MPsych (Hons) Advanced Psychology

If you are yet to make an enquiry to study with the University of Plymouth and are interested in securing a place for September 2020, you can pre-register for Clearing to receive priority treatment on results day.

Read our Clearing advice

This programme provides in-depth knowledge and practical training in human neuroimaging designed to put you on a path to a career in neuroscience. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, the direct experience gained using our new state-of-the-art neuroimaging facility will give you some of the most sought-after skills in the discipline. Advanced instruction in neuroimaging data manipulation, signal processing and interpretation then build on these operation skills. These provide a thorough understanding of the entire neuroscientific research cycle from design to dissemination that will give you a competitive advantage for further study.

• Our hands-on approach to learning embeds practical activities throughout the programme, so you can put new knowledge into practice and build the skills for future careers.
  
• Wide range of elective modules allows you to shape the psychologist you want to become, allowing a deep-dive on techniques in clinical practice, neuroscience and behaviour change.
  
• Taught lectures are concentrated on three specific days of the week (although some sessions may fall outside this pattern), allowing full or part-time study to be combined with research, work experience, or external commitments.
  
• Advanced instruction on all aspects of the research cycle: from the formulation of the research question, experiment design, data analysis, through to the written and oral communication of your findings and applications for further research funding.
  
• Work with world-leading researchers and practitioners in the exploration of a research topic of your own choosing.
  
• Our extensive range of specialist facilities and laboratories, including neuroimaging, observation, virtual reality, and the Plymouth Babylab, allow you to make an original contribution to your chosen area of specialism.

• Year 1
• Your first-year modules provide a foundation of knowledge and skills across the breadth of psychology. Immersive modules integrate theory and practical workshops to provide a deeper exploration and of the psychology of learning and relationships. You will learn about the current debates in psychology, and how our knowledge connects and informs other disciplines.
  

  Core modules

  • PSYC411 Learning

    This module explores how we gather information, with an emphasis on the scientific method. The module will introduce students to different perspectives on learning, including how to learn effectively, the biological and cognitive basis of learning, and social learning.

  • PSYC412 Psychological Science

    This module will provide an introduction into a broad range of fundamental topics in psychology. Across eight independent topics, from across the entire breadth of psychology, students will learn key theories. Students will also learn how those theories have been applied to real-world situations and will be asked to explore these theories in practice in Labplus activities.

  • PSYC413 Debates in Psychology

    This module covers both current and historical debates in topics drawn from across the breadth of psychology, involving discussion of theoretical issues and application and practice. The module will involve independent study sessions exploring some of the empirical differences seen in the literature and practice, and tutorial sessions will support extended writing development.

  • PSYC414 Relationships

    This immersive module focuses on the Psychology of Social Relationships across the lifespan. This topic is introduced and analysed from different disciplines in Psychology, including Developmental, Social, Biological, Clinical and Individual Differences perspectives. Lectures introduce methodologies, key findings and concepts for understanding Social Relationships. Lectures will be supported by workshops and tutorials.

  • PSYC415 Topics in Psychology

    This module will provide an in-depth exploration of four topics from core areas of psychology. Each of the topics will run for four weeks with interspersed group-based linked Labplus activities. These will allow students to get involved in a continued project, within the scope of a particular topic, which might involve data collection and subsequent statistical analysis of that data.

  • PSYC416 Connecting Psychology

    This module will link psychology to other disciplines by exploring how the study of human and animal behaviour is investigated in collaboration with scientists and practitioners in a variety of other fields. A series of topics will be interspersed with independent study activities that allow students to get involved in a continued project, involving data collection and analysis.

• Year 2
• With a focus on developing research and practical skills. You will get additional hands-on experience in designing and testing your own experiments and get to grips with key concepts in cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical psychology.

  Core modules

  • CPIE202 Career and Placement Planning

  • PSYC513 Cognition and Biological Psychology

    This module covers four core areas of psychology each with 2 sub-topics: Perception & Attention; Learning & Memory; Cognition & Language; Neuroscience & Comparative Psychology. The biology of cognition will be covered within each of the four core areas, integrating them. Each core area will be covered in 12 hours of lectures. The first hour will cover CHIP issues and the last hour integration within/between topics.

  • PSYC514 Individual Differences, Social and Developmental Psychology

    This module covers three core areas of psychology - individual differences, social cognition, and human development. Each core area will be covered in 16 hours of lectures. The first hour will cover CHIP issues and the last hour will focus on integration within/between topics.

  • PSYC515 Health and Wellbeing

    The module explores the multiple factors that determine health-related behaviours, introducing professional areas of health, clinical and forensic psychology.

  • PSYC516 Applied Psychology

    This module explores the contribution of psychology to success in education and work. It considers different approaches to educational assessment, risk communication, and behaviour change.

  • PSYC519 Research Skills in Practice 1

    In this module students develop an understanding of the processes involved in undertaking and communicating research of increasing complexity. Students work in supervised groups to develop research questions on the association of factors and test them using empirical methods. Results are communicated via both oral presentation and written report. Methods workshops are also provided.

  • PSYC520 Research Skills in Practice 2

    In this module students develop an understanding of the processes involved in undertaking and communicating research of increasing complexity. Students work in supervised groups to develop research questions on group differences and test them using empirical methods. Results are communicated via both oral presentation and written report means. Methods workshops are also provided.

• Optional placement year
• If you choose, you can take an optional work placement after your second year, applying your knowledge of psychology in a variety of real-world contexts offered through our established partners.

