Overview
Research drives progress, shapes policy and solves real-world problems. Psychological research methods help you study human behaviour and create evidence-based solutions. From business and law to education, these skills open doors across sectors. Psychological research skills are in demand with the total value of the UK research sector reaching £9 billion in 2022 (source: MRS, 2024).
Our Masters in Psychological Research Methods takes a modern approach to studying mind and behaviour, preparing you for a future career in psychology and psychology research. It combines training in psychological theory with practical research skills. Gain an introduction to:
- quantitative and qualitative research;
- analysis and interpretation of data;
- critical approaches to psychological science;
- reporting of statistical analyses related to research.
Learn to get the most out of R. This specialised research software will help you manipulate datasets. It is the industry-standard tool for statistical analysis and data visualisation.
You'll learn through workshops and understanding participant experiences to produce meaningful research.
Choose a degree pathway suited to your career goals
The unique feature of the Psychological Research Methods MSc is flexibility. You can choose to investigate a wide range of psychology topics across the course. But you can also choose to specialise in a specific area of psychology for your coursework, placement and dissertation. Three taught specialist pathways are available:
- Child Development
- Cognition and Neuropsychology
- Perception and Action
Get practical experience on a placement
As part of the Masters in Psychological Research Methods you’ll undertake a work placement. This can be in a University lab or with an external company, charity or third sector organisation. Previous students have completed placements with the following companies:
- Artlink
- Aspire Housing and Personal Development Services
- Fourth Valley Inclusion
- Independent Custody Visiting
- NeuroKeep
- Paws for Progress
- Rowett Institute
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
- SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health)
- SSPCA (Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Specialist psychology facilities
Get hands-on experience designing and conducting psychology experiments in our high-end labs. Our on-site Psychology Kindergarten is unique in the UK. It provides an outstanding facility for child development research and teaching.
We have a new Lifespan Lab that focuses on understanding cognition, health and wellbeing from infancy through to old age. Laboratory space is also available for you to do:
- human electrophysiology research (mobile and lab-based EEG),
- health research (including Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and heart rate monitoring),
- face research (including eye-tracking),
- vision research (including stereoscopic displays).
Top reasons to study with us
Study abroad
There is no provision or expectation of study abroad. However, some students choose to conduct their placement abroad.
Flexible learning
Students will be able to study for this course remotely if necessary.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
The University of Stirling is rated 2nd in Scotland for research impact in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Research Excellence Framework 2021), with 100% of our research impact and environment rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Our Masters students get involved in our lively and collegial community of research excellence.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
Application procedure
Students should indicate in their application which of the three specialist pathways (Child Development, Cognition and Neuropsychology, Perception and Action) they intend to follow.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
This course is made up of different modules designed to provide training in the fundamentals of Psychological Research Methods. Students on this course have the opportunity to investigate topics across all aspects of psychology, or choose to specialise in one specific area for their coursework, placement and dissertation. As a student on the MSc Psychological Research Methods course, you can switch topics from one piece of work to another, as your interests develop.
This approach offers total flexibility if you don’t want to specialise in one particular area. You’ll have the opportunity to do a broader Masters and sample content from across the variety of topics in psychology.
Modules
Teaching
Teaching includes tutorials, demonstrations and practical classes, but the majority is seminar-based.
Students are typically taught in small groups in specialist classes, with first-year PhD students or other postgraduate students (for example, in modules from other Masters courses).
All our postgraduates are also expected to attend regular research seminars and relevant research group meetings. You’re also encouraged to attend ‘Scottish Postgraduates in Psychology Research Training’ events in participating universities across Scotland.
Fieldwork
There is no fieldwork timetabled on this course, although students sometimes undertake fieldwork on either their placement or dissertation modules.
Assessment
All assessment is by coursework, including the dissertation. There are no exams.
Classroom hours
You should expect 1-2 hours per week of face-to-face sessions (or, occasionally, live sessions online) on each of the taught modules.
Course director
Key staff
Staff from across the Division of Psychology contribute to teaching and supervision of placements and dissertations.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
MSc Psychological Research Methods graduates are ready for careers in:
- Educational psychology
- Teaching
- Human resource management
- PhD/academia
- Public policy
- Healthcare
The estimated salary for a Research Psychologist is £43,964 per year (source: Glassdoor 2025).
Graduates have had success in roles including:
- Public Health Intelligence Analyst
- Clinical Research Scientist (Neuroscience Specialist)
- Customer Research Manager
- Data Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Information Analyst
Organisations our graduates work for include:
- NHS
- MAC Clinical Research
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Scottish Empty Homes Partnership
- Public Health Scotland
