University of Portsmouth
Psychology and Learning Disability (Distance Learning) MSc
University of Portsmouth

Key Course Facts

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22481 £20177 £23660
25-75 percentile range £20119 - £25653 £15142 - £24804 £17699 - £30158

Course Description

Overview

This Master’s course looks in detail at learning disability, neurodiversity and autism from a psychological perspective. Studying contemporary practices, critical theories and case studies, you’ll investigate how neurodivergent and learning disabled people can be best supported in healthcare, education and workplace settings.

Whether you're currently working with people with learning disabilities or you've recently graduated and you're looking to get started in this field, this MSc Psychology and Learning Disability degree is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to develop your career and become a specialist.

It’s a part-time, distance learning course, which allows you the flexibility to fit your studies around work commitments. In Year 1, you’ll study modules that cover the core issues, and in Year 2 you’ll focus on your own research project with support from our expert tutors.

Psychology at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 5th of all post-1992 universities for research quality as prt of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

Course highlights

  • Join one of the few Master’s programmes to study learning disability, neurodiversity and autism from a psychological perspective, as opposed to a nursing perspective
  • Learn about the role that psychological methodologies and analytical techniques can have in the planning and delivery of learning support at an individual and organisational level
  • Increase awareness and understanding in the sector and beyond, about the positive role of psychology and psychotherapy in the study of learning disability
  • Complete an individual research project on a topic of your choice. Each year we present the Sue Buckley Award – named after our esteemed Emeritus Professor of Development Disability – for best project

Careers and opportunities

If you’re working in education or learning support, or if you’re already specialising in learning disability or developmental needs, this course will help you develop personally and professionally, introducing new ways to design and deliver services to individuals with developmental disability.

If you have a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited BSc in Psychology, you could apply to do a taught doctorate in areas such as Educational Psychology (EdPsychD) or in Clinical Psychology (ClinPsychD) once you've successfully completed your Master’s.

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) co-ordinator
  • SEND teacher
  • Student services officer
  • Enablement Leader
  • Support worker
  • Community care worker

Graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

  • Schools
  • Academy trusts
  • Local education authorities
  • Healthcare

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and our Careers and Employability Centre – which you can access for up to 5 years after you graduate.

Course structure

One of the big benefits of being a part-time student and a distance learner, is that you can be flexible with your studies. You'll get the most from the course by attending as many live, online sessions as you can, but all the sessions are captured and uploaded to your virtual learning environment for you to view in your own time.

You can expect:

  • up to 10 hours per week engaging with the core course materials and attending online sessions (roughly, one lecture, seminar, workshop or tutorial every two weeks).
  • up to 10 hours of independent study each week.
  • all core course materials available online at all times so you can create your own study schedule around work or other commitments.
  • timetabling advice to manage your time.

****You'll be assessed through:**** - essays - critical reviews - presentations - data analysis and reports - literature reviews - a research project

Entry Requirements / Admissions

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic)

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Cambridge English Advanced

**Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015**

An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169

Cambridge English Proficiency

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169.

TOEFL (iBT)

91.with a minimum of 20 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 20 in Writing.

PTE Academic

An overall score of 61 with a minimum of 54 in each skill.

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Psychology and Learning Disability (Distance Learning), MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants with a professional qualification not at degree level may be accepted - each application is considered on an individual basis according to academic qualifications as well as professional qualifications and experience.

Costs

Tuition Fees Psychology and Learning Disability (Distance Learning) MSc

EU £6930 year 1
England UK £6930 year 1
Northern Ireland £6930 year 1
Scotland £6930 year 1
Wales £6930 year 1
Channel Islands £6930 year 1
Ireland £6930 year 1
International £6930 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.

Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation

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.

University Rankings

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

Rankings of University of Portsmouth in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #20 
    • #32 
    Psychology
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]
    • #35 
    • #46 
    Psychology
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #37 
    • #201 
    Psychology
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 26 October, 2022]
    • #36 
    • #301 
    Psychology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #40 
    • #401 
    Psychology
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 19 July, 2022]
    • #41 
    • #439 
    Psychology
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Portsmouth

About University of Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located on the United Kingdom’s only island city, Portsmouth. This public university, which was previously known as Portsmouth Polytechnic, forms part of the University Alliance, an organisation whose aim is to promote growth and innovation in the UK by putting an emphasis on links with business and industry.

List of 234 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Portsmouth - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Portsmouth

undergraduates:
18085
postgraduates:
5005
Total:
23090
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