Experimental Psychology (2013 entry)

MSc, 1 year full time

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Subject overview

Ranked in the top 10 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2012-13 and The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, and 14th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2013.

Rated 12th (of 76 universities) in the UK for research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 95 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.

We are one of the largest psychology units in the UK with almost 40 teaching faculty, as well as a large community of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. This provides an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment for postgraduate research and study.

We have excellent facilities with newly refurbished office and laboratory space at the centre of the Sussex campus.

We are able to offer supervision across a broad range of areas encompassed by our four research groups:

  • Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Clinical Psychology, and
  • Social and Applied Psychology.

We have strong collaborative links with the School of Life Sciences and the Department of Informatics as well as with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

ESRC recognition

All of our MSc and MRes degrees (except the MSc in Experimental Psychology) are recognised as meeting the standards set by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for direct entry to a +3 doctoral scholarship. 

Successful completion of the MSc in Experimental Psychology provides Graduate Basis of Recognition (GBR) of the British Psychological Society and would therefore be appropriate to entry to an ESRC 1+3 course.

Programme outline

This well-established and internationally renowned conversion degree has provided the initial training for many eminent psychologists. The MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society as a qualification for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, formerly GBR).

This MSc aims to give graduates with no prior teaching or formal training in psychology a thorough grounding in psychology. This intensive course provides you with a firm grasp of the main theories, methods and findings of psychological research relevant to the understanding of the relationship between the brain and behaviour. On this course, you cover biological, cognitive, social, and developmental psychology; philosophy of psychology; research methods; and write an empirical dissertation.

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.

On this course, you take a series of taught modules that will help you develop knowledge and skills in the core areas of psychology necessary for meeting the British Psychological Society requirements. Modules include:

  • six modules on key aspects of psychology (90 credits), covering topics from abnormal and clinical, biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology
  • two modules in research methods and data analysis (30 credits), which will help you gain expertise in the key research techniques used in psychology
  • a substantial research project in your chosen field (60 credits), supervised by a member of faculty specialising in that area.

Assessment 

This MSc is intensive and consists of lectures, tutorials, seminars and practical classes on eight core modules, plus accompanying reading and essay writing. You also complete a 6,000-word experimental dissertation supervised by a member of faculty. 

Back to module list

Abnormal and Clinical Psychology (Masters)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module introduces you to the main diagnostic categories of psychological disorders, the major theories of causation and approaches to treatment. It also seeks to encourage you to appreciate the links between theory and treatment of those disorders, from cognitive, behavioural and biological perspectives. You will discuss theory and treatment of anxiety, phobias, depression, schizophrenic and dementia, within a psychological framework.

Brain and Behaviour (Masters)

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The course demonstrates how knowledge of the structure and function of the nervous system can give us insights to the understanding of human behaviour. Topics covered will normally include: functional neuroanatomy of the human brain; brain development and neurogenetics; ionic mechanisms underlying the nerve action potential; synapses and neurotransmission; neuropharmacology of commonly used anxiolytic drugs; neural mechanisms in emotion and motor behaviour; neural mechanisms underlying plasticity and learning.

Cognitive Psychology (Masters)

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The module will provide a broad coverage of cognitive psychology topics, from basic perception to thinking. Topics covered include: an introduction to the sensory systems; physiology and psychophysics of perception; theories of perception; the visual system; sound production and perception; speech production and perception; evolution of speech and language; attention; short term and working memory; encoding in long term memory; forgetting and retrieval; implicit memory; word meaning and concepts; word reading and dyslexia; text comprehension; language and thought; problem solving; expertise and creativity; hypothesis testing and everyday reasoning; rationality and irrationality.

Developmental Psychology (Masters)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course provides you with a grounding in developmental psychology from birth to adulthood. Examples of topics that may be covered include: prenatal development; perceptual development; attachment; temperament; theories of cognitive development; children's understanding of the world; conceptual change; gender development; and adolescent development.

Discovering Statistics (Masters)

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module has two components: (1) statistical analysis and (2) empirical research. The empirical project enables you to carry out independent research that will develop skills in experimental research. This project helps to prepare you for your final empirical research project. The statistical analysis parts of the module build upon existing knowledge of statistical theory to enable you to analyse more complex data structures through understanding the general linear model (regression, ANOVA etc.). Practical classes compliment the lectures by providing guidance on applying the general linear model using SPSS, advice on designing and executing projects, and conducting experimental research.

