About the course

Finding solutions to the challenges facing our society begins with a better understanding of human behaviour, the many different factors and forces that influence it - from personal moral norms to the shared values held by society at large - and the most effective ways to change it.

Whether you’re motivated by a desire to improve poverty, health, climate change, gender equality, immigration, integration or any other social injustice, our MSc Applied Social and Political Psychology has been specifically designed to help you understand the root causes of societal issues.

It will prepare you to successfully apply social psychological theories, research findings based on multi-method approaches (quantitative, qualitative or a combination of both) and intervention techniques to solve real-life problems affecting individuals and communities around the world.

With up to 95 per cent of the world’s population estimated to be excluded from current Western-dominated psychological research, there is a growing demand for accurate insight into the experiences and lives of human beings in different cultures, countries and contexts. That’s why, on this course, you will learn to design, analyse, and evaluate applied social and political psychological research that is ethical, inclusive and captures human diversity. What's more, you will be studying at a University committed to decolonising its teaching and research.

Teaching is very much linked to practice, with an optional Psychology Placement and multiple opportunities to work on research with other students and staff over and above the compulsory dissertation, capitalising on our expertise and experience of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches to research design. Placements, which support and extend your research skills, are offered across a range of subjects, fields, and activities and represent the diverse expertise of our academic staff. Current staff research includes global climate change, morality, forgiveness, cyberpsychology, public disorder (crowds, riots, hooliganism), terrorism, security, policing, forensic interviewing and courtroom questioning of vulnerable witnesses.

The Action Research project provides an exciting opportunity to conduct a collaborative piece of action-oriented research to bring about tangible, positive change, for example, to improve the quality of life for a disadvantaged group, or address a silent injustice. Developing your research skills, you will learn how to dissect different problems, open up dialogue with participants and facilitate difficult conversations between stakeholders who may not otherwise talk to each other. And, since many of our staff projects involve national and international collaborations, you will likely broaden your professional networks and start to build the contacts that will enhance your career.

The Research Apprenticeship and Dissertation provide a further two opportunities to broaden your research experience working closely with relevant specialists. For example, one student focused on the topic of conflict between opposing factions by joining a research project which systematically examined the presence of bias in original research against the disadvantaged side of the conflict. Dissertation topics chosen by past students have ranged from the politics of loneliness in the context of access to community spaces, to gender preconceptions in staff recruitment and attitudes, lay beliefs of the ideal politicians in Brazil during an election year, to transwomen and the LGBTQ+ communities.

While aimed primarily at students with a degree in Psychology, this MSc will also be valuable and relevant if you have an interest or background in Criminology, International Relations, Politics, Sociology, History, and other relevant Social Sciences degrees.

Understanding the psychological aspects of national and international political developments is increasingly important in a world where there is frequent political upheaval and tension, not to mention big issues within societies like gender inequality, racism, climate change, alienation and structural inequalities that need to be addressed head on.

Studying psychological theory as it relates to social and political issues, you will develop the advanced research skills needed to investigate social behaviour and its influences, considering the effect of bias, prejudice, cultural identity, morals, values and attitudes on human decision-making, emotions and interactions.

Better still, you will gain substantial first hand experience conducting multiple psychological research projects and experiencing a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods. In doing so, you will develop new ways of thinking about yourself and those around you, as well as society at large. For example, one student looked at how research could be used to bridge the gap between ordinary people and people in power, by interviewing prospective voters in Brazil during an election year to discover what they looked for in a 'role model' politician.

Other courses you might be interested in:

• MSc Applied Child Psychology
• MSc Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
• MSc Psychology and Health Inequalities

Course structure

The MSc Applied Social and Political Psychology can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, with a September start date. It also possible to study more flexibly part-time on a modular basis, accumulating degree credits by taking individual modules over a period of maximum of five years.

You will complete 180 credits to obtain the master’s qualification, comprising eight modules. For full-time students, six core and two optional modules are spread over two semesters (120 credits in total), while the Dissertation is worked on throughout the duration of the course (60 credits). You will agree the topic for your Dissertation with your supervisor during Semester 1. You can choose optional modules from within Psychology or other relevant Schools across the University. For example, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offers modules relating to human rights, global security and international relations. Part-time students take 90 credits per year for two years with the dissertation taken in the second year.

