Health Psychology

Health Psychology - MSc

Explore the psychology of health and behaviour with our British Psychological Society-aligned Health Psychology MSc. Using a range of hands-on and interactive teaching methods, the MSc in Health Psychology will equip you with theories, tools, and real-world insight to thrive in a range of health-related careers and beyond.

The programme is actively seeking accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Month of entry

September

Mode of study

Full time, Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Psychology

Fees for 2025/26 academic year

UK - Full time £10,100 per year. Part time £5,600 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.

Duration of study

One year full time, two years part time

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Why study Health Psychology at Keele University?

Apply your learning and enhance your skills on a work placement gaining you valuable experience

Benefit from a wide range of interactive teaching and assessment methods informed by research and real-world learning

Graduate with highly valued skills in research, data analysis and behaviour change techniques

Gain extensively versatile graduate employability skills to pursue a broad range of careers

Course summary

Health psychology is the study of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health, illness, and healthcare, and it is one of the fastest growing areas of applied psychology. Our British Psychological Society (BPS) aligned MSc in Health Psychology provides you with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to pursue a diverse range of careers in health and related settings.

Using interactive teaching and assessment methods, as well as hands-on work placements, you will learn about contemporary topics in health psychology, including:

· As part of the ‘Being and Becoming Ill’ module, you will learn about how biological, social, and psychological factors shape health, focusing on health challenges, recovery, and coping with illness.

· During the ‘Health Promotion, Prevention, and Behaviour Change’ module, you will learn how to support people experiencing chronic health problems, including exploring psychological principles behind health promotion, illness prevention, and intervention development.

· The 'Professional Practice in Health Psychology' module offers hands-on experience through a placement in a health organization, allowing you to develop critical professional skills, reflect on ethical frameworks, and gain insight into the roles of health psychologists in multidisciplinary teams

· As part of the ‘Applied Psychological Research Methods’, you will develop critical understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, while guiding you through the full research process - from selecting methods and analysing data to interpreting and disseminating psychological research findings.

· You will apply your learning from the programme by conducting your own health-related research as part of your ‘Applied research Dissertation’ module.

Beyond Health Psychology, you will also develop a range of transferable skills that are useful in almost all work settings, including: critical thinking, research and analysis skills, reflective practice, teamwork, and real-life work experience. These skills ensure that you graduate equipped for a range of careers.

Next steps

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Course structure

The MSc Health Psychology can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, with a September start date.
As a full-time student, you will complete five compulsory modules (including the dissertation). Please note, as a part-time student, the structure of the programme will vary.

Modules

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester one core modules

Applied Psychological Research Methods (30 credits)
You will develop a critical understanding of different quantitative and qualitative philosophical approaches to understanding the world (e.g., social constructivist, semantic, frequentist, Bayesian). The module takes you through the full research process, from the implementing of an appropriate research method to address a psychological question to handling, extracting and analysing the data and finally through to interpreting and disseminating the findings.

Becoming and being ill (30 credits)
What makes people 'healthy'? What things outside of biology influence whether someone becomes ill? How do people recover or cope with illness and even dying? These are some of the questions that the 'Becoming and Being Ill' module will examine through the lens of Health Psychology research and theory. You will learn about how biological, social, and psychological factors shape health using the latest psychological research and practice as part of a curriculum that is tailored to modern day health challenges. You will learn by engaging in innovative teaching and learning activities including interactive seminars, applied problem-solving tasks, and case-based learning grounded in real-world scenarios. Assessments on this module are varied and will require you to produce a podcast episode about your experiences on the module, and conduct a literature review about the impact of a health problem of your choice on the individual, their families, communities and wider society. You will learn valuable skills and knowledge about how people transition into illness which will not only prepare you for future modules on the programme, but will also equip you with the skills you need for roles in healthcare, research, and policy making.

Semester two core modules

Health Promotion, Prevention, and Behaviour Change (30 credits)
On the 'Health Promotion, Prevention, and Behaviour Change' module, you will explore the psychological principles behind promoting health and preventing illness across individuals, communities, and populations. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of key behaviour change models and theories such as the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), while critically examining approaches to intervention design, co-production, and implementation. You will learn how to evaluate the 'success' of health interventions, and explore how to scale these solutions in real-world contexts using implementation science. Through a blend of interactive seminars, collaborative problem-solving, and structured preparatory materials, you’ll connect theory to practice by applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios. With an emphasis on public health challenges, this module prepares you to design, implement, and evaluate impactful behaviour change interventions to improve health outcomes at both individual and population levels.

Professional Practice in Health Psychology (30 credits)
Gain hands-on experience and prepare for a career in health psychology with the 'Professional Practice in Health Psychology' module. This module combines classroom learning with practical application through a placement in a health organization, enabling you to explore the real world impact of health psychology. You’ll develop essential professional skills, including critical reflection, and deepen your understanding of the ethical and legal frameworks that govern health psychology practice. Through engaging placements and guided reflection, you’ll gain insight into the diverse roles and responsibilities of health psychologists in multidisciplinary teams. As part of the module, you’ll create a reflective diary and design a professional poster to communicate health psychology careers and challenges. These activities are designed to enhance your ability to synthesize knowledge, articulate professional insights, and advocate for the value of health psychology.

Applied Research Dissertation

Applied Research Dissertation (60 credits)
This module is the culmination of your Masters programme of study and enables you to apply the skills gained across the programme to an empirical study in an area of psychology within your programme's discipline. You will have the opportunity to work closely under the supervision of an academic member of staff on designing, conducting, analysing and reporting their research in a dissertation.

Next steps

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Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

Typical offer: 2:2 in a BPS-accredited psychology or joint-Psychology degree conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) membership, or equivalent qualification eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

UK

2:2 in a BPS-accredited psychology or joint-Psychology degree conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) membership, or equivalent qualification eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Bangladesh

60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Canada

70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

China

70% in a degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS or 65% in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS from a '211' university.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Ghana

Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

India

55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Kenya

Nepal

60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Nigeria

Pakistan

We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information.

You will also need an English language qualification (see below)

South Africa

Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Sri Lanka

55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.

For more information please see BPS website.

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Uganda

Zimbabwe

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group C.

References

Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.

Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose

Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.

RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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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.

KPA interior

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, and develop your skills and networks.

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