Forge the career you deserve with an MSc Psychology (Conversion) course at Ulster University.
This psychology conversion Masters is open to learners with a range of different qualifications. Applicants do not need to have previously studied Psychology to be eligible for this course.
100% Online
Flexible and
enhanced student support
Intakes
September and November (2023)
January, March, May and July (2024)
Fees
£832.50 per 15-credit module
Dedicated Module
Psychology of Mental Health
Our MSc Psychology (Conversion) course has been designed by leading academics at Ulster University to provide students with the knowledge and skills to forge a successful and rewarding psychology career.
Learning from research-active staff with strong academic and clinical backgrounds, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the core areas in psychology, from social and cognitive through to psychobiology, learn about research methods, and gain transferable skills to prepare you for success in your chosen career.
*Upon successfully completing the full programme, the official title which will appear on your graduation certificate will be ‘MSc Psychology’.
Looking to break into the dynamic field of psychology? Whatever your background, this programme will provide you with a recognised qualification to help bridge the gap and accelerate your psychology career.
Here at Ulster University, we have an established reputation for our world-class teaching, facilities and outstanding research, promoting an environment that enables our people to thrive and succeed. As an Ulster Online student, you’ll gain all the support you need and become part of our truly global network. This 100% online course will enable you to gain a valuable qualification at a time and pace that suits you, whilst benefitting from the expertise of our world-leading, research-active staff which includes fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), distinguished academics and practitioners, and Chartered Psychologists.
The School of Psychology is actively making a difference to the study and understanding of psychology, and we are proud that 100% of our research was assessed as having ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ impact (Research Excellence Framework, 2021). Our psychology conversion Masters will give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to transition smoothly and effectively into a career in psychology.
Cost per 15-credit module: £832.50
Fees are payable on a module-by-module basis as you progress through the course*. In the 2023/24 academic year, modules are priced at £55.50 per credit point, so a 15-credit module will cost £832.50
The number of credits you take will be determined by your chosen award, as outlined below:
Master of Science: 180 credits
*Tuition fees may be subject to an annual inflationary increase each academic year in line with Ulster University’s terms and conditions. The increase will come into effect for the September teaching period each year.
Flexible options allow students, sponsors or their employers to make payment as easy as possible.
A 10% Alumni Discount is available for eligible candidates.
Start when it suits you with intakes in:
September and November 2023
January, March, May and July 2024
To enrol on this course, your application will require:
Non-Standard Entry
The academic team would consider providing the option for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route and/or exemption from modules.
Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements (e.g., they hold a lower degree classification) may still be considered and assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The minimum English language requirement for international students for this course is:
These typical entry requirements apply to the 2023 academic year of entry and may be subject to change.
This conversion course is open to learners with a range of different qualifications. Applicants do not need to have previously studied Psychology to be eligible for this course.
The modules on this course cover an extensive range of theories and skills that are vital to our understanding of psychology. The course is made up of 9 mandatory modules (15 credits each), and a mandatory research project (45 credits):
With our flexible carousel programme structure, you can study at a pace that suits you and take study breaks if necessary.
To complete the full MSc Psychology (Conversion) course, you will need to successfully complete all modules to earn the necessary 180 credits.
Delivered 100% online, our MSc Psychology Conversion course gives you the freedom to tailor your learning around other life commitments, so you can study whenever and wherever.
With more than 20 years’ experience in running distance learning programmes, Ulster University is well-placed to deliver this flexible Masters. You’ll benefit from interactive study sessions, 24/7 access to learning materials and collaborative discussions with your peers.
As a distance learning student, you’ll receive support from course academics and a dedicated Student Success Advisor who will be on hand to guide you from day one right through to graduation.
Ulster Online. We remove the stress, so you can focus on success.
“The best support out of the other three unis I’ve been to.”
– John Hughes – Health Psychology MSc student
“A super nice experience at Ulster, easy to onboard and the Student Success team made me feel comfortable. Although it’s an online course, the personal touch from the team really helps.”