There are two interim awards available, depending on how many modules have been successfully completed: a Postgraduate Certificate for any two modules (60 credits); and a Postgraduate Diploma for all four taught modules (120 credits).

How the course is taught

Our teaching and learning strategy is wide-ranging and innovative, seeking to give you a rich learning environment that draws actively upon leading edge research, as well as current professional practice. It includes traditional lectures, workshops and small group tutorials.

You will learn from leading researchers and external practitioners, who will often share enlightening insight into different perspectives and mindsets around the world. For example, one recent guest lecture by representatives from Leonard Cheshire, which works with millions of people around world with disability, challenged students’ preconceptions about sexual violence and motherhood. In Sierra Leone, with no welfare or community support, one way for women with a disability to survive is to accept sexual violence in the hope that they fall pregnant, then have a child who will look after them.

Other talks have covered working with women in conflict, protestors, environmentalists and the founder of Forgiveness Project, which shares stories of forgiveness in order to build hope, empathy and understanding.

Senior Lecturer Dr Masi Noor was awarded the prestigious 2020 Innovative Teaching Award from the Washington-based Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPPSI) in recognition of his innovative teaching and efforts to generate progressive social change through the creation of this specialist MSc.

All our psychology MSc programmes are designed to prepare you for careers in practice, research or academia, including PhD study. The research apprenticeship, dissertation and optional placement provide ample opportunity to tailor your knowledge and skills development, and gain relevant research and work experience before you graduate.

You will learn to apply a number of central contemporary theories in social psychology to real-world societal issues and political challenges. In doing so, you'll gain valuable transferable skills learning how to design research experiments, conduct interviews, collect and analyse data using appropriate statistical methods.

Taking advantage of several modules being shared across MSc Psychology programmes, we deliberately strive to create a vibrant and collaborative peer culture among our students, promoting transformative debate and discussion, and introducing you to different ideological beliefs. Previous cohorts have included students from different countries, regions and careers; some straight from undergraduate degrees in Psychology and subjects ranging from Philosophy to Law, and others who have already spent time in professional life in areas as diverse as the government or military. Experiencing different ideological beliefs. 

Teaching schedule

The taught modules run during the first two semesters. The Dissertation module runs across all three semesters: the supervisor and topic are agreed during Semester 1 and the dissertation is completed during the summer.

Semester 1 runs from the end of September to the end of January, with an assessment period in January.
Semester 2 runs from the last week of January to the middle of June, with the assessment period in June.
Semester 3 runs from June to the end of September.

How you'll be assessed

Assessment is varied and includes the use of reports, essays, presentations and practical projects, some of which you will complete individually and others in groups. Most modules combine multiple forms of assessment.

Where possible, assessment is designed to reflect the workplace, including specialist and transferable general skills, such as team working, idea generation, critical thinking, problem solving, meeting deadlines and so on.

As part of the Action Research project, you will be tasked with drafting a 2,000-word advocacy policy brief based on the group action and aimed at stakeholder/s in positions of power or influence. Other innovative assessment methods include a simulated job interview to reflect on the skills you have gained, and a case study report. For the latter, you will analyse a specific global issue, such as environmental sustainability, social justice, access to education and healthcare, peacekeeping, or immigration, and recommend solutions.

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

This course is open to graduates with a first or upper second-class degree in psychology, political science, international relations, peace studies, philosophy, gender studies, history, sociology, anthropology or overseas equivalent. 

English Language entry requirement for International Students

IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.

The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional english language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

Funding

Some travel costs may be incurred if an external project or placement is undertaken; any such costs will be discussed with the student before the project is confirmed. It will be possible for the student to select an internal project and that would not incur any additional travel costs. There may be additional costs for textbooks and inter-library loans. 

Living costs

Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

Scholarships and funding

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information

It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

Our expertise

You will be taught by staff, some of whom are internationally recognised for their research, impact and teaching innovation, who not only believe in the power of psychology to address major social issues and challenges in contemporary society, but want to develop your potential as a thoughtful agent of social change.