The Philosophy of Psychology

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module addresses core conceptual issues in psychology and locates them within major debates within the discipline. Topic covered include the nature of 'science' (and how well psychology as a discipline is congruent with different characterizations of science); the nature of scientific enquiry; the processes of knowledge acquisition; philosophical debates that have impinged upon the history of the discipline of psychology; political and moral dimensions of psychological enquiry and the nature of 'critical' psychology.

Research Dissertation

60 credits
Spring & summer teaching, year 1

This module enables you to undertake a piece of psychological research under the supervision of a member of faculty who is expert in the relevant area. For clinical psychology students this may involve collaboration with a field supervisor in the Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. You will be involved in the design and execution of a substantial piece of empirical research on a topic that is relevant to your module. The dissertation will consist of a research report detailing the project you have carried out or been involved with. 

Social Psychology (Masters)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course provides an overview of major theories, methods, research findings and debates in social psychology. You will examine classic studies and more recent findings, and evaluate published research reports. The course covers key areas of social cognition, including attitudes and attributions, the cognitive construction of self and perceptions of others. You will also examine intergroup and intragroup processes, including social influence, group membership, identity, prejudice and the consequences of contact between groups.

Social Research Methods in Psychology (Masters)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module complements 'Discovering Statistics'. Topics covered include: statistical analysis for questionnaire construction and interpretation; observational methods; qualitative data-gathering and analysis. There are two assessed empirical reports using some of these techniques, which will enable you to develop skills in research design, data-gathering and analysis and which will therefore equip you for your empirical research projects. The statistical analysis parts of the module build upon existing knowledge of statistical theory (in term 1 module). Practical workshops complement the lectures by providing hands-on experience and guidance in using the methods, both with SPSS, and through small group work on relevant tasks.

Back to module list

Entry requirements

UK entrance requirements

This MSc is designed for students who do not have previous training in psychology. It is open to those with a first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in another subject who want to obtain a qualification that provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, formerly GBR) with the British Psychological Society.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications.

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Visas and immigration

Find out more about Visas and immigration.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

The closing date for applications is 31 March 2013. Applications are traditionally held until this deadline passes and decisions are made once all on-time applications have arrived.

For more information about the admissions process at Sussex

For pre-application enquiries:

Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

For post-application enquiries:

Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk 

Related programme

Fees and funding

Fees

Home UK/EU students: £5,5001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £5,5002
Overseas students: £16,2003

1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)

Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013

The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.

Sussex Graduate Scholarship (2013)

Region: UK, Europe (Non UK), International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 16 August 2013

Open to final year Sussex students who graduate with a 1st or 2:1 degree and who are offered a F/T place on an eligible Masters course in 2013.

Faculty interests

Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience

The Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience research group has interests in:

  • the application of basic neuroscience and behavioural techniques in rodents to study the neural bases of drug addiction
  • the application of human psychopharmacology techniques to explore the detailed effects of drugs on human behaviour and cognition, as well as both preclinical and clinical investigations of the cognitive and other psychological deficits associated with long-term use of drugs such as ecstasy and alcohol
  • the neurobiology of motivation, with specialist interests in the control of ingestion, and
  • the cognitive neuroscience of human memory and attention, and especially research on deficits associated with disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia.

There is a close inter-relationship between animal, human and clinical work. On the animal side, the Sussex group is one of the strongest groups in any UK university for the behavioural characterisation of transgenic mice, and enjoys collaborative links with molecular geneticists, with the neighbouring Sussex Centre for Neuroscience and with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). On both the human and the animal side, the group has long-standing links with clinical health professionals across the county.

Professor Pete Clifton How brain systems regulate feeding behaviour, side effects of antipsychotic drugs on body weight.

Dr Hans Crombag Neurobiological and behavioural mechanisms of appetitive learning and memory, contextual learning processes in relapse.

Professor Theodora Duka Alcohol and nicotine addiction: human studies of conditioning, adaptive mechanisms. 

Dr Sarah King Techniques to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of stress and drugs on brain and behaviour. 

Dr Eisuke Koya Neuronal ensembles, associative learning, obesity, addiction, synaptic physiology, immunohistochemistry. 

Dr Michael Morgan Substance misuse, impulse control in adolescence and adulthood, psychopathology in substance misusers.

Dr Tamzin Ripley Changes in neuronal plasticity, using behavioural and electrophysiological techniques, and its role in drug abuse.

