MSc Psychology (Conversion/Online Learning)

Hey, So I’m applying for distance learning in Psychology this year too. My best advice for you is to go to every university’s website about the specific course you are thinking of and write out what they actually offer, modules and topics. They are not all the same. You’ll quickly establish that some of them give you more for your money and others will have a lot less on and maybe missing some key topics that you might be interested in. Some of them will be stronger in research than others, is that important to you? Some will have more emphasis on let’s say childhood development for example. Some offer forensic psychology as part of the course, others don’t. They all vary in course fees, but the main thing here is that you want to study somewhere that’s giving you the best run for your money and time so research your universities and get a clear idea of what each offers you. Believe me, they really are not all the same.

Reply 3

Hi AJT369,

I am also looking into completing the MSc Psychology Conversion course and have completed quite a lot of research. As suggested in the other posts it is important to look at the content but also be mindful of the cost. I’ve also used league tables to help guide me as they look at things like job prospects and research etc - though, like any information gathering, it is only relevant if it’s important to you. In short my research has shown that Glasgow and Coventry score best in the league tables, however Glasgow charges international rates at £15,000 whereas Coventry is only £7,000. Glasgow is also a 3 year course so I am thinking I will study with Coventry. I hope this helps. Feel free to get in touch again.

Original post by AJT369

Hey,

So, I’m looking at doing an MSc in Psychology that is British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited. I’d also have to do this via online, as I live in Wales and no local university offers this course.

Having been on the BPS website, the following universities offer this course;

Arden University
Birmingham City University
BPP University
Coventry University
University of Derby
University of Glasgow
Leeds Becket University
University of Leicester
Manchester Metropolitan University

So, my question is how do I pick one? They’ve all got similar entry requirements. I have actually been researching this, but can’t seem to get a straight answer as to which one is actually the best for psychology!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated... be nice guys, this is my first forum question 🙂. Thanks!

Reply 4

marinade

16

Of course there is variation, but then there is variation within bricks and mortar universities.

An example, a local university Psychology conversion MSc is so called full time and has lessons 1 days a week. Boom.

This doesn't impede anyone finding a psychology related job, it's not like people scream into the face of interviewers, well I went to a really terrible university and my master's it had just one day of lessons a week. They just keep completely quiet, smile and ka-ching go and get that cool job.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 5

Hi folks

I'm looking at a Psychology MSc Conversion online also as I have commitments so am unable to attend university physically. I already a have a BA in English and two years' experience working (although not much relevant to psychology). Ultimately, I want to become a chartered Forensic Psychologist have spent the past week researching courses.

My three choices are:

- Glasgow (expensive and long but from a fantastic Uni with great career prospects. They have more modules and a Forensic Psychology module)
- Manchester Met (reasonable fees, only 12 months full time, a Forensic Psychology module and top 100 ranking but still, not the best uni and I couldn't find anything on career prospects or research and their Forensic Psychology lecturer only finished their PhD last year)
- BPP (Cheapest option and well-known uni/college but no Forensic Psychology module and no ranking + they're mainly known for Law and Business, not psychology)

I haven't gone with others due to poor ranking/too expensive/not BPS accredited/require residential attendance (make sure you can attend this)

I've read lots of conflicting advice. Some say at the end of the day, it's a conversion, and so doesn't matter where it comes from as long as it's accredited. Others have said the focus is on your work experience and when an employer is looking at someone from a low-ranking uni and someone from a prestigious one as the dealbreaker, they'll go with the latter.

Personally, despite the fact I'll have to magic £4k from thin air as SFE won't cover it, I might go with Glasgow as I think having a 100% online course can be a negative for some employers and so having an excellent reputation should make up for that. In addition, I'll cover more modules over more time and get to work (hopefully) in relevant fields throughout.

Overall, whatever happens, I feel as though I'll be better equipped and more qualified for the future having spent £6k more on a top 10, world-renowned uni with three year's work experience and deeper understanding of psychology than if I did a 'cash cow' course at MMU or BPP for much less and less quality but far quicker. Everyone says that a career in psychology is about your CV and I think Glasgow gives the better chance at those jobs.

It's a tough choice but that's where I'm at so far. I've applied for funding and I'll apply to all three in the coming weeks.

Reply 6

Original post by GraceMyint

Hi folks

I'm looking at a Psychology MSc Conversion online also as I have commitments so am unable to attend university physically. I already a have a BA in English and two years' experience working (although not much relevant to psychology). Ultimately, I want to become a chartered Forensic Psychologist have spent the past week researching courses.