– Oteri Kueberuwa – Health Psychology MSc student
By undertaking our course, successful students will be able to:
This MSc Psychology (Conversion) course is currently being reviewed by the BPS for accreditation purposes. Once accredited, all students who complete the course will be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and become part of a respected community of psychology professionals.
As a Masters graduate, you might choose to continue your studies with a PhD and take your research even further. Alternatively, you’ll transition into your chosen field, perhaps working with children and young people in the education sector, helping people struggling with mental and physical health problems in a clinical setting, or completing the necessary requirements to work in the legal sector as a Forensic Psychologist. You may also choose to move outside the field, as many psychology graduates go on to work in areas including marketing, law and recruitment, where an understanding of human behaviour is a highly valued skill. Wherever your path leads, this MSc will equip you with the tools to succeed.
Discover more career opportunities for psychology graduates in the BPS’ career guide.
The School of Psychology is recognised as a student-centred, convivial centre of academic excellence. We work in partnership with our students to provide a range of academic programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and we currently have around 700 students enrolled on our taught and PhD programmes.
A significant feature of our undergraduate programme is an optional placement scheme which affords students the opportunity to enhance their employment prospects by gaining relevant work experience in a variety of professional settings.
We also provide flexible, interesting, and challenging postgraduate programmes that focus on the applications of psychology to health and social issues. Teaching is delivered by renowned researchers who are experts in the latest advances in Psychology and good practice in pedagogy. We are based at Ulster University’s Coleraine campus with 50 staff, comprising 45 academic staff, 1 technical and 4 Business Support staff. External research excellence assessments have consistently highlighted the importance of our extensive collaborative partnerships with researchers in other world leading centres of excellence to produce findings which have tangible benefits for society.
Our teaching staff is comprised of a research-active group of academics, including Chartered Psychologists and fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Our psychologists have links with several professional organisations including the Public Health Agency and Health Trusts.
The School of Psychology is renowned for its research across three main areas:
Dr Judith Mullineux
Course Director
Judith first joined Ulster University in 2004, having completed her primary degree in Psychology here at Ulster before qualifying in social work in 1990. Judith worked in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland for 18 years (Save The Children Fund and Probation Board Northern Ireland) and completed her MSc and PhD in this context.
Judith previously worked as a Senior Lecturer and Subject Lead in Social Work (2018-2021). She holds a number of professional Awards including the ‘Advanced Scholarship Award’ (NISCC) and is a member of the European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA). Judith’s main areas of learning and teaching include wellness/resilience and forensic psychology. Judith is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Judith’s research interests focus primarily on decision making processes and personal construct psychology methodology.
Dr Eoin McElroy
Lecturer
Dr Eoin McElroy is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Ulster University, having previously held academic positions at the University of Leicester, Liverpool and University College London. His research focuses on the measurement and epidemiology of child and adolescent mental health problems.
Eoin typically uses large data sets (e.g. birth cohorts, linked administrative data) to study how and when mental health problems emerge in young people, and how the environment (particularly socioeconomic circumstances) shapes this development. Eoin’s research has been funded by the Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Welcome Trust, and the Department of Education.
Dr Orla Parslow-Breen
Lecturer
Dr Orla Parslow-Breen is a Teaching Fellow in the School of Psychology at Ulster University where she is the Course Director for the BSc Psychology programme. Orla also teaches developmental psychology, applied social psychology and qualitative research methods.
Orla’s research interests are focused on the intersection of LGBT lifespan development, social identity, relationships and minority stress. She is particularly interested in how the changing discourse in relation to marriage and the family impacts sexual minority identities following the introduction of civil partnerships and same-sex marriage across the UK and Ireland. She also studies minority stress and the relationship between the disclosure of sexual orientation and self-esteem over the lifespan, in respect to coming out as lesbian or gay in later life.
