Course Summary

If you're interested in developing your career through improving your understanding of psychological concepts and applications in the area of health psychology and human resource management, this fascinating course is for you. It has been specifically designed for health professionals or students with a health-related academic background, as well as graduates from a variety of disciplines who wish to pursue a career in primary and mental health.

The course will equip you with the managerial and clinical knowledge required for these roles, with a focus on professional skills, the role of stress in the development of illnesses, the impact of personality and lifestyle variables on health and illnesses, mental health, interventions and links with areas such as human resource management and psychological testing.

The course seeks to develop understanding of the main models and theories in the field of health, mental health and occupational psychology, to provide an insight into the relationship between human sciences, and to provide knowledge of research skills needed in a practice setting. Students will make use of our well-equipped laboratories with extensive computing facilities, as well as developing managerial competencies (for example, leadership and motivation building) and awareness of their strategic potential.

The Master's team comprises nine members of staff, three of whom are chartered health psychologists, and three who have recently been appointed Professors in allied areas (Applied, Health and Occupational Health Psychology).

Why choose this course?

Aimed at allied health professions such as nurses, medical doctors and social services workers dealing with health-related topics, this course offers the opportunity for career enhancement by developing psychological skills applicable in practice and research. Typically, graduates can expect to be promoted to more responsible roles or have the opportunity to be recruited in primary care services, especially in relation to mental health.

The course is also aimed at graduates looking to pursue a career in a variety of health settings. Previous graduates with some psychology training have been able to obtain the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). This course will also provide opportunities to pursue career paths in a range of other occupations including: local directors of NHS community services for physiotherapy, dietetic, cancer screening and HIV-positive research posts within the NHS, managerial posts in Primary Care Trusts (PCT), mental health workers in primary care and psychological test administrators in a reading disability centre.

During the course you will:

• Benefit from excellent links with local healthcare providers and the University's Postgraduate Medical School for research and work experience
• Experience a unique combination of topics in health, psychological assessment and human resource management
• Have the opportunity to apply for a certificate of Occupational Testing (level A)
• Develop skills in Early Interventions in Primary Care settings (ie Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Effects of lifestyle and individual differences on health behaviour
• Effects of health interventions in areas such as alcohol use and chronic stress
• Psychological assessment from test administration to interpretation
• Research methods for health psychologists
• Occupational health psychology
• Managing people and leadership skills at work
• Mental health in primary care (management of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems in primary settings)
• Stress, theories, measurement and management

MSXPB

Assessment

• Research Proposal


• Research Report


• Critical Review


• Portfolio


• Log book


• Presentation


• Essay


• Computer based assessment


• Exams


• Case Studies


• Dissertation

The assessment strategy reflects the academic rigor expected of a master degree in Psychological Approaches to Health and Management.

The assessments are designed to test your academic knowledge, oral and written skills, use of literature using primary and secondary sources, critical analysis of ideas, connections made between theory, practice, real life situations and the understanding and application of professional values, to include ethical issues as detailed by the BPS.

This is not a BPS accredited degree, nevertheless because it run by the psychology division it follows the conducts of BPS. You are also given the opportunity to self-assess your work to help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Throughout your university career in Psychology you will be required to take a wide variety of types of assessment to assess your progression and success. Thirty credit units have three assessment points and 15 credit units have two assessment points.

Feedback is given to students for each assessment point and it is expected that you will use this feedback for your own development and to inform your completion of future assessments.

The criteria for passing a unit are given in the University Regulations Section 3.1.7.

Examples of the range of assessment types are given below:

Research Proposal are used to assess:

• Your ability to design a research ideas


• Your skills to plan a project


• Your skills to chose appropriate method of investigation


• Your skills of writing it up a new ideas in academic format

Reports are used to assess:

• Your understanding of a topic


• Your understanding of the structure of a report


• Skills in research and statistics (information literacy)


• Methods of investigation


• Analysis of cases studies

Article critiques are used to assess:

• Your critical thinking skills


• Evaluation skills


• Breadth and depth of knowledge of topics


• Synthesis of academic material

Portfolios are used to assess:

• Your assessment of your own performance and learning in a subject specific area


