MSc Psychology (conversion course)

A minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred).

Course Overview

This course will cover the basics of psychology in an in-depth and accelerated fashion. You will take the lectures and read the textbooks that undergraduates also take, but you will get through these quicker and you will critically evaluate concepts, knowledge and research evidence at a level in keeping with postgraduate study. This way of learning is possible because you have already completed another degree. While you aquire the key concepts and core knowledge of psychology in its broadest sense (e.g. social psychology, cognition, development, individual differences, biological bases of mind and behaviour) you also take research methods modules specially designed for postgraduate students. You will further do a practical placement. This intensive lerning experience culminates in a three month (or six month part-time) independent empirical research project supervised one-to-one by an academic specialist. Psychology at Stirling has a vibrant research ‘culture’ and our taught postgraduate students are fully integrated in the research community, meeting up for weekly research seminars and informal specialist discussion groups with staff and students. The facilities are excellent and psychology masters students enjoy a dedicated suite of study rooms.

Course Design

There are seven compulsory modules: Three Core Psychology modules; Quantitative Analysis; Qualitative Analysis; Placement; and a Research Project.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are well placed for careers in clinical and health psychology, educational psychology and teaching, human resources management and personnel etc.  The skills gained are also readily transferable to other careers: this course positions students for the growing expectation that graduates have a good understanding of human behaviour, are able to interpret and analyse complex forms of data, and to communicate ideas clearly to others.

One essential part of the course is the requirement to carry out a Placement (typically in an external company, charity or third sector organisation). This provides a fantastic opportunity to develop relevant work-based employment skils, and to develop a network of contacts relevant to future career goals. Students benefit hugely from the placement experience, combining skills and experience with personal and professional development.

Completion of this course gives Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: • IELTS: 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade C • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): Grade C • Pearson Test of English (Academic): 54 with 51 in each component • IBT TOEFL: 80 with no subtest less than 17.   For more information go to http://www.stir.ac.uk/study-in-the-uk/entry-requirements/english/. If you do not meet the required score you may be able to register for one of our pre-sessional English courses. To register you must hold a conditional offer for your course and have an IELTS score 0.5 or 1.0 below the required standard. View our range of pre-sessional courses: http://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/english/.

‌Psychology at Stirling ratings for research excellence (REF 2014) were:

·         3rd in Scotland, in the top 20 for the UK.

·         86% of our research outputs were rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

 ·         We were rated as BEST in the UK for research impact.

The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey:  in 2016 Stirling students reported 88% overall satisfaction with their experience.

http://www.stir.ac.uk/postgraduate/financial-information/tuition-fees