Professor Jennifer Rusted Psychopharma-cology of human memory, prospective and action-based memory in ageing and dementia.

Professor David Stephens Neurobiological and behavioural mechanisms underlying drug dependence.

Professor Martin Yeomans Appetite control, development of food preferences, dieting as a model of disordered eating and obesity.

Cognitive Psychology

This Cognitive Psychology group has interests in:

  • learning and memory, especially implicit learning (including computational simulations of learning), awareness of knowledge states, memory and consciousness
  • language and communication, especially the behavioural, cognitive and neuropsychological processes involved in language comprehension and production. Our specialty fields include psycholinguistics, specifically pronoun interpretation, text comprehension, children’s difficulties in text comprehension, and fMRI
  • vision and visual perception, where we have particular expertise in visual cognition and attention, face processing, perceptual aspects of driving, perception and action, perception of movement, and the perception of visual art
  • the interaction between perceptual processes and other aspects of cognition, as revealed by the methods of cognitive neuroscience, especially multi-sensory interactions including synaesthesia, the cognitive deficits associated with neurological disorders, and the role of attention and working memory in oculomotor control, and
  • animal vocal communication and cognition, where we have particular expertise in using playback experiments to tackle questions about communication and cognitive abilities in large terrestrial mammals (elephants, red deer, lions) and non-passerine birds (gulls and owls).

We have expertise in the use of specialised technology including acoustic playback, eye tracking, speech analysis and brain imaging. The Clinical Sciences Imaging Centre houses a 1.5T Siemens MRI scanner and PET/CT, and is used particularly by a number of members of this group. 

The Human Psychophysiology Laboratory is extensively used by this group and includes EEG/ERP equipment, TMS, and eye-trackers.

Dr Chris Bird Cognitive processes through comparing the performance of brain-damaged adults with neurologically healthy controls.

Professor Zoltan Dienes How people acquire knowledge they are not aware of having, computational modelling of such learning.

Professor Alan Garnham Language comprehension, particularly inference; sentence processing; reasoning; mental models theory.

Dr Graham Hole Face recognition, age perception from faces, perceptual aspects of driving (especially ‘looked but failed to see’ accidents).

Dr Ryota Kanai Neural processes and computational principles underlying subjective conscious experiences and qualia, the anatomical and functional neural basis of perceptual and cognitive phenomena.

Dr Beena Khurana Visual cognition, the role of attention in motion perception, processing of human faces.

Dr Karen McComb Mammal communication and cognition, functional questions about animal communication and the nature of animal minds. 

Dr Romi Nijhawan Compensation of neural delays in perception and action, flash-lag effect in vision and action.

Professor Jane Oakhill Mental models theory of text comprehension and reasoning, and children’s text comprehension.

Dr David Reby Vocal communication, sexual communication, crossmodal abilities in non-human animals.

Dr Jamie Ward Human cognitive neuroscience using neuropsychology, fMRI, TMS and EEG. Visit Synaesthesia research.

Developmental and Clinical Psychology

The Development and Clinical Psychology research group has a common aim of advancing theoretical approaches to human development and clinical psychology, often through studying applied questions. Approaches include observational and experimental studies, longitudinal analyses of child development, comparative perspectives, dynamic systems, neural network modelling, and experimental clinical psychopathology. We work closely with clinicians and educationalists, and with typical and special child populations. 

Research focuses on six broad themes:

  • social development, family and peer relations 
  • using technology to study and support peer collaboration and cognitive change 
  • emotional adjustment across the lifespan 
  • the aetiology of emotional disorders 
  • gesture and communication, and 
  • word learning and early cognitive development. 

We have several focused labs: Child Anxiety Theory and Treatment (CATT) Lab, Children and Technology (ChaT) Lab, Sussex Family Research Lab, and Word and Object Reasoning Development (WORD) Lab. 

The group is well-supported with lab facilities, including testing rooms for audio-visual recording, software for video editing and analyses, questionnaire scanning facilities, environments for conducting controlled experimental psychopathology studies, and specialised spaces for conducting a range of studies from habituation to clinical interviews. The group has good links with local daycare, schools and colleges.

Professor Robin Banerjee Social and emotional development of pupils, self-conscious cognition and emotion, self-presentational behaviour.

Dr Kate Cavanagh Cognitive biases and reasoning processes in the emotional disorders, increasing access to psychological therapies.

Professor Graham Davey Experimental psychopathology and anxiety disorders, the causes of perseverative psychopathologies.

