Postgraduate Taught

The MSc in Psychology of Health & Well Being provides research training and taught content in the psychology of health & well being, building on areas of staff research expertise at Keele. It prepares students for a PhD in psychological aspects of health and well being and other psychology-related careers.

Our training is based closely on our staff research interests. These currently reflect strengths in the critical social psychological approach to the study of health, illness, ageing and well-being; qualitative, participatory and arts-based research approaches; social engagement among older people; the changing role of theatre in representing and constructing ageing; health promotion and community development; the impact of material deprivation and social exclusion on health and well-being; participatory action research; health promotion research and evaluation projects (e.g. on smoking cessation, healthy eating and healthy weight maintenance); ecopsychology - people's relationship with the natural world and how it can help in healing; mental health, primary care and service user involvement; and the mental health of young offenders.

This course aims to build on our research expertise by providing structured psychological training in psychological aspects of health and well being so that those successfully completing the course can proceed along a relevant career path.

Funding

At the time of writing funding for 2011-2012 entry has not been finalised. However, in previous years all applicants have been eligible to apply for one of three School of Psychology bursaries. In addition University bursaries have been available for Keele graduates. Applicants are welcome to discuss sources of funding with the School of Psychology.

Career Destination Information

As well as providing research training in the psychology of health and well being preparatory to undertaking training at PhD level, this course offers the opportunity for students to seek employment as a researcher in a variety of allied professions.

This course provides an opportunity to obtain advanced training in psychological aspects of health and well-being along with the opportunity to conduct research in a variety of settings.

The course aims are:

• To develop students’ understanding of different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches within the psychology of health and well-being
• To develop advanced expertise relevant to researching the psychology of health and well-being
• To provide students with the opportunities of working in a setting pertinent to psychology of health and well-being research

This course is open to graduates with a first or upper second-class degree in psychology or overseas equivalent. Individuals without such qualifications but with other relevant experience should contact the course director to discuss whether they would benefit from the course.

In order to obtain a Masters degree, students are required to obtain 180 credits, including a 60-credit dissertation. The course modules are set out overleaf. Credit value for each module is given in brackets.

Course Modules

Core Modules (70 credits)

• Theory and Methodology in Psychology (30 credits): Focuses on philosophical issues in social science and psychology and specific research techniques in psychology
• Qualitative Data Analysis (20 credits): Covers practical application of interpretative methodologies through the exploration of content, discourse and narrative analysis of interview and textual data
• Quantitative Data Analysis II (advanced) (20 credits): Covers a variety of analytic methods including extensions of the regression model, analysis of variance and multivariate data reduction techniques such as factor analysis

Specialist Modules (50 credits)

• Special topics in Psychology 1 (15 credits): Students choose from currently available Level 3 modules in Societal Psychology, Health Psychology, Ecopsychology, and Influences on Human Cognitive Performance
• Special topics in Psychology 2 (15 credits): The second special topic is based on independent study, leading to the preparation of an essay under one-to-one supervision of a Special Topic supervisor
• Research Apprenticeship (20 credits): Students work on a staff-led research project as an apprentice, gaining experience of designing and conducting psychological research

Dissertation (60 credits)

Students may select any appropriate topic in the area of Psychology of Health and Well-being, providing that specialist supervision is available. It is normally expected that psychology students will undertake an empirical dissertation, designing, conducting, and reporting on an original piece of psychological research using appropriate design, methods, and data analysis strategies

The course is assessed through coursework, verbal presentation of research, unseen examination and independent research written up as a final dissertation (15,000-20,000 words). The pass mark in each module is 50% (40% for level 3 modules), and all modules must be passed to obtain the MSc.

A distinction will be awarded for exceptional performance (broadly an overall average of 70% or more including 70% in the dissertation). A merit will be awarded where overall performance is in the range 60-69% (including 60% in the dissertation).

• Home/EU = £3,900 (full-time), £2,150 (part-time).
• International: £11,300

There are a number of bursaries on offer to both home and overseas postgraduate students. Please see this page for details and eligibility.