Details
Psychologists work in basic and applied research in fields that include education and child development, clinical work, the courtroom (acting as expert witnesses), industry (helping to design efficient machines or optimising business organisations), and in universities researching every branch of human behaviour from visual perception to sexuality.
Because we have a limited number of work placements available in each of the three areas (clinical, forensic and educational), we request that when you apply you indicate the area in which you would like to do your placement. More specifically, you must indicate the first and second choices for work placement in the first line of your personal statement. This will allow us to balance your wishes and the availability of placements.
If you are not admitted to this degree you will automatically be considered for admission into BSc Psychology. We plan to allow up to five students to transfer from BSc Psychology into MSci Psychology and Psychological Practice after their second year. High academic performance in the first two years will be an important criterion for the transfer. Combining students directly entering the course via UCAS and those who transfer from BSc, we expect a cohort of ten students in MSci Psychology and Psychological Practice in the third and fourth years.
Please note that you may be required to come to the School of Psychology for an interview as a part of the application process for this course.
First and second years
In your first two years you will study the core theories and methods of psychology, covering child development, learning, abnormal behaviour, cognitive psychology, perception, personality, social psychology, and brain and behaviour. You will also learn how to design experiments and collect and analyse data.
Third year
In the third year, under the guidance of your supervisor, you will undertake a substantial piece of independent research work. You also choose options from a list of advanced modules on contemporary psychology including topics such as forensic and clinical psychology, social cognition, psychology and culture, and cognitive neuroscience.
Fourth year
In the fourth year, you will gain hands-on experience in applied psychology through work placement with practising clinical, forensic or educational psychologists (the type of placement is subject to availability). Taught components are Masters' level modules. You will gain knowledge of theoretical and methodological underpinnings of applied psychology through advanced seminar and lecture modules.
Download our MSci course brochure.
See Psychology and Psychological Practice MSci frequently asked questions (PDF 105KB).
Why study this course
Situated at the heart of the Edgbaston campus, we are one of the strongest Psychology departments in the country, with over 45 academic teaching staff and around 490 undergraduates. We are a broad school with expertise in clinical, forensic, social, developmental, and cognitive psychology, and behavioural and social neuroscience. We have recently opened a new £2 million brain imaging centre. We are ranked among the top three Psychology departments in the country for research and have been rated as ‘excellent’ in government reviews of our teaching.
Our programmes are all accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Registration, provided the minimum standard of second class honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. For more information please contact the British Psychological Society.
For many careers in psychology, relevant experience and a good undergraduate degree are important, even for entry-level jobs. Our MSci programmes are designed to provide relevant, specialist experience through placements and projects and, because they are Undergraduate Masters degrees, your Local Education Authority should be willing to support your study for the full four years.
Here at the University of Birmingham we were the first to offer MSci programmes dedicated to psychology. We are uniquely placed to offer these opportunities because of our experience (we are the only UK university with postgraduate courses training chartered clinical, forensic and educational psychologists) and because we offer top quality research experience.
Modules
You will take the same modules as in BSc Psychology in the first three years. During Year 4, you will spend six months working for 3 days a week in an external work placement organised by the School, and thus gain hands-on experience of clinical, forensic or educational psychology in the real world. You will also attend lectures and seminars on the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of applied psychology.
Year 1: (all compulsory modules)
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Perception and Attention
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Memory and Language
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Introduction to Psychobiology: from Ion Channels to Abnormal Behaviour
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Psychobiology of Memory, Emotion and Motivation
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Introduction to Learning
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Introduction to Mental Health and Psychological Problems
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Research Methods A: Basic Skills
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Research Methods B: Introduction to Psychological Investigations and Statistics
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Plus two modules outside the main discipline (MOMDs)
See Year 1 module descriptions (PDF 238KB)
Year 2: (all compulsory modules)
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Research Methods C: Qualitative and Relational Analysis
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Visual Perception and Illusions
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Cognitive Neuropsychology
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The Development of Attachment Behaviour
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Cognition in Infants and Children
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Research Methods D: Inferential Analysis and Experimental Methods
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Introduction to Psycholinguistics
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Neural Basis of Movement
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Introduction to Social Psychology
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Personality and Individual Differences
See Year 2 module descriptions (PDF 214KB)
Year 3
This year of study is designed to be flexible and allow for the development of individual interests and abilities.
Project work is compulsory and accounts for one third of the year's work. Under the guidance of a supervisor, you will undertake a substantial piece of independent research work. This project usually begins at the end of the second year and involves designing a study of your own choice, collecting, analysing, and interpreting the data, presenting an oral description of the work, and submitting a literature review and written report. This type of work gives you detailed experience in your chosen area.
You will also choose four modules from the following:
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Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology
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Development and Disorders of Language in Children
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Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
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Forensic Psychology
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Higher Cognitive Functions
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Introduction to Minds, Brains and Models
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The Lying Brain
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Pain
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Parental Cognition, Psychopathology and Behaviour
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The Psychology of Severe Intellectual Disability
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Sleep
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Adaptive Behaviour: Responding to Modern Threats to Health and Survival
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Speaking and Reading
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Theoretical Issues in Non-Verbal Behaviour
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Understanding Emotions: a Neurocognitive Perspective
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Visual Cognitive Neuroscience and Art
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Why We Eat What We Eat: A Psychological Perspective on Appetite
See Year 3 module descriptions (PDF 325KB)
Year 4
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MSci Applied Psychology Placement (60 credits)
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MSci Professional Practice Report (30 credits) (written report of placement)
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Psychological Research in Clinical Setting I* (10 credits)
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Topics in Applied Psychology (10 credits) (a seminar module)
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Principles of Applied Psychology (10 credits) (a lecture module)
Fees and funding
Entry requirements
Number of A levels required: 3
Typical offer: AAA including Mathematics or Statistics at A2. Grade C in each of GCSE English and Maths. Interview is required
General Studies: We do not accept General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Applied Science, Communication and Culture, Critical Studies, Global Perspectives, Science in Society and World Development.
BTEC: Not accepted
Access to HE courses: Not accepted
Additional information:
International students:
International Baccalaureate Diploma: 36 points, including Maths at HL. Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay points are not considered. 5 points in SL English if not offered at GCSE or equivalent.
Standard English language requirements apply
Learn more about international entry requirements
Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in the Birmingham Foundation Academy, a specially structured programme for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on the foundation academy web pages.
How to apply
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