  Core modules

  • CPIE501 Placement: Psychology

    During this 36 week placement, students will begin to apply their psychological knowledge in the workplace and develop the range of skills required to work within the specific placement setting. This zero-credit module is also home to timetabled careers talks and information for Stage 3 students who are away on placement.

• Year 3
• You can explore the areas of psychology that interest and benefit you the most, with complete freedom of choice across a wide range of current psychology topics, allowing you to shape the psychologist you want to become. You will also work on a research question of your own choosing in a supervised research project.
  

  Core modules

  • PSYC600 Careers Planning

    This zero-credit module is home to careers talks.

  • PSYC601 Current Topics in Psychology 1

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • PSYC602 Current Topics in Psychology 2

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • PSYC603 Current Topics in Psychology 3

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • PSYC604 Current Topics in Psychology 4

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  Optional modules

  • PSYC405 Psychology Dissertation

    This module aims to consolidate and put into practice the research training carried out in earlier stages by exploring a particular research problem. Students are required to conduct a complete piece of research, from establishing a research area, formulating a research question, conducting a literature search, designing and conducting the study, analysing the data, through to writing up a report of the project

  • PSYC605 Research Project

    Students, supported by academic supervisors and specialist workshops, are required to conduct a complete piece of research, from establishing a research area, formulating a research question, conducting a literature search, designing and conducting a study that meets appropriate ethical standards, analysing the data and communicating the research verbally and in writing.

• Final year
• In your final year, having completed three years to at least a second-class degree standard, you will progress to the study of masters level topics in psychology. These advanced studies build upon the specialist knowledge gained in the previous year, providing a greater depth of experience designed to prepare you for a future career in professional psychology or research.
  
  
  Core modules deliver advanced instruction on the fundamental underpinnings of human neuroscience. In-depth knowledge of neuro-anatomy, pharmacology, and physiology provide the context for technical instruction on the applications of human neuroimaging techniques and data handling. Elective modules provide in-depth knowledge of the physics and key theoretical issues in neuroimaging research. These then form the basis for skills-based training in the practical aspects human neuroimaging, with hands-on advanced practice across a range of cutting-edge brain imaging methods. Finally, with supervision and guidance of world-class neuroimaging researchers you will bring your new knowledge and skills to bear on a research question of your own choosing in the neuroscience research project.
  

  Core modules

  • PSYC750 Personal and Professional Development

    This module will enhance students¿ awareness of the transferable skills they possess, focus thinking about future employment, spur reflection on recent learning, and promote the effective use of feedback to enhance academic performance.

  • PSYC751 Asking Psychological Questions: Epistemology and Strategy for Formulating Psychological research

    This module explores what it means to ask psychological questions, what good research questions look like, the philosophical foundations of scientific enquiry, and how good research questions shape how we produce new knowledge. Practical exercises guide students to identify, critique and refine their own research questions.

  • PSYC752 Advanced Research Design for Psychology

    This module challenges students to engage with advanced concepts in psychological research design, and to critically evaluate current practices in quantitative research. Practical exercises guide students to operationalise their own research questions within a quantitative framework.

  • PSYC753 Data Fluency: Processing, Visualising and Analysing Data for Reproducible Research

    Become fluent with numerical and textual data. Learn practical skills to summarise, visualise, and communicate insights from quantitative data; become familiar with software for working with large datasets; and best practices for reproducibility and transparency in psychological science.

  • PSYC781 Advanced Psychology Research Project

    This module requires students to undertake an original project in an area associated with their specialist area of interest. It comprises an independent piece of research work conducted by the student and written up as a research report.

  Optional modules

  • PSYC754 Advanced Techniques for Psychological Research

    Advanced coverage of foundational techniques and introductions to specialist techniques for collecting and analyzing psychological data.

  • PSYC755 Advanced Interpretative Methods

    Advanced treatment of interpretative and discursive techniques in psychology, extending students¿ knowledge beyond basic thematic analyses and introducing interpretative phenomenological analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis and conversation analysis.

  • PSYC756 Communicating Psychological Research

    This module teaches students to communicate their research, both in writing and orally by introducing the skills required to write journal articles, present conference papers and posters, review journal articles and write grant applications.

  • PSYC771 Issues in Cognitive and Brain Science

    This module focuses on how cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience approaches and techniques can be combined to provide convergent evidence for understanding the mind.

  • PSYC774 Supporting Behaviour Change

    What makes a psychologically based intervention effective? This module covers a range of contemporary interventions for clinical psychological and behavioural problems, focusing on a critical analysis of the psychological mechanisms underlying interventions and explores how laboratory research can be translated into new interventions.

  • PSYC791 Foundations of Clinical Psychology

    This module provides foundational knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical psychology, and the social, cultural and legal context in which mental health professions operate.

  • PSYC792 Understanding Clinical Interventions: Principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy

    This module introduces students to fundamental principles and techniques of the cognitive behavioural approach, and contemporary developments which address individual psychological difficulties within a biopsychosocial framework. Students will be introduced to the importance of understanding individual difficulties within the systemic context of relationship dynamics, family, communities, and wider society, including the impact of social inequalities on mental health outcomes. Core clinical skills, are introduced, including listening, building a therapeutic alliance, communication, group-work, techniques for working with families, collaborative working, and monitoring change.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

MPsych Hons Advanced Psychology programme specification 4661

UCAS tariff

120 - 128