• Breadth of understanding of issues


• Your use of different formats and writing genres

Log Book are used to assess:

• Your skills to accumulate evidences of practice of newly gained skills


• Demonstration of your newly gained skills with evidences

Student presentations assess:

• Aspects of successful group work (working as a team)


• Communicating ideas clearly and succinctly

Written essays are used to assess:

• your conceptual knowledge (your understanding of the material presented in the units)


• Your ability to communicate ideas (communication skills)


• Depth of knowledge of a topic


• Skills to write critical evaluation

Computer-based assessments:

• Factual knowledge


• Relational knowledge (how one concept relates to others)


• Breadth of knowledge of a range of topics

Exams are used to assess:

• Summative knowledge of topics in the course


• The degree to which you have studied the course


• Breadth and depth of knowledge of topics

Case studies are used to assess:

• Your in-depth understanding of a topic


• To illustrate how a theory or method applies to a particular instance


• Your application of the topic to real life situations

Educational Aims

The general aims of master degrees are:

• Systematic understanding of knowledge, and critical awareness of current problems and / or new highlights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field study, or area of professional practice


• A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship


• Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship


• Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and inquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline


• Conceptual understanding that enables the students: to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline; and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses

Further aims specific to the MSc Psychological Approaches to Health and Management are:

• To prepare you for further postgraduate study in psychology and allied areas such as health


• To provide you with a focus on patient and health professionals behaviours in relation to treatment and treatment environments


• To enable you to use psychometric tests up to level A to conduct your own research and to for recruitment purposes


• To enhance sensitivity and understanding of ethical issues that raise in the design and conduct of psychological research in general and the health environment in particular


• To enable you to use management skills gained to manage staff and take more responsible administrative roles within health settings

The Division of Psychology aims to:

• Provide broad-ranging accredited psychology degrees with specific foci on health and wellbeing and criminal psychology


• Emphasise the applied nature of psychology and the employability skills that a psychology degree confers


• Work with and develop partnerships to inform our research and teaching


• Be supportive of all our students from a wide range of backgrounds and help them achieve their full potential


• Continue to develop innovative and applied curricula using a blended learning strategy and wide range of teaching methods and assessments


• Develop CPD provision to enhance student employability and as a mechanism for knowledge transfer


• Engage in applicable research in collaboration with partners including the PG Medical School, CETL, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and other academic fields

The Psychology Division is innovative in its use of different teaching methods to include virtual learning environments, computer based learning and assessment, and multimedia instruction. This is in addition to a range of seminars, tutorial and lab based activities where you will learn how to use specialist equipment and software. The Division aims to encourage you to reach your personal potential by enhancing your knowledge, skills and self awareness through the development of critical enquiry, analysis, evaluation, reflection and synthesis.

Student support

The Psychology Division places strong emphasis on student support so that you are in a good position to achieve your maximum academic potential and to enjoy the University experience. We are very aware of the differing needs of our students and this is reflected in the range of support mechanisms that are available. The Psychology Division places particular emphasis on the accessibility and availability of the teaching team.

The induction programme is designed to provide you with a range of activities to introduce you to the Psychology Division and your degree programme. We aim to foster a sense of belonging to the University and your award programme in order to nurture your academic and professional identity. During induction you will hear about the structure of the curriculum and career opportunities at the end of your course especially job opportunities within NHS. You will learn how to access your unit results using E:Vision and practice using BREO the universitys virtual learning environment. At a very early stage you will be allocated a Personal Tutor who works closely with the Field Chair. Short talks will be given by various services available to you in the university, for example, the Student Services, Professional and Academic Development (PAD) unit, Learning Resources Centre (LRC) and the Centre for Personal and Career Development (CPCD).

The Personal Tutor system will provide you with the opportunity to have one to one structured meetings to discuss your academic progress. This may mean considering ways in which you can enhance your strengths and give you the space to describe any difficulties you may be having with your study programme or any difficult situation you may find yourself in during your time with us. We are here to help. In addition all members of the teaching team have weekly drop-in sessions where issues relating to the study of an individual unit can be discussed directly with the unit co-ordinator and other members of the unit team. If you do need to contact a member of staff you are encouraged to do so either in person, by telephone, or by email.

