Health Psychology, MSc
Introduction
MSc Health Psychology, accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to address many of the major health challenges in society today.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
Health Psychology is the UK’s fastest growing field of psychology, with growing appeal globally as an important discipline in understanding and changing behaviours relevant to key health outcomes. Our Masters programme offers a strong foundation in theory, evidence and practical methods essential for moving this exciting field forward.
Health Psychology is an innovative discipline focussed on the study of psychological and behavioural processes in health, illness and healthcare. A broad range of relevant topics are explored in this programme, including:
- Health-related behaviour and cognitions
- Designing and delivering behaviour change interventions
- Stress and pathways to illness and disease
- Managing long-term conditions
- Delivery and receipt of healthcare
- Professional skills in health psychology
- Conducting and evaluating research effectively
The BPS accreditation ensures you gain the Stage 1 competencies in health psychology required for progressing to Stage 2 doctoral training to become a chartered health psychologist. This makes our programme ideal for psychology graduates aiming to work as health psychology practitioners or researchers in the future. All graduates will gain relevant, contemporary and transferable knowledge and skills they can use in a range of careers in healthcare, public health, local government, charity sector and others.
What You'll Study
- Stage 1
-
Our MSc Health Psychology programme is a tailored programme of taught courses designed specifically with trainee health psychologists in mind, alongside a supervised empirical research project on an area of interest relevant to health psychology.
View a sample list of Health Psychology empirical research projects here.
Compulsory Courses
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
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This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.
Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
- Health Behaviour and Behaviour Change (PU5022)
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15 Credit Points
Unhealthy and risky behaviours – such as a poor diet, sedentary behaviour, not attending screening programmes, or not taking medication as prescribed – are leading causes of suboptimal health and premature death, health care expenditure, and sickness absence. Health Psychology examines what drives these behaviours and how they can be changed. This course aims to provide students with the core knowledge and skills for developing and implementing effective interventions to promote healthier behaviours.
- Health Psychology Research Review (PU5029)
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15 Credit Points
This course aims to provide students with (a) an opportunity to complete a thorough and comprehensive review of the existing literature on a clearly defined topic in an area of interest to Health Psychology, and (b) the academic skills to search, synthesise and clearly present in writing a large amount of research evidence.
Working largely independently with the support of an academic supervisor, students on this course will produce a substantial literature review of a publishable standard. Reviews may be either narrative or systematic depending on the topic area.
- Stress, Personality and Health (PU5053)
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15 Credit Points
Humans vary from one person to the next, both in terms of their stable characteristics and in terms of how they respond to different situations and environments. These individual differences can in turn influence health positively and negatively. This course explores key individual differences in stress and personality. We will explore differences in physical, psychological and behavioural responses to stress; methods of coping with stress; theoretical determinants of stress; and the role of personality in health and illness.
- Advanced Quantitative Methods and Analysis for Psychology (PU5054)
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15 Credit Points
This course teaches students in the field of health psychology how to conduct high quality quantitative research and how to think and operate within a professional, ethical framework. The structure of the course reflects the logical flow of the research process itself, moving week on week from the planning of research (generating and refining research questions, evaluating evidence, designing studies), through study conduct (ethical practice, quantitative methods, measurement issues, data handling, research governance) to the statistical analysis, interpretation, reporting and dissemination of research findings (to academic, policy, public, and media audiences).
- Stage 2
-
Compulsory Courses
- Illness, Disability and Interactions with Healthcare (PU5517)
-
15 Credit Points
This course aims to explore the psychological side of illness, disability and dying. Students will learn how symptoms are interpreted and responded to, how risk is perceived, how individuals live with chronic conditions and about end of life and bereavement.
- Health Professional Behaviour (PU5518)
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15 Credit Points
Health outcomes depend not just on an individual’s own behaviours, but also on the behaviour of health professionals, the behaviour of service providers and on the structure and organisation of health-relevant environments. This course equips students with basic professional practice skills and trains them how to identify and solve real world health problems using psychological theories and techniques.
- Systematic Reviewing (PU5526)
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15 Credit Points
This course will equip students with the relevant skills to interpret and conduct systematic reviews on the effectiveness of healthcare interventions. Using lectures and practical sessions, students will understand the principles of systematic reviewing and the differences between narrative and systematic reviews. They will learn to formulate a clear research question and undertake each stage of systematic reviewing of randomised controlled trials. They will also learn about the importance of the levels of evidence and systematic reviews of other different study designs. This course will also introduce the students to advances in systematic reviews such as network meta-analysis and use of Individual Patient Data (IPD)
- Qualitative Health Research (PU5529)
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15 Credit Points
This course provides a sound overview of the methods involved in qualitative health research. You will consider the relevance and value of different qualitative methodologies which respond to current health agendas. The course covers planning to conduct qualitative research and a range of methods to generate, handle and analyse qualitative data. You will gain insight into issues of rigour, quality and ethics, and understand the importance of engaging with relevant audiences. The course is delivered by experienced qualitative researchers, and you will gain insight into the practicalities of undertaking qualitative research via practical workshops and lecture sessions.
