Psychology - MSc
Please note
This course and the information on this page is indicative based on the 2019/20 academic year. The final details for this course starting in 2020/21 may be subject to change and will be confirmed by the end of September 2019.
Looking for a psychology conversion course? Our MSc Psychology degree is an online conversion course, fully accredited by the British Psychological Society.
It is an online conversion course, fully accredited by the British Psychological Society, designed to help students with a non-Psychology degree gain a Psychology Master's qualification.
This course has been designed for students wanting to pursue careers in chartered areas of psychology who need to gain relevant work experience. Therefore, this distance learning (online) course allows you to study around your own commitments, reflecting the inclusivity at the heart of Birmingham City University.
Why Choose Us?
- Staff contact and online delivery provide ample opportunity for you to pursue related interests outside the programme in the areas of clinical, educational and forensic psychology etc. You are encouraged to bring these experience to the forefront of your learning experience, ensuring you are developing into a well-rounded, lifelong learner.
- Our staff are research active, allowing research-informed teaching and learning activities. You will be given the opportunity to learn and participate in a number of research projects throughout the year and we hold regular academic research seminars, which are recorded for our online students.
- A number of our recent conversion course students have been successful in gaining further training and employment in highly competitive areas of psychology, including Clinical Doctorate programmes and research posts with national charitable organisations.
- You will be allocated a personal tutor, who will provide pastoral and academic support, as well as preparing you for your career in Psychology.
- The Division of Psychology also offers MSc Forensic Psychology and MSc Health Psychology, providing you with many networking opportunities.
Find out more
Open Days
Our next Open Day for this course will take place on 29 June 2019. Visit us to see our facilities and speak to our staff and students.
Book your place
This course is open to International students
Discover the School of Social Sciences
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
*Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2016
Campus Tours - Postgraduate
Didn't make it to an Open Day? You still have the opportunity to come and see what our postgraduate courses have to offer. If you would like to enquire about campus tour availability, just drop us an email.
*DLHE Survey 2016/17
Course Accreditations
This course is accredited by:
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
| Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Applicants must have a minimum 2:2 degree. At the point of enrolment you must have GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above. |
||
|
All exemptions must be approved by the Admissions Tutor prior to starting the course. |
||
|
The British Psychological Society (BPS) requires all graduates to obtain a minimum of 50 per cent overall in order to meet the criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). |
||
|
Please note that you will not be able to progress on to the MSc level and work towards eligibility for Society membership if you do not hold an undergraduate degree, regardless of whether you have postgraduate qualifications. This is a requirement set by the British Psychological Society. |
||
Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
||
| English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
| IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
|
| Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page | |
International Students
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
UK or EU students
| Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Sep 2020 | DL | 1 Year | £8,500 per year | Register your interest |
| MSc | Sep 2020 | DL | 2 Years | TBC |
Register your interest |
International Students
| Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Sep 2020 | DL | 1 Year | £12,800 per year | Register your interest |
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Personal statement
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Your passion and motivations
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Why this course?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
What makes you a good postgraduate candidate?
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Relevant academic or work experience
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements
.Additional costs
While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Find additional costs for your course
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,906 for some courses and options?
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits): |
We focus on ensuring the core elements of psychology are taught in an applied, real-world context. We expect you to be active in the online learning community bringing your experiences, ideas and questions to the forefront of the learning journey.
The coursework is designed in such a way that you can tailor it to your interests, whilst developing your softer, employability skills as well.
The course will allow you to interact and learn alongside students from all over the country and the world, expanding your networks and perceptions of psychology.
This course is accredited by:
The British Psychological Society (MSc Psychology)
Find out more about British Psychological Society accreditation.
Further Study
Upon completion of this course, students can pursue internal PhD opportunities offered within the Psychology department at Birmingham City University.
*Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2016
Employment Opportunities
To pursue a career as a professional psychologist further training at MSc and or doctorate level is required. This can lead to employment in the areas of:
-
Clinical neuropsychology
-
Educational psychology
-
Forensic psychology
-
Health psychology
-
Occupational psychology
-
Counselling psychology
-
Teaching and research
-
Sports and exercise science.
