MSc Health Psychology MSc

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Keele University

Program Overview

The MSc Health Psychology at Keele University explores how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health, illness, and well-being, offering students both theoretical grounding and real-world experience. It is suited for graduates or professionals aiming to work in health services, research, public health, or to design behaviour-change interventions. Keele University

Curriculum structure:

Year / Term 1: Students take Applied Psychological Research Methods (30 credits) where they learn both quantitative and qualitative designs, data collection, and research interpretation. They also begin Being and Becoming Ill, exploring how health, illness, and recovery are shaped by medical, social, and psychological processes. In Health Promotion, Prevention and Behaviour Change (30 credits), they study behaviour-change theories (e.g. TDF, HAPA), intervention design, and real-world implementation. Meanwhile, Professional Practice in Health Psychology places students in health organisations where they apply theory, reflect on ethics, and build professional skills.
Dissertation / Research Project: Students complete a 60-credit Applied Research Dissertation (PSY-40169), designing, executing, analysing, and reporting a health-psychology research project under supervision.

Focus areas (in a string):
“behaviour-change theory; illness & coping; health intervention design; applied research; professional placement”

Learning outcomes (in a string):
“understand biopsychosocial factors of health; design and evaluate behaviour-change interventions; conduct rigorous mixed-methods research; apply psychological theory in health settings; reflect on ethical professional practice.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The programme is aligned with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is actively seeking BPS accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Keele University holds a Gold rating in the UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework, and this MSc equips graduates for careers in public health, NHS roles, behavioural insight teams, health research, or doctoral training.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical health psychology skills through applied research projects and professional training for Stage 1 accreditation. They utilise Keele's specialist facilities and have links with health organisations. The programme's experiential components include:

Research Project: A dissertation in health psychology
Professional Training: Stage 1 training towards Health Psychologist registration
Facilities: Access to psychology research laboratories
Applied Focus: Development of health behaviour change interventions
Software: Training in statistical analysis for health data

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Keele University’s MSc Health Psychology program typically progress into roles such as Health Psychologist Trainee, Public Health Researcher, Behaviour Change Specialist, and Health Promotion Officer. The program equips students with advanced skills in psychological theory, health behaviour change, research methods, and professional practice, opening pathways to careers in healthcare, research, policy, and consultancy.

Key progression and employment details:

Keele University provides comprehensive employability support including dedicated academic and career mentors, placement opportunities within health organisations, and workshops on professional skills and networking.
Approximately 93% of graduates secure employment or further study within a year, with salaries reflective of early-career health psychology roles in the NHS and public health sectors.
The program benefits from partnerships with NHS trusts, public health bodies, and research institutions, facilitating practical placements and collaborative projects.
It is aligned with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation, supporting Stage 1 qualification toward becoming a Chartered Health Psychologist, which adds substantial professional value.
Graduates report strong outcomes in applied research competency, ethical decision-making, behaviour change intervention design, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may advance to doctoral training within health psychology or related fields to achieve chartered status, or pursue PhD research in health-related psychology for academic or specialist roles.