Why study this course?
- The course provides interdisciplinary training in the social sciences plus advanced research training in psychology.
- Students will complete an independent research project in psychology, which can involve working in the school’s laboratories in neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, psychophysics, animal learning and cognition, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology or social psychology.
- The MSc is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as an accredited course.
Teaching
Delivered through lectures, tutorials, workshops, and seminars.
Class sizes
Groups range from 20 to 80 students.
Dissertation
A 15,000-word project with regular support.
Assessment
Coursework only.
Modules
For more details, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue. The modules are examples from previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course.
-
- 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: offers advanced training in research design, statistical analyses, and qualitative methods.
- Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences: introduces students to the basic theoretical approaches in the social sciences, covering the methodological and epistemological issues involved in conducting social scientific research.
- Qualitative Methods in Social Research: offers both a theoretical and practical introduction to the collection, analysis, and writing of qualitative social science research.
- 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.
- Psychology Masters Research Project: provides an opportunity to perform an empirical research project under the guidance of a member of staff to gain experience in the planning, implementation, data analysis, and interpretation of psychological research.
-
Students must choose two optional modules.
- Animal Models in Neuroscience and Psychology: focuses on the animals frequently used in psychology and neuroscience research; discussing key physiological and behavioural characteristics of the animals, why these characteristics make them good or bad models for given areas of research, and how these behavioural and physiological characteristics must be accounted for when designing experiments.
- Data Science for Psychology and Neuroscience: introduces modern data science methods such as machine learning and data mining, with emphasis on the practical utilisation of these methods in the context of psychology and neuroscience.
- Research Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience: explores the technology that allows us to observe the brain in action and to understand the physical bases of behaviour.
- The Narratives that Shape Psychology and Neuroscience: critically explores the narratives that shape Psychology and Neuroscience, while examining alternative narratives that broaden the canon.
- Psychology and Neuroscience Colloquium: involves engagement with a lecture series that is interdisciplinary and international by design, featuring research from cells to minds and groups while covering different theories and methods.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
-
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.
What it will lead to
Careers
Many students progress from the MSc to PhD study, and some graduates have been successful in applying for EPSRC PhD studentships.
Others have successfully applied for research assistantships to initiate their research careers.
Some graduates have applied for positions in government, health care, and management services.
We are committed to supporting your career aspirations, whatever stage your career is at. Our Careers Centre can help connect you to our extensive global alumni community for advice and mentoring, as well as offering career coaching, bespoke workshops, employer connections, experiences, and application support.
Our International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute can also support you with academic and professional skills development. The University’s Entrepreneurship Centre offers start-up support for those looking to freelance as well as create their own business.
Research
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
The MSc in Research Methods in Psychology is accredited for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 PhD studentship programme.
Why St Andrews?
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.
Ask a student
If you are interested in learning what it's like to be a student at St Andrews you can speak to one of our student ambassadors. They'll let you know about their top tips, best study spots, favourite traditions and more.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related discipline. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- 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 or résumé
- 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.
Fees and funding
- UK: £12,030
- Rest of the world: £29,990
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.
Scholarships and funding
We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:
Contact us
Start your journey
Legal notices
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the course archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
Page last updated: 14 March 2025