Professor Andy Field The role of childhood experience in fear acquisition, parenting and child anxiety.

Dr Anna Franklin The development of colour perception and cognition, broader issues in cognitive and developmental science.

Dr Jessica Horst Cognitive development in children under the age of five; language acquisition, infant and toddler categorisation.

Dr David Leavens Non-verbal communication by apes and humans, joint attention, mother-infant interaction, evolution of language.

Dr Bonamy Oliver Child behaviour, using longitudinal, behavioural genetic designs to better understand family and other environmental influences on behavioural outcomes.

Dr Alison Pike Antecedents and consequences of variation in family relationship quality, including marital, parent-child and sibling.

Dr Nicola Yuill Typical and atypical social cognitive development, autism; technology to support children; children’s language development.

Social and Applied Psychology

The Social and Applied Psychology research group has interests in five broad areas:

  • behaviour change: intervention, design and evaluation
  • health psychology
  • identity, culture and well-being
  • intergroup relations and collective behaviour
  • pro-social and moral engagement.

The group has good facilities for laboratory-based research involving video recording of individual and group behaviour, and for conducting online experiments. Links also exist with local schools and hospitals for conducting field research.

Dr Rod Bond Group processes, particularly social influence and reaction to deviants; subjective well-being.

Professor Rupert Brown Intergroup relations: prejudice and prejudice reduction, acculturation processes, hate crime, collective guilt.

Dr Richard de Visser Young people’s health behaviour, sexual health and sexual behaviour, gender and health-related behaviour.

Dr Helga Dittmar Social and psychological dimensions of material goods, compulsive buying; sociocultural influences on body image.

Dr John Drury Crowd behaviour, empowerment and positive psychological change, crowding/density, celebration and ‘atmosphere’.

Dr Tom Farsides Factors that facilitate (duty or empathy) or inhibit (moral phobia or selfishness) positive other-concern.

Professor Peter Harris Cognitive, emotional and behavioural response to risk, especially health risks. 

Dr Donna Jessop Impact of personally relevant health-risk information on behaviour change, fear appeals.

Dr Karen Long Inter- and intragroup relations, social identity theory, social and personal identity as sources of self-esteem.

Dr Paul Sparks Attitude theory applied to environmental and health issues: normative influences and self-identity, decision-making.

Dr Viv Vignoles Self and identity, motivational processes and culture and context influences on identity construction; life transitions.

For more detailed information, visit the School of Psychology.

 

Careers and profiles

Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers in mental health, administration, counselling, research, nursing, teaching and lecturing, and clinical psychology. Employers of our graduates include charities, universities, local councils, health authorities and trusts, as well as the NHS. Others have gone on to further studies at doctoral level.

Jack's career perspective

Jack Hollingdale

‘I chose to study for my MSc in Experimental Psychology at Sussex because of its internationally recognised dedication to psychology teaching and research. The programme was demanding but extremely rewarding, with all aspects designed not only to provide the fundamental knowledge base from which to pursue your chosen career but also to be stimulating and enjoyable.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the research element of the programme and was encouraged to study a topic for my dissertation that would be relevant to my future career.

‘As my supervisor and I were interested in similar topics, I was offered an opportunity to continue research in this field via a two-year research assistant post at Sussex. This has developed my research skills and offered the opportunity to submit articles for publication to a number of relevant high-impact journals.

‘Having completed the MSc, I was able to use it to gain invaluable work experience at a local Medium Secure Mental Health Unit. This has given me the practical experience necessary in such a competitive science to move on to the next stage of my career.

‘The combination of research and practical skills and the Graduate Basis for Chartership provided by the MSc enabled me to win a place on the prestigious Clinical Forensic MSc programme at the Institute of Psychology.

‘Sussex has a longstanding and excellent reputation in psychology and is recognised within the industry for producing successful psychologists. I’m confident that I now have the academic knowledge and British Psychological Society qualifications to ensure that I can continue my development and career as a future Chartered Forensic Psychologist.’

Jack Hollingdale
Research Assistant
University of Sussex

For more information, visit Careers and alumni.

School and contacts

School of Psychology

The School of Psychology is one of the largest centres for the study of psychology in the UK, with an academic community of nearly 900 people working in a rich and supportive learning environment.

Professor Jane Oakhill, Course Director,
School of Psychology,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678418
E j.oakhill@sussex.ac.uk 
School of Psychology

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