If research is your passion, our MSc provides immersive, hands-on experience of psychological research at an advanced level. Through laboratory placements and an independent project, you'll work alongside leading academics, develop specialist expertise, and gain the practical skills for doctoral study and a career in academic research.
Modules
Our programme is designed specifically for students looking to pursue a research career rather than applied psychology. Here, you’ll gain valuable first-hand experience across a range of research areas.
Two laboratory placements: contribute to active projects and explore themes beyond traditional research boundaries
Independent project: design and conduct your own substantial research study with expert supervision
Research specialisation: explore themes such as cognition and emotion, language and communication, sensorimotor control and evolutionary psychology
Advanced methodology: deepen your understanding of contemporary psychological research techniques
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
A) Research Placement
B) Data Analysis Skills
C) Project
D) Research theme-related Psychology option
You will choose one or two modules in Psychology related to your research theme, as approved by your supervisor from our postgraduate provision. Options can vary from year to year and may include, for example:
Please note: The availability of option modules depends on several factors and cannot be guaranteed in advance. Therefore, the list above provides a sample of previously available options for illustrative purposes only.
Teaching and learning
Develop your skills in a live research environment.
Research-led training: work closely with internationally recognised researchers and active research groups
Advanced analytical skills: develop expertise in data analysis and interpretation
Scientific communication: learn to present complex research clearly to academic audiences
Doctoral preparation: build the experience and confidence needed for PhD study and academic research careers
Class sizes will naturally vary, however, this course typically has 5-10 students.
Teaching and lab-based placement work will occur throughout the week, with exact contact hours dependent on modules chosen and on the requirements of the placement and project work. You will also have meetings with your supervisors at regular intervals throughout your course.
At least a good 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent in a related subject.
Research interest
Students must provide at least a rough research outline, detailing their placement and project interests, in their personal statement. Applications without an appropriate research outline will be rejected.
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
In the Russell Group for Teaching (90.3% National Student Survey 2021)
(National Student Survey, 2021)
Cutting-edge insight. Personal support.
Why study with us?
Explore the mind through research that pushes beyond conventional thinking. In our supportive and inclusive community, you’ll be encouraged to question how people think, behave and interact with the world around them.
Our department is large enough to offer cutting-edge resources, yet personal enough to provide individual support. Giving you the opportunity to develop critical insight, research skills and intellectual confidence within a stimulating academic environment.
As one of the UK’s leading research departments, specialist facilities in our new Psychology building place you close to the forefront of discovery. Our modern laboratories are equipped for cutting-edge research, and include facilities for behavioural experiments, as well as laboratories focused on sleep and pain, infant behaviour, a driving simulator and a Virtual Reality lab.
Careers
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
Previous graduates from the Department of Psychology have gone on to work for employers such as*:
Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Cera Care
EY
Gambling Commission
Office for National Statistics
The National Health Service
Turning Point
They have pursued occupations such as the following*:
*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, 2021/22, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies.
Conducted annually, Graduate Outcomes Link opens in a new window collects information on the activities and perspectives of graduates. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation.
Our department also has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant. They offer impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
Students will undertake 2 placements within departmental laboratories. This offers the opportunity to gain practical research experience through placements across different laboratories (in terms 1 and 2), followed by an independently conducted project in term 3. This lab rotation provides a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience with current approaches and cutting-edge methods, and offers strong candidates for doctoral research more scope to explore different topics within their interests than the traditional options at Master's level do. The different placements will involve a piece of research primarily designed by the supervisor to fit with their ongoing research.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
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Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
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