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MSci (Hons) Psychology

Engage with the theories, perspectives, and methods that are used to study the mind, the brain, and behaviour.

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

C801

Institution code

Y50

Length

4 years full-time

Typical offer

AAA (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£28,800 per year

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Discover York

in the UK for Psychology

Guardian University Guide 2024

in the UK for Psychology

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

in the Russell Group for 'Organisation and management'

of institutions included in the National Student Survey 2023 for psychology (non-specific).

Psychology is the scientific study of mind, brain and behaviour. Here at York, we teach psychology as a rigorous experimental biological science.

Our exciting and innovative  four year MSci course allows you to engage fully with the theories, perspectives, and methods that are used to study the mind, the brain, and behaviour, while developing your practical, high-level skills in empirical investigation and scientific data analysis.

It will equip you with advanced training in research methods, statistics and specialisation in one of three pathways at the forefront of contemporary behavioural science.

These pathways are: 

  1. Clinical Psychology
  2. Developmental Disorders
  3. Neuroscience and Neuroimaging

The benefits of the MSci include the opportunity to:

  • Learn more about the most up-to-date thinking in key areas of Psychology
  • Gain extensive practical experience and knowledge by working closely with members of faculty
  • Develop your transferable and interpersonal skills to maximise your employment potential
  • Obtain a valuable masters-level qualification
  • Enhance your chances when applying for a PhD programme

Applications for this course are closed to UK (home) applicants for 2024/25. Applications for 2025/26 will open in September.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, assuring the quality and relevance of our teaching. 

UK top 20 for Psychology

We're among the top departments in the QS UK University Rankings by Subject 2023

Everything under one roof

You'll study in a purpose-built psychology building which makes for an integrated department and rich student experience

Course content

MSci and BSc students take identical modules and are taught together during Years 1 and 2. At the beginning of Year 3, the two courses take different directions.

In Years 3 and 4 you will select one of the three pathways, each providing advanced modules and extended projects linked to your chosen specialism.

We place a strong emphasis on practical experience, giving you the chance to undertake two research projects rather than one (one in Year 3 and a larger one in Year 4). This means that you will graduate with the strong analytical and independent research skills needed for employment. This advanced training, combined with opportunities to develop professional communication and project skills, will allow you to go on to sought-after graduate-level employment in various sectors of the job market. 

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

In the first two years you will study the main areas of psychology.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

In Year 2 you will build on the knowledge you have already gained in Year 1.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module:

Elective modules

You may be able to replace the option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 3

In Year 3 you'll choose a selection of modules from a specialist pathway and from a broad range of advanced options.

You'll also work with a small group to prepare and carry out your own research in an area of your choice.

Core modules

You will complete two core modules associated with you specialist pathway:

Clinical Psychology Pathway
Developmental Disorders Pathway
Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Pathway

You'll also complete a set of core modules designed to provide you with advanced research training:

Option modules

You will also study one option module:

Year 4

In Year 4 you will be able to further explore your interests with a research topic on a topic of your choice, as well as a range of option modules. 

Core module

Your research project is an opportunity for you to conduct and write up an original piece of research, working closely with a member of staff. The topic of the project is generally associated with the topic of your chosen pathway and you will have access to all the sophisticated research facilities of the Department.

Recent projects have investigated a wide range of topics, for example: 

  • ‘Boredom eating’ as a possible cause of obesity
  • The neural basis of face perception
  • fMRI assessment of simulated visual loss seen in glaucoma
  • The relationship between social class and expressive language in primary school children
  • The effects of albinism on social behaviour in a captive population of wallabies
  • English and Mandarin speakers’ perception of time.

Each year several of the best undergraduate projects are published in mainstream scientific journals.

Option modules

You will also study three option modules:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Understand the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development and limitations, with a particular emphasis on the role of brain functions in human behaviour and experience; through research-led training, acquire specialist knowledge in one of four pathways: Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Developmental Disorders, Forensic Psychology, or Clinical Psychology.
  • Critically analyse and evaluate theory, and their potential contradictions, within and beyond the field of psychology using empirical evidence to support their reasoning and arguments.
  • Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of a range of advanced and cross-disciplinary research paradigms, research methods and measurement techniques, including statistical analysis, and be aware of their limitations.
  • Design, conduct, analyse and interpret systematic, scientifically rigorous and ethically sound studies both individually and in groups, using a combination of advanced appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods and statistics, and supported by state-of-the-art digital software; in the context of the empirical research project, gain extensive research experience in a specialist domain of psychology.
  • Communicate complex information effectively using appropriate and discipline-specific written, oral, graphical and electronic means, taking into account diversity among individuals to whom the information is communicated.
  • Explain the potential impact of psychological research and theory on a broad range of real world settings and situations (e.g., classrooms, industry, commerce, healthcare, as well as local and global communities).
  • Solve complex problems using evidence-based and scientific reasoning. Specifically, graduates will be able to identify and pose new research questions, devise new methods to address them, consider alternative approaches to their solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
  • Be a self-critical learner, showing sensitivity to contextual and interpersonal factors. Demonstrate sensitivity to contextual and interpersonal factors. Graduates will be able to outline the complexity of factors that shape behaviour and social interaction, and to evaluate the bases of problems and interpersonal conflicts..

