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Our MSc in Health Psychology covers the application of psychological theories, research and methodologies to the study of health and disease processes. This British Psychological Society accredited, master's course is ideal for those looking for a career in health psychology.

Using a blend of research-led teaching and practical experiences, on this course you will explore:

  • The theoretical models of health psychology and how they are applied in practice
  • How individual differences influence health through the lifespan
  • The management of health from individual to a societal level
  • Show psychological factors get inside the body and lead to illness

You will learn from an expert team with a variety of health-related backgrounds and excellent research records. Through our experience and networks, we will ensure that you and your learning are at the cutting edge of health psychology.

The MSc Health Psychology programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as a Stage 1 practitioner training route.  For students who already possess Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS, successful completion of the programme will allow them to apply for a further two years of supervised training (Stage 2) which will allow them to become Chartered Psychologists and be eligible for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council using the protected title of Health Psychologist. 

The programme has been developed to fulfil a regional and national need for qualifications and training in Health Psychology. This part-time course is heavily employment-focused and will prepare you for roles in the areas of health promotion, healthcare delivery, illness management and rehabilitation.

Previous graduates have gone on to work across a spectrum of health-related psychology disciplines locally, nationally and globally. Their roles have included careers as assistant psychologists in the NHS, charitable organisations and the private sector. Some have moved on to research posts, and others are undertaking PhDs.

The broad skills-base means that health psychologists are also attractive to consultancy companies looking for expertise in training, research or intervention.

You will gain first-hand practical experience of a range of measurement and intervention techniques that are not available on other courses of this kind, and we support you in using these experiences to develop your own areas of expertise in work-based and research settings. Our ecologically valid sleep centre, stress laboratory, and practical sessions involving measuring your own stress hormones and stress-reduction techniques are just some of the unique aspects of the programme at Northumbria University, Newcastle. 

*Please note that this course is on a first come first served basis and application is therefore competitive*

 

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
2 years Part Time
1 other options available

Department
Psychology

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

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Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in Psychology (or MSc equivalent), or a minimum of a 2:1 in another subject including relevant work experience.

Applicants must produce a personal statement detailing their reasons for applying to the Health Psychology course at Northumbria University. In some cases, applicants will be required to answer additional questions related to research methods and background knowledge into Health Psychology.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Plus one of the following:

  • Additional:

    Applicants who have completed their degree within the UK are required to provide written proof of GBC/GBR status from their UK University. All applicants who have completed their first degree outside the UK are required to apply to the BPS for consideration of GBC/GBR. Written confirmation of GBC/GBR will be required. Please bear in mind that this process can take a considerable amount of time and relevant applicants should contact the BPS as soon as possible.

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

Full UK Fee: £10,460

Full International Fee: £19,750



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK, EU and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

JC7000 -

Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Psychology Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.

More information

PY0771 -

Lifespan, Individual and Cultural Perspectives on Health Psychology (20 Credits)

You will gain an insight into the inter-individual (e.g. personality, intelligence, illness perceptions) and cultural influences on physical health and wellbeing from a lifespan perspective. Topics will be introduced and discussed in context of psychological and physiological disorders that manifest at different stages of the lifespan (e.g. obesity, dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted infection etc.).
Theories such as ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’, which implicate early life psychosocial factors as predictors of later life health and wellbeing, will be critically discussed. You will also learn that the pathways from individual and cultural factors to health and illness are complex, and involve a number of mediating and moderating factors.

More information

PY0772 -

Psychosomatic Pathways to Health and Illness (20 Credits)

You will learn about the psychobiological mechanisms that act as pathways between psychological and behavioural factors and physical and psychological health outcomes. Starting with key biological systems, and using examples including stress, sleep and pain, you will explore how these systems interact, and how they can be measured to provide indices for research and clinical indicators of health and disease.
Topics will include:

Biological mechanisms (e.g., nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and immune) and their interaction
Biopsychosocial models of health and disease
Biological and clinical indicators of health and disease (practical measurement and analytical techniques)
Individual differences in biological activation and disease vulnerability
Interventions and opportunities for modifying mechanisms

This module meets criteria set by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the core areas of physiological and psychosomatic disease processes and measurement issues. The assessment for this module requires the application of knowledge into real-world practice and will developing your professional skills with regard to communicating with a range of audiences, and thus enhance your graduate attributes for further qualifications and employability.

More information

PY0773 -

Systems Approaches to Understanding Health and Disease (20 Credits)

You will learn how a full systems approach (i.e. from macro influencers such as governments and organisations such as the World Health Organisation through to micro influencers such as individuals’ attitudes and beliefs about their health) can help us understand, and evaluate why differences exist in healthcare practice and policy. You will explore how the concepts of health, illness, sickness and disease are constructed, measured and managed across a range of real world contexts and how decisions made at differing system levels can shape the health and wellbeing of the individual. Topics include:

How diseases, disorders and conditions are defined and prioritised
The descriptive and statistical analysis of health behaviours and disease trends
How health promotion campaigns are created, managed and evaluated under the framework of public health
The impact of family and peers on health behaviours and disease management
The role of individual differences in healthcare encounters and the impact of those encounters on health outcomes

More information

PY0774 -

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)

The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.

More information

PY0770 -

Health Psychology in Theory and Practice (20 Credits)

In this module you will learn that the impact of behaviour on health is one of the key areas of health policy concern in the 21st Century, and that health psychology is at the heart of how the state is trying to get us to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Understanding the theory and practice of health psychology will give you the knowledge and skills to understand and design behaviour change interventions. You will learn that a range of factors contribute to how we behave, and you will look in detail at how health psychology theories have attempted to systematically develop and apply this understanding. In tandem with developing a sound theoretical understanding of health psychology, each week we will couple the theory content with an insight into its practical, real world application. These in-practice sessions will be delivered by health researchers from a broad range of current practice. From them and from our Health Psychology team, you will learn about the practicalities of conducting health research. We will bring to the classroom some recent and on-going intervention studies in areas as diverse as altered eating in head and neck cancer survivorship to how to deal with the health impacts of misinformation. By the end of the module you will have learned how to use health psychology, in theory and in practice, to improve people’s lives.

