Prepare for a master's with our new MSc Applied Psychology (Conversion) course

Find out more about our upcoming MSc Applied Psychology (Conversion) course, which is designed to help you progress to a psychology-based master’s degree.

This course will start in October 2026 (subject to approval).

Our new MSc Applied Psychology (Conversion) course has been created for people looking to advance to a range of psychology-based master’s degrees, despite not having studied the subject at undergraduate level.

Most professional roles in areas like forensic, clinical or educational psychology require a relevant master’s or doctoral degree. Our new one-year course can provide you with the equivalent to an undergraduate qualification in psychology, which can help you when applying for these professional qualifications.

This is especially useful if your aspirations have changed or you want to advance in your career.

Open the door to a career as a professional psychologist

Up-to-date theory and practice with real-world application.

A student and teacher working on a computer in a psychology lab

Whether you’re looking to specialise in areas like clinical, forensic or behavioural psychology, you’ll need to start your journey with a deep understanding of the subject and core skills in research.

Through a mix of taught units and a consultancy project, you’ll learn to use scientific investigation to understand how people think, feel and act; both individually and as part of social groups.

You’ll also learn about a variety of applied research methods relevant within psychology, and how to present evidence and findings to a range of different audiences.

The course covers these core themes:

the biological basis and mechanisms of thinking and mental processes
the relationship between individual, social and cultural psychological processes
the application of social psychology and individual differences
human development from birth through to adulthood and beyond, and the common changes that occur during the lifespan

Across this degree, you’ll develop knowledge and skills that will enable you to respond to the challenges and opportunities expressed in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You’ll be especially well placed to contribute to SDGs 3-5 (Health, Education, Gender Equality), 10 (reduce Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities), 13 (Climate Change) and 16 (Peace and Justice).

Apply your skills in a practical setting

A key aspect of this course is the consultancy project. This will allow you to apply the psychological skills and knowledge gained during the core units to real-world challenges.

Consultancy projects take place with professional organisations, giving you the chance to demonstrate your skills and expertise in a practical way as part of your degree. The project could be a challenge faced by the company or an extension of current research for an organisation.

This applied approach is designed to equip you with relevant experience that could be beneficial for future careers.

More about consultancy projects at Bath

Two students using using an eye scanning device in a lab

Kick-start your psychology career

We want to give you the platform to progress to further training, with the end goal of becoming a professional psychologist. This could be within clinical, educational, forensic, or organisational settings.

Many graduates from our specialist psychology master’s degrees (such as MSc Applied Clinical Psychology; MSc Health Psychology; MSc Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement; and MSc Applied Psychology and Economic Behaviour) go on to work in other public, private and third sector roles. The research skills you can gain are beneficial in clinical sciences, data science, market research and administration professions.

Explore our psychology master's courses

Study at a globally well-ranked university

We are known for excellence in teaching and research, and for providing outstanding career preparation.

Top 100 in the world for Psychology in the QS World University Rankings 2024 By Subject

92% of Bath research was classified as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework 2021

Top 5 for Psychology in all of the UK's major university league tables in 2025*

Become part of our psychology community

Studying with us means you will be part of our Department of Psychology.

Our members have expertise in a range of applied psychology areas, including sustainability, clinical psychology, health psychology, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and digital science.

The Department is based in a dedicated £30 million building on our campus. This contains advanced psychology research space, including facilities like:

Biopsychology suite with two-way mirror
Cross modal laboratory including a soundproof room
Sensory and pain research suite
Social and developmental observation labs, including the Bath Babylab
Virtual reality lab with motion sensor cameras

The outside of 10 West building, Bath's psychology building

What you'll need

This course is designed to prepare you for further study at master's level. You'll need a Bachelor’s honours degree (or international equivalent). This should be, typically, a 2:1 or above (this does not need to be in psychology).

Full entry requirements and guidance on how to apply will be made available when applications open.

Get updates about this course

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Are you interested in studying MSc Applied Psychology (Conversion) at Bath?

Get updates about this course We will provide you with updates about this course, including full entry requirements, the units you could study and when applications open.

* The University of Bath ranked joint 2nd in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2025, 5th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and 5th in the Complete University Guide 2025 for Psychology. These rankings assess undergraduate courses.