The MSc Health Psychology at UWE Bristol provides advanced training in applying psychological theory to health, illness, and behaviour change. It is ideal for psychology graduates with Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) who aim to become Practitioner Health Psychologists or work in applied health settings.
Curriculum structure:
Students complete six core modules over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).
In Health, Stress and Cognition, students learn how illness perceptions, stress, and coping relate to health‐behaviour.
Through Bio-psychosocial Perspectives on Health, they explore holistic models of disease, integrating biological, psychological, and social pathways.
In Applications & Professional Skills in Health Psychology, students design a behaviour-change exercise and build consultancy and professional competencies.
The Health Psychology in Action module involves a work-based placement where students apply theory in real health settings.
Finally, they complete a Dissertation involving an independent research project, typically linked to health-care providers or departmental expertise.
Focus areas:
“behaviour change; stress & cognition; biopsychosocial health; applied placement; professional research skills”
Learning outcomes:
“critically understand health behaviour theories, design and evaluate behaviour-change interventions, conduct independent empirical research, and apply psychology in health-care settings”
Professional alignment (accreditation):
Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS); provides Stage 1 training toward becoming a Chartered Practitioner Health Psychologist.
Reputation (employability rankings):
UWE Bristol is well regarded for its applied psychology programmes, and graduates often go on to roles in the NHS, consultancy, public health, or Stage 2 training.
Students develop practical health psychology skills through applied research projects and professional training for Stage 1 accreditation. They utilise UWE's specialist health psychology 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
Graduates of the MSc Health Psychology program at UWE Bristol typically secure roles such as Trainee Health Psychologist, Behaviour Change Specialist, Health Promotion Officer, and Clinical Researcher. The program provides in-depth knowledge and applicable skills across health psychology practice, research, and intervention, equipping graduates well for NHS, private, charitable, and academic roles.
Key employability and progression highlights:
The university offers extensive career support including personalized mentoring, access to placement opportunities in NHS and community settings, employability workshops, and networking events.
Employment statistics indicate high graduate success, with over 90% employed or in further study within 15 months; salaries are competitive for early-career health psychology professionals.
University partnerships include NHS trusts, public health organisations, and research centres, providing placements and professional development opportunities.
The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Stage 1 training toward Practitioner Health Psychologist status, conferring long-term professional value.
Graduates report strong outcomes in applied professional skills, research proficiency, ethical practice, and intervention design relevant to health psychology.
Further Academic Progression: Graduates can proceed to Stage 2 doctoral training in health psychology for chartered status or pursue PhD research and academic careers in health psychology and behavioural medicine.



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