University of Bedfordshire
Health Psychology MSc
University of Bedfordshire

Key Course Facts

Course Description

How can we understand, intervene and promote health and wellbeing across the course of life? Health psychology works to answer this question, looking towards the interaction of psychological, social and biological factors to understand health and illness.

Health psychology moves away from the medicalisation of health and illness. Instead, on this course, you take a more whole-person approach to understanding health and illness, studying social issues and aspects such as obesity, lifestyle and stress. Taught by an academic team actively involved in research in the field, you benefit from their up-to-the-minute knowledge and research skills.

This course forms stage one of the training you need to become a chartered psychologist member of the Division of Health Psychology within the British Psychological Society.

Why choose this course?

  • Gain new insights into the theory and practice of health psychology
  • Learn to show how the links between scientific theory and practice can guide the collection and interpretation of empirical data
  • Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current problems in the field
  • Gain confident knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods which will allow you to perform complex data analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis
  • Develop your competence in a range of techniques including multivariate analyses
  • Benefit from a strong sense of personal responsibility and professionalism that will enable you to practise or conduct research within ethical guidelines

The primary focus of this course is to ensure you build upon core skills developed through successful achievement of the completed Graduate Basis for Chartered Status (via an approved undergraduate degree or conversion postgraduate course) and move towards the competences required of a Health Psychologist as outlined in the Subject Benchmark statement for Psychology and aims and objectives of a Stage 1 Qualification in Health Psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society. The assessment strategy therefore reflects the academic rigour required for a British Psychological Society accredited MSc degree. The assessments are designed to test your academic knowledge, oral and written skills, use of literature using primary and secondary sources, critical analysis of ideas, connections made between theory, practice and real life situations and also the understanding and application of professional values, including ethical issues as detailed by the British Psychological Society. Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website: **https:**//www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/health-psychology/

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 5.0
    • Foundation / Pathway Courses
    • 6.0
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees

For information on postgraduate funding, please visit: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/postgraduatestudy/postgraduate-fees-and-funding
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Health Psychology, MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.

To be admitted to the course you are normally required:

to have attained at least a second class honours degree in psychology

to provide evidence of the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

University Rankings

Positions of University of Bedfordshire in top UK and global rankings.

See all 16 university rankings of University of Bedfordshire

About University of Bedfordshire

The University of Bedfordshire is a publicly funded university located in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. One of the main campuses, in Luton, is home to the university’s Business, Media, Art & Design, Science, Computing, Law, Psychology, and Social Sciences schools. The Bedford campus is just a twenty minute walk from the town centre, and is home to the Primary Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, and Tourism schools.

List of 306 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Bedfordshire - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Bedfordshire

Total number of students enrolled at University of Bedfordshire by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
10090
postgraduates:
3170
Total:
13260
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Psychology”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
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Where is this programme taught

Luton Campus
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