Some specific topics covered include:

Economic, cultural, social and psychological determinants of behaviour
Key health psychology theories such as the theory of planned behaviour
Theoretical frameworks for developing, describing and evaluating psychosocial interventions
How to put together a grant proposal for funding.
Individual lectures from researchers describing their intervention development work.

More information

PY0775 -

Professional Skills (20 Credits)

This module is designed to provide you with a range of professional skills important for your academic and professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It will assist with preparation for your thesis as you learn about advanced bibliographic skills, project proposals, and research management, ethical and legal issues. You will learn employment-related skills, media skills, and personal and career development skills such as presentation and communication as well as C.V. enhancement. You will also make practical applications of skills using online resources and employ self-reflective approaches to recording and enhancing awareness of your professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology.

More information

PY0776 -

MSc Thesis (Core,60 Credits)

In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

JC7000 -

Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Psychology Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.

More information

PY0771 -

Lifespan, Individual and Cultural Perspectives on Health Psychology (20 Credits)

You will gain an insight into the inter-individual (e.g. personality, intelligence, illness perceptions) and cultural influences on physical health and wellbeing from a lifespan perspective. Topics will be introduced and discussed in context of psychological and physiological disorders that manifest at different stages of the lifespan (e.g. obesity, dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted infection etc.).
Theories such as ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’, which implicate early life psychosocial factors as predictors of later life health and wellbeing, will be critically discussed. You will also learn that the pathways from individual and cultural factors to health and illness are complex, and involve a number of mediating and moderating factors.

More information

PY0772 -

Psychosomatic Pathways to Health and Illness (20 Credits)

You will learn about the psychobiological mechanisms that act as pathways between psychological and behavioural factors and physical and psychological health outcomes. Starting with key biological systems, and using examples including stress, sleep and pain, you will explore how these systems interact, and how they can be measured to provide indices for research and clinical indicators of health and disease.
Topics will include:

Biological mechanisms (e.g., nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and immune) and their interaction
Biopsychosocial models of health and disease
Biological and clinical indicators of health and disease (practical measurement and analytical techniques)
Individual differences in biological activation and disease vulnerability
Interventions and opportunities for modifying mechanisms

This module meets criteria set by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the core areas of physiological and psychosomatic disease processes and measurement issues. The assessment for this module requires the application of knowledge into real-world practice and will developing your professional skills with regard to communicating with a range of audiences, and thus enhance your graduate attributes for further qualifications and employability.

More information

PY0773 -

Systems Approaches to Understanding Health and Disease (20 Credits)

You will learn how a full systems approach (i.e. from macro influencers such as governments and organisations such as the World Health Organisation through to micro influencers such as individuals’ attitudes and beliefs about their health) can help us understand, and evaluate why differences exist in healthcare practice and policy. You will explore how the concepts of health, illness, sickness and disease are constructed, measured and managed across a range of real world contexts and how decisions made at differing system levels can shape the health and wellbeing of the individual. Topics include:

How diseases, disorders and conditions are defined and prioritised
The descriptive and statistical analysis of health behaviours and disease trends
How health promotion campaigns are created, managed and evaluated under the framework of public health
The impact of family and peers on health behaviours and disease management
The role of individual differences in healthcare encounters and the impact of those encounters on health outcomes

More information

PY0774 -

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)

The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.

More information

PY0770 -

Health Psychology in Theory and Practice (20 Credits)

In this module you will learn that the impact of behaviour on health is one of the key areas of health policy concern in the 21st Century, and that health psychology is at the heart of how the state is trying to get us to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Understanding the theory and practice of health psychology will give you the knowledge and skills to understand and design behaviour change interventions. You will learn that a range of factors contribute to how we behave, and you will look in detail at how health psychology theories have attempted to systematically develop and apply this understanding. In tandem with developing a sound theoretical understanding of health psychology, each week we will couple the theory content with an insight into its practical, real world application. These in-practice sessions will be delivered by health researchers from a broad range of current practice. From them and from our Health Psychology team, you will learn about the practicalities of conducting health research. We will bring to the classroom some recent and on-going intervention studies in areas as diverse as altered eating in head and neck cancer survivorship to how to deal with the health impacts of misinformation. By the end of the module you will have learned how to use health psychology, in theory and in practice, to improve people’s lives.

Some specific topics covered include:

Economic, cultural, social and psychological determinants of behaviour
Key health psychology theories such as the theory of planned behaviour
Theoretical frameworks for developing, describing and evaluating psychosocial interventions
How to put together a grant proposal for funding.
Individual lectures from researchers describing their intervention development work.

More information

PY0775 -

Professional Skills (20 Credits)

This module is designed to provide you with a range of professional skills important for your academic and professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It will assist with preparation for your thesis as you learn about advanced bibliographic skills, project proposals, and research management, ethical and legal issues. You will learn employment-related skills, media skills, and personal and career development skills such as presentation and communication as well as C.V. enhancement. You will also make practical applications of skills using online resources and employ self-reflective approaches to recording and enhancing awareness of your professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology.

More information

PY0776 -

MSc Thesis (Core,60 Credits)

In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.

More information

Study Options

The following alternative study options are available for this course:

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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Graduates of the University are entitled to a 20% alumni discount on Masters study at Northumbria (T&C’s apply).

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