Application deadline
Friday 14 February 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject other than psychology. If you already possess an undergraduate degree in Psychology, there is a range of other psychology postgraduate programmes. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- Some knowledge of very basic mathematics is required for understanding the statistical techniques introduced in the programme. In most cases, secondary school algebra is sufficient.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement (500 words)
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MSc in Psychology (Conversion) is a full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Highlights
- The course equips students with the necessary skills to pursue a research degree at MPhil or PhD level in psychology or to go on to a clinical training programme.
- Students have access to laboratories in neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, psychophysics, animal learning and cognition, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and social psychology.
- The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. BPS accreditation is both an important hallmark of quality that is extensively acknowledged by employers in the field, and an essential stepping-stone for students who are looking to progress to become a chartered psychologist after graduation. Taking a BPS-accredited course is necessary if you wish to pursue a career in psychology or in the wider psychological workforce.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
- Assessment in Clinical Psychology: presents psychopathological conditions and provides a basic understanding of the underlying neuronal and cognitive-behavioral mechanisms.
- Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience: provides an understanding of psychological knowledge in several inter-related domains concerned with the biological bases of behavior, or Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology: provides an understanding of major evolutionary forces and how they have shaped animal and human behavioral capacities.
- Conceptual Issues and Theoretical Perspectives: addresses the historical and philosophical background to current debates in psychology.
- Developmental Psychology: offers a broad perspective spanning infancy to childhood, and a range of key topics in cognitive and social development.
- Generic Research and Professional Skills in Psychology and Neuroscience: introduces students to the various skills and issues that are important to academic psychologists and neuroscientists irrespective of their particular area of research.
- Methods of Data Analysis in Psychology: advanced training in research design, statistics, qualitative methods, and modeling.
- Perception: develops an understanding of visual perception and its functions, or Cognition: develops an understanding of human memory and attention.
- Quantitative Research in Social Science: provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of quantitative analysis - underlying principles, research design, sampling strategies, uncertainty and missing data, and some statistical approaches to data analysis.
- Social Psychology: explores in depth key topics across the breadth of social psychological inquiry.
- Psychology Master's Research Project: provides an opportunity to perform an empirical research project under the guidance of a member of staff in order to gain experience in the planning, implementation, data analysis, and interpretation of psychological research.
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
Teaching
Over two semesters, students will take nine modules covering fundamental aspects of psychology. The modules are taught through lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials.
Class sizes range up to 150 students for lectures and up to 25 students for seminars, workshops, and tutorials.
For modules focusing on core psychological knowledge, lectures are shared with undergraduates in the Honours programme.
The final three months of your course will be dedicated to a 15,000-word research project dissertation.
Assessment comprises entirely of coursework. There are no exams.
In addition to the support provided by the research project supervisor and module coordinators, there is a dedicated team of staff offering support for students.
Events
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience hosts a weekly seminar programme typically held in the Old Library of the Psychology Building.
These seminars include public lectures, open School discussions and papers presented by a variety of guest lecturers from the UK and abroad. Following the seminar, a reception is typically held in the departmental common room.
The School also hosts an annual Jeeves Lecture as part of its seminar programme. The lectures are given by eminent psychologists and neuroscientists. Staff, students and members of the public are welcome at this lecture.
Fees
Home
£12,030
Overseas
£29,990
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
Most students intend to pursue a career in research or clinical psychology, so many graduates go on to research assistantships or PhD places. Others have obtained positions in government, healthcare, or business.
The MSc focuses on psychology as a science rather than as a clinical service, but many graduates pursue careers by obtaining research assistantships at teaching hospitals or other mental health centres or by taking a second Masters degree specialising in mental health.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many psychology graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
Postgraduate researchWhat to do next
Information sessions
Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2157
- psyneuropg@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience
St Mary's Quad
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JP