternative qualifications to evidence the maths component, as this qualification includes research methods which involves statistics.
We’ll ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to study the course. We may also want references and evidence of relevant experiences.
If you don’t already have a degree, we may be able to offer you a place on one of our undergraduate degree programmes, such as our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree.
Course fees and funding
Meet the team
Before enrolling onto your MSc Psychology degree, it’s nice to get to know the faces of who you’ll be learning from. The School of Psychology team is headed up by Dr Gail Steptoe-Warren and a team of multi-disciplinary lecturers, bringing a wealth of academic and practitioner experience with them. The use of an evidence-based approach provides students with the opportunity to develop skills that can be applied in the workplace.
Career prospects
At postgraduate level, you’ve probably already got solid career goals in mind. Our aim is to take you on the journey to achieving those goals, equipping you with a range of transferable skills that will give you the upper hand as a future employee – in whichever industry you feel is right for you.
What can a psychology degree do for me?
Achieving a degree at master’s level in psychology will open up a world of career opportunities. While studying, you’ll become proficient in:
- How our brain influences our perception of the world
- Social interaction
- Psychopathological conditions
- Approaches to intelligence testing
- Childhood development
- Behavioural neuroscience
What can I do after Arden University?
After successfully completing your MSc psychology degree, you’ll have acquired a range of skills that will be appealing to several industries. Employers know that a successful psychology graduate at master’s level can go above and beyond when it comes to understanding and analysing human behaviour. With that in mind, a few career options for you could include:
- Civil Service
- Marketing
- Consultant
- Teacher
- Researcher
- HR Professional
- Management
- Business Leader
Or if you want to continue your journey towards becoming a registered Practitioner Psychologist it will allow you to apply for MSc accredited courses in Psychology specific disciplines. Keep a look out for future MSc discipline specific courses with us at Arden University.
Industry skills
Your next step into the professional world
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This means that through this conversion course, you will be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS if you gain a grade of 2:2 or above - essential for pursuing a career in recognised psychology professions. A BPS accredited psychology degree is also recognised by many professional bodies worldwide, such as the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
Whilst you’re actively studying with Arden University, we’ll cover the cost of your student membership with the BPS, which will give you access to a range of additional resources to assist with your studies, including:
- Access to both digital and physical copies of The Psychologist and PsychTalk
- Membership to your local branch, providing you with networking opportunities
- Exclusive discounts on books, events and e-learning
- Free online access to the society’s archive of academic journals
Study options
Got other commitments?
Studying for a master’s degree in psychology is made easy with Arden University. Our online learning model fits around your lifestyle, so you can study at a time and pace that works best for you.
The assignments were challenging -in a good way. They were relevant to what we learned and interesting to complete. Being able to contact my module tutor - either in the discussion forums or by email- was tremendously helpful. I feel that my concerns and questions were taken seriously, and the feedback was genuinely helpful.
Rudolf Eigenheer
MSc Psychology
Online Learning
How does it work?
With online learning, you decide when and where you work through your self-guided learning materials, without being held to a set lecture timetable. If you’re interrupted during a lesson, simply pause the materials and continue later. You can also communicate and collaborate with your tutor and classmates through live online forums and email.
Find out more about how Online Learning works.
