Psychology MRes

The Psychology MRes allows you to specialise in a specific psychological topic, while also gaining broader research training. You will work as part of a team in an established area of nationally and internationally recognised research excellence.

The course is structured around a year long 60 credit module on psychological research methods, which is benchmarked against the ESRC postgraduate training and development guidelines. Alongside this, you will undertake an extended 120 credit thesis in an area of expertise of one of our members of academic staff.

In addition to gaining an advanced level qualification, you will have the opportunity to develop valuable transferable skills, these include:

• Data collection and analysis
• Research design
• Decision making
• Critical thinking
• Independent learning
• Presentation skills

It is important that you contact a member of our psychology team to identify a potential thesis supervisor with relevant expertise and to discuss your research interests prior to submitting your application. You will be required to submit an outline research proposal in order to be accepted on the course, and this should be developed under the guidance of your proposed supervisor. 

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study 3 compulsory modules.

If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.

You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.

Modules

Research areas

For your MRes Thesis, you will need to conduct a research project in a subject area that interests you, supervised by a member of academic staff with relevant expertise.  

Areas of staff expertise include cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology, and mental health. Please see staff profiles for individual staff members' research interests

Staff profiles

You can also find out more about the different Psychology Research Groups here: 

Child Development

Cognitive Psychology

Neurodiversity, Environment and Wellbeing

If you are interested in applying for an MRes, you will need to identify and contact an appropriate supervisor. Before applying you will need to develop a research proposal. Staff members may have specific projects in mind that would be appropriate for an MRes thesis, or you can develop your own idea in conjunction with your proposed supervisor. 

Current and recently completed research projects

• Experiences of therapy in neurodivergent women 
• Exploring experiences and perceived influence of loving-kindness meditation on emotional agility: an interpretative phenomenological analysis 
• Aggressive fantasies and aggression:  Does executive function and impulse control increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviours
• Do executive function and risk-taking behaviours effect murder fantasy across social class status? 
• Personality and cheating: How the dark triad influences athletes’ attitudes to cheating, along with the mediating impact of task and ego orientation
• Measuring how psychological flow impacts spatial awareness
• Christian identity shaping migrants’ experiences of Covid-19 in the UK
• The empirical evidence of individual strengths in autism: A scoping review
• How are autistic people using the platform of Twitch and other social media to address aspects of friendship and loneliness?
• Examining the relationship between executive function and athletic burnout

Teaching and learning

You will receive exceptional personal tuition and support. Our small class sizes and interactive teaching methods help to enhance your learning. All tutors offer weekly office hours where you can access personalised support.

You will be allocated an academic tutor in your first week of study. You will be able to develop a supportive relationship with your tutor whilst also working on a set programme of personal, academic and professional development.

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

This course provides a range of assessment types across the modules, including:

• Thesis research report
• Short research skills portfolio
• Exams
• Oral presentations

A significant proportion of your time will be dedicated to the completion of an extended independent research project. This will be supervised by academic staff members, who are nationally and internationally recognised for research excellence.

Developing key research skills will be an important aspect of this experiential learning process. You will go on to produce a thesis in the form of an extended journal article. This will enable you to gain understanding of the academic publication process.

Qualifications

If your first degree is not in Psychology but you have covered sufficient levels of psychology and research methods, we will consider your application. Applications such as this will be considered on a case-by-case basis..

Research proposal

You will be required to submit this outline research proposal in line with an advertised project area. To be accepted onto the course, your proposed thesis supervisor must accept the proposal. 

Your research proposal should

• Be up to 500 words
• Identify who your project supervisor would be
• Identify the research question you would like to examine
• Briefly outline the theoretical background to your proposed research
• Outline the methods you may draw on

This is a non-binding research proposal and changes to your approach and the specifics of your topic will be possible.

You will be required to submit this outline research proposal in line with an advertised project area. In order to be accepted onto the course this outline application must be acceptable to the proposed thesis supervisor.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2024 - 2025 entry

The tuition fee for 2024 entry to the Psychology MRes is:

• £8,000 for full time study
• £4,000 per year for part time study

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2024 - 2025 entry

The tuition fee for 2024 entry to the Psychology MRes is:

• £11,300 for full time study
• £5,650 per year for part time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could Psychology MRes take you?

This course will prepare you for PhD study and a career in research. You will also develop transferrable skills including:

• Problem solving
• Developing arguments
• Analysing and evaluating information
• Collaboration
• Independent working
• Communication

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.