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Applied Psychology MSc

Taught by experts, this course will prepare you for doctoral research or a career in public health, education, business or industry
Code
PGL713
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£10,500 (UK) *
£16,800 (INT) *
Course leader
Nicky Brunswick

Why choose Applied Psychology MSc at Middlesex?

This course has been developed to meet a growing demand for knowledge, skills and experience in the application of psychology to tackle real-world problems, and to bring about change in areas such as physical and mental health and wellbeing, counselling, child development and education, developmental disorders, trauma, and clinical neuropsychology. It will teach a range of generic and subject-specific skills which are needed for a career as a practising psychologist.

Applied Psychology is the application of psychological understanding to real-world situations, to create positive change. Applied psychologists work across a variety of sectors including mental health and wellbeing services, education, sport and exercise settings, business, and the criminal justice system.

To become a chartered psychologist, you will need to undertake additional study and practice in an applied area such as clinical neuropsychology, counselling, educational, sport and exercise, or health psychology.

This MSc in Applied Psychology lays the foundations for this by offering specialised modules in neuropsychology, counselling and psychotherapy, trauma, developmental disorders, and topics and applied issues in developmental and educational psychology.

You will learn both qualitative and quantitative research skills to enable you to evaluate and inform evidence-based practice, and to conduct your own higher-level psychological research.

The course has a step-off point at Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate.

What you will gain

If you join us on this course, you'll leave with excellent employment prospects — over 90% of our Psychology graduates are employed within six months of completing their degree.

You'll have access to unrivalled facilities, which include fully-equipped lecture theatres and tutorial spaces, a psychophysiology laboratory, social observation laboratories, a video editing suite, a virtual reality laboratory, an auditory cognition laboratory, and testing cubicles.

You'll be taught by expert staff who are leading researchers and practitioners in cognitive neuropsychology, counselling and psychotherapy, developmental psychology, health psychology, and sports and exercise psychology.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Specialist facilities
    You’ll be using state-of-the-art facilities and specialist equipment for learning and research
  • Expert teaching staff
    Our staff are all leading researchers and practitioners working in areas such as cognitive neuropsychology, counselling and psychotherapy, developmental psychology, health psychology, sports and exercise psychology
  • Learn valuable skills
    This course will help you develop your qualitative and quantitative research skills in preparation for doctoral research, specific work in industry or a future research post

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

About your course

This course offers a postgraduate academic environment to enable you to develop an appreciation of substantive areas of applied psychology and improve your practical and analytical skills in preparation for doctoral research or work in an applied setting. Core areas and concepts will be introduced, with a focus on:

  • Theoretical and practical issues in areas of applied psychology such as sports and exercise, cognitive neuropsychology, counselling, typical and atypical development, and education
  • Controversies and issues related to traditional and contemporary research, ethical issues, and models of behaviour relevant to areas of applied psychology
  • Counselling and Psychotherapy in relation to medical models of understanding health and illness
  • Current evidence and perspectives on psychological trauma, considering the impact of trauma on different groups and at different stages of life
  • Research issues involving both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Modules

  • Modules - Compulsory

    • Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)

      This module aims to provide your with core skills and knowledge in quantitative research methods in Psychology. The focus is on understanding how research questions relate to design and appropriate analyses. Across the suite of MSc programmes in Psychology, it provides you with advanced skills in a variety of statistical analyses and enables you to conduct psychological research at master’s level. The module enables you to understand and critically evaluate published quantitative psychological research. It prepares you for your dissertation and enables you to choose appropriate methodologies and analyses for research.

    • Research: Practice and Reporting (60 credits)

      This module aim to provide you with an opportunity for an in-depth, advanced study in a specific area of applied psychology, pertinent to the degree for which you are registered, guided by, but largely independent of, tutor support. You will apply appropriate principles of empirical research, and present your research study in the form of a written journal article, using appropriate styles and conventions.

