Applied Psychology MSc

Postgraduate

Male student sat in front of shelf of books

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Clinical, Counselling, Child and Educational Psychology, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to apply psychology within a variety of settings.

Year of entry

2024-25

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time
18-20 months (with professional experience)

Course code

HLST183
HLST184 (with professional experience)

Start date

September 2024

How to apply

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Course overview

Applied Psychology MSc will help prepare you for a range of roles within the fields of applied psychology, including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

Develop knowledge of theory and fundamental principles of Clinical, Counselling, Child and Educational Psychology
Explore the applications of psychology in a range of settings with real-life scenarios
Develop research skills needed to assess and inform evidence-based practice.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 UK Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2024

Why you should study this course

Aimed at graduates who have previously studied psychology and want the opportunity to further their knowledge to an advanced level.
Option to follow a ‘professional experience’ opportunity² route, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
Taught by a team of dedicated, experienced professional staff, some of whom have worked as professional psychologists (staff may be subject to change).
We offer excellent facilities and equipment such as that for eye-tracking and brain monitoring, the latter using an electroencephalogram (EEG).
Opportunity to gain a CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice¹, upon successful completion of the relevant module.

MSc with Professional Experience

The MSc with Professional Experience provides you with the opportunity to undertake a six-month professional experience either on or off campus². Professional experience opportunities (whether within an external company or within the university) are subject to a competitive application and selection process. Such experiences may be paid or unpaid, and this will depend on what is being offered and agreed with the host organisation or university.

Professional experience opportunities are subject to competitive application and selection, will normally be undertaken for three to five days per week for 18-22 weeks over two semesters. If you are not successful in securing professional work experience outside the university, you will have the opportunity to undertake campus-based professional experience, which will deliver similar learning outcomes through supervised projects and activities designed to offer students the opportunity to integrate theory with an understanding of professional practice. Please note that fees for students on the Professional Experience route are higher than the standard fees payable by students on the MSc course without professional experience (see fees section for more information)

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ by the following professional bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being an Applied Psychology MSc student. The course has built and expanded my existing knowledge, and provided me with a more applied skillset. The skills from the course, particularly from the counselling psychology module, gave me the confidence on following a long-lasting dream of becoming a mindfulness teacher for which I am currently undertaking a qualification.
Alexandra Negoita, Applied Psychology MSc, quoted in 2021

Students using an electroencephalogram (EEG)

What you'll study

This postgraduate course centres on the study of psychology at an advanced level, incorporating quantitative and qualitative research methods, ethics in psychology, professional practice and areas of applied psychology.

Modules

Research Methods in Psychology 1 - 20 credits

This module aims to provide direct practical experience involving exploring how to analyse and report quantitative psychology-related data. The module will progress from considering the conceptual understanding of research design to exploring the skills and knowledge required to summarise, analyse and present research findings.

Compulsory

Child Psychology - 15 credits

The main aim of this module is to introduce you to the discipline of Child Psychology. The module will present the major psychological theories and research underpinning child psychology, and the opportunity to evaluate evidence of their effectiveness and consider cross-cultural differences. You will have the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding of the key principles of child psychology and how these relate to the practices in child psychology.

Compulsory

Counselling Psychology - 15 credits

This module aims to introduce you to the discipline of Counselling Psychology through a skills-based understanding of the fundamental principles of counselling practice. The module will also explore the core conditions underlying the counselling relationship and apply theories of counselling to the psychological processes observed. You will be presented with the main therapeutic modalities underpinning counselling psychology and have the opportunity to critically evaluate the evidence for their effectiveness, as well as consider the variety of counselling interventions currently available. In addition, key practice issues, including professional ethics, diversity and difference, will be examined.

Compulsory

Research Methods in Psychology 2 - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to provide you with a firm grounding in qualitative methods and techniques commonly used in applied psychology. Firstly, the module will focus on providing you with the opportunity to develop critical knowledge and understanding of different selected qualitative designs and analytical approaches used in applied psychology research. This module will focus on qualitative epistemology, thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis, discourse analysis, and grounded theory. To this end, you will have the chance to learn how to analyse, report, interpret and write up qualitative research.

Compulsory

Ethics and Professional Issues in Practice - 10 credits

The aim of this module is to provide you with the chance to develop a sound understanding of professional practice in applied psychology including ethical and legal issues such as codes of ethics, identification of ethical issues in practice, and statutory responsibilities. The module will provide you with the opportunity to critically examine the range of methods and approaches that are used in professional settings. The module will examine a range of different issues that arise in working different applied psychological settings. You will be encouraged to be evaluative and reflective in your examination of these topics, to provide you with the chance to develop your skill as a future reflective practitioner.

Compulsory

Educational Psychology - 15 credits

The main aim of this module is to introduce you to the discipline of educational psychology. The module will present the major psychological theories and research underpinning educational psychology and provide you with the opportunity to evaluate evidence of their effectiveness. You will also have the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding of educational psychology practices and the role of an educational psychologist in assessment and remediation of Special Educational Needs.

Compulsory

Clinical Psychology - 15 credits

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the specialist discipline of Clinical Psychology through relating theories, models and knowledge to clinical practice. The module will provide you with the opportunity to critically analyse and evaluate your understanding of the major psychological theories underpinning clinical psychology. You will be introduced to the core principles of clinical practice and the core conditions of the clinical relationship and therapeutic interventions for a range of mental health issues.

