Joshua Bugg
Joshua Bugg
Joshua tells us what attracted him to our psychology conversion programme and how the skills he has learned on the programme will help him in his future career.
Psychological Studies, MSc
Introduction
The MSc Psychological Studies programme is designed to introduce graduates from other disciplines to the study of psychology, as a first step to pursuing a career in this area.
Please note that there will be no 2025 intake for MSc Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology.
This programme is available to start in January or September. Apply now
Study Information
Study Options
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- January or September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
Psychologists study the full range of influences that affect behaviour, from the biological to the social. They also study how we perceive our environment; how we think, learn and remember; how we communicate and interact with others; how we differ from one another in personality and abilities; and how these change and develop throughout our lifetimes.
The MSc Psychological Studies will introduce you to the study of psychology and provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in psychology or in other areas where a scientific understanding of human behaviour is important. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in an area of psychology best suited to your interests or career aspirations, by choosing from a range of elective courses, some of which can be studied online, including mental health and organisational psychology.
Completion of this Psychological Studies conversion programme could act as the first step to a professional career in psychology and will open up various options to you. Completion of a further 1-year masters programme in a specialist area such as health psychology or occupational psychology will enable you to pursue these specialist career paths. Alternatively, you may wish to use the conversion qualification as means to gain a BPS accredited qualification or as the basis for a career in the many areas where a knowledge of human behaviour is beneficial. You may be interested in pursuing a research career in psychology and may choose to go on to complete an MRes in Psychology as the first step to a PhD.
Available Programmes of Study
- MSc
-
Psychological Studies
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen MoreMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen MorePsychological Studies with Organisational Psychology
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen MoreProgramme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £26,250 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year UK £11,100 Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year Stage 1
The programme consists of a range of taught and optional courses and an empirical research project.
Compulsory Courses
- Core Principles: Individual Differences, Cognitive and Biological (PS5027)
-
45 Credit Points
This course aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of psychological research in three core areas of psychology, biological, individual differences, and cognitive. In addition, students will attend tutorials to support skill development and a weekly seminar course on contemporary psychological research.
- Study Skills for Psychology (PS50SP)
-
This brief course provides an introduction to the essential skills and information you will need to study psychology as a postgraduate student.
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
-
This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
Optional Courses
Students also study one 15-credit course from the following options.
- Human Factors in Industrial Practice (PS5025)
-
15 Credit Points
Safety is a priority in every industry. This course considers safety from a human factors perspective, and is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the factors that can influence human performance and safety.
The course will provide insight into human behaviour at work, from how we work together and make decisions (non-technical skills) to the impact of the workplace environment (heat, noise) on our ability to work safely and effectively.
By covering the most up to date research in this area, alongside evaluating real life case studies to discover what went wrong, this course will equip professionals from every industry with the tools they need to begin evaluating, and improving, safety at their own place of work.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace (PS5051)
-
15 Credit Points
This course will look at mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. It will consider how mental health and work are related and what factors in the workplace impact on mental health and wellbeing, at an individual, team and systemic level.
We will also consider how to create a mentally healthy workplace and how mental health can be supported in the workplace. The theory and learning will be supported by case studies, discussion boards and real-life reflections from workplaces.
- Psychology at Work (PS5059)
-
15 Credit Points
At some point in our lives we will, hopefully, enter the world of work and be met with some of the challenges and issues which confront organisations globally such as managing organisational change, how to create a talent pipeline and how to create high performing teams. This online module provides an opportunity for students to understand the role of Occupational Psychology in dealing with these challenges and how psychological theory underpins practice in the workplace and across organisations.
- Organisational Culture and Conflict (PS5038)
-
15 Credit Points
This in-person course covers two areas relevant to the performance and safety of organisations and their workers: culture and conflict.
Culture: ‘The way we do things around here’ – the rules and norms that govern employee behaviour. We will discuss organisational, national and professional culture, alongside multi-cultural teams.
Conflict: Differing experiences and backgrounds can produce disagreement, sometimes resulting in rudeness and bullying, adversely impacting worker performance and wellbeing. We will discuss conflict, the impact on staff, plus management strategies.
Stage 2
Compulsory Courses
- Core Principles: Social and Developmental Psychology (PS5527)
-
15 Credit Points
This course aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of psychological research in the core areas of social and developmental psychology. In addition, students will attend tutorials to support skill development.
- Methods and Analysis in Psychology (PS5529)
-
30 Credit Points
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the use of basic as well as more advanced descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis in psychology. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods will be covered and students will gain understanding of the key concepts and issues in psychological research and study design.
Optional Courses
Students also study one 15-credit course from the following options.
