Study Patterns: Psychology MSc (online) - OLPBN

On this page, you will find the study patterns for our MSc Psychology online (OLPBN) programme.

Please use the links below to move directly to the relevant study pattern for the term you are enrolling onto.

• September start
• January start
• May start

These study patterns highlight the modules that you will need study over the next 12 months. Please note that all students are required to re-enrol at the start of every academic year in September and so within your enrolment you can only choose modules for the current academic year.  

The scheduled modules for the remainder of your programme (outlined below) are based on the current plan, however, the order of these may be subject to change. Should any changes be made, we will communicate this to you as soon as possible.   

You will need to select one specialised optional module (subject to availability). The availability of optional modules depends on your course start date (Autumn, Spring or Summer) and rate of study (Standard or Accelerated). This is because you will need to complete certain core modules before your optional module and because the modules run in specific trimesters. Please note that any optional modules are subject to viable group sizes. Should you choose a module that is deemed to be non-viable, you will be notified of the alternative available options.   

The first module on this course will be Introduction to Perspectives in Psychology (7PS543). Investigation and Analysis (7PS503) is a pre-requisite module for Social and Lifespan Psychology (7PS506), Biological and Cognitive Approaches to Psychology (7PS544), Individual Differences (7PS502) and Masters Research Project (7PS999) and so this module will need to be taken before the others.

The running order for new students must therefore be 7PS543 as your first module, followed by 7PS503 as your second module.

As a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme, group work is required as part of the BPS standards. Therefore when you are studying Individual Differences (7PS502) requires students to be working with other students in groups from the start of the trimester (week 1). Please note that students not engaging with their groups by the end of week 4 will be dropped from the module due to non-engagement and may be subject to a cancellation fee.

Pace of your study
For students completing the programme at the standard rate of study, the required minimum number of study time is 20 hours per week. 

If you opt to undertake the accelerated study plan whereby you will study two modules in one trimester, we recommend 40 hours of study per week.

Should you decide to study on the accelerated rate you must ensure that you have the capacity to fully engage with your studies and achieve the best grades and final award. You will need to balance approximately 40 hours of study per week alongside your professional and personal life and commitments.

It may be useful to consider studying one module at the standard rate of study before deciding whether to then increase to the accelerated rate of study.

MSc Psychology - standard rate with September start

Option C Modules: Autism, Asperger's and ADHD (6PS523); Psychology of Pain (6PS532); Applied Psychology of Human Performance (6PS545)

MSc Psychology - accelerated rate with September start

Option B Modules: Clinical Applications of Psychology (6PS525); Neuropsychology (6PS552); Applied Positive Psychology (6PS548)

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MSc Psychology - standard rate with January start

Option A Modules: Psychology in Education (6PS526); Forensic Applications of Psychology (6PS529); Psychology of Illness and Health (6PS538)

MSc Psychology - accelerated rate with January start

Option C Modules: Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD (6PS523); Psychology of Pain (6PS532); Applied Psychology of Human Performance (6PS545)

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MSc Psychology - standard rate with May start

Option B Modules: Clinical Applications of Psychology (6PS525); Neuropsychology (6PS552); Applied Positive Psychology (6PS548)

MSc Psychology - accelerated rate with May start

*Option A Modules: Psychology in Education (6PS526); Forensic Applications of Psychology (6PS529); Psychology of Illness and Health (6PS538)

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