Compulsory

Global Professional Development – Leading Diverse Workforces - 10 credits

This course includes the Professional Development module. Each of the participating postgraduate courses have an individually tailored version of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Professional Development module. Please see Accreditation and Professional Recognition section.

Compulsory

Applied Psychology MSc only

Project Planning and Ethics in Psychology - 10 credits
The focus of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to gain skills in project planning and ethics relating to your dissertation project. This includes considering topics such as developing a sound research proposal, ethics in practice, how to ensure good quality data, importance of collaboration, and the journey to publish in a peer-reviewed journal.

Independent Research Project - 50 credits
The aim of this module is to engage you in supervised but independently undertaken empirical research at an advanced level. You will be encouraged to integrate and practice the skills acquired during the course and to investigate in depth at master’s level an area of specific interest. Additionally, you will be expected to demonstrate a critical and evaluative understanding of the research process including the ethics, issues and problems in conducting empirical research in psychology.  

Compulsory

Applied Psychology with Professional Experience MSc only

Research Skills and Methods for Professional Experience - 10 credits
The aim of the module is to provide you with the opportunity to gain skills in project planning including those for professional experience projects, conduct background literature reviews, and the chance to develop a complete and approved proposal including ethical considerations for the professional experience project. You will also have the chance to be taught skills in preparation for the professional experience itself including support from the university's Talent Team.

Professional Experience 1 - 0 credits
This non-credit bearing module, together with Professional Experience 2 will provide you with an opportunity to gain substantive professional experience. This will take the form of either an internship with a host organisation, which may include the university, or a campus-based professional experience². This experience aims to support the development of your personal and professional skills, such as communication, team-working, self-management, project management and critical reflection to provide the chance for you to enhance your future employability.

You will be expected to augment your previous learning and experiences in order to develop your knowledge and skills of professional practice in your chosen discipline upon successful completion. This module will also provide you with the chance to gain necessary experience and focus for undertaking an agreed project in order to complete the dissertation for the Postgraduate Professional Experience Project.

Professional Experience 2 - 0 credits
This non-credit bearing module, together with Professional Experience 1 will provide you with an opportunity to gain substantive professional experience. This will take the form of either a continuation of the internship with a host organisation, which may include the university, or the campus-based professional experience². This will provide you with the chance to gain further professional experiences, build on knowledge and skills, previously gained, which aims to consolidate and refine their personal and professional skills, theory and practice and the opportunity to further enhance their future employability. You will be expected to augment your previous learning and experiences in order to have the chance to develop additional knowledge and skills of professional practice in your chosen discipline and upon successful completion. As with the Professional Practice 1, this module also aims to provide you with the necessary experience and focus for undertaking the agreed project in order to complete the dissertation for the Postgraduate Professional Experience Project.

Postgraduate Professional Experience Project - 50 credits
This module aims to integrate theory and practice either through undertaking an internship or campus-based project in an area relevant to the subject being studied. This will have involved you working on an organisational issue either within a host organisation or on campus addressing a project brief, as part of the Postgraduate Professional Experience modules².

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The Applied Psychology MSc can be studied for 12 months full-time, or ‘with Professional Experience’ for 18 months. This course is taught in groups in lectures, seminars and workshops. You will have the opportunity take part in, design, conduct and analyse the results of psychological experiments, using specialist equipment and computer software.

Where possible, we also invite guest lecturers from professional backgrounds to deliver individual sessions for the applied option modules (subject to availability).

If you choose to study the Applied Psychology with Professional Experience MSc you will also have the opportunity to work one-to-one with an academic supervisor on the professional experience modules.

Teaching contact hours

In a typical teaching week, you will have a minimum of 10 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This generally includes large and small lectures, seminars and workshops.

You can also book 1:1 appointments with your tutor/project supervisor if you would like additional support.

In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 30 hours per week of self-directed study, including completion of course assignments, conducting the research project or completing the internship and reading/note-taking in relation to the weekly lectures/seminars/workshops.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

Formal examinations
Coursework.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Psychology.

Applicants holding an equivalent professional qualifications and experience will be considered but must have a degree in either psychology or a relevant discipline, with at least 120 credits of psychology.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

For the with professional experience option, please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section⁵.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Psychology.

For the ‘with professional experience option, please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section⁵.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component area

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 \| £21,250 (with prof. experience)	Not available
EU	£11,200 \| £21,250 (with prof. experience) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 \| £21,250 (with prof. experience) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 \| £21,250 (with prof. experience)	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Facilities include eye-tracking and brain monitoring equipment, the latter using an electroencephalogram (EEG)⁴.

Careers and opportunities

The specialist focus provided within this course aims to be an ideal springboard for Doctoral programmes in educational or clinical psychology. Alternatively, if you decide you wish to enter professional practice, you always have the option to follow up with a BPS-accredited course and work towards Chartered Psychologist Status (additional fees will apply).

The modules are designed to develop your professional skills and knowledge of ethical guidelines and considerations in psychology, and explore and engage in activities that will develop professional and transferable skills. As such, many of our previous graduates have been able to pursue careers in areas other than psychology, such nursing and teaching.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

On successful completion of this programme, you should be equipped with the skills and knowledge, and in the case of the extended course, substantive professional experience, to enter employment in the health services, public health organisations, local and central government, academia or as assistant psychologists.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team.

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

⁵Placements

Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks, you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2023/2024 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2024/25 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.