Health Psychology

Health psychology is one of the rapidly growing fields and studies health related behaviour. The focus here is not only on the treatment of disease but also on the prevention.

Manchester University runs an MSc in Health Psychology, focusing on “current approaches to changing health-related behaviour at individual, population and regulatory levels; the interaction between psychological processes (cognitions, emotions, behaviour) and disease and illness; the ways in which social-cultural factors contribute to health; advanced research methods and analysis techniques in both quantitative and qualitative research”. (https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/10060/msc-health-psychology/course-details/#course-profile)King’s College London’s MSc in Health Psychology focuses on “scientific and theoretical understanding of health psychology.” (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/health-psychology-msc)

The University of Surrey offers an MSc in Health Psychology, which delivers knowledge in the “study of the psychological processes involved in maintaining health, the pathological responses to ill health and stress, and the promotion of wellbeing among the physically ill.” (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/health-psychology-msc-2020)The University of Portsmouth’s MSc in Health Psychology delivers knowledge in “how mental, emotional and social factors can affect physical wellbeing, and how to prevent them doing so” also “to learn how a patient’s mental and emotional state is affected by an illness and their recovery from it – and develop the skills and knowledge to support them. (https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/msc-health-psychology) University of West London’s MSc in Health Psychology gives “complete grounding in the theory, themes, professional issues and practical skills central to Stage 1 Health Psychology training.” (https://www.uwl.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/health-psychology?start=182&option=33)

Middlesex University London’s MSc in Health Psychology “focuses on the psychological influences on health, well-being and illness” and also “health-related behaviour, addiction and treatment; public health, health promotion and behaviour change interventions; stress, chronic illness and its management; working with patients in the health care system, research methods and professional issues.” (https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/health-psychology) Sheffield Hallam University’ MSc in Health Psychology gives “introduction to research methods, health cognitions and behaviour, perspectives and contexts in health research and practice, psychobiological determinants of health, applications and practice of health psychology, client groups and stakeholders, research methods and measurement issues and a health psychology research project.” (https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/psychology/msc-health-psychology/full-time) University of Southampton offers an MSc in Health Psychology, which is helpful for students to explore “how psychological knowledge can improve wellbeing and manage chronic disorders” and “how to develop and evaluate cutting-edge interventions to promote healthy lifestyles and effective strategies for coping with illness.” (https://www.southampton.ac.uk/psychology/postgraduate/taught_courses/msc_health_psychology.page)

The University of Stirling runs an MSc in Health Psychology, which teaches, “the skills needed to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness, and to support people who are chronically ill.” (https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/pg-taught/psychology/health-psychology/) University of St. Andrews offers an MSc in Health Psychology, which “provides training in the applications of psychological theory and research methods.” (https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/medicine/health-psychology-msc/) University of Bath offers an MSc in Health Psychology, which focuses on “how psychology can be used to help us better understand health and health behaviours, looking at everything from preventing ill health to managing long-term conditions and developing effective healthcare provision.” (https://www.bath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-2020/taught-postgraduate-courses/msc-health-psychology-full-time-including-placement/) Coventry University offers an MSc in Health Psychology. According to the University, this course is “supporting others in dealing with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness, as well promoting healthier lifestyles.” (https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/pg/2019-20/hls/health-psychology-msc/) University of Nottingham offers an MSc / PG Dip in Health Psychology, which is “useful in the psychological concomitants of physical health.” (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/course/taught/health-psychology-msc) University of Westminster runs an MSc in Health Psychology, which aims to “develop the theoretical and methodological skills essential for conducting independent research and applying health psychology in practice.” (https://www.westminster.ac.uk/psychology-courses/2020-21/september/full-time/health-psychology-msc) Staffordshire University runs an MSc in Health Psychology, which focuses on “application of psychological theories, methods and research to the understanding of health, illness and healthcare.” (https://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/health-psychology-msc) University of Buckingham’s MSc in Health Psychology focuses “on understanding the behavioural processes around health, illness and disability” (https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/sciences/msc/health-psychology) University of Strathclyde Glasgow runs an MSc in Clinical Health Psychology, which focuses on “clinical, health and neuropsychology” (https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/clinicalhealthpsychology/#whythiscourse). Cardiff Metropolitan University runs an MSc in Health Psychology, which focuses “on the roles of psychology, biology and social or environmental factors on health and health related behaviour.” (http://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/health/courses/Pages/Health-Psychology—MSc-.aspx)

NUI Galway, Ireland has an MSc in Health Psychology, which gives knowledge for “the identification and amelioration of psychological factors contributing to physical illness and the improvement of the health care system and formulation of health policy.” (http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/health-psychology.html)

University of Michigan – Dearborn, USA runs an MSc in Health Psychology, offered by the Behavioral Sciences Department in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters (CASL). The program is research oriented and provides “intensive training in research methods typically used in health and behavioral medicine”. “The program incorporates class work in program development and program evaluation methods, as well as epidemiology.” (https://umdearborn.edu/casl/graduate-programs/programs/master-science-psychology/health-psychology). University of Sciences runs an MS in Health Psychology in which the coursework includes “neuropsychology, behavioral medicine, research methodology and management, evidence based practice and behavioral change”. (https://www.usciences.edu/misher-college-of-arts-and-sciences/behavioral-social-science/health-psychology-ms/index.html)

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, College of Letters and Science Psychology offers research and theory based MS in Psychology with concentration in Health Psychology, in which studies revolves around “health disparities, gender and health, aging, health education, patient advocacy and self-care behaviors, the effects of stress and mechanisms of coping with it, risk perception, complementary interventions, and pediatric conditions and pain.” (https://uwm.edu/psychology/graduate/m-s-program/health-psychology/)

Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, The Netherlands runs an MSc in Health Psychology and Digital Interventions. The university aims to help students to “use psychological insights and evidence-based theory to create innovative technological solutions (eHealth)”. The program also aims to “exploring how psychological processes are linked to behaviours, and how we can use these insights to design interventions that promote healthier choices.” (https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/master/health-psychology-digital-interventions/why) Utrecht University, The Netherlands runs a Masters in Social and Health Psychology, which focuses on the ‘topics related to the control of human behaviour for the benefit of social interaction and health.” The curriculum involves multiple perspectives of the study behavioural regulation ranging from concrete views (social cognition and neuroscience) to global views (relationships, welfare, and health).” (https://www.uu.nl/masters/en/social-and-health-psychology) The University of Auckland, New Zealand runs a two – year Master of Health Psychology (MHealthPsych), which provides “trainings in theoretical, methodological and practical applications of health psychology” also “to use of methodological approaches in the health area”. (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/find-a-study-option/master-of-health-psychology-mhealthpsych.html)