Research Methods in Psychology (MSc) 2017 entry
The MSc in Research Methods in Psychology is designed to train students wishing to pursue a higher research degree in Psychology and equips them with the specific skills necessary for undertaking a career as a research psychologist.
Course type
Postgraduate; leading to a Master of Science (MSc)
Course duration
One year full time
Entry requirements
A good 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related discipline. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
UK and EU: £7,500
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement (500 words)
- sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- English language requirements certificate.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
If you started this programme in 2016, you can find information about 2016 entry on the 2016 Research Methods in Psychology (MSc) page. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in our archive.
Course information
The MSc in Research Methods in Psychology is a full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. The course is based on an initiative to provide interdisciplinary training in the social sciences plus advanced research training in psychology.
Highlights
- The course provides interdisciplinary training in the social sciences plus advanced research training in psychology.
- Students have access to laboratories in neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, psychophysics, animal learning and cognition, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and social psychology.
- The MSc is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as an approved course.
Teaching format
Over two semesters, students will take four compulsory modules, a research project module and two optional modules. These are taught through lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Assessment comprises entirely of coursework; there are no exams. On average, class sizes range up to 80 students for lectures and 20 students for seminars.
The final three months of your course will be focused on writing the final assessment piece, a 15,000-word dissertation.
Further particulars regarding curriculum development.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2016–2017 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2017 entry.
Compulsory modules
- Generic Research and Professional Skills in Psychology: introduces students to the various skills and issues that are important to academic psychologists irrespective of their particular area of research.
- Quantitative Research in Social Science: provides a user-friendly introduction to the fundamental concepts of quantitative analysis.
- Methods of Data Analysis in Psychology: advanced training in common statistics, qualitative methods and statistical modelling.
- Qualitative Methods in Social Research: offers both a theoretical and practical introduction to the collection, analysis and writing of qualitative social science research.
- Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences: an introduction to the basic theoretical approaches in the social sciences, making connections between the methodological and epistemological issues involved in conducting social scientific research.
Optional modules
Students choose two optional modules.
- Methodologies for Psychology and Neuroscience: practical experience in a number of laboratory techniques and research methodologies as are employed by the principal investigators in the School.
- Being a Social Scientist: explores the fundamental skills required by all social scientists, focusing on how to design and produce a research dissertation and addressing issues of professional development.
- Computer-Aided Research: builds on statistical techniques learned in previous modules and introduces modelling techniques, imaging, stimulus presentation and data visualisation.
The modules listed ran in the academic year 2016–2017 and are indicative of this course. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2017 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Dissertation
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
Conferences and events
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience hosts a weekly seminar programme at 3.30pm on Fridays in the Old Library of the Psychology Building. These seminars include public lectures, open school discussions and papers presented by a variety of guest lecturers from the UK and abroad. Following the seminar, a wine reception is held in the staff common room.
The School also hosts an annual Jeeves Lecture as part of its seminar programme. The lectures are given by eminent psychologists and neuroscientists. Staff, students and members of the public are welcome at this lecture.
Funding
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% reduction in tuition fees for students who have graduated during the last three years and are now starting a postgraduate programme.
After the MSc
Research degrees
Many of our graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. The MSc in Research Methods in Psychology is accredited for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 PhD studentship programme.
PhD funding is available from various UK Research Councils such as the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as well as from various trusts and charities. For example, the School is part of the BBSRC-funded EASTBIO partnership and the ESRC-funded Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences. In addition, the School of Psychology and Neuroscience usually has a small number of School-funded PhD scholarships. Application deadlines for most scholarships are in early January for a September start.
Careers
Many of our students progress from the MSc to PhD study, and some of our graduates have been successful in applying for EPSRC PhD stundentships. Others has successfully applied for research assistantships to initiate their research careers. Finally, some of our graduates have applied for positions in government, health care, and management services.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Contact
School of Psychology and Neuroscience
St Mary's College
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JU
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2157
Email: pgsecpsych@st-andrews.ac.uk
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).