COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc in Social and Applied Psychology provides an in-depth understanding of how psychological principles can be applied to address real-world social issues. Over the course of one year, students engage with both theoretical and practical aspects of social psychology, including core topics such as prejudice, intergroup relations, identity, attitudes, and decision-making. The program emphasizes research skills, offering training in a variety of cutting-edge methodologies like field experiments, interviews, focus groups, and neuroimaging, as well as tools to measure implicit and explicit attitudes. A significant part of the program is dedicated to developing practical research capabilities, including data collection, analysis, and programming skills for automating aspects of data analysis. Students apply their learning through an independent research project, choosing topics aligned with their interests—examples from past dissertations include studies on conspiracy theories, climate change motivations, and gender differences in empathy responses. The program also includes optional modules, allowing for further specialisation based on individual academic and career goals. A key feature is the opportunity to undertake a placement in settings such as research labs, special education schools, clinical environments, or museums, giving students valuable hands-on experience and professional connections. Core modules include Social Psychology Theory and Methods, which explores key debates and experimental designs in the field, and a dissertation module where students conduct and present original research. This MSc equips students with both theoretical knowledge and real-world research expertise, making it ideal preparation for careers in psychology-related roles or for progressing into further academic research.