GBC graduates who do not wish to pursue a career in Professional Psychology also enter into employment areas such as, recruitment consultancy, human resources, civil service, researcher and data analyst, Improving Access
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
*DLHE Survey 2016/17
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other social sciences, law, business and English students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
Realistic, simulated environments include two mock court rooms, a Magistrates' and Crown Court, and an interviewing suite. We’re also exploring the use of virtual environments as a way to develop case study analysis.
For those studying on the BA (Hons) Policing or BA (Hons) Criminology, Policing and Investigation degrees, you’ll experience simulations of police interviewing environments for both suspects and witnesses, with access to tape recording and video playback analysis.
Crime investigation files are prepared using computer-based technology, and the crime data analysis requirements of the degree are supported by appropriate statistical and analytical software.
Psychology students can look forward to using state-of-the-art equipment as well, including the latest in eye-tracking software, and our new EEG machine, all geared towards giving you true hands-on experience with tools you’ll be using in your later career. You will also benefit from facilities across the wider campus including the Parkside and Millennium Point buildings.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive new library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Brand new, accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
Dr Pelham Carter
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Deputy Course Director MSc Psychology
Dr Pelham Carter has been a lecturer at BCU since October 2015. He is currently the acting programme director for the GradDip in Psychology and the upcoming MSc in Psychology. He is also the module leader for Cognitive Psychology, and contribute to Cyberpsychology, Research Methods and cyber related content for the MSc Forensic Psychology course.
Dr Emily Coyne-Umfreville
Course Director MSc Psychology, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology
Before joining Birmingham City University, Dr Emily Coyne-Umfreville taught Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Prior to this she worked as a research fellow at Nottingham Trent University on a project examining the use of personalised learning in the classroom through the use of ICT.
Dr Jason Martens
Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Jason Martens joined the staff at Birmingham City University as a lecturer in Psychology in 2016. He previously taught and conducted research in Canada at the University of British Columbia and at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Dr Keeley Abbott
Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology, Athena SWAN Lead
Dr Keeley Abbott is a Lecturer in Social Psychology at Birmingham City University, where she teaches critical psychology, gender and sexualities, and qualitative research.
Dr Emily Harrison
Deputy Course Director BSc Psychology, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology
Dr Emily Harrison completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2011 and went on to complete a PhD in reading development in early 2015. Her research has largely focused on children’s reading development, more specifically to do with the role of rhythmic awareness in the development of early literacy skills.
Paraic Scanlon
Senior Lecturer in Development Psychology, Course Director Foundation in Psychology
Dr Paraic Scanlon completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Following this he worked in a centre for special education with children on the Autistic Spectrum before returning to NUI Maynooth for his PhD research.
Dr Jeffrey Wood
Lecturer in Psychology, Level 6 Year tutor BSc Psychology
As a lecturer in Psychology, Dr Jeff Wood is particularly interested in the way people understand language as they read. Specific interests include conditional language usage, implicit meaning, online processing, research techniques and methods of statistical analysis.
Dr Eirini Mavritsaki
Reader in Cognitive Psychology / Director of Research (School of Social Sciences)
Dr Eirini Mavritsaki is currently Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology and Director of Research in the School of Social Sciences at Birmingham City University. Eirini is also an Honorary Lecturer at The University of Birmingham.
Rebecca Wheeler-Mundy
Lecturer in Psychology
Becky joined Birmingham City University as a lecturer in Psychology in October 2017. Her research interests lie in human memory, and how social and cognitive factors can influence how much we are able to recall. This has involved investigating factors such as the way that memory is cued, and the way information is presented.
Dr Olga Fotakopoulou
Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, Course Director BSc Psychology with Business/Marketing
Dr Olga Fotakopoulou is a Lecturer in Developmental Psychology in the Division of Psychology at Birmingham City University. Olga has worked as a researcher since 2003 in research projects funded by the European Union.