Best Universities in the UK for Masters in Psychology

Looking forward to studying psychology in the UK? Finding good universities in the UK for masters in psychology is not a difficult task at all. The course is offered at 50+ universities in the United Kingdom. It requires one to two years for completion, and the curriculum is heavily inclined toward statistics, research, and innovative learning along with brain-behavior. 

Why Pursue Masters in Psychology in UK

There are many advantages to studying masters in psychology in the UK. These include:

• The UK is home to some of the world’s acclaimed and top-ranked institutions for psychology.
• It offers abundant employment prospects for trained and qualified psychologists, especially those willing to take up self-employment.
• Students can work across different industries. They can look forward to working at public and private healthcare, educational, and government institutions in the UK.
• The return on investment is high for masters in psychology programs in the UK. Average costs of the course vary between £20,000 - £50,000 (approx INR 21-52 lakh) per year, while the students can eventually draw salaries up to £100,000 - £250,000 per year (approx INR 1-2.5 crore) with optimum experience.
• With the demand growing for trained professionals to help those suffering from diverse mental disorders, issues, and ailments, the remuneration is expected to increase exponentially for psychologists in the UK over the next few years.

Top UK Universities for Masters in Psychology

Here are the top most universities in the UK for masters in psychology: 

Based on THE (Times Higher Education) rankings for 2024, here are the top universities for psychology in the UK: 

Based on the 2024 Top Universities Subject rankings, here is a list of leading UK universities for psychology: 

Know More:

Based on the 2023 Shanghai Ranking by Subject, here is the list of leading universities for psychology in the UK: 

Based on the 2024 Guardian University Guide, here are the leading psychology institutions in the UK: 

Eligibility Criteria at Leading Universities in UK for Masters in Psychology

• A first-class or an upper second-class undergraduate degree in psychology or a related discipline with honors.
• Research or work experience in psychology might be an added advantage.
• English language proficiency scores if your first language isn’t English. A minimum overall score of 6.0 - 7.5 band in IELTS Academic or 110 in 
• TOEFL iBT is required to secure admission to the best universities for psychology in the UK.
• Some universities may require you to submit three references who would be able to state if you are the right fit for the course.
• Universities may invite the shortlisted applicants to attend an interview before their final selection

Best Universities in UK for Masters in Psychology: Admission Process.

Here are the steps you can follow to apply to universities in the UK for masters in Psychology:

• Keep track of the admission status for the course you are planning to apply to, and the deadlines for each of them under the course page.

• Once you have gathered the relevant information about the deadlines, start your application by creating an account. 

• Fill out the form with your contact information and provide references. The universities also provide the option to add or change a reference.

• Enter your qualifications, experiences, and English language proficiency scores.

• Upload supporting documents such as an official transcript, statement of purpose, English language test score report/certificate, 

• CV/resume, and scholarship supporting documents (if applied).

• Pay the application fee and submit your application form.  

Best Master’s Programs in Psychology in UK: Curriculum and Specializations

While the curriculum covered at different universities varies, here are some generic topics that are usually included in the curriculum of masters in Psychology.

Research Methods & Skills in Psychology

• Data Science for behavior and brain 
• Application of Electrophysiological Approaches in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Translational Cognitive Neuroscience
• Modelling Development and Diversity
• Youth Mental Health
• Cognition and the Human Brain
• The Development of the Self in the Social World
• Qualitative Analysis Methods in Psychological Research
• Quantitative Analysis Methods in Psychological Research

Research Opportunities and Facilities at Top Universities in UK for Psychology Courses

There are many universities in the UK that offer research opportunities in psychology with a focus on hands-on training. Some of the options students can choose from are as follows:

• Opt for paid summer research internships or programs where you get to connect with industry experts and other researchers.
• Conduct independent research projects under the supervision of a researcher who will guide you toward producing a final report for assessment. The research can be related to topics like People and Society, Computational Neuroscience, Human Development and Learning, Perception and Action, etc.
• Get practical exposure through animal models to human functional imaging and TMS, MEG, EEG, and neuropsychology. Understand developmental science through Babylab and studies with children with developmental disorders.
• Get introduced to different tools and research methods, such as MATLAB programming, computer modeling of brain function, or data analysis for neuroimaging. Learn about the process of research design, sampling, analysis, data collection, and report writing.

Know More:

Scholarships for Psychology Programs at Best UK Universities

Thinking of applying for a scholarship for your master’s degree in Psychology? Here are some of the universities in the UK that offer funding to its students.

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We hope this article helped you to become familiar with the best universities in the UK for masters in psychology. You must now be aware of the benefits of studying psychology in the UK and various parameters associated with the degree, such as research opportunities, scholarships, admission requirements, etc.

Use this guide and your own research to shortlist the best suitable programs and universities. And embark on your journey of becoming a psychology maestro in the UK.

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