Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,310 for the course
International/EU: £17,205 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2024
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Meet the BPS Stage 1 requirements for progression to becoming a health psychologist.
- Gain a wide range of knowledge, skills and values.
- Use these to develop your career in a variety of health-related settings.
Complete the course with the skills to progress onto stage two training in health psychology – as long as you have eligibility for BPS’ graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC). Stage two includes the BPS-accredited Doctoral Programme in Health Psychology – which once completed, provides eligibility to apply for registration as a practitioner health psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Accredited by
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
On the last accreditation visit by the BPS the programme was commended for:
The approachability and availability of the staff team.
The staff commitment to students exceeded students’ expectations.
The programme’s focus on student reflection, which provides good preparation for stage two training and/or other professional career development.
The level of technical support provided to staff and students throughout the programme.
Graduate View
‘I found the course really interesting and intellectually stimulating. I used the knowledge I gained during the MSc to design an intervention in the NHS Weight Management service. I am now piloting this intervention with patients - which is really exciting!’
Laura Wray, MSc Health Psychology, 2017 graduate
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
The course content includes social determinants of health, research methods, understanding behaviour and clinical practitioner skills. You’ll study biopsychosocial determinants of acute illness, behaviour change interventions and adjust to long-term conditions and bereavement. You’ll then learn more advanced research methods and undertake a research project.
You learn through
- online study
- group work
- problem solving
- practitioner skills workshops
- research conferences
Modules combine online learning with one day a week on campus. This provides flexible learning opportunities to enable a diverse range of students to study alongside employment and/or family commitments.
Our course leaders are experts in clinical health practitioner work in private practice and in the NHS. You’ll be introduced to a range of applied skills that you’ll practise during on-campus study days
- motivational interviewing techniques
- conflict resolution skills relevant to working in multidisciplinary healthcare teams
- consultation and collaborative treatment planning
- solution-focused counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- the communication of bad news
- critical self-reflection and ethical reasoning
Course leaders and tutors
Tria Moore
Senior Lecturer In PsychologyIn her role as the course leader for MSc Health Psychology Tria is responsible for overseeing the management, delivery and development of the course.
Applied learning
Work placements
If you aren’t currently working in a health-related setting, we have a careers workshop and a dedicated careers adviser who can help you find suitable employment or voluntary work. The course leadership team can also advise on what types of work will be suitable for your work-based reflection.
Live projects
This course aims to provide you with the ability to use your work or voluntary experience within a health-related setting to aid your learning and training. For example, work-based reflection is a core element of the introduction to clinical practitioner skills and competencies,and is designed to contribute to your continuing personal and professional development.
In the research project module, we’ll focus on developing the personal and academic skills you’ll need to carry out research – as well as to manage your research project. These include analytic skills, communication and time planning.
You’ll use a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to store evidence of your progress and development in all modules – and to reflect on your progress and plan actions to improve.
Networking opportunities
Specialist research seminars are delivered by members of the department and guest speakers. You’ll use these to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the course content.
All our courses are well supported by a comprehensive suite of career management services – including interview training and networking opportunities.
We seek to encourage an atmosphere of supportiveness – where you’ll feel comfortable to ask for help, guidance or encouragement from tutors and your fellow students. We’re committed to providing an environment of 'togetherness' where students and staff benefit from mutual learning experiences.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- psychology practice
- psychology academia
- public health
- research
- education
- industry
- health promotion
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- the NHS
- the social care sector
- universities, in teaching and research
- drug and rehabilitation services
- consultancy
- private practice
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Psychology Facilities Tour
Take a look around Sheffield Hallam University's psychology facilities with student Angelica.
Equipment and facilities
On this course you work with our Blackboard online virtual learning environment.
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
Applicants need one of the following
• BSc or BA Psychology with a 2.1 or above
• BSc or BA in a closely related discipline (e.g., health, social, community care) with a 2.1 or above
Applications from students who have achieved a 2.2 degree will be considered by the course leadership team. Where there is evidence that at least two of the following criteria have been met the applicant may be offered a place on the course. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
• applicants have work experience in a health-related setting
• applicants have an enthusiasm for health psychology
• applicants have demonstrated their ability to achieve a 2.1 within their undergraduate degree (for example, transcripts reveal a 2.1 in key undergraduate curriculum areas such as research methods).
All applicants are required to provide two satisfactory references (normally one of these will be an academic reference) and a personal statement.
Requirements in order to progress to Stage 2 Health Psychology training on completion of this course:
The British Psychological Society's (BPS) requirements and Stage 2 Health Psychology training are applicable only to students who have completed a BPS accredited Psychology undergraduate degree. This provides eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS. If you do not currently have GBC with the BPS, then you will need to undertake a BPS accredited MSc conversion course in order to undertake the doctoral level qualification (stage 2) in Health Psychology following the completion of this MSc course. We also offer an MSc in Psychology that would give you eligibility for GBC, provided you achieve an overall mark of at least 50 per cent and pass your dissertation.
If English is not your first language you typically need an IELTS 6.5 score with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Adjustment To Long Term Conditions And Bereavement
Behaviour Change Interventions: Development And Evaluation
Biopsychosocial Determinants Of Acute Illness
Health Psychology Research Project
Introduction To Clinical Practitioner Skills And Competencies
Introduction To Research Methods
Research Methods And Measurement Issues In Health Psychology
Social Determinants Of Health
Understanding Behaviour
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £10,310 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £17,205 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Psychology courses (PDF, 250.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
