Postgraduate course
Psychology MSc
Designed for graduates from all disciplines, this course opens doors to professional psychology training pathways for you.
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Gain the foundational qualification that will allow you to pursue careers in the psychology field and eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This conversion course provides a pathway for graduates from any discipline to develop expertise in psychological science and research methods. It is designed for career changers and those with limited prior knowledge in psychology.
York campus
- Duration – 1 year
- Start date – September 2026
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 honours degree in any subject
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £8,800 full time
International 2026-27 £11,800 full time
Course overview
This course is designed for those with an undergraduate degree in a different discipline. Gain eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) while applying psychological concepts to real industry settings and developing your research skills.
Explore the core areas of psychology and their theoretical foundations:
- Biological
- Cognitive
- Developmental
- Social
- Individual differences
Critically evaluate psychological theories and research evidence, and learn how to select and use research and analysis methods. Find out how to deal with complex issues in psychology systematically, make judgements in the absence of complete data and present your conclusions to specialist audiences.
This course is an essential foundation that will transform your eligibility for a number of pathways that were previously only accessible to those with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Completing the course will open up the potential for careers in professional psychology by demonstrating that you have the knowledge, skills and ethical awareness required for training programmes. This includes doctoral research, clinical psychology training through NHS schemes and forensic psychology training.
Course structure
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.
You will study:
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 2
- A dissertation module across both semesters that will be submitted in August
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 term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Equip yourself with the core knowledge and skills required for understanding and conducting psychological research. Learn about ethical principles, research designs, approaches to data analysis and research dissemination. You will gain practical experience applying what you have learnt to research and working with data. This module is aligned with the BPS core standards for research methods.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module will introduce you to biological psychology. You will study an overview of its historical development and the key concepts in structural and functional neuroanatomy and biological systems. Gain an understanding of the historical and conceptual issues in the study of the neurological bases of behaviour, including some of the following areas of contemporary debate:
- The physiology of emotion.
- Structure, organisation and development of the brain and nervous system.
- The relation between memory processes and components
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Explore how individuals differ in their behaviour and the processes that underlie these differences. This module will introduce you to social psychology and individual differences at three levels of analysis:
- Individual (such as measurement challenges faced by psychologists)
- Interpersonal (including helping behaviour and the dynamics of groups)
- Global contexts (such as leadership and work-related personality)
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Build upon your research knowledge and skills by learning about more specialised research methods and analytical approaches. Working with data, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge in quantitative and qualitative research to practical experience. This module is designed to meet the core standards of the BPS.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module starts with foundational ideas in cognition and core cognitive abilities in adults then returns to them from the perspective of developmental changes in cognition across infancy and childhood. You will learn about the nature and development of:
- Perception
- Attention
- Memory
- Language
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Develop your knowledge about core social theory, including:
- Prejudice
- Collective Action
- Cultural Psychology
Explore the ways in which social meaning and behaviour are often shaped by contexts, and how we can study relationships as well as individual minds. You will learn about how we can move the study of psychology beyond the laboratory by using psychological skills to think critically about issues like power, collective action and group dynamics across different social settings.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
The dissertation module represents the culmination of Master's level study, enabling you to use psychological research skills, theoretical knowledge and analytical capabilities developed across the course. You will complete an original piece of psychological research in an area that interests you and supervised by a member of staff. This will include deciding on appropriate research methods, presenting a research proposal and considering the ethical integrity of the project.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You will be taught using a range of teaching methods, including:
- Interactive lectures
- Seminars where critical debate and discussion is encouraged
- Practical workshops in our laboratories
- The opportunity to take part in research studies
This learning will be supported by online resources on our virtual learning environment, like recorded lectures.
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
All of our assessments align with BPS standards and could include:
- Exams
- Essays
- Oral presentations
- Portfolio work
- Research projects
Throughout the course you will receive support from personal academic tutors who provide guidance on academic progress and professional development.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 honours degree in any subject
Grade C/4 GCSE in both English Language and Maths, or equivalent qualifications
This course is designed for graduates of other disciplines interested in a career in professional psychology or in a sector where you can apply psychological knowledge and understanding.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you may be eligible for entry on the basis of Recognition of prior learning (RPL). We also consider applications for entry with advanced standing.
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.
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.
Fees and funding
UK 2026
The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is £8,800 for full time study.
This cost applies 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.
postgraduate funding opportunities
International 2026 entry
The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is £11,800 for 1 year of full 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.
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £8,800 full time
International 2026-27 £11,800 full time
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
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.
Career outcomes
Where could Psychology MSc take you?
This course will enable you to apply for professional psychology training that you were previously ineligible for, such as:
- Doctoral research
- Clinical psychology training through NHS schemes
- Educational psychology training
- Forensic psychology training
You will also gain a valuable range of transferable skills that will be useful in other industries.
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.
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.
Alumni stories
Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.
