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Psychology (MSc by Research)

Find out more about our Psychology MSc by Research degree at Warwick

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P-C8P3

MSc by Research

1 year full-time;
2 years part-time

6 October 2026

Psychology

University of Warwick

Here at Warwick, we pride ourselves in using a rigorous scientific approach to studying the human mind, brain, and behaviour. The MSc by Research in Psychology will enable you to develop valuable skills in conducting research, data collection and analysis, and scientific writing under the supervision of internationally recognised experts.

We offer an MSc by Research in Psychology, which is awarded for a thesis reporting original research by a student under the supervision of their academic advisor.

Our MSc by Research in Psychology degree serves as not only excellent preparation for PhD studies but also postgraduate training for a career either as a professional psychologist (e.g., clinical, organisational, or school psychologist) or outside of psychology.

In addition to subject-related knowledge, our MSc by Research in Psychology degree provides valuable transferable skills in data analysis and management, written and oral communication, teamwork and time management.

Teaching and learning

All our postgraduate research students are strongly encouraged to engage with the Departmental and University-wide advanced training offered.

Behavioural Science

• Economic and consumer psychology; judgement, risk and decision-making
• Psychology and the law
• Computational modelling of human behaviour
• Big Data and Network Science in Psychology
• Attention, visual processing and emotional processing
• Economics, income inequality, and behavioural political science

Language and Learning

• Reading; word recognition
• Computational approaches to language processing
• Historical language change
• Structure of the lexicon across life-span
• Big Data research on language
• Language and gesture development in infants and children
• Second language learning
• Language learning and change
• Gesture and non-verbal communication in adults and children
• Development of social cognition
• Animal (e.g., orangutangs, chimpanzees, birds) communication and cognition
• Language evolution
• Sleep and language learning
• Language development and socio-economic status
• The role of prediction in language processing and learning
• The role of surprise and curiosity in second language learning
• Experimental approaches to the study of turn-taking and dialogue
• Pre-linguistic communication
• Intervention to support language development

Lifespan Health and Wellbeing

• Longitudinal epidemiology
• Resilience and protection after preterm birth
• Experimental psychology and clinical studies, with common interests in the factors that determine and/or the mechanisms that underlie healthy living
• Child and adolescent development and mental and physical ageing
• Mental health, sleep and pain
• Disaster recovery
• Culture, relationships, beliefs, personality, and well-being

Full details of our research interests are listed on the Psychology web pagesLink opens in a new window.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.Link opens in a new window

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Psychology Research Directory where you will be able to filter by research group.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a related subject.

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.