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Course overview
The programme provides eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) - the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist and an essential requirement for most practitioner psychology training routes. This course prepares you to progress towards professional psychology training or related careers requiring advanced analytical, research and communication skills.
Delivered fully online, the course offers flexibility for those balancing study with work, caring responsibilities or pursuing a career change.
Top reasons to study this course
- Accredited: this course is accredited by the BPS and allows you to gain the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), an essential steppingstone for recognised psychological work in the UK.
- Flexible learning: your course materials are all online and can be accessed at any time, so you choose when and where you study.
- Supportive environment: find your voice as a member of our online community, with support specific to your needs from professional and personal tutors who can provide feedback and guidance about the subject, and beyond.
- Expert teaching: this course is taught by research-active staff with decades of experience and expertise across the field.
- Maximised value: gain all the benefits and prestige of a master’s in psychology at a competitive cost, making the most out of your money.
Online learning
Online learning allows you to get a university-level qualification from the comfort of your own home or workplace. You'll have access to all of the world-class teaching and support that Teesside University has to offer, but all of your lectures, tutorials and assessments will take place online.
Find out more about Online learning
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
You explore how digital technologies shape human behaviour and psychological processes in both online and offline contexts. You examine how internet use influences physical and psychological health, cognition and decision-making.
You are introduced to the theoretical foundations and empirical research underpinning positive psychology and explore how they are applied across clinical, educational, occupational, and personal contexts. You gain insight into the psychological publication process and the standards required for preparing work suitable for submission to an academic journal.
Applying Psychology to a Complex World
You explore the breadth of the discipline and develop a clear understanding of the core areas that underpin more advanced study.
Biological Explanations of Behaviour
You explore the biological foundations of behaviour, examining how genetic, endocrinological, neurological, and evolutionary processes shape psychological functioning. You investigate biological explanations for a range of psychological topics, considering how brain systems, hormones, inherited traits and evolutionary pressures influence cognition, emotion and behaviour.
Creating Knowledge, Delivering Innovation
You develop a foundation in psychological research methods and analysis, equipping you with the tools needed to generate new knowledge and contribute to innovation within the discipline. You are introduced to the concepts, terminology and methodological approaches that underpin psychological research.
Current Issues in Neurodiversity
You explore neurodiversity from biological, cognitive, developmental, behavioural and environmental perspectives. You examine a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism spectrum condition, ADHD, Dyslexia, Specific language impairment, Williams syndrome, Dyscalculia, Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome.
Human Development across the lifespan
You explore human development across the lifespan, examining how biological, cognitive, social, and emotional processes interact to shape growth and change.
Nature Based Approaches, Meaning and Mental Health
You study the concept of ecopsychology, the study of the relationship between human beings and the natural world and its implications for mental health and wellbeing.
Promoting Health, Preventing Illness
You explore the role of psychology in the progression, treatment and management of illness across the lifespan. You evaluate how different theoretical models explain health behaviour, with a focus on tension between the traditional biomedical model and the emerging biopsychosocial approach to understanding health and disease.
You undertake an independent, self-initiated empirical research project. Grounded in the principles of evidence-based practice, you develop your advanced research competence, project management skills and professional-level academic writing. You design, conduct, analyse, and disseminate an original psychological research study. Working closely with your allocated supervisor, you define your research focus and take ownership of the entire research process, from proposal development and ethical approval through to data collection, analysis and publication-style write-up.
Social Psychology and social change
You explore social psychology and qualitative research, examining how social contexts shape thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
You engage with social explanations for a range of psychological topics, while developing an understanding of the scientific approaches used to study social behaviour.
Understanding Minds: Investigating how we think, remember, and comprehend
You study contemporary cognitive psychology, examining how we understand, process, store, and use information. You engage with current theories and research across key areas such as language, face processing emotion and cognition, memory, attention and reasoning and decision-making.
Understanding Uniqueness – The Study of Individual Differences
You explore how and why individuals differ from one another, focusing on two central domains within psychology: intelligence and personality. Drawing on both historical foundations and contemporary research, you will examine the major theoretical approaches used to understand individual differences. As a core BPS area, individual differences is studied in depth, with particular attention to theory development, empirical research and practical application.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn using a range of methods including pre-recorded lectures and guided independent study, how-to research skills videos, interactive live sessions, discussion boards and peer engagement, inquiry-based and problem-based learning and case studies and applied tasks.
Modules can be studied flexibly within the module timeframe. Regular quizzes provide early feedback, allowing you to check progress and seek support where needed.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through a range of different methods including multiple choice questions and short-answer quizzes, research reports, portfolios, proposals, applied tasks, communication to non-expert audiences and a journal-format empirical research project.
Formative feedback is embedded throughout with model answers, self-tests, discussion boards, and tutor guidance. Summative assessments are aligned to professional psychological practice and research standards.
To be eligible for GBC from the BPS you must pass the Psychology Project and achieve an overall mark of at least 50% on the course.
Entry requirements
A 2:2 undergraduate degree or equivalent in any discipline.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered for up to a maximum of 60 credits. This is required by BPS standards for selection.
This course is not suitable for students who have already achieved the graduate basis for registration (GBC) with the BPS.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
We welcome applications from international students. If you are applying from outside the UK, you can find detailed guidance on the qualifications we accept, entry requirements for your country, and how to apply on our international country pages.
Employability
Career opportunities
The skills and knowledge you develop on this course are particularly suited to further postgraduate training to become a chartered psychologist in any area of psychology.
You can enter a broad range of careers including health and social welfare, the probation service, the prison service, the police, voluntary organisations and the public sector, as well as more business-related roles.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.