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Why choose the School of Psychology
Our MSc Health Psychology course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Forms Stage 1 of the training you need to gain chartered psychologist status and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a health psychologist.
Opportunities to engage in research internships, conducting research alongside local voluntary, community and social-enterprise groups.
About the course
This course enables you to develop your understanding of how psychology and health can be used to promote general wellbeing. You learn how to apply the scientific and theoretical principles and ideas of health psychology while developing the practical skills and knowledge required for employment or research in the field. You study social and psychological issues, including aspects such as obesity, lifestyle and stress, and explore how we can understand, intervene and promote health and wellbeing across the lifespan.
For further course information, contact Dr Erica Cook at erica.cook@beds.ac.uk
Course accreditation
This course is accredited to the British Psychological Society (BPS). It forms Stage 1 of the training you need to become a chartered psychologist member of the Division of Health Psychology within the British Psychological Society.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Access to specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments including a biological and cognitive psychology lab; cognitive neuropsychology lab; VR lab; and a suite of research cubicles with a range of specialist equipment
- Up-to-the-minute technology, such as a driving simulator to test hazard perception; eye-tracking software; a physiological data-acquisition system; EEG recording equipment; and KAT Walk omnidirectional VR slide mills
Industry links
Our courses are developed and regularly reviewed by a panel of industry professionals from the NHS, local authority and commercial organisations.
Student experience
This course equips you with in-depth knowledge and understanding alongside core skills, which will support you in progressing to your Stage 2 training, where you can develop your practice to become an accredited health psychologist.
Gain a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues in the field as well as a high level of knowledge of advanced research methods, allowing you to perform complex data analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis.
Learn from an academic team actively involved in research in the field. Their research and practice expertise directly informs teaching, creating a focus on the real-life application of psychology.
Gain first-hand experience of psychology in action through course contributions from specialist speakers and our alumni.
Course Leader - Dr Erica Cook
I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) a Registered Health Psychologist with the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) with interests in health psychology and public health.
What will you study?
Studying our Health Psychology MSc course will equip you with the in-depth knowledge and skills to examine the psychological, social and biological factors in the areas of health and illness. In core areas of study, you will be exposed to Advanced Research Methods for Psychologists that will equip you with advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistical analyses using relevant software. To introduce you to the foundations of this course, our Health Psychology in Context unit will provide you with a broad understanding of health psychology as a discipline and profession including the models and methods used in the field. Integrated with areas of biology, you will develop a basic understanding of the biological mechanisms associated with a range of body systems and disorders in our Mechanisms of Health and Disease unit. You will then be introduced to the socio-cognitive models of health behaviours to understand how these can be predicted by health beliefs and psychological factors in our Perceptions and Actions unit.
This includes exploring theories surrounding different areas in health psychology such as exercise, alcohol, AIDS, smoking and weight loss. More importantly, you will question the role of health psychology in Public Health and how this science can be used to promote the prevention of disease and illness among the UK population. Furthermore, you will critically examine the impact of Lifestyle and Individual Differences on health and illness to identify the role played by demographic variables, such as culture, in predicting disease. Similarly, you will consider the ways that stress can impact psychological and physical wellbeing in our Stress, Coping and Chronic Disease unit. Finally, you will complete a Dissertation (Health Psychology) that will give you the opportunity to carry out a substantial piece of research into a specialised area of health psychology that is of interest to you. To prepare you for your career, our Professional Skills for Health Psychologists unit will equip you with an excellent grounding in the professional skills you need to work in health psychology.
How will you be assessed?
The primary focus is to ensure build upon the core skills developed through successful achievement of the completed Graduate Basis for Chartered Status (via an approved undergraduate degree or conversion postgraduate course) and to move towards the competences required of a Health Psychologist as outlined in the Subject Benchmark statement for Psychology (QAA 2016) and aims and objectives of a Stage 1 Qualification in Health Psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society (2017).
The assessment strategy therefore reflects the academic rigour required for a BPS accredited MSc degree. The assessments are designed to test your academic knowledge oral and written skills use of literature using primary and secondary sources critical analysis of ideas connections made between theory practice real life situations and the understanding and application of professional values to include ethical issues as detailed by the BPS.
The ability to engage in research at a high level and to analyse data using advanced statistical techniques are assessed as these are important skills for health psychologists as well as important in many employment settings. Communication skills are assessed through videotaped role play as these are very important in any career. The ability to analyse and understand issues and apply theory to practice are assessed through a consultancy brief. Finally the important career skill of project management is assessed mainly through the research dissertation involving selfdirected problem-based enquiry managing time reviewing evidence generating and analysing data and communicating results in an extended piece of writing.
Careers
This BPS-accredited MSc opens the way to stage two training to become a chartered psychologist and registered health psychologist. Career options include working for the government (for example advising on policy making effective interventions or advertising strategies); research preventing illnesses especially coronary heart disease and cancer; and patient/practitioner communications and teaching. Graduates also work in the NHS on preparing for surgery and psychological methods to manage stress pain or terminal illness.
If you wish to move into employment following graduation there are a variety of areas where you will find opportunities such as research; teaching; social care; health care including roles in the NHS; business including human resource management; and the sports sector.
You will also have acquired specific knowledge in research methods and other core areas in psychology to continue your research studies at PhD level.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
