Course summary

Do you hold an interest in the human mind, what drives our behaviour as individuals and what really makes us tick? Having this knowledge and understanding will be invaluable to you in so many environments and scenarios in your life, both professionally and personally. Covering core areas of psychology, such as personality, social, cognitive, developmental and biopsychology, this programme offers you the opportunity to convert your existing qualifications to a postgraduate psychology award. Why study this subject? Our MSc in Psychology (Conversion) is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is a recognised qualification by employers throughout the country. By studying this course, you’ll be qualified for further training towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. If you’re not dreaming of a career in psychology, then don’t worry; our course can offer you important transferrable skills that will set you up confidently to dive into any number of exciting employment opportunities. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? Our Psychology department at BNU nurtures external relationships for you to leverage as a student which means you can learn from experts in the field like HM Prison and Probation staff, counselling psychologists, senior police officers, neuropsychologists and occupational psychologists to name just a few. There are also regular visits to relevant museums, prisons, courts and sports venues to see psychology in an applied context. We offer our MSc Psychology Conversion both full-time (one year) and part-time (two years) meaning you can choose the best avenue to study whilst balancing other life and work commitments. What facilities can I use? In workshops and lectures, we’ll take you through the various techniques you need to analyse data. You’ll focus on the practical use of the statistics software package, SPSS, used by social scientists to analyse and present quantitative data. You’ll also have the opportunity to use the observation lab and specialist equipment such as Biopac©, allowing measurement of the activity of the cardiovascular system, brain and autonomic nervous system. Students can use Tobii eye tracking equipment and HTC Vive virtual reality software for their assignments and research projects too. What will I study? You’ll cover core areas of psychology like personality, social, cognitive, developmental and biopsychology whilst also exploring how to apply different research methods to empirical projects. You’ll choose a specialist subject to focus on in more detail from a choice of sub-disciplines of psychology such as Investigative and Forensic Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology, or Business and Organisational Psychology. Studying one of these subjects in detail will also give you inspiration to choose an area for your final dissertation project. What are my career prospects? This MSc will enable you to embark on a variety of careers in psychology, so the programme is suitable for recent graduates and those wishing to pursue a career change. The course is also ideal for teachers in pre-tertiary education who are currently teaching psychology A-level without a formal academic qualification in the subject. Our graduates go on to seek employment in a number of destinations, such as human health, education, scientific research, social work, human resources, market research, or in the public sector for the Civil Service, NHS or local government. You could choose to continue your studies down the Chartered Psychologist route and pursue a career in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Forensic Psychology or Sports and Exercise Psychology. Many Psychology students will choose from career options without ‘psychologist’ in the title so our programme is designed to inspire and facilitate the development of lots of important transferable skills that will enhance your employability, whatever path you choose to take.