Course Summary
This masters programme enables you to become eligible for Graduate Basis of Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) by developing a comprehensive and critical understanding of key concepts, theories, methods and debates in all areas of psychology.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
The MSc in Psychology (Conversion) is only open to students who don't already hold an undergraduate degree which gives eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS).
You must hold a UK honours degree (2:2 at least) or equivalent to be accepted for the MSc Psychology (Conversion). As your primary degree won't be in Psychology, your educational achievements should demonstrate that you can master the skills expected of a psychologist over the course of the MSc. These include being able to:
write accurately, clearly and concisely
read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
argue logically and consistently
select and interpret evidence to support a logical argument.
This qualification has a required study order. Consequently, you will study with a cohort of peers throughout, while the modules and assessments build on one another systematically. All students will begin with the postgraduate module, Critically exploring psychology 1 (D810). This module equips you with the requisite skills needed to undertake postgraduate-level study. However, it does not offer remedial training.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details. If youre not sure whether your English skills are good enough, there is some help and guidance at our Skills for OU Study website.
Application Details
See Course Web Page link for next start date.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
This masters degree fulfils the requirements for Graduate Basis of Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). As such, the MSc Psychology (Conversion) allows you to advance your career as a professional psychologist in any of the applied areas of psychology regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council in the UK.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulated titles include:
clinical psychologist
counselling psychologist
educational psychologist
forensic psychologist
health psychologist
occupational psychologist
sports and exercise psychologist.
This degree provides ideal preparation for the further study, training and/or work. As well as specific knowledge, you'll develop many transferable and work-related skills including:
communication
numeracy
effective team-working
independent and critical thinking
IT and data handling
analysing and evaluating diverse sources of information, including qualitative and quantitative data
problem-solving and reasoning
application of learning to real world problems and situations
independent learning.
Duration
How long it takes
Most students study the MSc in Psychology (Conversion) part-time, completing one module a year over two years. Typically, this means 25 study hours each week.
You must complete the MSc in Psychology (Conversion) within 10 years.