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Psychology at UEA
Find out more about studying Psychology at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Social and Applied Psychology with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
14th
UEA is ranked 14th overall for research quality in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisTop 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MSc Social and Applied Psychology with a Placement Year at UEA?
How are behaviour, attitudes, and decisions shaped by the social world around us? Learn to apply social psychology to real-world challenges on MSc Social and Applied Psychology.
Why choose UEA?
- Teaching excellence: Study in a department ranked 14th for research quality in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience
- Research skills: Learn to design experiments, surveys, focus groups, and field studies in social psychology
- Career-building opportunities: Gain hands-on experience through an optional research or industry placement
What is MSc Social and Applied Psychology with a Placement Year?
How do social norms shape behaviour? What drives persuasion, collective action, or conflict between groups? On this MSc, you’ll explore the psychology behind social influence, identity, and behaviour change using experimental, survey-based, and immersive methods.
You’ll learn from leading experts in social and applied psychology whose research shapes current debates and practice. Through seminars, workshops, and real-world case studies, you’ll develop skills in research design, data analysis, and communicating findings to different audiences.
At UEA, you’ll study in a research-active environment focused on major social challenges, from inequality to public behaviour change. Optional research or industry placements also help you build professional experience for careers in policy, consultancy, research, or further study.
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Placement Year
This Master's programme includes an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience as part of your postgraduate degree.
During your course, you'll complete an employability programme designed to prepare you for the UK workplace and support you in securing a placement opportunity.
During the placement year, you'll either undertake an industry placement or complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations. This additional year provides the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a professional setting, gain practical UK experience, and enhance your career prospects after graduation.
You'll be leading the search for your placement, while you’ll be supported by employability workshops, one-to-one coaching, and guidance from our specialist placement partners.
If you’re unable to secure a placement, you'll complete three employer-led industry projects, working with organisations across a range of UK sectors.
Also, check our Postgraduate Placement Year opportunities on our website.
Careers
Career Pathways
MSc Social and Applied Psychology with a Placement Year is an outstanding starting point for wide range of careers such as:
- PhD Researcher (Social Psychology): Conduct advanced research into social behaviour, identity, and decision-making
- Behavioural Scientist: Apply psychology to understand and influence real-world behaviour and decision-making
- UX Researcher: Study user behaviour and experiences to improve digital products and services
- Policy Advisor: Use research evidence to shape government policy and public programmes
- Programme Officer (Nonprofit): Support social research and community projects within charities and development organisations
Career Support
You’ll build professional networks and apply your skills in settings connected to your interests and future career goals. Alongside your modules, you’ll take part in training sessions designed to strengthen your employability and professional confidence. You’ll also have access to personalised careers support through Career Central.
After the Course
MSc Social and Applied Psychology provides a strong foundation for progression to PhD study. Training in advanced quantitative and qualitative methods prepares you for careers in research, data analysis, and evidence-based practice. Your advanced understanding of social behaviour also supports careers in policy, user research, and behavioural research.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll gain a deep understanding of social and applied psychology, exploring core theories, and learning to address real-world social questions.
You’ll study a wide range of topics, including attitudes and behaviour change, group dynamics, decision-making, stereotyping and prejudice, social cognition, identity and self-concept, and well-being and resilience.
You’ll develop hands-on research skills using methods central to social psychology, including laboratory experiments, field experiments, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
You’ll learn to design studies, collect and analyse data, and apply programming techniques to automate data analysis.
In your research project, you’ll do independent research on a topic you choose, investigating the area that interests you the most under the supervision of an expert in this field. In this context you’ll receive hands-on methods training and learn skills for social psychology research. Explore potential supervisors and research areas.
Past dissertation topics have included:
- Conspiracy theory beliefs: The role of social identity and intergroup emotions
- The effect of group status and power on reactions to derogatory comments about outgroup members
- Motivating climate change mitigation efforts with availability heuristic priming
- Are there gender differences in adolescents' attentional biases towards empathic stimuli?
During your studies, you'll also complete an Employability Skills module. This module prepares you for your placement year through workshops, practical career development activities and personalised support. You'll develop vital skills in areas such as CV writing, interview techniques and professional networking.
This module will be assessed on a pass/fail basis, and successful completion is required to progress to the placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you'll complete a 60-credit placement module, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience relevant to your discipline. During the first semester, you'll focus on securing a placement with support from dedicated employability specialists and a series of in-person workshops designed to help you develop your career planning and reflect on your progress. If you're unable to secure a placement, you'll complete three employer-led industry projects with different organisations.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry project experience. By the end of the year, you'll have developed valuable professional skills, deepened your understanding of your favourite sector, enhanced your CV, strengthen professional network, and boosted your confidence for the next stage of your career.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You'll learn through a blend of lectures, small group seminars, and practical workshops. You'll engage with specialist topic sessions led by subject experts, critical discussions of key ideas, and applied classes designed to develop methodological and laboratory skills.
You'll select an advanced analysis module aligned with your dissertation, with options in quantitative or qualitative approaches.
The research project (dissertation) provides an opportunity to explore a chosen topic in depth, with a study that you design and carry out from inception to completion. You'll be supported throughout by supervisory meetings offering personalised feedback to develop your skills set and project management abilities.
Our postgraduate students also regularly attend our weekly seminars with internal and external guest speakers, as well as research group meetings. This offers you additional opportunities to network and broaden your skills beyond your own topic. You'll join an active and supportive school community, with opportunities to participate in student-led learning groups and societies focused on shared interests.
Career development is embedded across the degree, with dedicated sessions delivered by specialist careers advisers to support your future aspirations. You'll also have access to the Learning Enhancement Team and Student Support as well as teams dedicated to supporting your wellbeing, should you need it.
Assessment
Your progress will be assessed through coursework-based assignments. You'll develop your analytical, research and communication skills through assessments such as research proposals, critical literature reviews and written reports. Throughout the course, you'll receive written feedback. Modules include practice assessments to help you build confidence before submission.
For your dissertation, your supervisor will provide feedback throughout the year, both verbal and in writing after draft submission.
Varied assessments will help you graduate with a robust set of transferable skills.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Psychology or related degree (eg. medicine, neuroscience or biological science)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Psychology or related degree (eg. medicine, neuroscience or biological science)
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all components)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £9,250
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International Students: £23,850
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.