If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.5 (Academic) with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in listening and reading.
Why study MSc Health Psychology at BU?
Take the first step to becoming a Health Psychologist on this accredited course and be equiped with the necessary qualification to undertake stage two training
Unique insight into the influence of stress and resilience on lifespan, with a focus on child health psychology
Benefit from the knowledge of our expert staff in relation to health-related cognitions and behaviours
Learn transferrable skills like interpreting, presenting and writing research as well as how to write grant proposals
Opportunity to take a placement in a health psychology setting though our links with providers such as NHS Trusts, clinicians or schools, and public health domains. We also offer the opportunity to gain experience as research assistants, working on academically led research
Select your research project from a range of health psychology research projects with close support and supervision throughout, as well as supportive seminars on relevant topics.
Course accreditation
This course is accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS) and will provide the first stage of training for becoming a Health Psychologist, equipping you with the necessary qualification to undertake stage two training in Health Psychology accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) should you wish to pursue a career as a Practitioner Psychologist in Health. A minimum of an upper second-class honour's degree (60% or above) at undergraduate and master’s level is usually required for entry onto Stage 2 training.
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Core units
Stress and developmental influences on health and illness: You will examine the effects of stress on physical health and well-being and on the role of developmental influences on health. This unit links these two aspects together to examine the effects of experience across the lifespan on physical health and wellbeing. This will include an emphasis on child health and development. You will examine these effects from different methodological perspectives including biological processes and epidemiological evidence, and learn specifically about biopsychosocial theory and the underpinning of this theory across health psychology.
Health-related cognitions, behaviours and beliefs: You will gain an advanced understanding of the factors, motivations and theories underlying a number of health behaviours and conditions, and discovering how this understanding can aid changes in attitudes, perceptions and behaviours to improve lifestyles and practices. Cognitions, behaviours and beliefs at different stages across the lifespan will be considered and evaluated. General theories, models, interventions and methods for assessing intervention success will be covered, and applied to a number of common health behaviours, conditions, and populations.
Experience of chronic illness and delivery of healthcare: On this unit, you will cover the psychosocial aspects of a range of physical illnesses, with reference to theoretical models. You will explore the role of health psychologists in primary and secondary care, primarily with visiting speakers who are working across different areas of health psychology practice.
Advanced research methods: The unit covers a range of research methods and tools used for conducting advanced level research, and describes the intricacies of experimental design in such contexts. The unit aims to prepare students for undertaking independent research using advanced research techniques.
Advanced statistics: You will learn and apply a range of statistical techniques intended for analysing data from psychological research. These are advanced techniques which are not covered at undergraduate level.
Key transferable skills – presentation and scientific writing: In this unit, you'll gain key skills for interpreting, presenting and writing research. Topics will include writing research and grant proposals, presentation skills and the development of advanced writing skills.
Research project: You'll get to choose from a set of health psychology research projects provided by our core team of health psychology teaching staff. You will then be responsible for providing an in-depth literature review and designing an empirical research project to address the research question. You will be expected to collect and analyse data and will be asked to provide a write up of the project as a dissertation in the format of a journal article. Supervision for the research project will be provided throughout and you will attend project related seminars on relevant topics.
The MSc Health Psychology course provides our graduates with a sound training in health and psychology related skills to enable you to enter a number of professional avenues across academic, healthcare, and public health settings, including research psychologist positions, postdoctoral research in health psychology, and in a variety of medical settings. It also provides a potential route to undertake a PhD or Doctoral level study in Health Psychology or related area and is a good grounding for increasing success in obtaining a place on a Doctorate Training Programme in Clinical Psychology.
This course is accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS) and will provide the first stage of training for becoming a Health Psychologist, equipping you with the necessary qualification to undertake stage two training in Health Psychology accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) should you wish to pursue a career as a Practitioner Psychologist in Health.
OSHC: 624 ($) GBP per year
