Study Patterns: Psychology Postgraduate Diploma (online) - OLPBO

On this page, you will find the study patterns for our Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology online (OLPBO) programme.

Please use the links below to move directly to the relevant study pattern for the term you are enrolling onto.

These study patterns highlight the modules that you will need study over the next 12 months. Please note that all students are required to re-enrol at the start of every academic year in September and so within your enrolment you can only choose modules for the current academic year.  

The scheduled modules for the remainder of your programme (outlined below) are based on the current plan, however, the order of these may be subject to change. Should any changes be made, we will communicate this to you as soon as possible.

Please note that the first module on this course will be Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology (7PS543). Investigation and Analysis (7PS503) is a pre-requisite module for Social and Lifespan Psychology (7PS506), Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology (7PS544), Individual Differences (7PS502) and the Masters Research Project (7PS505) and so this module will need to be taken before the others.

The running order for new students must therefore be 7PS543 as your first module, followed by 7PS503 as your second module.

As a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme, group work is required as part of the BPS standards. Therefore when you are studying Individual Differences (7PS502) requires students to be working with other students in groups from the start of the trimester (week 1). Please note that students not engaging with their groups by the end of week 4 will be dropped from the module due to non-engagement and may be subject to a cancellation fee.

Pace of your study
For students completing the programme at the standard rate of study, the required minimum number of study time is 20 hours per week. 

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 must ensure that you have the capacity to fully engage with your studies and achieve the best grades and final award. 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.

PG Dip Psychology - standard rate with September start

Study Pattern Autumn (September) Spring (January) Summer (May)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits
Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits
Year 2 Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits
Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits
Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters
Year 3 Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
   

PG Dip Psychology - accelerated rate with September start

Study Pattern Autumn (September) Spring (January) Summer (May)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters

Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
Year 2 Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits
   

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PG Dip Psychology - standard rate with January start

Study Pattern Spring (January) Summer (May) Autumn (September)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits
Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits
Year 2 Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits
Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits
Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters
Year 3 Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
   

PG Dip Psychology - accelerated rate with January start

Study Pattern Spring (January) Summer (May) Autumn (September)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters

Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
Year 2 Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits
   

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PG Dip Psychology - standard rate with May start

Study Pattern Summer (May) Autumn (September) Spring (January)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits
Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits
Year 2 Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits
Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits
Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters
Year 3 Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
   

PG Dip Psychology - accelerated rate with May start

Study Pattern Summer (May) Autumn (September)  Spring (January)
Year 1

Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology
(7PS543)
20 credits

Investigation and Analysis
(7PS503)
20 credits

Skills and Careers in Psychology
(7PS582)
0 credits

Individual Differences
(7PS502)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits studied over two trimesters

Social and Lifespan Psychology
(7PS506)
20 credits

Research Project
(7PS505)
20 credits continued
Year 2 Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology
(7PS544)
20 credits
   

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