Psychology

Entry requirements

We will consider all applicants with 2:2 or above, or equivalent international qualifications. For some courses, there may be additional requirements which can be found on our website.

Months of entry

January, October

Course content

Do you have a desire to better understand how people think about, interact with, and experience the world around them?

Our MSc Psychology is an advanced fast-track conversion course for students with an undergraduate degree in a subject other than psychology, or for those whose undergraduate Psychology degree was not accredited by the British Psychological Society. You may also take the course as an end in itself if you wish to obtain a Psychology degree in one year.

Further study in our Department of Psychology gives you the freedom and the facilities to study, experiment, explore, and research why we think, feel, and act the way we do. You will learn from and work alongside internationally renowned experts on a range of psychological topics, including:

• social psychology
• developmental psychology
• cognitive psychology
• brain and behaviour
• personality and individual differences
• psychology of health

You will also gain a thorough education in psychological research methods and statistics.

Our departmental mission is to 'Understand our place in the world', and our multi-method research approach is of particular value to this mission and to those who study with us. During your journey, you learn about the relevance of core psychology areas and that all psychology topics can be explored different lenses. At Essex, you explore how we think about, interact with, and experience the world, offering fresh insights into the human mind and vehaviour from every angle. This dynamic, multi-perspective approach means you learn to investigate the full spectrum of psychological experiences in meaningful, real-world ways. We are committed to providing you with opportunities to grow, and as part of our one-year degree, you will also advance your skill set on how to devise, carry out, and analyse an empirical research project.

The course combines the award of a Masters with eligibility for graduates to apply for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society. Passing our course demonstrates that you have acquired an advanced understanding of Masters-level study in psychology. With this qualification, you will also be eligible to apply for professional training in any branch of professional psychology.

We are a warm and friendly Department with staff and students from many different backgrounds. We are proud of the multicultural mosaic that makes up our community. Our staff and students come from over 40 countries, bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences which enrich our teaching, learning, and research.

We wish to welcome both graduates who have recently completed their studies, and mature students who may wish to upgrade their qualifications, refresh their CV, or return to academic study after a period of time away. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, representation, and providing students with a curriculum that reflects the complexity of human behaviour worldwide.

Professional accreditation

Accredited against the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Information for international students

Entry requirements: You can find international entry requirements for most countries on our international students webpage. If your country is not listed, please contact Postgraduate Admissions at pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

Pre-sessional English Language courses: If you need to improve your English language skills before joining your main degree course, we offer pre-sessional English courses on our campuses in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways.

Fees and funding

There are a wide range of funding options for postgraduate study, including scholarships, bursaries and alumni discounts. You can check your eligibility on our fees and funding webpage.