Social Psychology MSc

This programme provides an opportunity for intensive advanced training in social psychology. It will teach you how to think as a social psychologist, how to answer questions about social phenomena, and advance your knowledge of the theories, concepts, and research that make up social psychology’s distinctive perspective. <br/><br/>**Key research areas**<br/><br/>Building on research methods training, you will take topical courses in the core research areas of our department including theoretical and methodological aspects of social psychology. <br/><br/>Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation in a core research area: an original, publication-quality piece of research, undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in the relevant group. <br/><br/>The staff involved in teaching and supervision include internationally recognised researchers from our Social Psychology group. Staff expertise covers a range of topics including:<br/><br/><br/>* perceptions of animals<br/><br/><br/>* prejudice<br/><br/><br/>* collective action<br/><br/><br/>* romantic relationships<br/><br/><br/>* crowd behaviour<br/><br/><br/>* culture and identity<br/><br/><br/>* discourse and identities<br/><br/><br/>Staff use a variety of research methods to address their research interests, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. <br/><br/>Psychology at Edinburgh is rated 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education for the quality and breadth of the research using the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).<br/><br/>**What will I learn?**<br/><br/>You will take courses on the theoretical and methodological aspects of social psychology and conduct an original research dissertation in your area of interest. <br/><br/>You will receive thorough training in advanced academic skills and research methods within psychology, including a comprehensive coverage of statistical modelling and research design using the R statistical language and qualitative methods. <br/><br/>**Is this MSc for me?**<br/><br/>This programme teaches you core research methods and specialist techniques, and you can flexibly choose optional courses to customise your learning in areas you are most passionate about. <br/><br/>It provides an excellent preparation for further research, whether you choose to pursue this in a professional setting or as part of a PhD programme. Whether you want to continue in academic research or move into professional training in social psychology, this programme is for you. <br/><br/>**Reputation, relevance and employability**<br/><br/>The University of Edinburgh has a long tradition of research expertise in social psychology. Our large Psychology department is home to academics leading research in the field. <br/><br/>You will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, having the opportunity to select option courses and attend research seminars across different disciplines. <br/><br/>Our students’ research projects are often published in academic or professional journals. <br/><br/>Our programme has an excellent reputation amongst employers and further research opportunities. Many of our graduates have gone onto PhD training, academic careers and advanced professional training in psychology. <br/><br/>We maintain close contacts with professional organisations such as British Psychological Society (BPS). <br/><br/>**Find out more about our community**<br/><br/>The School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences is home to a large, supportive and active student community, hosting events and activities throughout the year which you can join. <br/><br/>As a postgraduate student you will have access to a range of research resources, state-of-the-art facilities research seminars and reading groups. <br/><br/>Find out more about our community on our website.