    • Research and Issues in Applied Psychology (30 credits)

      The aim of the module is to provide an intellectual setting within which you can both develop a fuller appreciation of substantive areas of applied psychology and improve their practical and analytical skills. The main aim is to direct you to develop an appreciation of the controversies and issues related to traditional and contemporary research, ethical issues, and up-to-date knowledge in the domain of applied psychology such as neuropsychology, infertility, sports and exercise and literacy acquisition.

    • Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)

      This module aims to introduce you to qualitative research methods, and to provide you with knowledge and practice by equipping you with a combination of practical and theoretical skills. You will be introduced to and familiarised with a range of qualitative methodologies and methods of generating and analysing data in-depth. The module allows the time and space necessary for sustained immersion. The module aims to enable you to become proficient in your qualitative research knowledge and skills. You will also develop reflexive practice, which is an essential aspect of qualitative research.

      This module also aims to prepare you to conduct qualitative research in the future, such as in your MSc dissertation projects – it will enable you to choose suitable methodologies and analyses for your research. Therefore, this module is both ideal for, and provides a rich learning opportunity for, students who are undertaking a qualitatively-based or mixed methods dissertation project; those who want to study Psychology at a doctoral level; and for those planning a career in research.

  • Modules - Optional (choose 2 from the following)

    • Trauma Impacts and Interventions (30 credits)

      On this module, you will develop a critical understanding of current research evidence and perspectives on psychological trauma and its effects. The impact of trauma on different groups and at different stages of the lifespan will be reviewed. Models of intervention for psychological trauma will be critically examined and the current debates around ameliorating factors and developmental outcomes will be explored.

    • Counselling and Psychotherapy in Applied Psychology (30 credits)

      The aim of this module is to provide you with an introduction to the main schools of psychological therapy, their theoretical origins and how the theory is applied in practice. The module will also introduce you to the basic principles of communication skills that form the foundation of all counselling and therapy. Finally, the module will familiarise you with the role of counselling and therapy within all areas of applied psychology.

To find out more about this course, please download the Applied Psychology MSc specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

You'll attend laboratory sessions, lectures, seminars and workshops, where you will take part in class discussions, and work on research projects, group assignments and critical analyses.

You'll supplement all this with your own independent study and will submit a dissertation. There are specific modules on quantitative and qualitative research methods, and the course also aims to improve your analytical, statistics and IT skills.

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Your personal tutor will support you with help and advice throughout your studies.

Where will you study?

You will be based at our north London campus in Hendon.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time, your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Hours per week

On-campus

10

Online

2

Independent study

4

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like Skype or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

Assessments will include practical tests, projects, statistical assignments, essays, reports, logbooks and case study analyses. A major part of your assessment will be your 7,000 to 10,000-word report in the style of a journal article.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll receive constructive feedback on your work and progress from your tutors.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
  • Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the MSc Applied Psychology support your career?

There are strong employment prospects for psychology graduates and salaries in this field are excellent. The range of professional skills that you'll develop ensures that you'll be highly valued across the economy.

Our university's postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career. 95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study – Graduate Outcomes, 2022.

Career paths

After finishing this master's course, our graduates go on to work in diverse sectors such as health and wellbeing services, education, local government, industry, or academia. Many go on to undertake doctoral research.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

  • The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 
  • A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

  1. UK Entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply
  1. UK
  2. International
  3. Additional costs
  4. Scholarships and bursaries
  • Anne Borgen

    MSc Applied Psychology

    As an international student there was a real appeal to studying in London and living abroad. I liked the modules included in the MSc Applied Psychology programme and I particularly liked the fact that the other students were from a variety of countries so we were a very international group. It was great meeting new people from different cultures.

    For my dissertation I focused on business psychology, so I was well equipped for a job in human resources. The oil and gas industry has a big presence in the area in which I live so this sector is where there is greatest opportunity. I also believe that the international experience offered by Middlesex has been particularly important as it has helped me to better understand different cultures and country practices.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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