Psychology of Mental Health

Entry requirements

Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is a degree at 2:2 (lower second class) UK Honours level (or a degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth) in Psychology, or an MSc Psychology conversion programme with commendation (or equivalent).

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc Psychology of Mental Health provides an in-depth study of the psychological principles underlying mental health and wellbeing.

The MSc Psychology of Mental Health combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills in assessment, research, and professional development. This programme has established partnerships with key organisations including NHS Grampian and VSA, offering potential opportunities for practical experience.

This programme is structured to provide comprehensive training in mental health and illness, behavioural and clinical assessment, research methods, and professional skills. You will develop a fundamental understanding of mental health assessment, explore the complexities of mental health and illness, and learn clinical assessment techniques. As you progress through your studies you will deepen your understanding of specialised topics, such as addiction and advanced psychological health.

You will also gain comprehensive research methodology skills, studying both quantitative and qualitative research methods and engaging in critical reviews of current research. Your studies will culminate in a thesis project, where you will apply your research skills and theoretical knowledge to conduct an independent research study in an area of mental health psychology that interests you. Your research project will be supervised by an academic from the School of Psychology, and may also be co-supervised by a community partner.

This programme will be of particular interest to those who intend to pursue a career where mental health is relevant, or who wish to strengthen their CV before pursuing further education in fields such as clinical psychology, clinical research, or as a cognitive behavioural therapy practitioner.

This programme will also provide excellent fundamental knowledge for roles which may require additional training or certifications, such as:

• Psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP)
• Clinical psychologist or counsellor
• Assistant psychologist
• Clinical researcher

Information for international students

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and funding

We are pleased to offer a range of scholarships and funding opportunities for our students. A full list of available funding opportunities is available on our Funding Database.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship - Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Eligibility details and further information are available here.

Alumni Discount Scheme - We are pleased to offer a 20% discount for postgraduate tuition fees to all alumni who have an undergraduate degree from the University of Aberdeen. Please note, the Aberdeen Alumni Discount cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other scholarship award. Learn more about the Aberdeen Alumni Discount here.