My three choices are:

- Glasgow (expensive and long but from a fantastic Uni with great career prospects. They have more modules and a Forensic Psychology module)
- Manchester Met (reasonable fees, only 12 months full time, a Forensic Psychology module and top 100 ranking but still, not the best uni and I couldn't find anything on career prospects or research and their Forensic Psychology lecturer only finished their PhD last year)
- BPP (Cheapest option and well-known uni/college but no Forensic Psychology module and no ranking + they're mainly known for Law and Business, not psychology)

I haven't gone with others due to poor ranking/too expensive/not BPS accredited/require residential attendance (make sure you can attend this)

I've read lots of conflicting advice. Some say at the end of the day, it's a conversion, and so doesn't matter where it comes from as long as it's accredited. Others have said the focus is on your work experience and when an employer is looking at someone from a low-ranking uni and someone from a prestigious one as the dealbreaker, they'll go with the latter.

Personally, despite the fact I'll have to magic £4k from thin air as SFE won't cover it, I might go with Glasgow as I think having a 100% online course can be a negative for some employers and so having an excellent reputation should make up for that. In addition, I'll cover more modules over more time and get to work (hopefully) in relevant fields throughout.

Overall, whatever happens, I feel as though I'll be better equipped and more qualified for the future having spent £6k more on a top 10, world-renowned uni with three year's work experience and deeper understanding of psychology than if I did a 'cash cow' course at MMU or BPP for much less and less quality but far quicker. Everyone says that a career in psychology is about your CV and I think Glasgow gives the better chance at those jobs.

It's a tough choice but that's where I'm at so far. I've applied for funding and I'll apply to all three in the coming weeks.

Hi GraceMyint,

I have similar views to you regarding choosing a university but have you considered Coventry University? It scores better than Glasgow on the Guardian League table - both overall and in Psychology. Coventry is less than half of Glasgow at £7,000 for the online course. Only issue may be the course content as I don’t think it offers forensic so that will probably put you off. Let me know how you get on.

Reply 7

Ingish

Btw just for info Glasgow has let me know that they are moving to 2.5 years for the Psyhology conversion course rather than the stated 3. You can email them for more info :smile:

As for online courses for MSc Psychology conversion - in my own research about the university courses that are also BPS accredited, I have found that the ones with the best looking modules and scope of study topics were University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and Manchester Metropolitan. The rest like Leeds Beckett, Liverpool Hope, Birmingham City - I did’t feel like there was as much covered in the modules stated.
This is purely based on looking only at online conversion courses that are MSc, BPS accredited.

Reply 8

Hi Ingish,

That’s useful to know about Glasgow moving to 2.5 years as I phoned SAAS today and they only fund up to 2 years plus apparently they only give £5,500 towards tuition fees and you are not eligible for the living cost loan of £4,500 as it’s an online course. Thank you for updating us, much appreciated. I would love to go to Glasgow but just don’t know how I’m going to pay the £15,000 fees with only a £5,500 student loan. Coventry don’t offer instalment payments for the online course and require the £7,000 fees paid upfront.

Original post by Ingish

Btw just for info Glasgow has let me know that they are moving to 2.5 years for the Psyhology conversion course rather than the stated 3. You can email them for more info :smile:

As for online courses for MSc Psychology conversion - in my own research about the university courses that are also BPS accredited, I have found that the ones with the best looking modules and scope of study topics were University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and Manchester Metropolitan. The rest like Leeds Beckett, Liverpool Hope, Birmingham City - I did’t feel like there was as much covered in the modules stated.
This is purely based on looking only at online conversion courses that are MSc, BPS accredited.

Reply 9

@Conny19 I didn’t know that about Coventry! I’ve been using The Complete University guide and I believe they’re in the 50s for overall and 30s for Psychology there (off the top of my head). The reason I can’t go with them is because they have a compulsory residential (two days in year one and one day in year two) that I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to make otherwise I’d probably go with them.

Original post by Conny19

Hi GraceMyint,

I have similar views to you regarding choosing a university but have you considered Coventry University? It scores better than Glasgow on the Guardian League table - both overall and in Psychology. Coventry is less than half of Glasgow at £7,000 for the online course. Only issue may be the course content as I don’t think it offers forensic so that will probably put you off. Let me know how you get on.

Reply 10

Super interesting about the length change! I’m going to email them about that and staggered payments and whether I would get a dedicated tutor - basically everything before I commit it £15k for a conversion :colondollar:

Thanks for the heads up!