Our staff offer expertise in various research areas, including (but not limited to): Crowds, riot, hooliganism and policing, protection of young people, cyber psychology and bullying, inter-group and inter-ethnic conflict and relations, wellbeing and inclusion, social justice for marginalised communities, gender inequality and cultural definitions of motherhood, persuasive communication, victimhood, reconciliation and intergroup forgiveness, trust, prejudice reduction, social identity, collective action, the social and psychological dimensions of health and well-being, self-harm and suicide, terrorism and radicalisation, and refugee integration.

Teaching team:

• Dr Kathryn Francis, Lecturer (Programme Lead) – Kathryn has a particular interest in moral psychology and social cognition research having published several papers looking at judgment-behaviour discrepancy (saying one thing and doing another) in moral contexts. She is committed to interdisciplinary research and collaboration having worked closely with academics from philosophy, art and design, and computer science.
  
  
• Dr Jais Adam-Troian, Lecturer - Jais' research investigates how intergroup relations and threat contexts foster radicalization, violent extremism and conspiracy beliefs. He also does research at the interface between political and health psychology, regarding for instance the effects of political violence on protester mental health.
  
  
• Dr Sam Andrews, Lecturer – Her research interests centre on the application of developmental, cognitive, and social psychology to inform and improve practice and public policy, in particular, the interface between psychology, criminal law, and/or the family. Her research has primarily involved the evaluation of the quality of forensic interviewing and courtroom questioning of vulnerable witnesses. She is currently Principle Investigator of an ESRC New Investigator Grant, investigating the use and effectiveness of special measures in child sexual abuse cases.
  
  
• Dr Masi Noor, Senior Lecturer – A social psychologist, Masi's main line of research is to understand the psychology of forgiveness and he is co-founder of the Forgiveness Toolbox, created in partnership with the Forgiveness Project, a London-based charity. In 2020, he received the 2020 Innovative Teaching Award from the Washington-based Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPPSI). He is also a former recipient of the ‘Rising Star’ title of the Association of Psychological Science and the Early Career Award of the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence.
  
  
• Professor Clifford Stott, Professor of Social Psychology and Director of the Keele Policing Academic Collaboration (KPAC), one of Keele’s Strategic Research Centres – Interdisciplinary in its focus, Clifford's research interests lies in understanding the nature and role of social identity processes and intergroup relationships in the psychology and dynamics of crowd behaviour, ‘riots’, ‘hooliganism’ and ‘public order’ policing. He is a former recipient of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) ‘Celebrating Impact’ First Prize award and his research into understanding crowds was listed among the ESRC's Top 50 achievements.
  
  
• Dr Chris Stiff, Senior Lecturer – Chris held research posts at Bristol, Nottingham and Southampton, prior to joining Keele. His current research interests centre on cyberpsychology, in particular, areas of cybercrime, fake news, social media, and video games.
  
  
• Dr Sara Vestergren, Lecturer - Sara’s research revolves around human rights, protests, activism, collective action the climate crisis, and sustainability. More specifically, how participation in activism and collective action affects participants over time, as well as effects of collective action globally.

Find out more about staff in the School of Psychology.

Facilities

Based in the Dorothy Hodgkin building at the centre of campus, the School of Psychology offers a thriving and dynamic environment with state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, and plenty of spaces for socialising and studying.

The recently refurbished 230-seater lecture theatre is one of the largest on campus. For independent or small group study, you have the choice of a larger communal room with computers or smaller study rooms you can book.

Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele. Hugely popular, The KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, develop your skills and networks.

Careers

The advanced Social and Political Psychology research training and active experience you will gain on this MSc will open up careers across the public, private and third sector in areas such as criminal justice, policy development, political consultancy, political commentary, public relations, market research, conflict management and much more.

You will possess a wide range of transferable research skills, as well as an understanding of social behaviour and the causes of
large-scale social problems, useful to inform social and media analysis, human resources recruitment and retention, and educational development. You could provide research and guidance for local or national governments, non-profit organisations, or community and mental health organisations.

There is always the option of starting up your own social enterprise company or pursuing consultancy and policy development for the public, private and third sector. Should you wish to continue your studies, you will also be well placed to pursue PhD study in psychology.

Positions may include:

• Civil servant
• Communications advisor
• Consultant
• Development officer
• Information officer
• Market researcher
• Media analyst
• Political analyst
• Psychologist
• Researcher
• Social analyst
• Social entrepreneur