Psychology

Please note that due to the popularity of our BPS accredited courses we urge you to apply early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), our online MSc Psychology course is ideally suited to anyone who is looking to take the next step and pursue a career in psychology, bringing you one step closer to becoming a chartered psychologist. The programme has been accredited longer than any other online conversion course currently available to study. The University of Derby has a long-standing relationship with the BPS meaning you can be assured you are studying a quality Masters degree.

Our online MSc Psychology conversion programme is designed for those who wish to specialise in psychology, giving you the opportunity to learn the distinctive range, depth and integration of skills, knowledge and applications of psychology. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the core areas of psychology required by the BPS including biological, cognitive, developmental, individual differences, and social psychology and the links between them.

This course alone will not allow you to practice but provides an opportunity for a non-psychology graduate, or a graduate from a non-BPS accredited course, to meet one of the entry requirements for a postgraduate programme of professional training in Health, Sport, Clinical, Counselling, Occupational, Educational or Forensic Psychology. By completing this course you will be conferred Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). You may also be looking to study this course as part of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or to enhance your career employability and general knowledge.

Obtaining GBC keeps open the widest range of training, development and employment opportunities in psychology. Completion of an accredited programme, moreover, offers graduates a clear route to Society membership, and therefore access to the full range of membership benefits, including services, publications, conferences, training and networking opportunities.

Choose an online MSc in Psychology to obtain GBC

The MSc can be completed in 2-3 years and gives you the opportunity to further explore the breadth of this exciting subject by studying one of our optional modules*. Completion of this programme will confer Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

Pick from a unique and diverse range of optional modules

Enhance your career and specialise across distinctive areas of Psychology by choosing from optional modules including:

• Applied Psychology of Human Performance
• Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
• Language and Literacy Development
• Positive Psychology, and
• The Psychology of Pain

These modules offer a unique and distinguished programme of study from University of Derby taught by our research active team of academics who are at the forefront of their fields.

Free student membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

To show our commitment to our students, we are always looking for new ways to improve our students’ experience. By enrolling onto the programme, you will be eligible for free full BPS student membership for the duration of your studies.

Please note: Free BPS membership is not available to students in receipt of Ministry of Defence Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme (ELC).

Study at a part-time or full-time rate

You can study this degree across 2 to 3 years, so you can complete your studies at a pace which suits you. Many of our students are working alongside their degrees and wish to study part time over 3 years to help manage their studies in and around work and family life. However, we appreciate that you may wish to complete your degree over 2 years, to reach your goals and aspirations sooner. If you set out on the part-time route, it will be possible to move to full time study part way through your course too and your programme team will be able to give you the necessary advice if you are considering this option. Further details can be found in Pace of Study section.

What skills will I develop?

During the course you will gain a scientific understanding of the mind, brain and behaviour, and how they interact with the complex environments in which they exist. You will gain the ability to critically evaluate methodologies and collect and interpret primary and secondary empirical data, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

You will also learn how to apply critical, analytical and creative abilities in scholarly thinking, problem solving, and communication to course material, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development, and limitations.

A talk from our academic

Our academic for Psychology, Dr Gulcan Garip, talks about our online Postgraduate Psychology courses.

If you have any further questions you can contact-us.

We will advise you of your study plan - the running order and availability of the modules - when you are invited to enrol.

You will need to complete all of the core modules and also the Masters Project which is a triple module, worth 60 credits.

You can select one specialised optional module (subject to availability).

As a BPS accredited programme, group work is required as part of the BPS standards. This means that on the modules Investigation and Analysis and Biological and Cognitive Approaches in Psychology, you will be required to work with other students in groups from the start of the trimester (week 1), with work to be submitted by week 4 of teaching. Failure to engage with your group by the end of week 3 will result in you being dropped from the module and subject to a module cancellation fee.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Interactive and practical learning

You can be assured of a supportive and structured learning experience with academic teams who are specialists not only in their area of psychology, but also in online learning delivery. In addition, our dedicated online learner advisors provide non-academic support throughout the duration of the course. You’ll have access to a comprehensive online library of psychology resources, student webinars in key areas such as library skills and assessment writing, and other academic and wellbeing related services.

There are plenty of opportunities to interact with tutors and other students through online discussion forums, virtual class room sessions and more traditional forms of communication such as email and Skype. You will also receive one-to-one support from a specialist supervisor when you begin your empirical research project. As a guide, we recommend you allow around 20 hours of study per week, per 20 credit module, but this may vary depending on your pace of study.

Pace of study

The academic year is made up of three 10-week terms, known as trimesters. We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

If you opt to undertake the accelerated study plan whereby you will study two modules in one trimester, we recommend 40 hours of study per week.

Should you decide to study on the accelerated rate you should ensure that you have the capacity to fully engage with your studies and achieve the best grades and final award. If you choose to study on the accelerated rate, you will need to balance approximately 40 hours of study per week alongside your professional and personal life and commitments.

It may be useful to consider studying one module at the standard rate of study before deciding whether to then increase to the accelerated rate of study.

Assessment method

This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

You will usually need one of the following:

• An undergraduate degree with Honours (in any subject) from a UK university or equivalent overseas qualification - at least a 2:2
• A Masters degree from a UK university or equivalent overseas qualification
• A psychology degree which hasn’t given you Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership - at least a 2.2
• An undergraduate degree from an overseas institution that is equivalent to the above UK qualifications. It is also important that you have a good standard of written and spoken English

Plus

• GCSE/GCE O Level Maths: Grade C

English language qualifications

You’ll also normally require one of the following English language qualifications:

• GCE O level English Language C
• GCSE English C

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

• IELTS 6.5
• TOEFL: 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based) or 80 (internet based)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate: Pass
• London Tests of English: we accept level 5 for postgraduate courses
• International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
• International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C

Find out more about our English language requirements

^‡2023/24 for new entrants

Starting between September 2023 and August 2024.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this will be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from three payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront, receive 5% discount and avoid annual increases*

• Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)*

*Please note: the discount for paying your fees up front, either for the full programme or the academic year, will only be available to students enrolling for eligible online studies between August 2023 and July 2024 and will not be available for the September 2024 intake onwards.

Masters funding options

Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to help with living costs and tuition fees whilst studying your masters programme.

If you are considering applying for a student loan, please also see our additional guidance on Loans for Online Students.

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out more about the Alumni discount

Students should apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

• Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
• Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
• The translator’s contact details

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

During this course you'll study all the core areas of psychology to gain a deep understanding of the subject.

From here you can then choose which area you would like to specialise in and continue to further training. For example, you may want to consider our MSc Health Psychology online, which will introduce you to a range of health psychology professional competencies. Other areas of psychology you can consider are sports, clinical, educational, forensics and occupational.

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning:

Other courses you might like

• Psychology Postgraduate Diploma
• Health Psychology MSc
• Psychology MRes