Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £16,385 for the course
Course summary
- Meet the British Psychological Society's (BPS) Stage 1 requirements for progression to becoming a Health Psychologist.
- Gain knowledge, skills, values and academic approach to secure employment or career development within a variety of health-related settings.
- Choose to study full or part-time through active, independent learning.
Successfully completing the course provides you with the skills to progress onto Stage 2 Health Psychology training including the BPS accredited Doctoral Programme in Health Psychology, which provides eligibility for registration as a Practitioner Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
For further information about the steps required to become a Health Psychologist, please see the Entry Requirements section below.
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
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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 adjustment to long term conditions and bereavement, health psychology research, introduction to research methods, a health psychology research project, understanding behaviour, behaviour change inventions, clinical practitioner skills and competencies, biopsychosocial determinants of acute illness and social determinants of health.
You learn through
- online study
- group work
- problem solving
- practitioner skills workshops
- research conference
Modules combine online learning with weekly on-campus study days. This provides flexible learning opportunities to enable a diverse range of students to study alongside employment and/or family commitments. Students attend a block week on campus in September, before typically attending one day per month thereafter.
Our course leaders are experts in clinical health practitioner work in private practice and in the NHS. The course includes an introduction to a range of applied skills that you will practice during on-campus study days.
Applied practitioner skills include
- 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
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 healthcare contexts module and is designed to contribute to your continuing personal and professional development.
If you do not work 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.
In the research project module we focus on developing the personal and academic skills needed to carry out research and importantly, to manage your research project, for example analytic skills, oral communication skills, and time planning skills.
You will 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, delivered by members of the department and guest speakers are used to deepen 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 also have a week of dedicated focus on employability to give you early orientation to career opportunities.
We seek to encourage an atmosphere of supportiveness among our students where they feel comfortable if they need to ask for help, guidance or encouragement from tutors and peers. Indeed, we are 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 practitioner
- psychology academic
- 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
Accreditation
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.
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- Blackboard online virtual learning environment
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 in their 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. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
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.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Behaviour Change Interventions: Development And Evaluation | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Health Psychology Research Project | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Introduction To Research Methods | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Social Determinants Of Health | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Understanding Behaviour | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Adjustment To Long Term Conditions And Bereavement | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Biopsychosocial Determinants Of Acute Illness | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Clinical Practitioner Skills And Competencies | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Research Methods And Measurement Issues In Health Psychology | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2023/24 are: Year 1: £6,610, Year 2: £3,305
† 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
This course is not eligible for full-time Student visa sponsorship. International/EU students may apply for part-time Student visa sponsorship on an individual basis. Please contact Admissions for further advice.
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, 213.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
