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Behavioural Science Skills at Lancaster University - UCAS

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2025 - 20262026 - 2027
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Develop the very latest data analysis and research skills to make sense of human behaviour through psychological evidence. We offer a distinctive focus on the modern research workflow, enabling you to step into any research role, from critically evaluating evidence, to planning and implementing data acquisition, to applying advanced statistical modelling or in-depth qualitative techniques. Working through a portfolio of real-world problems, we build your psychology foundations, then develop your advanced research skills so that you graduate with the opportunity to progress into a range of careers. Who is this programme for? You don’t need a background in psychology to apply for this Master’s - we welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. You may have a degree in other areas such as computing, environmental science, natural sciences, linguistics or sociology. Or you may work in teaching or health and social care services. Looking ahead to employability The MSc Behavioural Science Skills offers a rich learning experience to develop your skills in:

  • Critical thinking and the systematic evaluation of evidence
  • The ethics of good practice
  • Advanced statistical modelling techniques for research used in universities, industry, healthcare and government
  • The application of reproducible methods to meet modern expectations of best practice in open science
  • Working in research groups and as an independent researcher on real-world problems
  • How to explain and present your findings effectively
What to expect Our world-leading academics deliver a series of core modules where the techniques you learn will be applied to real-world data and challenges. You will:
  • Develop skills in the systematic review of research literature, to distil the latest understanding on psychological topics
  • Build coding skills from the foundations of statistical analysis to the most cutting-edge statistical modelling techniques
  • Work with data that captures human experiences in the qualitative analysis of talk and text
  • Gain in-depth insights into the real-world challenges of research in the cognitive sciences, in the study of social processes and in neuroscience
Your experience culminates with the dissertation project and the opportunity to contribute evidence to answering real research questions, as independent researchers or working as part of research teams. Three things we would like you to know
  • Work with researchers who draw together the latest research to understand psychology in practice, such as the effect of autism on learning, how memory affects education, or human interactions in conflict situations
  • Join us in promoting the latest approaches to open and ethical behavioural science
  • Recent student dissertations have investigated effective communications in healthcare, or emotional processing of marketing communications, or the effects of sleep on boosting problem-solving skills
Flexible study options Study alongside work and other commitments by taking this course on a part-time basis. Running over two years, you take a selection of the modules each year. We will liaise with you over your choice of optional modules and your schedule, so that you can successfully balance your work and other commitments alongside the Master’s programme.

Assessment method

We teach using a mix of lectures, seminars and practical lab sessions, encouraging increasingly independent study as your degree progresses. You will carry out regular web assessments to make sure your learning is on track, as well as practical work, essays, written examinations, practical lab reports, and presentations. As a university, we commit to providing you with timely feedback on all aspects of your work.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Economic and Social Research Council

Entry requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Psychology or related cognate discipline. Your degree must have covered some Statistics and Research Methods modules. We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For information about fees and funding please visit our website: www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding.

Sponsorship information

Departmental bursaries may be available.

Behavioural Science Skills at Lancaster University - UCAS