Psychology MSci
London, Bloomsbury
Psychology MSci (2025)
This four-year programme, accredited by the British Psychological Society, exposes you to a wide coverage of the field of psychology and offers a considerable choice of topics. There is also the opportunity to gain additional research experience in the final year, either with a UCL research group or in an applied (workplace) setting.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
Programme starts
September 2024Application deadline
31 Jan 2024UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- A*AA
- Subjects
- To include two subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
- GCSEs
- English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences (double award acceptable) at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- To include two subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
- GCSEs
- English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences (double award acceptable) at grade B or 6.
- Points
- 39
- Subjects
- A total of 19 points in three higher level subjects to include grade 6 in two subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology, with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects to include grade 6 in two subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology, with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D2,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including two subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), including two subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology at Advanced Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades A*AA. To include at least two subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
The first year of your degree comprises of a combination of compulsory modules and one elective module. Compulsory modules include a general introduction to scientific psychology, research design and data analysis, topics in cognitive psychology, social psychology, and individual differences.
There are no elective modules in the second year, but your learning will continue in the areas of developmental psychology, health and clinical psychology, language and cognition, perception, and the neurological underpinnings of behaviour. You will continue your studies in research design and data analysis.
In your third year you will choose modules to be taken in psychology (from a range of specified options) and you will undertake a compulsory research project in an area of your choice. Your project will be supervised by a member of academic staff and will be empirical by nature, utilising the research and data analysis skills you will have acquired.
In your final year you will take Master's-level modules from a range of options usually within the areas of psychology, psychiatry and language sciences, and also in advanced data analysis. Students on the applied route will take a compulsory module on behavioural research methods in applied settings.
Students on both the applied and research routes will take Master's-level modules relevant to their research interests, in order to prepare them for the independent piece of research conducted in either a UCL laboratory (research route) or in an applied setting (applied route).
What this course will give you
The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences is one of the largest centres of psychology teaching and research in the UK. Its cutting-edge research is internationally recognised.
There are two routes to this programme: research and applied. Students on the research route will be embedded within a UCL research lab or department for most of their final year, working alongside world-leading researchers and their teams to produce an independent piece of research.
Students on the applied route will gain experience of applying psychological theory within a workplace setting and will also be exposed to the challenges of carrying out research within a work environment.
Excellent resources include our up-to-date web-based system, which makes all teaching materials (including course outlines, lecture presentation slides, handouts, video recordings of lectures) available to registered students.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Psychology.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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In the first two years of your degree, you will cover introductory and core topics required for a British Psychological Society accredited programme.
There is one elective module in Year 1 which many be taken from a wide range of students (both arts and sciences) taught within UCL.
In your third year, all modules are normally taken in psychology from a range of specified options) and you will undertake a compulsory research project in an area of your choice. Your project will be supervised by a member of academic staff and will be empirical in nature, utilising the research and data analysis skills you will have acquired.
In each year of the programme, one hour a week is spent in an Academic and Personal Development Seminar.
Optional modules
Your learning
Your learning will involve attendance at lectures. You will also experience laboratory classes and independent research projects. Small academic tutorial groups meet weekly, for which you will be asked to produce essays and prepare discussion topics. Progression to the second, third and fourth years is dependent upon your achievement in years one, two and three.
You will typically have between 8-12 contact hours per week during term time depending on year of study and module choices.
Assessment
Assessment is primarily by end-of-year examinations, but other methods may include multiple choice, computational tests, oral presentations and written coursework.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Undergraduate Psychology at PALS - Virtual Discovery Session
Join the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences to find out more about studying one of our undergraduate psychology courses. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about studying Psychology BSc/MSci and Psychology and Language Sciences BSc/MSci at UCL. You will get to hear from academic staff who teach on our programmes and get an opportunity to ask them questions.
The foundation of your career
Your knowledge of all areas of the subject makes you eligible for entry into any field normally open to psychology graduates, or further graduate training (this is required for graduates wishing to work as a chartered professional psychologist in the areas of health, forensic, clinical, educational and occupational psychology).
While many UCL psychology graduates have gone on to become professional psychologists in the National Health Service, in education, the civil service and in industry, it is important to bear in mind that psychology provides a very useful basis for a wide range of other careers.
Employability
In addition to subject-based skills and knowledge, psychology graduates also acquire a number of transferable skills e.g. numeracy, IT literacy, data-management, time-management, independent research, team working, report writing, presentation skills, communication and literacy skills, and the ability to work ethically and professionally with people. These abilities are all highly valued in a range of employment fields.
Accreditation
This programme is accredited and audited by the British Psychological Society. Applicants for graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) require a minimum of a lower second-class degree, or equivalent. The Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership is required for entry to all accredited postgraduate and doctoral programmes as part of the route to becoming a chartered psychologist.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £37,500 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
This programme has no additional costs.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
All applicants who are offered a place and resident in the UK will be invited to attend an offer holder open day. This is intended to allow candidates to make an informed decision about whether the degree programme is right for them. Virtual open days will also be organised.
Got questions? Get in touch
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