Course information
UK fee £12,100
International fee £12,100
Taught by School of Psychology and Vision Sciences
Accredited by the British Psychological Society
Admissions and course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
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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.
This postgraduate degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and offers a broad range of modules that cover the key areas of psychology, including cognitive, social, developmental and biological psychology plus research methods. We also have a focus on applied psychology with a dedicated module designed to support you in your psychology career.
The course is offered part-time and on a distance learning basis, giving you the flexibility to fit your studies around your work and family commitments while enhancing your current career or taking the first step towards a new career in psychology. 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 within applied psychology. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet staff and fellow students. The dates for the 2024 conference are Friday 11th and Saturday 12th October.
We are in the top 25 UK universities in the Psychology subject area and one of only seven Psychology departments in the UK with the highest achieved scores for added value, meaning that many of our students exceed expectations because of the excellent support they receive (The Guardian University Guide 2022). 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 listFees 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.
“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
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
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Modules
- Historical and Conceptual Themes in Psychology
- Investigating Psychology
- Brain and Behaviour
- Exploring Mental Processes
- Individual Differences
- Applied Human Behaviour
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. Over 25,000 distance learning students have graduated from Leicester.
Our Students’ Union supports all students during their studies, offering free, impartial and confidential advice. Distance learning students have a unique learning experience and the Union has a dedicated Distance Learning Officer who makes sure that your views and needs are considered. Wherever you live in the world, you will have a voice on campus.
Our Career Development Service offers you guidance and support to help you get ahead in your chosen career. Services for students include online tools and individually tailored advice to help you develop your academic skills and a wide selection of one-to-one careers consultations, workshops and webinars covering interview and assessment centre skills, psychometric testing and CVs, covering letters and application forms.
Once you have completed you studies you become part of our global alumni family maintaining strong links with graduates, parents, friends and supporters of the University through a programme of events, services and communications.
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.
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 |