A feature of the psychology programmes is the level of IT and technical support given. Seminar and lecture material is supplemented with hands-on experience of using a variety of types of software and help with statistics and report writing is available. Additional IT / Statistical drop in sessions are available at different times during the week for students at all levels within the department, with extra sessions put on specifically for master level students during summer to enable you to complete your dissertation.

The Student Services is available to all students and can give you independent and confidential advice if you are having difficulties, for example, if you are unwell during an assignment hand-in or exam period. When you have extenuating circumstances, perhaps an untimely illness then the service can provide you with extra time to complete your work or postpone an exam without penalty when the work is marked. Student Services works closely with the Personal Tutors and Field Chair.

The Professional and Academic Development team are able to help you through study skills workshops or with one to one sessions to help you improve the quality of your written assignments, understanding statistical concepts, organisations skills to help you manage your study programme, language skills and much more.

At the Student Centre you will find the Disability Advice Team and the Counselling Service. The Disability Advice Team is available to discuss any issues you may have and can provide services such as dyslexia screening. The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) offers a range of services and specialist software and equipment. The counselling service is available at Student Services and assists with personal, and financial difficulties.

The LRC provides valuable resources to enable you to develop essential information literacy skills, knowledge and understanding of the range of online databases available to you so that you are in a good position to expand your knowledge of Psychology. The Psychology Division works closely with our subject specific librarian and with our commitment to supporting students employability skills we have embedded into the curriculum as series of lectures, tutorials and workshops to enhance your information literacy skills. These sessions are directly linked to other aspects of the Psychology curriculum and become more complex and detailed as you go through your degree programme. In addition, our subject librarian is available for one to one support outside of the teaching programme.

The Centre for Personal and Career Development helps students to reflect on their unique capabilities, interests and circumstance which can be expanded whilst at university and to prepare you for successful employment or further your postgraduate study (i.e. PhD, Professional Doctorate). This service offers one-to-one career coaching on job search, how to complete application forms, interviews techniques, and study and career planning. Also available to help you with your future after graduating is the Job Shop which is a service designed to help you gain valuable skills such as team-working, problem solving, communication, planning and organisation. If you are interested in Community Volunteering then visit the Centre for Personal and Career Development to help to build your personal confidence and participate in work experience. The Psychology Division works closely with the Centre for Personal and Career Development.

The Centre delivers lectures and workshops which are embedded into the Psychology curriculum to both get you to consider the Psychological aspects of your career choice and personal development along with facilitating you to develop very practical employability skills. We also host a Going Professional Conference every year where employers and graduates are available to discuss your career options. In addition we run a curriculum enhancement week where we discuss research methods and career development and invite NHS managers and postgraduates to discuss your career options.

Team working

Some units include grades for the outcomes of group-work. Students will often be expected to work in groups or discuss issues in groups as part of the teaching and learning programme. Working with others is explicitly assessed in some units. You are also expected to work collaboratively with your peers and staff especially with your dissertation supervisor during your dissertation project.

Career Management Skills

The degree aims to provide an understanding of real life applications of theory to experience and behaviour in both normality and illness. This aim is built in to the course. Furthermore, you will encounter a range of examples of the application of psychology relevant to a future career in psychology or in a profession where such knowledge and skills acquired during the degree would be useful. You will have talks given by the Centre for Personal and Career Development during the research and career enhancement week.

The Psychology Division works closely with the Centre for Personal and Career Development and embedded into the curriculum at all levels you will engage in career development activities. During the degree you will be made aware a model of personal and career development based on the SOAR (Kumar, 2007) model and underpinned by career development theories. You will be encouraged to hold a career management skills portfolio to use throughout your master to record your academic development, self reflection and career aspirations. This element of your will not be formally assessed.

Working with the Centre of Personal and Career Development you will have the opportunity to engage in practical careers workshops to enhance your interview skills and to produce a high quality your CV, and personal statement. There will also be opportunities to engaged to voluntary work organised by the center for specific work experiences in areas you would like to enhance your skills.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

On completing this course students are likely to progress into the following areas:

• Public services (such as, the health service, education, the Civil Service)


• Research


• Market research


• Personnel management


• Postgraduate study leading towards a doctorate (MPhil and PhD)

You will develop a sound training in subject specific skills and knowledge, together with the skills required for lifelong learning so you will be well prepared for a range of careers.

There is an emphasis on the applied nature of health and occupational health psychology that will help you to develop your understanding of real life applications of theory to a range of experiences and behaviours that will assist you in your career choice.

Further study:

There are a range of postgraduate study opportunities open to you for career paths in health and organisational psychology, research training, teaching and the Health Service.

The Psychology Division offers taught masters programmes in Health Psychology (accredited by the BPS), Psychological Approaches to Health and Management, and Organisational Psychology.

Entry

Standard:

The general requirement is one of the following:

• Undergraduate degree and/or experience in health setting


• Equivalent qualifications of above from non-European countries

Students from the European Union:

As a general guide, to apply for a place on the course you need to have completed your undergraduate degree and have the required English qualification as outlined below:

- IELTS 6.0

- TOEFL 580 [paper]

- TOEFL 235 [computer]

- Cambridge CPE C

- Cambridge CAE C or

- Bedfordshire test (TELAS) grade 2

International students:

In determining the equivalence (whether for initial entry or admission with advanced standing of overseas qualifications the University will be guided by the standards generally adopted in British higher education institutions as described by organisations such as the British Council. International students can apply direct to the University or via representatives in their home country. English language proficiency as outlined above is also required.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Professional, Statuatory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

There are no particular issues of accessibility to the curriculum for disabled students. Any new developments within the Psychology Division are reviewed to ensure that they comply with the 2001 Special Needs and Disability Act. The combination of face-to-face and online resources enables a flexible approach that aims to be learner centred. Where individual support needs are recognized the course team works with others within the University to ensure that student needs are addresses.

There is some laboratory based work although this is mostly on computers and should not normally pose a problem. There are procedures for students with dyslexia and some software that might help some students with dyslexia or mild visual problems. Students with hearing problems have been successful on Psychology courses in the past. The Psychology Division has technical support and if your disability causes problems with the use of conventional computers then alternative arrangements can be discussed.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

Be encouraged to develop cogent arguments supported by relevant evidence to write both essays, scientific-style reports, through experience in giving oral presentations to groups. You will be supported through feedback to feedforward mechanisms, formative and summative assessment procedures, and classes on report writing techniques. Group work, and in-class discussion and debate will also help to develop your communication skills. Each of the units will require you to reflect on your learning and academic development in order to produce an e-portfolio. This will help to develop your transferable skills, while starting to think about career options and pathways.

Further guidance on study skills is provided in the Field Handbook.

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

Be expected to make full use of the Universitys Learning Resource Centre and to be proactive in researching your work. You will also be given guidance on using the facilities provided by Learning Resources. All units are designed to enhance the development of your information literacy skills culminating in the Dissertation Project. You will be encouraged to retrieve and organise information and become familiar with locating and critically evaluating primary source material. All units are linked to BREO (a Virtual Learning Environment) which in turn incorporates links to Learning Resources and relevant pedagogical web-sites. You will be expected to develop your skills in word processing and the use of programmes such as Powerpoint. You will be given training in the commonest and one of the most powerful statistics packages (SPSS).

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

Be given training in research methods and ethical implications of conducting research and in the dissertation unit by which time a degree of autonomy is assumed, specifically using and interpreting statistics and data analysis together with detailed knowledge of ethical considerations.

The staff team will help you to develop your research and evaluative skills so that you can interpret and understand statistics concepts and develop this understanding further in units where you are asked to critically evaluate or conduct a research project yourself.

Understanding the Results sections of journal articles is an important skill developed and assessed through the programme.

You will be helped in the acquisition and mastery of a range of research skills and methods, both quantitative and qualitative, for investigating experience and behaviour, culminating in an ability to conduct research independently. These research skills feature in the dissertation units and build on the skills developed over the previous two years.

Specifically these skills include:

• Problem solving identifying a relevant research question and developing a strategy for investigation


• Information Technology: using IT to research a topic independently


• Application of number: identify and use appropriate methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, for investigation including identifying appropriate statistical tests to analyse and interpret data


• Communication: produce independently and extended piece of work reporting the results of the project undertaken and producing a poster of your work to present at the Dissertation Poster Event

Furthermore, the dissertation incorporates the final stage of Personalised Learner Development and the completion of a Progress File under the guidance of your dissertation supervisor. This aspect includes a continuation of the key skill of improving ones own learning and performance, and an appreciation of your career development.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

Be required to evaluate arguments and underlying assumptions underpinning theories and research in health and occupational health psychology in light of important debates in the discipline and the application to real world situations. Problem solving is an integral part of the programme and you will be faced with a wide variety of novel tasks (including interpretation of observations and hypothetical case studies and analysing behaviour).

Explicit advice will be given on those topics within the relevant unit.

Improving learning and performance

Personalised learner development (PLD) is a key aspect of the degree to facilitate higher level learning. We aim to help you reach a much deeper level of understanding about the learning process, and, in particular, about yourself in new learning contexts, whether personal, academic or in relation to your career. This understanding, as well as tools acquired through the process, should equip you to improve your own learning and performance in a wide range of circumstances, increasing skills of self-reliance, self-direction, self-monitoring and self-evaluation useful to both academic and professional life.

You will undertake units at all levels where personalised learner development and the development of key skills is embedded into the curriculum. This is achieved by using a variety of teaching methods in order to encourage you to adapt your learning styles and to develop your confidence as independent learners. For example, a lecture and seminars may require you to develop note taking skills as well as critical questioning, a practical work with others in a group to complete a task, to produce a draft of an essay / report so you can engage in a peer review process, or to receive feedback on the draft from tutors so that you can address the recommendations in preparation for the final submission of the essay / report.

Progress files

Progress files are advised practice but not formally assessed at the postgraduate level.

Professional standards

• Students are expected to comply with the University Regulations available on the Universitys web site


• Plagiarism is claiming someone elses work as your own and is an academic offence. It is important that you read carefully Section 9.6.3 of the University Regulations, and the Field Handbook so that you avoid plagiarism. How to reference your work correctly and how to avoid plagiarism will be given in lectures and tutorials during level 1 of your studies


• Students are expected to attend all lectures, tutorials, seminars and IT sessions


• Students and staff are expected to be punctual. Lectures, tutorials, seminars and IT sessions start at five minutes past the hour and end five minutes before the hour to give you sufficient time to move between rooms when necessary. Arriving after a session has started is discourteous and disruptive


• Mobile phones should be switched off inside University premises (University Regulations 9.2.5.2). Students talking on mobile phones in the Psychology corridor will be asked to switch them off


• Generally you can wear what you like but it must be appropriate to the occasion which will include laboratory work. Clothing should be clean and odour free and must not give offence


• As part of your personal development planning you need to experience what it is like to be a participant in an experiment. This is particularly important as you will be required to conduct your own experiments at level 2 and 3 and taking part in other students or staff experiments will be valuable experience for you


• You are expected to adhere to the BPS ethical code of conduct throughout your studies. Information on this will be given early on at Level 1


• Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to be sensitive and respectful to the needs of all students and staff in the Psychology Division and wider University


• Each student is allocated a Personal Tutor and your tutor is there to support your academic development. If you encounter difficulties students are expected to inform their tutor so that the appropriate support and advice can be given

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

This course is open both psychology and non-psychology graduates. Therefore it follows a master degree QAA benchmarks and BPS ethical procedure. BPS ethical procedure is important to comply simply because topics are covered and subjects are studied are all within applied psychology (i.e. health and occupational health).

The role of ethics and ethical procedures for psychologists are explicitly taught and incorporated into all practical assignments including relevant aspects of the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct. There is a BREO site dedicated to ethical procedures for students and staff including guidelines and the relevant forms to obtain ethical approval.

Participation in experiments is expected (but not a course requirement) so that you have a practical understanding of what it is like to take part as a subject in a variety of types of experiment.

How to avoid plagiarism is explicitly taught and guidance is available in the Study Guide and Field Handbook.

Attendance and punctuality are monitored.

(All pdf documents mentioned above are available to students on BREO).