MSc Health Psychology

The MSc Health Psychology at Leeds Beckett University provides rigorous academic and research-based training in how psychological principles influence health, illness, behaviour change, and healthcare delivery. It is suited for psychology graduates who wish to pursue careers in public health, health consultancy, or progress toward accredited health psychologist status. 

Curriculum structure:
In the one-year full-time programme, students begin by studying Contexts & Perspectives in Health Psychology, where they examine theoretical frameworks for understanding health across populations, and Advanced Research Methods for Health Psychology, which gives them deep training in both quantitative and qualitative approaches.  They then move on to Physiological & Psychosomatic Disease Processes to understand biological mechanisms behind health change, while Health Psychology in Action integrates theory and practice by exploring interventions and applications in real-world health settings. The final component is a Dissertation (60 credits), in which they design and conduct an independent empirical research project relevant to contemporary health psychology issues. 

Focus areas:
“health-behaviour change; biopsychosocial health; research methodology; health interventions; applied health psychology”

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will critically understand health psychology theory, apply advanced research methods, evaluate and design interventions for health behaviour change, and communicate their research professionally.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This course has ongoing BPS accreditation for Stage 1 Health Psychology, preparing students to progress to Stage 2 training toward Practitioner Health Psychologist status. 

Reputation (employability rankings):
Leeds Beckett’s health psychology MSc is taught by internationally-recognised, research-active staff and offers access to high-quality lab facilities; graduates often move into roles in public health, healthcare strategy, health consultancy, or PhD programmes.