Original post by Ingish

Btw just for info Glasgow has let me know that they are moving to 2.5 years for the Psyhology conversion course rather than the stated 3. You can email them for more info :smile:

As for online courses for MSc Psychology conversion - in my own research about the university courses that are also BPS accredited, I have found that the ones with the best looking modules and scope of study topics were University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and Manchester Metropolitan. The rest like Leeds Beckett, Liverpool Hope, Birmingham City - I did’t feel like there was as much covered in the modules stated.
This is purely based on looking only at online conversion courses that are MSc, BPS accredited.

Reply 11

Hi,

Good news - Coventry no longer require you to attend a residential- it’s now 100% online (it was previously blended learning). I hope that helps.

Original post by GraceMyint

@Conny19 I didn’t know that about Coventry! I’ve been using The Complete University guide and I believe they’re in the 50s for overall and 30s for Psychology there (off the top of my head). The reason I can’t go with them is because they have a compulsory residential (two days in year one and one day in year two) that I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to make otherwise I’d probably go with them.

Reply 12

Liverpool Hope University

Hey @Ingish

How long was the response time from Glasgow? I’m trying to make sure I can pay in installments otherwise I’m going to have to go with a different uni but I haven’t heard anything from two info requests from the past two week and an email to the programme lead five days ago. Feeling a bit on edge with the other course application deadlines closing!

Reply 13

Official Rep

19

Original post by Ingish

Btw just for info Glasgow has let me know that they are moving to 2.5 years for the Psyhology conversion course rather than the stated 3. You can email them for more info :smile:

As for online courses for MSc Psychology conversion - in my own research about the university courses that are also BPS accredited, I have found that the ones with the best looking modules and scope of study topics were University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and Manchester Metropolitan. The rest like Leeds Beckett, Liverpool Hope, Birmingham City - I did’t feel like there was as much covered in the modules stated.
This is purely based on looking only at online conversion courses that are MSc, BPS accredited.

Hello there, :biggrin:

I just wanted to clear one thing up that our MSc Psychology conversion course is not an online based course and would be taught at our Hope Park campus. The course could not be completed through distance learning. It is designed as a conversion course and is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It offers graduates from other subjects the opportunity to start a new career in Psychology. In addition, the course is available to Psychology graduates who completed a Psychology degree which did not have accreditation from the British Psychological Society.

If you wished to find out further details from the course you could use the link above or we could arrange a meeting with an academic for you.

Cheers,
Tom :banana2:

Reply 14

Arden University 1

5

Original post by AJT369

Hey,

So, I’m looking at doing an MSc in Psychology that is British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited. I’d also have to do this via online, as I live in Wales and no local university offers this course.

Having been on the BPS website, the following universities offer this course;

Arden University
Birmingham City University
BPP University
Coventry University
University of Derby
University of Glasgow
Leeds Becket University
University of Leicester
Manchester Metropolitan University

So, my question is how do I pick one? They’ve all got similar entry requirements. I have actually been researching this, but can’t seem to get a straight answer as to which one is actually the best for psychology!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated... be nice guys, this is my first forum question 🙂. Thanks!

Hi!

Just wanted to weigh in and put it out there that sometimes it's difficult to really get a complete feel for the course modules etc. from a university website.

We know that with distance learning courses it can be trickier to make a decision, as you don't have a campus or classrooms to visit. If you'd like to know more info about the MSc Psychology and get all of your questions off your chest, we could put you in touch with an academic here?

Best of luck deciding :smile:

Tash
The Arden Team

Reply 15

Grandstage

1

Hi GraceMyint,

Your line of thought in choosing Glasgow uni is exactly how and why I chose it too for this year. 3 years seems a stretch but combining that with work experience and the rep, it seems the best choice as to get a good background in a field of study I dont have much experience in.

Good luck for the course, and maybe we might come across each other during the duration of the course.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 16

TeeSmith

2

Look where they rank I know Leicester ranks in the top 25 in the UK, this will be important when applying for your Doctorate.

Reply 17

marinade

16

Original post by TeeSmith

Look where they rank I know Leicester ranks in the top 25 in the UK, this will be important when applying for your Doctorate.

Will it?

Reply 18

SarahD202

4

Hey lads, any updates on how were online courses are going? Neck deep in researching and applying at the moment. Narrowed it down to BPP (got offered a position today) and Robert Gordon Aberdeen. Both are accredited with affordable intuition and seem to have good course content?

Reply 19

eamackt