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The Health Psychology MSc, accredited by the British Psychological Society, aims to equip students to apply the scientific and theoretical principles and ideas of health psychology using a scholarly and critical approach, and to develop the practical skills and knowledge required for employment or research in the field.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Full-time students will attend lectures on Mondays and Tuesdays, and part-time students will attend on Mondays in their first year and Tuesdays in their second year.
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
The MSc is stage 1 accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). BPS accreditation criteria stipulate a minimum 50% pass mark, with no condoned modules, and so students with final marks falling below 50% cannot graduate with the accredited MSc Health Psychology award. These students will instead graduate with an MSc Psychology & Health, if they have fulfilled UCL award requirements but not BPS award requirements.
Entry requirements
A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in psychology from a UK university, or overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A lower second-class UK Bachelor's degree or equivalent may be accepted with evidence of further study or relevant work experience.
Applicants are encouraged to have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) if they want to pursue a career as a Chartered Health Psychologist in the UK.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
The programme provides a thorough grounding in theories, concepts and empirical findings central to current health psychology. Students are encouraged to develop their own area of specialisation and are given formal training in quantitative and qualitative research methods. The programme is regularly reviewed by an advisory board including world-renowned experts in health psychology.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight compulsory modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). Please see programme website for more details.
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Health Psychology.
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.
Compulsory modules
- Effective Research Practice
- Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods 1
- Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods 2
- Health Related Behaviours and Cognitions
- Individual, Social and Cultural Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Physical and Mental Health, Stress and Ageing
- Chronic Illness from the Health Psychology Perspective
- Health Care and Intervention Delivery
- MSc Health Psychology : Project Report (Dissertation)
Optional modules
- There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation written up as a mock paper submission to the British Journal of Health Psychology.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of blended learning approaches, lectures, seminars, class exercises, project work, training workshops, journal clubs and hands-on computer-based teaching on statistical analysis techniques. Assessment is through coursework (including critical reviews and essays), one unseen examination and the research project. Students are also offered a short work placement.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
The department is offering the Jane Wardle studentship for students undertaking the Health Psychology MSc. The studentship will consist of £3,750 towards tuition fees and is awarded to one student each year based on their performance in the interview. There is no need to apply separately for this studentship; all interviewees are considered. This scholarship has been endowed in memory of Professor Jane Wardle (1950-2015), professor of clinical psychology and co-director of the Health Psychology MSc.
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
Jackson Widening Participation scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline extended: 5pm, 17 June 2021
- Value:
- £6,000 (1yr)
- Eligibility:
- UK
- Criteria:
- Based on financial need
MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline: 31 August 2021
- Value:
- £2,500 (home students); £5,000 (overseas students) (1 yr)
- Eligibility:
- UK, Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
Michael Marmot MSc Studentship in Social Epidemiology
- Note:
- Deadline: 30 July 2021
- Value:
- £2,500 (1 yr)
- Eligibility:
- UK
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
MSc Population Health Studentship
- Note:
- Deadline: 20 August 2021
- Value:
- £2,500 (1 yr)
- Eligibility:
- UK, Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Many graduates of the programme continue to PhD-level study, or find work as researchers or in roles allied to psychology, healthcare services and delivery.
Employability
Given the academic nature of the programme, our students acquire important research experience and skills. This is very helpful when applying for advanced degrees, and each year a significant number of students successfully go on to secure PhD studentships and clinical doctorates. As the focus of the MSc is on improving healthcare and delivery, students also take up positions within the public or private healthcare sector.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The programme is the longest-running Health Psychology MSc in the UK, and is delivered by leading experts in their field. It offers graduates a research-based BPS-accredited Stage 1 qualification.
- 1st in the UK: top-rated university in the UK for research strength (REF 2014)
- 10th in the world: among the top universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2021)
- 7th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020)
UCL's Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health based within the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, helps to coordinate the Health Psychology MSc. The department is one of the largest health psychology research groups in the UK, and aims to advance understanding of behaviours that have a major impact on health, and contribute to the development of interventions to promote healthy lifestyles. Within the department, the Psychobiology Group is a multidisciplinary group concerned with the pathways through which sociodemographic and psychosocial factors influence physical disease processes.
This environment provides students with opportunities to be taught by specialists in their field, and to complete relevant placements in clinical, academic or policy-related settings. In addition, students are encouraged to integrate themselves into the research groups and networks closely associated with the programme as these can provide invaluable real-world research experience and potential collaborations with national and international leaders in health psychology and related disciplines.
Accreditation:
The MSc is stage 1 accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). BPS accreditation criteria stipulate a minimum 50% pass mark, with no condoned modules, and so students with final marks falling below 50% cannot graduate with the accredited MSc Health Psychology award. These students will instead graduate with an MSc Psychology & Health, if they have fulfilled UCL award requirements but not BPS award requirements.
Department: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
This programme is suitable for students seeking a thorough grounding in health psychology as preparation for a subsequent research degree or employment in a related field. Completion of the MSc satisfies Stage 1 of Health Psychology Training.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 31 May 2021
Due to high number of applications we received in recent years, we may need to close applications before the formal application deadline of 30 July 2021. We strongly encourage applicants to apply early.
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Health Psychology at graduate level
- why you want to study Health Psychology at UCL
- how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