- PS5551 Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace (15 credits)
- Safety Critical Skills in Industry (PS5537)
-
15 Credit Points
Non-technical skills are the social, cognitive and personal management skills that, alongside technical knowledge, enable safe and effective work performance. These skills are vital in all industries, with a particular emphasis on high risk industries such as aviation, healthcare, shipping, agriculture and offshore drilling.
- Positive Psychology at Work (PS5541)
-
15 Credit Points
Positive psychology is “the scientific study of what goes right in life” and “what makes life most worth living” (Peterson, 2006). Focusing on what is right with people is increasing being successfully applied to the world of work thus creating work settings which provide the greatest satisfaction amongst workers and where people, teams and organisations flourish and thrive. This course considers how the application of positive psychology theory and models can help overcome organisational challenges such as change management, motivation and effective leadership.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace (PS5551)
-
15 Credit Points
This course will look at mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. It will consider how mental health and work are related and what factors in the workplace impact on mental health and wellbeing, at an individual, team and systemic level.
We will also consider how to create a mentally healthy workplace and how mental health can be supported in the workplace. The theory and learning will be supported by case studies, discussion boards and real-life reflections from workplaces.
Stage 3
Compulsory Courses
- Research Project (PS5903)
-
60 Credit Points
Students will complete an empirical project, under the supervision of a member of staff, where the student collects and analyses data in answer to a specific research question. The aim is to further develop the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out psychological research at a very high standard.
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen MorePsychological Studies with Mental Health
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen MoreMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen MorePsychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen MoreMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
- 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
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.
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
A variety of teaching methods are used, including lectures, tutorials, group work and practicals.
The course also makes the most of digital technology, including the recording of lectures for revision purposes.
Students are expected to actively engage in independent study and in group work, to consolidate learning.
Learning Methods
- Group Projects
- Lectures
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
There are different types of assessment throughout the programme including written coursework assignments, examinations, and the research project.
Why Study Psychological Studies?
- Successful completion of the MSc will provide you with graduate basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS which also opens up career paths in specialized areas of professional psychology, such as counselling psychology, health psychology and occupational psychology.
- You will be situated within an international level research environment and taught by academic staff who are at the forefront of psychology research.
- You will be provided with a personal tutor from the academic staff, who will have responsibility for supporting you throughout your studies and will also provide employability advice and guidance.
- You will benefit from the excellent employability programme within the School which aims to provide you with the skills and opportunities to enhance your career prospects and increase your likelihood of securing employment upon graduation.
- The School of Psychology at Aberdeen is one the oldest academic psychology units in Britain and can lay claim to one of the earliest academic psychology appointments.
What Our Students Say
Matthew Johnson
Anupriya Vyas
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
Applicants must have at least a lower second class Honours degree (or equivalent) in any discipline. Some prior study of Psychology at University Undergraduate Level would be preferred, but is not essential.
Please check the In My Country pages to find out if your degree is equivalent.
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 - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; 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
The MSc Psychological Sciences will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to apply scientific methodology to understanding human behaviour in all areas of life, including business, education, and health and social care. You will also gain important transferable skills, such as the ability to analyse data, think analytically, and communicate effectively, that are valued across the entire job market.
You will also gain important transferable skills, such as the ability to analyse data, think analytically, and communicate effectively, that are valued across the entire job market.
Successful completion of the MSc will provide you with graduate basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS, which also opens up career paths in specialised areas of professional psychology, such as counselling psychology, health psychology, and occupational psychology.
You may be interested in pursuing a research career in psychology and you will have the option to go on to complete an MRes in Psychology as the first step to a PhD.
Career Opportunities
- Doctoral Researcher
- Health Psychologist
- Occupational Psychologist
Accreditation
The MSc Psychological Studies and programme variants are accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS).
- MSc Psychological Studies with Applied Developmental Psychology
- MSc Psychological Studies with Mental Health
- MSc Psychological Studies with Organisational Psychology
This degree holds accreditation from
What our Alumni Say
Vanessa Yu Ho Wong
Vanessa Yu Ho Wong
- Job Details
- Senior Performance and Quality Analyst, Cabinet Office
- Graduated 2021
Former student Vanessa tells us more about her experience of studying psychology at the University of Aberdeen and how the skills she learned from her MSc and PhD study have helped her in her career.
(Wesley) Muxuan Li
Our Experts
The School of Psychology provides an exciting and vibrant research environment. Our degrees are taught by a range of experts across our 3 research themes, Cognition, Perception and Attention and Social Cognition.
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Zeshu Shao
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
Sir Duncan Rice Library
The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.
Find out more
Psychophysiology Centre
This facility consists of several spacious rooms that house electroencephalographic (EEG) equipment and sound-attenuated, shielded testing booths.
Eye Tracking Facilities
The School of Psychology has four in-house eye trackers. The Eyelink 1000 system allows the recording of eye gaze at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX