Master’s in Psychology in the UK: Guide for 2025

A Master’s in Psychology helps you access new research, skill development opportunities, and resources in the field, paving the way towards building a fulfilling career in a socially impactful role. With this postgraduate qualification in psychology, you can explore diverse career pathways across academic, corporate, and non-profit fields of work like psychological research, psychotherapy and counselling, social work, or corporate consultancy.

If you’ve successfully completed your bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, you have the chance to apply for a master’s in psychology in the UK as an international student from India and access top-quality education from globally ranked universities. Let’s explore top university choices and areas of study available to you as a psychology master’s student in the UK, covering entry criteria, career prospects, costs, and scholarships you can apply for.

Why study Master’s in Psychology in the UK

Choosing the UK as the destination for your postgraduate studies in psychology allows you to strengthen your expertise in a specialisation with up-to-date knowledge as well as comprehensive training, and be eligible for professional accreditation. Here are a few more benefits of studying your master’s in psychology in the UK:   

• Highly ranked universities: The UK is home to globally renowned universities delivering highly sought-after psychology programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

• A range of specialisations: UK universities offer psychology courses with different focuses and specialisations, allowing you to choose a niche you prefer to study and work in. 

• Professional accreditation: Most psychology programmes offered in the UK are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), and makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the society.  

• Expert faculty: At a UK university, you get the opportunity to learn from and work with experienced academics with psychology research expertise and professionals actively practising in relevant fields. 

• Practical training: Most psychology masters courses in the UK include opportunities for internships, community placements, and real-world case studies, helping you develop practical skills in real-world settings.

• Developing transferable skills: You get the chance to develop essential professional skills like communication, leadership, crisis management, and teamwork skills that are transferable to multiple fields of work in many industries.

• Diverse career opportunities: A master’s in psychology from the UK can help expand your career prospects through up-to-date knowledge, professional accreditation, and global recognition you can gain from your qualification. 

UK universities offer a variety of resources and guidance that help you take the next step in your career, and to make the best of the opportunities available to you, it is important to identify the psychology courses aligned with your goals. Let’s have a look at diverse programmes in psychology, different study areas, and course duration for a master’s in psychology in the UK.  

Master’s in Psychology in the UK: courses, areas of study, and duration

Master’s in Psychology programmes in the UK cover diverse subject areas in the field, providing you with a comprehensive learning experience in a specialisation of your preference. In this section, let’s go over the top courses for psychology, popular areas of study, and course duration for most psychology masters in the UK.

Top psychology courses in the UK for masters degree

UK Universities offer postgraduate psychology courses with different areas of focus in the field of psychology. If you wish to advance your knowledge and expertise in a specific field of study, you have the opportunity to choose your master’s course from a range of popular subject specialisations and types of degrees offered at top universities in the UK: 

• Applied child psychology: Develop specialist theoretical and practical knowledge that can be applied to supporting children with diverse developmental, neurological, and psychological needs.

• Business and organisational psychology: Explore how the knowledge of human behaviour and thinking can be applied in business to improve the effectiveness, productivity, and well-being of employees, profitability of businesses, and customer satisfaction.

• Clinical psychology: Develop skills to provide comprehensive mental and behavioural health care for individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as consultation with agencies and communities.

• Cognitive psychology: Examine mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, language, and decision-making, understanding how individuals acquire, process, store, and use information.

• Criminal psychology: Understand and predict criminal behaviour by analysing causes, thoughts, and feelings behind the criminal behaviour.  

• Developmental psychology: Explore human growth and changes across lifespans, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional growth.

• Psychology (Conversion): Develop key foundation skills in the field of psychology, specially designed for students who come from non-related academic backgrounds. 

• MRes Psychology: Conduct academic research on a preferred topic of study across different disciplines in psychology.

• MA Psychology: Explore the application of psychological and counselling concepts and techniques in clinical settings, taking a humanities approach to the course content rather than a science- or research-focused approach.

Areas of study in psychology master’s in the UK

The course content in a psychology master’s degree is designed to give you an in-depth insight into essential areas of study in psychology, depending on the focus of the programme. Here are a few key areas of study in a psychology master’s course offered in the UK: 

• Brain and behaviour: Explore how the brain influences behaviour, covering the brain’s impact on individual thinking, feeling, and responding.

• Cognitive neuroscience: Study how the brain implements particular cognitive processes such as perception, learning, and decision-making. 

• Developmental diversity: Explore developmental differences in individuals, factoring in the social context they grow up in.

• Individual differences: Identify characteristics that distinguish one organism from another, and explore characteristics that stay unchanged over time and across situations including cognitive, affective, behavioural, and/or genetic traits in humans or animals.

• Neurodiversity: Explore differences in brain function and behavioural traits as a natural feature of the human population.  

• Psychotherapy: Understand and apply treatments that aim to help an individual identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.

• Sleep and health: Identify the connection between sleep and well-being, exploring how sleep helps maintain cognitive skills, such as attention, learning, and memory.

• Social psychology: Study how individual or group behaviour is influenced by the presence and behaviour of others.

• Youth mental health: Study the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of adolescents and youth, understanding how to provide them with psychological support on mental and social capacities. 

Duration for master’s in psychology in the UK

Most master’s in psychology programmes in the UK take 2-4 years to complete, depending on the mode of study you choose: full-time or part-time. The nature of course content — taught or research — may also factor into the duration of your degree.   

• 1–2 years: Full-time taught psychology programmes

• 3–5 years: Full-time psychology research programmes

• 2 or 4 years: Part-time taught psychology programmes

Some programmes may not offer the part-time study option for international students, so it’s worth checking on the programme schedule when you are researching master’s courses in the UK for your postgraduate studies in psychology. As you explore your options, make sure to look up these programmes offered by top universities in the UK, as outlined in the table below.  

Top UK universities for psychology master’s

These universities in the UK rank high globally for the quality of education offered through their psychology courses. Here’s an overview of their postgraduate psychology programmes along with their global ranking by subject–psychology, the offered qualification, and tuition fees for international students.

These programmes may have varying course structures along with diverse specialisations, so it’s best to go through the programme listing on the university website to check if the course content aligns with your future goals. Next, we’ll go over the general entry requirements for psychology master’s programmes so you can factor in the entry criteria when you are researching best-fit universities for your postgraduate studies.   

Master’s in Psychology in the UK: entry requirements

You need to have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field to apply for a psychology master’s in the UK. That said, your preferred programme may have different benchmarks for each requirement as all entry criteria are dependent on the university—so until you shortlist your options, here’s a general overview of entry requirements for psychology masters programmes in the UK. 

• Undergraduate qualification: Most psychology master’s programmes in the UK require a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related degree with a minimum of second class upper division honours. Some universities may accept second class lower division honours as well, but this will be specified in the programme listing. 

Universities may also indicate the subject focus of the bachelor’s qualification they expect, and a few would accept postgraduate students from any background. 

• English language proficiency: The accepted overall IELTS score for a master’s in psychology is between 6.0–7.0, and your university may specify the score they prefer for each component in IELTS or an equivalent.

• Research proposal (if applicable): If you are applying for a research degree in psychology (MRes), you may be required to indicate your preferred area of research along with your research proposal. 

Ensuring you meet the entry criteria of your preferred programmes can help you narrow down your options, giving you time to prepare the documents needed to support your qualifications. Let’s look at the application process next so you know what to expect when you start compiling your application. 

Master’s in Psychology in the UK: admission process

Most master’s programmes in psychology in the UK accept applications through their online portals, with a few requiring you to apply through UCAS. It’s best to identify early on how your application is accepted so you can create your student account on the university website or UCAS and confirm the documentation you need to put together. Until then, here’s a list of documents commonly required from master’s applicants. 

Documents needed to apply

• Statement of purpose: An essay that highlights your academic background, extracurricular or volunteer activities, and your academic and career goals

• Proof of language proficiency: Records of your English proficiency test scores

• Academic transcripts: Your bachelor’s degree transcripts and records of other academic achievements  

• Letter of recommendation: A letter of endorsement from a professional/ mentor/ supervisor recommending you for the programme. Some universities require two letters.

• CV: Your updated CV, ideally on a single page

• Proof of funds: Financial records to show your capacity to fund your education in the UK

Application process

• Choosing your preferred programme of study

  • As you explore your programme options, you can shortlist the universities that fit your academic background and preferred area of study. 

• Compiling your application

  • You need to start compiling your application well in advance, giving yourself time to collect and validate all the required information, review your application, and finetune it further. You can get free application support from the experts at SI-UK to put together a well-thought out application that can increase your chances of success.

• Submitting your application

  • Your application has to be submitted before the deadline set by your university. Some universities may have different rounds of applications and specific deadlines for international students, so you need to make sure you send in your application at the right time.

The first step in your application process will be to collect the documents you need, and if you need further support with documentation and the steps that follow when applying to your psychology master’s in the UK, you can always reach out to our counsellors for support and guidance.  

Career prospects with a Master’s in Psychology in the UK 

A master’s in psychology is a great choice for a fresh graduate or a professional as you can further your knowledge and strengthen your practical skills as you work towards becoming an expert in your chosen niche in psychology. We’ll look at a few professional roles available to a master’s degree holder in psychology and the earning potential of each. 

• Academic researcher 

  • Conduct research and present findings to further the knowledge in the field of psychology  

  • Average annual salary: £60,000

• Clinical psychologist 

  • Assess and treat individuals with a range of mental or physical health issues, conditions and disorders, reducing their distress and improving their psychological wellbeing

  • Average annual salary: £57,349

• Counselling psychologist 

  • Apply psychological knowledge and training in counselling in therapeutic work to help individuals with a range of difficult life issues and/or mental health conditions 

  • Average annual salary: £57,349

• Education mental health practitioner 

  • Provide mental health support to adolescents and youth within an environment they are familiar with, like school or college

  • Average annual salary: £42,618

• Educational psychologist 

  • Work with children, young adults, families, and schools to promote positive outcomes in their wellbeing, communication, and learning

  • Average annual salary: £86,587

• Forensic psychologist

  • Provide research-based evidence to identify criminal behaviour and build a better understanding of offending behaviour and offenders’ motivations

  • Average annual salary: £74,243

• Occupational psychologist

  • Improve the effectiveness of the workplace and employee job satisfaction, addressing issues in performance, culture, and change.

  • Average annual salary: £55,000

• Psychological wellbeing practitioner 

  • Treat people with minor to moderate mental health difficulties, referring individuals that need further care for more intensive support

  • Average annual salary: £60,504

• Psychotherapist 

  • Help people with a range of emotional and mental health difficulties using different psychological intervention methods

  • Average annual salary: £50,000

Source: Prospects

Now that we’ve looked at a few professional roles you can apply for with a master’s in psychology in the UK, let’s learn about the financial investment you need to make towards building a successful career in your field of work.  

Cost of pursuing a Master’s in Psychology in the UK

Depending on the university offering the course, fees for master’s in psychology programmes can range from the lower end (INR 20 lakhs+) to the higher end (INR 60 lakhs+). It is also worth considering the costs involved in the application process and the cost of living in addition to your tuition fee to calculate the approximate cost of your education in the UK. 

Tuition fees for a Master’s in Psychology in the UK

As an international student, your tuition fee for a psychology master’s course can range from approximately 28 lakhs INR to 62 lakhs INR. Some universities offer part-time study options which cost less, but you may need to check with your university whether you are eligible to enrol for part-time study as an international student. Your university may also charge a maintenance fee which may come up to one to two lakhs INR.

Pre-arrival fees for a Master’s in Psychology in the UK

The expenses involved in the application and admission process may vary for each student depending on the university and the method of submitting the application—UCAS or a university portal. Here’s a general breakdown of your pre-arrival fees for reference:

• Student visa fee: £490 

• UCAS application fee (if applicable): £28.50 for 2025 entry 

• Language proficiency tests: Approx. £115 

• Initial deposit paid out to the university to confirm your place in the programme: Depends on the programme (Some universities do not charge this fee)

Cost of living in the UK

The cost of living in the UK can vary depending on the region, so once you shortlist the universities and the psychology master’s programmes you would like to apply to, you can look into the cost of living in the area and plan your finances accordingly. Here are some expenses you can expect in your monthly cost of living until then:

These estimates can give you a general understanding of the costs you should consider, but the actual costs can be different as your living cost depends on the university you are applying for, the city you will be living in, and your lifestyle. Now that we’ve looked at the expenses you may expect, let’s find out how you can get funding support for your education in the UK with a scholarship. 

Scholarships for Indian students applying for a Master’s in Psychology in the UK

Let’s have a look at scholarships offered to Indian students who want to study in the UK by the UK government, third-party organisations, and universities. Most of these scholarships are merit-based so you may need to show excellent academic records, but if you are eligible, it’s worth applying to a scholarship that meets your needs.

Most universities offer funding support for international students in the form of merit scholarships and bursaries, so when you are shortlisting your options, you should be able to check if you are eligible for the funding support these universities offer. If you need to find out more about postgraduate scholarships you may be eligible for, our scholarship search might help you. 

Student visa for Indian students pursuing a Master’s in Psychology in the UK

Indian students entering the UK for studies need to apply for a student visa, and post-completion of the course, you have the opportunity to apply for a Graduate visa that allows you to extend your stay in the UK for two more years. Let’s find out how you can apply for the Student visa that lets you—and your dependants—enter the UK once you are enrolled in your masters programme. 

Visa application process to follow as an Indian postgraduate student

• Step 1: Fill in your Student visa application form via the GOV.uk site
• Step 2: Submit your documents, either:
• Online when filling out your application 
• At a visa application centre 
• Step 3: Book a biometrics appointment with your closest visa application centre 
• Step 4: Attend your biometrics appointment and if you’ve chosen to do so, submit your documents on the same day
• Step 5: Attend a visa interview if you’re asked to do so

While this process can seem complicated and lengthy at first, preparing your documents early can give you a headstart with your visa application. If you need support with your visa application, experts at SI-UK can help you through our visa assistance service. 

Documents needed for visa as an Indian postgraduate student

• A current passport 
• Your CAS from your university 
• Documents to show financial evidence, which can include:
• A letter confirming an educational loan
• Bank documents of current accounts, deposits, savings accounts, pensions, and/or investment accounts
• A letter from your parents or guardian if they’re funding your studies, along with a legal document showing your relationship to them and their financial documents
• A letter from your financial sponsor if you have one which includes their contact details and the amount of money they’ll provide for you
• Your TB test results 
• Written consent from your financial sponsor (if applicable)

You can learn more about the visa application process and the documentation you need in our guide on UK Student Visa: Checklist of Documents You’ll Need To Apply. If you need further assistance with applying for your visa, you can access expert support with our Visa Service. 

A master’s in psychology is an ideal next step if you are looking to build a career within the psychological research and wellbeing space, helping you advance your knowledge, practical skills, and interpersonal skills needed to excel in the field. Counsellors at SI-UK can help you explore psychology master’s programmes in the UK for you to shortlist, assess your eligibility, and apply to the university of your choice.

FAQs

Is the UK good for masters in psychology?

Yes, the UK is home to many universities ranking high globally for their quality of education in psychology.

How much does it cost to get a masters in psychology in the UK?

A masters in psychology in the UK can cost between INR 28 lakhs to INR 62 lakhs when considering the tuition fees. You may also have to take living expenses and pre-arrival costs into account when approximating the total cost of a masters in psychology in the UK.

Can I get a job after a master’s in psychology in the UK?

Yes, you can apply for a diverse range of jobs in academia, corporate, social work, education, and healthcare after a masters in psychology in the UK.

Which field of psychology is best in the UK?

Clinical psychology, forensic psychology, occupational psychology, and child psychology are in-demand fields offering many career opportunities in the UK.

Is psychology well paid in the UK?

Yes. An experienced professional in the field of psychology may earn an average annual salary upwards of £80,000 (INR 85 lakhs). An entry-level position in psychology may offer an average annual salary between £30,000-£40,000 (INR 32 lakhs–42 lakhs) with the opportunity to earn higher salaries as you gain seniority.

Which psychology course earns the most?

Clinical psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology (also known as occupational psychology) offer the highest earning potential in the field of psychology.

Can international students become psychologists in the UK?

Yes. Psychologists from any country can practice in the UK after registering with the HCPC—the Health & Care Professions Council that regulates healthcare professions in the UK.

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