This course provides a sound overview of the methods involved in qualitative health research. You will consider the relevance and value of different qualitative methodologies which respond to current health agendas. The course covers planning to conduct qualitative research and a range of methods to generate, handle and analyse qualitative data. You will gain insight into issues of rigour, quality and ethics, and understand the importance of engaging with relevant audiences. The course is delivered by experienced qualitative researchers, and you will gain insight into the practicalities of undertaking qualitative research via practical workshops and lecture sessions.
- Stage 3
-
Compulsory Courses
- Health Psychology Research Project (PU5909)
-
60 Credit Points
This course offers students the opportunity to complete a substantial piece of data-driven, empirical work within the field of Health Psychology, under the supervision of an experienced Health Psychology researcher.
Topics available will be varied but within the domain of Health Psychology. Students will identify a suitable topic area, develop a research protocol, design and implement an empirical study and write up the results in the format of a journal article.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| EU / International students | £23,000 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | |
| UK | £11,100 |
| Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year |
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.
Funding Opportunities
The following options are available to support your studies. Please click the links for full details and eligibility criteria.
- Alumni Discount Scheme - a 20% discount for University of Aberdeen alumni.
Scholarships
Self-funded international students enrolling on Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes for January 2025 will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about these Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.
From September 2025 all eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Our programme emphasises active learning and repeated exposure to best practice. A variety of teaching methods are used to help students achieve the three main programme aims of understanding (lectures, tutorials, workshops, self-study), application (problem-based learning, practical tasks) and the development of a critical academic and professional attitude (small group discussions, debates, self-reflection, personal development planning).
Learning Methods
- E-learning
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Peer Learning
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Assessment Methods
A variety of different approaches are combined to assess student understanding, progress and performance throughout the programme (e.g. workbooks, essays, critical reviews, computer-based tests, consultancy reports, infographics, oral presentations and thesis).
Why Study Health Psychology?
- The programme is BPS accredited, delivering all the competencies required as a Stage 1 Trainee Health Psychologist in preparation for Stage 2 doctoral training should you wish to do so.
- The University's Aberdeen Health Psychology Group (AHPG) is an internationally recognised academic centre in Health Psychology. The group coordinates the MSc and various members of research staff are involved in the teaching.
- You will benefit from the AHPG's close working relationship with other disciplines and specialities (like epidemiology, health services research, health economics, pharmacy, exercise physiology, public health nutrition and academic primary care).
- You will join AHPG’s monthly research and practice workshops where researchers, practitioners and educators in health psychology convene to discuss their latest innovative work.
- The programme is based at the Foresterhill Health Campus which includes a Medical School, Institute of Applied Health Sciences and the Rowett Institute, providing easy access to facilities and specialists from a range of disciplines.
- The programme has a strong emphasis on multi-disciplinary working, which provides an excellent learning environment for future health psychologists.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
Applicants should possess a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in Psychology (recognised as Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership by the British Psychological Society) or have completed a British Psychological Society-accredited conversion course in Psychology.
Applicants with a 2:2 may be eligible for entry under certain circumstances (e.g. where evidence of subsequent higher academic achievement is provided).
International students with degrees NOT accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) must contact the BPS Partnership & Accreditation Team to ask for written confirmation that their degree is considered equivalent to a BPS accredited degree. Obtaining this may take several weeks.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated pages.
January 2025 September 2025Careers
With an ageing population, an obesity epidemic and an associated increase in chronic health conditions requiring behavioural interventions, the demand for advanced understanding of the links between psychology and health is only going to grow.
Completion of the MSc confers Stage 1 of the BPS requirements for training as a Health Psychologist so students will be eligible to begin Stage 2 training upon graduation. In Scotland, several funded 'Health Psychologist in Training' posts are advertised each year to enable graduates to complete their Stage 2 training while employed by the NHS.
One thing is sure: whatever route you choose, you will have a qualification that there is significant demand for. Our graduates have gone on to a variety of roles and career routes, including the career opportunities listed.
Career Opportunities
- Assistant Psychologist
- Behaviour Analyst
- Charity Worker
- Data Analyst
- Health Psychologist or Trainee Health Psychologist
- PhD Researcher
- Public Health Practitioner
- Research Assistant
- Social Prescribing Coordinator
- University Lecturer
Industry Links
We have excellent links with NHS Grampian and are co-located on the Foresterhill Health Campus with a large teaching hospital.
Our Experts
Our MSc Health Psychology is delivered by an experienced team of academic researchers and educators with expertise and expertise in health psychology research and practice.
If you have any questions about the programme, please do contact the Programme Coordinator, Dr Dan Powell.
- Other Experts
- Professor Marie Johnston, The University of Aberdeen
- Dr Clare Cooper, The University of Aberdeen
- Dr Zoë Skea, The University of Aberdeen
- Dr Chantal den Daas, The University of Aberdeen
- Dr Louisa Lawrie, The University of Aberdeen
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Daniel Powell, The University of Aberdeen
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Facilities
Health Sciences Building
The Health Sciences building, located on the Foresterhill Health Campus, houses the purpose built Clinical Research Facility, researchers from the Institute of Applied Health Sciences and the Imaging Department which boasts state-of-the-art equipment
Foresterhill Health Campus
The Foresterhill Health Campus is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes the Medical School, large teaching hospital, the Institute of Medical Sciences and the Rowett Institute.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX