About this course

Human behaviour is a leading cause of physical illness worldwide. MSc Health Psychology teaches you how psychology can be applied to improve well-being and prevent and manage long-term conditions.

On this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree, you’ll be taught by expert lecturers who are currently developing and testing interventions and theory in the field.

Health psychology master’s graduates will be prepared to progress towards becoming a registered, chartered health psychologist.

This UK postgraduate health psychology master’s will help you become a scientist practitioner in a health care setting.

Health psychology applies the educational, scientific and professional psychological principles to:

promote and maintain health
study the cause of illness
prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate physical illness
psychological, social, emotional and behavioural factors in physical illness
improving health care
the formulation of health policy

In Msc Health Psychology your taught study will focus around three themes:

biopsychosocial aspects of health
psychosocial aspects of illness and disability
psychological aspects of the delivery of health care

On this master’s in health psychology, you’ll select optional modules to tailor the course to suit your career goals. Popular module choices include the study of CBT, sexual health and gerontology.

You have the opportunity to experience practical learning as an apprentice to a health psychologist over 12 weeks and develop your reading of research papers and discussing them in a journal club with students on the course.

Our health psychology master’s degree is taught by active leading researchers and experts across the different areas of health psychology, interventions and research methods. You’ll have the opportunity to attend seminars from researchers at the Centre for Clinical and Community Applications of Health Psychology.

Previous students have pursued careers in the public, private and third sectors, working as psychologists in research, education and professional practice.

Flexible study

If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:

a part-time master's - study the same course content over 2 or more years

Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

Course lead

Dr Felicity Bishop is the course leader. She is a health psychologist working on an interdisciplinary programme of mixed methods research around complementary therapies and placebo effects in health care. Find out more about Dr Bishop’s work and research by visiting their staff profile.

Accreditations

British Psychological Society (BPS)

MSc Health Psychology at Southampton

Dr Flis Bishop and Dr Daniel Schoth give an overview of our MSc Health Psychology course.

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Changes due to COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

ODT

Download 2021-22 Course Description Document

Modules

Changes due to COVID-19

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

For entry in Academic Year 2022-23

You must study the following modules:

Applied Research Methods (ARM): Correlational Methods

Topics covered will include: • The strengths and weaknesses of correlational designs • How to construct a questionnaire • Psychometrics in classical test theory (including reliability, validity, and exploratory factor analysis) • Correlation analyses ...

Applied Research Methods (ARM): Planning & Designing Research

The Applied Research Methods Modules cover the common needs for training in research methods and statistics of all students in their first year of postgraduate study in psychology. As one of a series of research units, it provides trainees with knowledge ...

Applied Research Methods: Qualitative Methods

The module progresses through the key phases of qualitative research design and implementation, emphasising the (often iterative) links between these activities: epistemological concerns, research questions, data collection and analysis techniques, and th...

Applied Research Methods: Statistical Analysis of Comparisons & Group Differences

One of the pre-requisites for PSYC8042

Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health

This module introduces you to the scope of health psychology as an academic and applied branch of psychology. We explore patterns and causes of health and ill-health and examine a selection of major theoretical models. Key questions that we examine includ...

MSc Dissertation

The aim of this module is to provide students with an opportunity to work with a member of the academic unit to develop a research question and implement a project that generates new knowledge in the field of psychology and that serves to extend the disci...

MSc Health Psychology Skills Training Programme

Psychology & The Delivery of Health Care

This module will explore the role of health psychologists in promoting health, designing and delivering health and illness related interventions. We will consider key factors and processes in the delivery of health care, including health promotion, and ca...

Psychosocial Aspects of Illness and Disability

The module will examine the psychosocial aspects of a range of illnesses, and explore the current theoretical models and research findings that inform clinical practice.

You must also choose from the following modules:

Advanced Statistical Methods in Psychology

This module is divided into two components that focus on cutting-edge statistical techniques. The first half focuses on Structural Equation Models, covering Path Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Multigroup Models ...

Ageing, Health and Well-being

Students will be introduced to key issues and literature concerning the current structure and workings of the welfare state, focusing on the health and social care for older people.

Apprenticeship in Health Psychology

Working as a health psychology apprentice will improve your understanding of what it means to work in health psychology and permit you to develop subject-specific and generic professional skills. Supported by module staff, you will select a suitable psych...

