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Health Psychology MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

The Health Psychology MSc aims to provide an accredited cutting-edge programme which empowers students to develop a wide range of skills applicable to a diverse set of careers in the health sector.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Health psychology is an expanding area of global employment, that focuses on the application of psychology to promoting health, understanding illness and improving healthcare.

Our course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) ensuring the quality of the course content is to the high standards expected in the sector. Designed and delivered in collaboration with researchers and practitioners within the field, this course will give you the opportunity to explore the many ways in which psychology can be applied in a health and illness context and how it relates to modern healthcare systems.

There is a significant focus on developing skills that are transferable to a variety of careers and contexts on an international level. The course will improve your understanding in professional areas such as ethics and reflective practice to enhance your employability across a range of health and social care careers. Successful graduates (who already hold a BPS-accredited undergraduate award in Psychology) can progress on to stage two training in Health Psychology in order to attain registration as a practitioner psychologist.

All academic staff contributing to the course are research-active, have presented their research at national and international conferences and published in specialist journals including Social Science and Medicine, Psychology and Health, and Journal of Health Psychology.

Key features

  • Professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the course has been commended on the quality of student support, the quality of research methods training, and links with local communities and services.
  • Distinctively aims to produce graduates who are global citizens, able to lead positive contributions to address health-related challenges and inequalities in a rapidly changing world.   
  • Delivered in block teaching format, which provides an immersive learning experience.
  • Built-in support for students to cater for diverse learning needs and educational backgrounds.
  • Suitable for recent graduates and experienced professionals looking to enhance their specialist skills and career opportunities.
  • Strong focus on sustainability, through addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and practices to reduce our carbon footprint.
  • Our experienced academic staff and many of our graduates have presented their innovative research at national and international conferences and published in academic journals.
  • Enhance your employability across a range of career paths within health and social care.

 

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

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DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

Programme code: C84171

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time

Attendance: Full-time students can expect to attend up to three days of classes at the university a week. Variable if you're a part-time student depending on the duration of your studies

You will also be required to attend a one day programme of induction. This programme includes the equivalent of 2 full days of interprofessional education events.  These may require attendance outside of the standard teaching days.

Location of study: De Montfort University Leicester. 

Fees and funding:

2025/26 full-time tuition fees for UK students: £9,800.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

Programme code: C84171

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time

Attendance: Full-time students can expect to attend up to three days of classes at the university a week. 

You will also be required to attend a one day programme of induction and a one day programme of preparation and skills development for working at postgraduate level. You may be required to attend the University for an interview as part of our selection process. This programme includes the equivalent of 2 full days of interprofessional education events.  These may require attendance outside of the standard teaching days.

Location of study: De Montfort University Leicester. 

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for EU and international students: £16,800

Find out more about postgraduate course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • Applicants are usually expected to possess (or be predicted to obtain) a 2:2 award or higher from a BPS-accredited psychology course.

  • We will consider applications from students with a non-psychology undergraduate degrees who possess a 2:1 or above and can demonstrate significant experience in a health context and/or knowledge of health practices, policies and systems.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it. 

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Academic expertise

 

Course modules

The MSc consists of theoretical, work-related and research-based modules which are described below. Please note that ALL modules are compulsory for successful completion of the award and for recognition by the accrediting body. There are no optional modules.

Block 1: Theories and Perspectives in Health Psychology (15 credits) - explores the biopsychosocial model of health and evaluates the ways in which lifestyles and health-enhancing and health- compromising behaviours (such as exercise, and alcohol consumption) impact on our well-being

Block 2: Critical and International Perspectives on Health Psychology (15 credits) - integrates psychological and sociological perspectives to develop understanding of health and illness among disadvantaged communities in the UK and around the world.

Block 3: Promoting Health, Managing Illness (30 credits)- focuses on the application of theoretical perspectives to health promotion and living with illness with a strong focus on the development of professional skills.

