Health Psychology, MPhil

Swansea University

COURSE OVERVIEW

The importance of psychological factors in promoting good health and managing illness and health risks is an increasingly important field of study.

With a keen focus on understanding how behaviours develop and influence people’s decisions in relation to their health and well-being, our College of Human and Health Science is an ideal base for you to pursue to your PhD studies in Health Psychology.

Our Psychology department has an outstanding reputation both in the UK and internationally. According to the Research Excellence Framework 2014, we are one of only four psychology departments in the UK to achieve a 100% 4 rating (maximum score possible) for the reach and significance of our work.

Research students are currently exploring interventions to address the psychosocial needs of people living with chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease and developing methods to encourage children and young people to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviours.

As a student at the College of Human and Health Sciences, you will benefit from a dynamic and supportive research environment with many opportunities to make connections across disciplines and develop links with organisations and policymakers both in the UK and abroad. As such, you can be confident that your research will inform and be informed by the wider health and social care environment.

According to the most recent Research Excellence Framework in 2014-2021, over 75% of the research carried out at the college was of international or world-leading quality.

Our state-of-the-art research facilities include a high-density electroencephalography (EEG) suite, a fully fitted sleep laboratory, a social observation suite, eye-tracking, psychophysiological, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and conditioning labs, a lifespan lab and baby room, plus more than 20 all-purpose research rooms.

You will be joining a university that was named ‘University of the Year’ and ‘Postgraduate’ runner up in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2019.

Programme Summary

This MPhil in Health Psychology at Swansea will enable you to undertake a substantial project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can present a career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 60,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The Masters is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support. There will be an opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars and conferences.

Programme Aims

This Masters programme will provide students with:

The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.