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £28,800

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

We don't anticipate there being any additional costs associated with this course as all text books are available in the library or via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Depending on how you work you may wish to print out notes, costs for this will vary depending on your methods of working. 

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Teaching during the first two years is mainly by lectures, seminars, practicals and group work, with personal supervision by members of the academic staff. In Years 3 and 4, we place a particular emphasis on independent learning to equip you with skills that will be useful in a wide range of employment contexts and to provide a strong background for subsequent PhD or professional training. 

Lectures

Our lectures are given in state-of-the-art lecture theatres that are equipped with multiple screens for presentations, audio amplification and lecture recording facilities. Interactive lectures that let you instantaneously respond to questions and have your say using your smartphone, are a standard feature of our teaching. Lecture slides are typically available before each lecture and are usually recorded for future revision.

Seminars

Seminars are an important part of the course. During these you'll focus on a task in small groups, led by a member of staff. 

Practicals

You'll also have the chance to carry out psychological experiments, and we have a new computer laboratory dedicated to this. All aspects of experimentation are covered, from design issues through to the carrying out and analysis of findings.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures8-10 hours per week
Tutorials1-2 hours per week
Practicals4-5 hours per term

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Teaching location

The Department of Psychology is located on Campus West. 

Most tutorials, seminars, practical work, staff offices and laboratories are in our purpose-built psychology building.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Year 1 marks do not contribute to the final degree class awarded. However, you must pass the modules in Year 1 in order to progress to Year 2, and supervisors may refer to marks gained in Year 1 when writing references. Exams are usually multiple choice format. Assessed coursework in the form of essays, practicals, and related tasks provides valuable feedback towards optimal performance in Year 2 and beyond.

Year 2 is examined through exams (mainly multiple choice) held at the end of each module, and assessed coursework in the form of essays and practical reports. Progression from Year 2 to Year 3 of the MSci requires an average mark of 55% in Year 2.

Year 3 includes a literature survey, a mixture of advanced optional and pathway-specific modules, a module in Advanced Research Methods and Year 3 Research Project.

Year 4 includes 3 further advanced modules, and an extended and in-depth research project. 

Year 2 contributes 25% of the final degree mark, Year 3 contributes 37.5% and Year 4 contributes 37.5%.

Careers and skills

Our graduates are highly successful in securing very competitive professional jobs (eg clinical or educational psychologist roles). Many positions require at least one year of experience working in the field, before starting professional training. 

As an MSci graduate you will have a wide range of career options open to you. This masters level qualification will be an excellent springboard to clinical or educational psychology doctorate training positions or funded PhD positions for those wishing to pursue a research career in Psychology. The MSci may also put you at an advantage when applying for a specialist MSc if you are considering enrolling on Stage 1 training as a forensic psychologist. If you wish to pursue a career outside of Psychology, this degree will also equip you with key transferable skills, an understanding of people and the unique blend of arts and science skills that will make you highly competitive for entry into a wide variety of careers such as human resources, advertising, systems analysis, market research, teaching, social work, media, finance and management consultancy.

Employability

We have a dedicated employability coordinator, who runs a specialised programme of events and training sessions to ensure you are well prepared for the world of work. They will support you to develop the skills and experience you need to get the job you want after graduation and help you find placements, volunteering roles and paid work alongside your academic work. We'll encourage you to reflect on your academic and extra curricular activities through regular discussion of your Personal Employability Plan with your supervisor. We invite speakers to give you insights into a range of careers available to you and support you to research your career options.

Career opportunities

  • PhD study
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Clinical Psychologist

Transferable skills

  • Time-management
  • Critically analyse and evaluate theory
  • Research methods
  • Effective communication
  • Solve complex problems
  • Become a self-critical learner
  • Use evidence bases and scientific reasoning

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAA including at least one science. A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential.

We include Biology, Chemistry, Further Maths, Maths, Physics and Psychology as science subjects. For other possible science subjects please contact the admissions tutor.

Access to Higher Education Diploma Obtain Access to HE Diploma (Science) with 39 credits at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit or higher. Other Access to HE Diplomas are considered but must include science/psychology modules. Please contact us for further information.
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD. A science subject is essential. A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential. Please contact the department for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, D3 including at least one science subject. A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential.
Degree Transfer from the BSc course to the MSci course requires an average mark of at least 55 over Year 2 of the BSc course
European Baccalaureate 85% overall average. At least one science subject must be taken in the final year. A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential.
International Baccalaureate 36 points including one Higher Level science subject, which may include Psychology. A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential.
T levels We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in a science subject has been taken.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Advanced Highers - A in one Science/Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - BBBB

A second science subject may be desirable but is not essential. We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

You should also have GCSE Maths at grade 5 (B).

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve an A or higher at EPQ, you will be eligible for a reduced offer, one grade below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
KITE 459 Main Flight score with 426 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Next steps

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Department of Psychology

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