CBT for Anxiety Presentations (Short)

The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and understanding of CBT assessment and formulation and to examine CBT change methods in depth - as applied to anxiety presentations. You may take the full module (PSYC6107) covering a full range of pr...

Concepts & Skills

Demographic Change, Ageing & Globalisation

This module provides you with a foundation of knowledge on demographic change and population ageing in a cross-cultural, global perspective. The module focuses on less economically developed countries (LEDCs), and on linkages between different regions of ...

Human Sexual Diversity

This module will provide an overview of human sexuality, sexual behaviour, and sexual diversity.

International Social Policy

This module will review and discuss the state of the art in research on social welfare and human well-being and the one, and on social policies addressing these issues on the other hand. In the first part students will explore how previously dominant econ...

Introduction to CBT Theory & Skills

The aim of this module is to give you a basic understanding of the principles of CBT assessment, formulation and change methods. The module focuses on generic therapeutic and basic competencies, as well as specific behavioural and cognitive therapy techni...

Mixed Methods

This module will introduce you to the use of mixed methods for approaching and addressing research questions in a range of disciplines within social and human sciences. You will be introduced to the theories of mixed methods, and examine the ways in which...

Open Science in Psychology

The Open Science in Psychology module focuses on training students in current open science practices – practices which are becoming increasingly popular in modern psychology research.

Philosophy of Social Science Research

This module will look at the dominant traditions in the philosophy of social science and how these have shaped substantive research within the study of the social sciences.

Qualitative Methods 2

Qualitative Methods II builds upon the material learnt in Qualitative Methods I and addresses a range of specialist qualitative techniques, their underpinning theoretical framework and their practical application.

Researching Ageing Societies

The aim of this module is to (i) engage students in a critical debate on the transformations, challenges and potentials that ageing societies face and (ii) discuss the research methods, data and ethical implications involved in contemporary research of ol...

Social and Psychological Approaches to Understanding Sexual Health

This module is designed to enable and encourage students to apply social psychological and related methods and theories to various aspects of sexual health, including both psychological and physical aspects.

Statistical Programming in R

The Statistical Programming in R Module is focused on extending existing skills in analyzing data from quantitative research. The focus of this course will not be on extensively expanding the mathematical knowledge of the techniques employed but will be o...

Learning and assessment

Learning

You’ll learn through lectures and seminars, both with active class discussion. You’ll take part in individual, paired and group activities, debates and presentations.

As part of this project management MSc you’ll take part in interactive workshops to help you develop your practical skills.

You’ll be encouraged to undertake independent study to consolidate your learning and grow your knowledge on topics.

Assessment

We'll assess you through:

a behaviour change diary
a mini systematic review
3 skills portfolios; containing professional development plans and training logs
research methods reports on your own mini qualitative project and the analysis of quantitative datasets
essays
exams

Dissertation

As part of this course, you’ll complete a 10,000-word dissertation project.

Expert supervisors will present their research expertise and opportunities to you so you can select a supervisor for the dissertation.

You'll choose from a wide range of subject areas under the supervision of an expert in the field. Find out more about the health psychology research that our staff undertake at the Centre for Applications of Health Psychology.

Students have also been supervised by colleagues from other subject areas in The University of Southampton, including:

Macmillan Survivorship Research Group
psychologists based in medicine

Academic Support

We’ll assign you a personal tutor, and you’ll have access to a senior tutor.

How to apply

Use the 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our online application form.
Search for the course you want to apply for.
Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
Submit your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application by the end of the day on 31 July 2022. You must supply all supporting documentation at least 2 weeks before starting your course.

We cannot guarantee you'll be able to start your course if you do not meet these deadlines.

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for any postgraduate taught course that starts in or after September 2021.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, if you're applying for a Master of Research (MRes) degree, or if you're applying for a PGCE course via UCAS, you will not need to pay the fee. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

your knowledge of the subject area
why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to send 2 academic references.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

Learn more about how to apply with our postgraduate application guide.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We'll assess your application on the strength of your:

academic achievements
relevant professional experience
personal statement
academic references

We'll aim to get back to you within 6 weeks with a decision about your application.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Health Psychology (MSc)