Looking forward to studying psychology in the UK? Finding good universities in the UK for masters in psychology is not a difficult task at all. The course is offered at 50+ universities in the United Kingdom. It requires one to two years for completion, and the curriculum is heavily inclined toward statistics, research, and innovative learning along with brain-behavior.
There are many advantages to studying masters in psychology in the UK. These include:
The UK is home to some of the world’s acclaimed and top-ranked institutions for psychology.
It offers abundant employment prospects for trained and qualified psychologists, especially those willing to take up self-employment.
Students can work across different industries. They can look forward to working at public and private healthcare, educational, and government institutions in the UK.
The return on investment is high for masters in psychology programs in the UK. Average costs of the course vary between £20,000 - £50,000 (approx INR 21-52 lakh) per year, while the students can eventually draw salaries up to £100,000 - £250,000 per year (approx INR 1-2.5 crore) with optimum experience.
With the demand growing for trained professionals to help those suffering from diverse mental disorders, issues, and ailments, the remuneration is expected to increase exponentially for psychologists in the UK over the next few years.
Top UK Universities for Masters in Psychology
Here are the top most universities in the UK for masters in psychology:
Based on the 2023 Shanghai Ranking by Subject, here is the list of leading universities for psychology in the UK:
Global Ranking by Subject
University
4
University College London
12
University of Oxford
16
University of Cambridge
21
King's College London
51-75
The University of Edinburgh
51-75
University of Warwick
76-100
Cardiff University
76-100
University of Birmingham
76-100
University of York
Based on the 2024 Guardian University Guide, here are the leading psychology institutions in the UK:
2024 UK Ranking by Subject
Institution
1
St Andrews
2
Cambridge
3
Oxford
4
Glasgow
5
Bath
6
Ulster
7
York
8
King's College London
9
Exeter
9
UCL
Eligibility Criteria at Leading Universities in UK for Masters in Psychology
A first-class or an upper second-class undergraduate degree in psychology or a related discipline with honors.
Research or work experience in psychology might be an added advantage.
English language proficiency scores if your first language isn’t English. A minimum overall score of 6.0 - 7.5 band in IELTS Academic or 110 in
TOEFL iBT is required to secure admission to the best universities for psychology courses in UK.
Some universities may require you to submit three references who would be able to state if you are the right fit for the course.
Universities may invite the shortlisted applicants to attend an interview before their final selection
Best Universities in UK for Masters in Psychology: Admission Process.
Here are the steps you can follow to apply to universities in the UK for masters in Psychology:
Keep track of the admission status for the course you are planning to apply to, and the deadlines for each of them under the course page.
Once you have gathered the relevant information about the deadlines, start your application by creating an account.
Fill out the form with your contact information and provide references. The universities also provide the option to add or change a reference.
Enter your qualifications, experiences, and English language proficiency scores.
Upload supporting documents such as an official transcript, statement of purpose, English language test score report/certificate,
CV/resume, and scholarship supporting documents (if applied).
Pay the application fee and submit your application form.
Best Master’s Programs in Psychology in UK: Curriculum and Specializations
While the curriculum covered at different universities varies, here are some generic topics that are usually included in the curriculum of masters in Psychology.
Research Methods & Skills in Psychology
Data Science for behavior and brain
Application of Electrophysiological Approaches in Cognitive Neuroscience
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience
Translational Cognitive Neuroscience
Modelling Development and Diversity
Youth Mental Health
Cognition and the Human Brain
The Development of the Self in the Social World
Qualitative Analysis Methods in Psychological Research
Quantitative Analysis Methods in Psychological Research
Research Opportunities and Facilities at Top Universities in UK for Psychology Courses
There are many universities in the UK that offer research opportunities in psychology with a focus on hands-on training. Some of the options students can choose from are as follows:
Opt for paid summer research internships or programs where you get to connect with industry experts and other researchers.
Conduct independent research projects under the supervision of a researcher who will guide you toward producing a final report for assessment. The research can be related to topics like People and Society, Computational Neuroscience, Human Development and Learning, Perception and Action, etc.
Get practical exposure through animal models to human functional imaging and TMS, MEG, EEG, and neuropsychology. Understand developmental science through Babylab and studies with children with developmental disorders.
Get introduced to different tools and research methods, such as MATLAB programming, computer modeling of brain function, or data analysis for neuroimaging. Learn about the process of research design, sampling, analysis, data collection, and report writing.
Scholarships for Psychology Programs at Best UK Universities
Thinking of applying for a scholarship for your master’s degree in Psychology? Here are some of the universities in the UK that offer funding to its students.
Name of the Scholarship
Eligibility and Benefits
King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Scholarships at a value of £5,000 are offered to students studying at King’s College London.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Hilde Himmelweit Scholarship
Students applying for a program within Social Psychology are eligible to receive scholarships worth £2,000.
Lancaster University
There are a number of merit-based scholarships, such as Alumni Loyalty Scholarship, Lancaster Global Scholarship, and Lancaster Master’s Scholarship offered to students enrolling in a taught master’s degree in psychology.
University of Edinburgh School of Philosophy, Psychology, Language Science
The Drever Trust MSc Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a master’s degree in Psychological Research at the University of Edinburgh. This scholarship covers the UK tuition fee level for the program.
Bangor University School of Psychology
International and domestic students at Bangor University are eligible to apply for a number of scholarships like International Scholarship, Vice-Chancellor Scholarship, Chevening Partnership Scholarship, and Global Wales Postgraduate Scholarship September 2024.
We hope this article helped you to become familiar with the best universities in the UK for masters in psychology. You must now be aware of the benefits of studying psychology in the UK and various parameters associated with the degree, such as research opportunities, scholarships, admission requirements, etc.
Use this guide and your own research to shortlist the best suitable programs and universities. And embark on your journey of becoming a psychology maestro in the UK.
You can also get in touch with our study abroad consultant for free consultations.
Do UK universities offer part-time or online masters in psychology programs?
Yes, universities in the UK do offer the flexibility to pursue part-time or online master’s degrees in psychology. The University of Glasgow, University of Essex Online, Northumbria University, Coventry University, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, and University of Rohampton are a few of them.
Is accreditation important for choosing a Masters in Psychology program in the UK?
Yes, accreditation is important while choosing from the best universities in the UK for psychology master’s degrees. It is important to check if the program is BPS (British Psychology Society) accredited to pursue a career in psychology or in the wider psychological workforce.
Are there research opportunities in UK Masters in Psychology programs?
There are a number of research opportunities in the UK for Masters in Psychology programs. Some of the top universities that offer it are the University of Oxford, The University of Edinburgh, University of Hertfordshire, and University of Buckingham.
What is the alumni network like for UK Masters in Psychology graduates?
Most universities in the UK have an excellent alumni network, where former graduates get to connect with current students. All of them choose different career trajectories, and the stories they share with the present students help them to get an understanding of the professional world.
Pragya Sharma is a content developer and marketer with 6.5+ years of experience in the education industry. She started her career as a social media copywriter for NIELIT, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and has now scaled up as a 360-degree content professional well-versed with the intricacies of digital marketing and different forms of content used to drive and hook the target audience.
She is also a co-author of 2 stories in an anthology based on the theme- women empowerment.
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