Health Psychology MSc

University of Bedfordshire

This course enables you to develop your understanding of how psychology and health can be used to promote general wellbeing. You learn how to apply the scientific and theoretical principles and ideas of health psychology while developing the practical skills and knowledge required for employment or research in the field. You study social and psychological issues, including aspects such as obesity, lifestyle and stress, and explore how we can understand, intervene and promote health and wellbeing across the lifespan.

Course accreditation

This course is accredited to the British Psychological Society (BPS). It forms Stage 1 of the training you need to become a chartered psychologist member of the Division of Health Psychology within the British Psychological Society.

What will you study?

Studying our Health Psychology MSc course will equip you with the in-depth knowledge and skills to examine the psychological, social and biological factors in the areas of health and illness. In core areas of study, you will be exposed to Advanced Research Methods for Psychologists that will equip you with advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistical analyses using relevant software. To introduce you to the foundations of this course, our Health Psychology in Context unit will provide you with a broad understanding of health psychology as a discipline and profession including the models and methods used in the field. Integrated with areas of biology, you will develop a basic understanding of the biological mechanisms associated with a range of body systems and disorders in our Mechanisms of Health and Disease unit. You will then be introduced to the socio-cognitive models of health behaviours to understand how these can be predicted by health beliefs and psychological factors in our Perceptions and Actions unit.

How will you be assessed?

The primary focus is to ensure build upon the core skills developed through successful achievement of the completed Graduate Basis for Chartered Status (via an approved undergraduate degree or conversion postgraduate course) and to move towards the competences required of a Health Psychologist as outlined in the Subject Benchmark statement for Psychology (QAA 2016) and aims and objectives of a Stage 1 Qualification in Health Psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society (2017).

The assessment strategy therefore reflects the academic rigour required for a BPS accredited MSc degree. The assessments are designed to test your academic knowledge oral and written skills use of literature using primary and secondary sources critical analysis of ideas connections made between theory practice real life situations and the understanding and application of professional values to include ethical issues as detailed by the BPS.

Careers

This BPS-accredited MSc opens the way to stage two training to become a chartered psychologist and registered health psychologist. Career options include working for the government (for example advising on policy making effective interventions or advertising strategies) research preventing illnesses especially coronary heart disease and cancer and patient/practitioner communications and teaching. Graduates also work in the NHS on preparing for surgery and psychological methods to manage stress pain or terminal illness.

If you wish to move into employment following graduation there are a variety of areas where you will find opportunities such as research teaching social care health care including roles in the NHS business including human resource management and the sports sector.

You will also have acquired specific knowledge in research methods and other core areas in psychology to continue your research studies at PhD level.