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 full-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*

The MSc in Health Psychology is a careful blend of research-led teaching and practical experience. You will cover the core areas of Health Psychology, as identified by the British Psychological Society.

While our teaching methods include traditional lectures, seminars and discussion groups, we place a strong emphasis on non-traditional methods of learning. These include interactive and practical learning sessions. This approach has been developed around the techniques that you will need in the workplace after graduation.

In addition to exam and essay-based assessment, we use a variety of innovative assessment methods to develop the skills you will need to progress in the health psychology field. These include funding applications, health campaigns, reviews, reports for non-academic audiences, reflection and personal development.

We know that embarking on a masters course is a big decision and knowing whether you will have enough time to balance all of life’s other demands is important.  

During this course your on-campus lectures, workshops and seminars will all be timetabled on a Monday and Tuesday. For a masters programme like this we expect a commitment of around 35 hours per week - how you do your self-directed study is completely up to you. We want you to be able to fit your studies in with your life, whether that be at our City Campus Library, the University Library Digital Commons, open 24/7 during term time, or at home with access to e-books and journals - make it work for you.    

The programme is delivered by an expert team with a variety of health-related backgrounds and an excellent research record within the field of Health Psychology.  

All members of the teaching team are actively involved in research and practice. It also includes many staff members who also provide consultancy on a commercial basis. This means you can be sure that all modules are highly relevant to current developments in the sector.

The Health Psychology team receives excellent feedback from students and external examiners. The BPS and other experts in the area have praised the staff for their enthusiasm and innovative methods of delivering materials and assessing knowledge on the programme.

The programme content is based on contemporary research findings and utilises our network of experts in the field. This ensures that you are connected with leading researchers and practitioners in the discipline.

Several teaching sessions are delivered by visiting practitioners, providing you with first-hand accounts of health psychology in practice. This will also broaden your network of professional contacts.

The programme is delivered by an expert team with a variety of health-related backgrounds and an excellent research record within the field of Health Psychology.  

All members of the teaching team are actively involved in research and practice. It also includes many staff members who also provide consultancy on a commercial basis. This means you can be sure that all modules are highly relevant to current developments in the sector.

The Health Psychology team receives excellent feedback from students and external examiners. The BPS and other experts in the area have praised the staff for their enthusiasm and innovative methods of delivering materials and assessing knowledge on the programme.

The programme content is based on contemporary research findings and utilises our network of experts in the field. This ensures that you are connected with leading researchers and practitioners in the discipline.

Several teaching sessions are delivered by visiting practitioners, providing you with first-hand accounts of health psychology in practice. This will also broaden your network of professional contacts.

Our specialist teaching laboratories are designed to maximise practical and theoretical learning. You will improve your analytical and interpretative skills using a combination of advanced statistical software packages, online survey platforms and psychophysiological measurement techniques.

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 be supported to develop your own areas of expertise in work-based and research settings.

All postgraduate Psychology students have access to the PG hub for group and individual work. It also offers the opportunity for non-assessed group work, such as journal clubs.

Part-time students particularly benefit from online IT facilities which include electronic reading lists, lecture capture and feedback tools to support learning. Northumbria’s eLearning Portal includes discussion boards and a dedicated psychology area which provides a convenient communication forum when you’re off campus.

The course is delivered by expert practitioners and leading researchers in the field of health psychology, who draw from their own experiences and wider contemporary research studies. This will ensure that you benefit from developments at the cutting edge of the discipline.

You will have first-hand experience of research techniques through case studies, workshops and published evidence. This approach strengthens your analytical skills and allows you to develop your own research interests and areas of expertise.

The thesis is an opportunity to conceptualise, plan and execute research and to analyse and interpret data with real-world application. To extend the research focus of the course, your thesis will be written as a journal submission, which means you may be able to publish your paper.

Northumbria University's accredited Stage 1 British Psychological Society (BPS) Health Psychology Masters ensures graduates complete the course with a real understanding of research and practice in the world of health psychology. You will gain a thorough knowledge of cutting-edge issues in the sector and develop a range of transferable skills.

Our career focused course prepares you for roles in the areas of health promotion, healthcare delivery, illness management and rehabilitation. Previous graduates have gone on to work across the spectrum of health-related psychology disciplines locally, nationally and globally. Some work 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.

This course, when accompanied by the BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS) is an excellent start to professional development as a practitioner on the completion of Stage 2 training.