Psychology MSc, Counselling MSc and Postgraduate Certificate courses

  • MSc in Psychology
  • MSc in Child Social Development
  • MSc in Clinical Psychological Research
  • MSc in Psychology of Health & Well Being
  • MSc in Counselling Psychology, plus postgraduate diploma and certificate
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision

"My dissertation supervisor gave me so many great opportunities and amazing research experience" - MSc Psychological Research Methods student, July 2010

General information

Keele University, in Staffordshire, is 10 minutes from junctions 15/16 of the M6, or 30 minutes by bus from Stoke-on-Trent railway station on the West Coast mainline. The university is 40 miles south of Manchester and 45 miles north of Birmingham. Click here to see Keele's location on Google maps.

Psychology MSc courses

Our Psychology MSc courses are based on our successful Psychology MSc modular structure, running since 2004. With the variety of courses on offer you can choose to specialise by following one of the named routes or keep your options open by taking the MSc in Psychology. All our psychology MSc courses are designed to prepare students for a PhD in Psychology and other psychology related careers. Our intake in 2012/13 was 17 full time and 4 part-time MSc students.

Specialist Training

Specialist psychological training provided by research-active tutors is a defining feature of all our Psychology MSc courses. In addition to the range of specialist areas of psychology covered in the named MSc courses (MSc in Child Social Development, MSc in Clinical Psychological Research, MSc in Psychology of Health & Well Being, MSc in Applied Psychological Research) we offer specialist training by research-active tutors in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, psychobiology, social psychology, the psychology of time and music psychology. Please see the academic staff pages for further information on staff research interests and specialisms.

Organisation and study

All Psychology MSc courses include a great deal of psychology content and the opportunity to work closely with at least two different academic members of the School of Psychology. You would focus on one topic area for your dissertation research, choosing option modules that relate closely to this and engage in some general psychology research methods training. All courses include a Research Apprenticeship in which students assist academic staff with their research. Depending upon which psychology MSc you enroll upon, this may be with a different member of staff and on a different psychological topic/ using different methods to your dissertation supervisor/topic, or you may choose to collaborate further with your dissertation supervisor or a member of staff with allied research interests. There is a dedicated study space and plenty of opportunities to gain relevant experience through the course and while you are a postgraduate student.

Full Time and Part Time

These psychology MSc courses last for 12 months full time (24 months part-time). Whichever route you choose you will get excellent support throughout, studying on a one-to-one basis and in small groups in Psychology and with larger numbers of masters students across the rest of the university.

Why do a Psychology MSc?

Doing an MSc can give you an edge in the jobs market or help you to maintain momentum by "keeping your hand-in" after gaining an undergraduate psychology degree. For Keele students it may be a way to continue working with a valued undergraduate dissertation supervisor. Many recent MSc graduates have gone on to pursue careers in psychology, either through PhDs at Keele or elsewhere or through work as research assistants or in a clinical context.

MSc Funding for 2013 entry

All Keele graduates who stay on full-time to undertake a Master's programme at Keele will receive a Keele Graduate Bursary comprising of a fees discount of £1,000.

There are three School of Psychology bursaries each worth £1,000 towards tuition fees. One each of these will be awarded to each of the three strongest applications.

Bursaries for North American Students - previous exchange students from one of Keele's partner universities coming back to Keele for graduate study are eligible for a 50% bursary. This means that for 2010/11 tuition would be approx. £4,700 (approx. US$ 7,800/Can$ 8,200) for a returning exchange student. Furthermore, all American and Canadian students will be eligible for a 10% bursary towards the overseas rate of tuition for the course for which they are applying. In addition, all students graduating from one of our 30 North American partners (see list below) will be eligible for a further 15% bursary. Further info: Bursaries for North American Students

Keele International Student Scholarship (KISS) scheme offer scholarships of GBP3000 towards the cost of annual tuition fees for Postgraduate courses. KISS scholarships are open to full-time international students from the following countries: Brunei, China, The Gulf States (Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, The Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Further info: Keele International Student Scholarship Bursaries

Funding education.co.uk contains general advice on funding for postgraduate study. This privately run website is recommended by the Higher Education Academy

Here are some further sources of guidance on financing a MSc from..

Keele has a student funding office which can offer advice on a number of sources of student funding including Keele University bursaries and scholarships, the Access to Learning Fund and career development loans.

International students

Anyone applying from a country where English is not the first language is required to take an official test of English language obtaining at least IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. International students are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time during vacations which can help them with the cost of living. International students are advised to contact the British Council for other possible sources of funding. Furthermore, international students may apply for the international graduate scheme when they complete their course which will allow them to work in the UK for a year after graduation.

Who can apply?

Applicants should have a good Psychology degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (minimum 2i level).

Please follow the links below for further details and to apply

MSc in Psychology. Course Information / Application Form
MSc in Child Social Development. Course Information / Application Form
MSc in Clinical Psychological Research. Course Information / Application Form
MSc in Psychology of Health & Well Being. Course Information / Application Form
MSc in Counselling Psychology,
plus postgraduate diploma and certificate.
See : Counselling course page 
Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision. See : Counselling course page 

As your dissertation topic and supervisor strongly flavour your MSc we advise that you take a look early on at the school of psychology staff webpages to see which staff research interests chime with your own dissertation ideas. You may e-mail staff regarding dissertation supervision and research topics before, during or after submitting your application.

Other Links

Keele Postgraduate taught course Prospectus

The School of Psychology is a member of the Research Institute of Life Course Studies .

A Clinical Psychology doctorate leading to a DClinPsy is offered jointly by Keele University Faculty of Natural Sciences and Staffordshire University.

PsyPAG - The National Organisation for all Psychology Postgraduates