Block 4: Mind, Body, Food and Health (30 credits)- investigates the ways in which mind and body interact to affect health,  with a special focus on stress and the psychology of eating behaviour.

Block 5 and 6: Advanced Applied Psychology Dissertation (60 credits) - is an independent research project in a health-related topic area of your choice, presented in the format of a journal article

Research Methods for Applied Psychologists (15 credits) - Introduces you to research design and a range of approaches to data collection and analysis with a particular emphasis on qualitative methods.

Applied Statistics in Health Psychology (15 credits) - develops your skills in applied statistics and psychometric theory for health sciences, and enhances your digital competencies.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching typically includes lectures, group seminars, workshops and individual tutorials. You are encouraged to become an independent and proactive learner, and we will recommend reading and electronic resources for independent study to help develop the breadth and depth of your knowledge.

There is a significant focus on developing skills that are transferable to a variety of careers and contexts on an international level.

Learning activities are designed to help you develop your teamwork, presentation and problem-solving skills, plus more traditional academic skills such as synthesis, evaluation and application. We also help you to develop your skills and understanding in professional areas such as ethics and reflective practice.

You will benefit from the support of a personal academic tutor, who you are encouraged to meet with regularly. We also offer a range of additional support services to help you develop the skills required for master’s level study.

We offer a wide variety of assessment including reports, discussion boards, essay, presentations and a mini systematic literature review. Bespoke guidance materials are provided for all forms of assessment on the course.

Teaching contact hours

Contact hours may vary in different weeks but typically on a full-time programme you can expect around 3 full days of teaching, which will include small and medium group teaching and regular individual tutorials.

You will experience lectures, seminars, workshops and practical classes. This should be supplemented by a significant amount of personal study each week.

 

Accreditation

 

The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society and forms the stage one training pathway for Practitioner Health Psychologists for suitably qualified applicants. It is subject to review on a quinquennial basis.

 

Academic expertise

The health psychology course is delivered by a team including academic health psychologists and practitioner psychologists. All staff are research active in the field, many working with external partners, such as the NHS, local authorities and charities. Staff present at relevant national and international conferences and publish work in specialist journals such as Health Psychology, Social Science and Medicine, Disability and Rehabilitation and Maternal and Child Nutrition.

Research in the Division of Psychology

The Division of Psychology at DMU prides itself on its thriving research culture. In REF2021 (Research Excellent Framework), psychology earned several accolades: 75% of our research impact was ranked World-leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*), and our research power was ranked 7th relative to other post-92 universities (and 38th across the sector). Our research expertise and experiences feed directly into our teaching, helping to inform both our undergraduate and postgraduate provisions.

Facilities and features

 
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Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

We have dedicated lab space for Psychology students located in the Portland and Hawthorn buildings. This includes four computer labs, an EEG Lab, Cognitive Suite, Eyetracker Suite, Observation Suite, 12 research cubicles, 3 research rooms and a purpose-built food lab. The 12 research cubicles are set up with Learning Space technology which allows sessions to be recorded for research purposes.

Our lab spaces are equipped with a wide range of technology and software including EEG, BioSemi Powerlabs, Tobii Eyetracker, SR Research Eyetracker and VR headsets which can be used to enhance the quality of research. We have dedicated Psychology Technicians who provide support for students with using this equipment and software for their research.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.


 

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Graduate careers

The Health Psychology course is designed to deliver a range of transferable skills and enhance your employability across a range of health and social care careers. Health psychology is an expanding area of global employment, with opportunities for graduates in hospitals, universities and community-based and local authority organisations.

Successful graduates can also progress on to doctoral study, including stage two training in Health Psychology, PhD or training to become a psychological well-being practitioner. There are also opportunities in the field of public health (in areas such as smoking cessation, weight management, safer-sex promotion). A full day of annual employability and enhancement events are held in Spring each year to provide more insight into career opportunities.

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