Dr Kelly Norwood
Lecturer
Dr Kelly Norwood completed her BSc and PhD (Biological Psychology) in the School of Psychology and has held Research Fellow positions at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast.
Kelly has worked on various projects which have investigated the neurobiology and evaluation of new treatments of Alzheimer’s disease.
Kelly’s research focuses on improving quality of life and end-of-life care for people living with chronic disease with a focus on dementia and end-stage kidney disease. Kelly works collaboratively with the Alzheimer’s Society, Northern Ireland, to develop interventions aimed at providing optimal care to those living with dementia.
As PASS scheme co-ordinator, Kelly supports student mentorships to help ease the transition to university life, promote academic achievement and student wellbeing.
Dr Jenny Davison
Lecturer
Dr Jenny Davison is a British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Psychologist and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Jenny is a Division of Health Psychology (DHP) and DHPNI full member. Jenny completed her PhD in Health Psychology at Ulster University in 2013. Since then, she has worked as a Research Fellow at both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast before returning to the School of Psychology at Ulster in 2019. Jenny has a specific interest in child and adolescent health and wellbeing.
Current projects include: the Wellbeing in Schools (WiSe) study (funded by MRC); testing the feasibility of including young people experiencing intellectual disability in health and wellbeing research (funded by Baily Thomas); and theoretical applications to health including diet and physical activity, e-cigarette use (funded by NICH&S), and oral health.
Dr James Houston
Senior Lecturer and Associate Head of the School of Psychology
Dr James Houston is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) who has published widely in leading journals in the area of psychological trauma and mental health, mainly employing advanced statistical techniques to examine relationships within large-scale epidemiological studies.
He is currently an expert reviewer for NIHR and has been involved in peer review with a number of leading journals in mathematical/statistical psychology and mental health.
Dr Edel Ennis
Lecturer
Dr Edel Ennis is a Lecturer in Psychology at Ulster University. Edel’s research interests are around mental health.
Her current research programmes focus on how digital technologies may be applied to promote help-seeking for mental health difficulties and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
She is actively involved in collaborative research in data analytics relating to mental health, including crisis helpline data, chatbot design and technology supporting mental health of younger people.
Dr Christopher McConville
Senior Lecturer
Dr Christopher McConville is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Ulster University, Coleraine. Chris has taught at Ulster University since 1994, and his main teaching duties are in the areas of Individual Differences and Research Methods. He is also involved in managing student mobility through the Erasmus and Study USA programs. Chris’s research interests also include the measurement of mood and individual differences and have published in areas such as health and cognition.
Dr Andrea Campbell
Lecturer
Dr Andrea Campbell is a Social Psychologist. She completed an undergraduate degree in Social Psychology at Ulster University. She also completed a PhD at Ulster University investigating both social identity and prejudice in Northern Ireland in 2006. She then began a lectureship at Ulster University from 2006 until present. She has almost 20 years teaching and research experience in Social Psychology.
Andrea’s main research interests are in the field of intergroup relations and include identity, prejudice, segregation, and intergroup contact. Her research focus has primarily been on the conflict and social division in Northern Irish society. She is currently involved in research looking at the identity dynamics inherent in mixed marriages and segregated living and education, both in Northern Ireland and other societies with a history of conflict.
Dr Abbie Cahoon
Lecturer
Dr Abbie Cahoon completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology at Ulster University in 2019. Abbie is a developmental and cognitive psychologist specialising in early mathematical development and mathematical cognition.
Abbie has worked on projects which focus on global early child development in Mexico, Cuba and the UK, funded by the British Academy and the Global Challenges Research Fund. Abbie’s research focuses on investigating the impact of the home learning environment on early mathematical development through various mixed-method analyses.
Abbie is the Chairperson and Early Career Representative of the Centre of Longitudinal Studies Ireland (CLSI) Early Career Committee and has organised and participated in online workshops with a team of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) aimed towards developing the skills and experiences for ECRs.
