image of a rorschach test

Psychology MSc, by distance learning

2 years

This is for you if... you are looking for a postgraduate degree that will allow you to pursue a career in psychology or to apply psychological knowledge in your work and life. 

Psychology MSc, by distance learning, 2 years

This is for you if... you are looking for a postgraduate degree that will allow you to pursue a career in psychology or to apply psychological knowledge in your work and life. 

Course information

UK fee £12,100

International fee £12,100

Taught by School of Psychology and Vision Sciences

BPS conversion

Accredited by the British Psychological Society

Course description

Course description

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Psychologists seek to understand why we feel, think, and behave the way we do and how this understanding can help us to address many of the important issues society faces today.

Our online Psychology conversion course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and covers the key areas of psychology, including cognitive, social, developmental and biological psychology, along with research methods. Here at Leicester, we also offer a professional psychology module dedicated to supporting your career development, where you will explore different areas of applied psychology.

This course allows access to further study in any area of applied psychology, research or teaching. The accredited nature of the course means that you will be eligible to receive the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society; the necessary first step on the way to becoming a professional psychologist. Accreditation also means that the course is externally validated by the BPS, so you can be sure that it conforms to the high standards of quality they set.  

The part-time, distance learning format offers flexibility to balance studies with work and family commitments, allowing you to enhance your current career or start a new one in psychology. It’s enjoyable yet challenging and structured to focus on one module at a time. You can study with us from anywhere in the world at a time that suits you. 

An optional two-day Course Conference is held annually at the University and online, consisting of workshops and study skills sessions. The Conference provides support for your studies and the opportunity to hear esteemed speakers, both academic and practitioner, from different areas in applied psychology. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet staff and fellow students!

In addition, we are also in the top 23 UK universities for quality of research, with over 80% of research outputs evaluated as internationally excellent or world-leading and 100% having very considerable or outstanding real-world impact beyond academia. (REF 2021).

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Second class honours degree.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

UK Students

Starting in October 2025

  • MSc: £12,100

Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.

Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you're eligible.

International Students

Starting in October 2025

  • MSc: £12,100

Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.

Careers and employability

Careers and employability

Studying psychology, you will not only gain insight into human behaviour, but also develop and refine a range of highly sought-after transferable skills, like critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication skills, data handling and research, which will improve your employability regardless of the work you do. 

In the UK alone, over 750,000 people work in an area that involves psychology as part of their role in sectors as diverse as social care, health, education, research, business, law enforcement and sports. Expectations are that the need for psychologists will continue to rise as we adjust to life post-Covid. You can find out more about careers in psychology on the BPS website.

Related courses

Related courses

Psychology

MSc, full-time

Research Methods in Psychology

MRes, 1-2 years, full- or part-time

Research Methods in Human Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology

MRes, 1-2 years, full- or part-time

Research Methods in Psychology of Mental Health

MRes, 1-2 years, full- or part-time

Occupational Psychology

MSc, by distance learning

Psychology of Work

MSc/PGDip, by distance learning

Testimonials

“The course changed the way I thought about people and understanding behaviours, which are all things I can apply to both my personal and professional life. 

"The support is there. Even from 10,000 miles away and an 11 hour time difference, people were always willing to help. Staff were on hand to speak to me at a fairly alien time to Leicester and always listened to any questions that I had.”
Matt, Australia, 2025 graduate of MSc Psychology by Distance Learning


Here is what some of our other students had to say about the course:

“The course was a great introduction into psychology, and a very good base on which I can now build on. Both the teaching staff and the DL team are very supportive and always make time for the students. I am excited to use the knowledge and skills gained during this course for my new career path!”
Melanie, 42, Germany

"The course material was diverse and well-structured, tutors were responsive and the constant exchange with fellow students provided a great sense of support. A great online learning experience!"
Maysaa, 46, Jordan

“As a nurse and mature student, the course has really enabled me to explore the wealth of evidence that supports our understanding of the brain and how it works and has made a positive contribution to the development of my existing clinical skills in workplace health and wellbeing.”
Cathy

"The course is an exciting, enlightening experience that gives useful diverse tools in Psychology. The staff is supportive and helps push the students into fulfilling their potential. The experience, throughout it, is educating, satisfying and fun."
Moshe, 27, Israel

Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

Modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Year 2

Modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester?

The University of Leicester is one of the UK’s leading research and teaching universities with over 25 years’ experience offering high quality distance learning courses. You'll join a global student community and participate in live seminars and activities, where you will learn from your tutors and peers, building friendships and professional networks.

Our dedicated staff are specialists in online learning, and the course is designed to meet students' needs, with no prior psychology knowledge required. Throughout your learning journey with us, you will be supported in your academic and professional development by a personal tutor and mentor. Embedded skills development means you will gradually master increasingly complex skills, boosting your career prospects in psychology and beyond.

Teaching and learning

We have offered distance learning courses in psychology for over 20 years and our dedicated staff are specialists in online learning delivery. 

Course materials are specially prepared for distance learning and accessed through our virtual learning environment Blackboard. Our teaching is inspired by research and we use a mix of lecture recordings, videos, tutorials, learning activities, guided reading and online discussions (both live and through discussion boards) where you can interact with tutors and other students. Each year we also hold a two-day Course Conference, consisting of workshops and study skills sessions that you can attend in person or online (attendance is optional). 

A range of assessments are used across the course including literature reviews, research reports, reflective commentaries, essays, case studies, online presentations and dissertations. 

Throughout your learning journey with us you will receive the support you need to succeed. A personal tutor will be allocated to you to help and advise you. Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides online tools and individually tailored advice to help you develop your academic skills and you will have access to the Library’s online catalogue containing thousands of electronic journals and over 300,000 electronic books.

Key dates

Start date: 6 October 2025
Application deadline for October 2025 start: 15 September 2025

Apply now

Course Qualification Duration Start Dates Availability
Course Psychology Qualification MSc Duration 2 years, by distance learning Start Dates October each year Availability Apply Now
Back to top
MENU