This programme provides an in-depth understanding of personality, ability and positive psychology
This programme develops students’ skills in two key subdivisions in the study of human individual differences, personality traits and intelligence, addressing the questions of how and why people differ from one another psychologically and how these differences matter in their lives.
Staff involved in teaching and supervision on this programmes include internationally recognised researchers from our Individual Differences Research Group. Our staff expertise covers various topics including the measurement, causes and consequences of personality traits and intelligence, positive psychology, primate behaviour, paranormal beliefs and psychopathology.
Why study Psychology of Individual Differences at Edinburgh?
- Psychology 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).
- We're ranked 6th in the UK and 24th in the world for psychology (QS World University Rankings by subject 2024).
Showcasing Psychology at Edinburgh
Programme structure
This programme contains two semesters of taught compulsory courses and optional courses followed by a dissertation. The taught courses and their assessments take place between September to December (Semester 1) and January to April (Semester 2). Planning for the dissertation will take place until April and carried out between April and August.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the capstone component of the programme and involves conducting an independent research project in a chosen area, and in close collaboration with a supervisor. Sometimes dissertations are subsequently published as journal articles. There is a wide range of staff available for supervision within the department.
Course options
On this programme you will take the following core courses:
- Psychological Research Skills
- Univariate Statistics and Methodology using R
- Multivariate Statistics and Methodology using R
- Seminar in Personality
- Seminar in Intelligence
Optional courses available in addition to these are:
- Applied Psychological Testing
- Brain Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Neuroscience of Language
- Atypical Development
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Or any other course open to MSc students
When to apply
We operate a gathered field approach to applications. You may submit your application at any time.
All complete applications that satisfy our minimum entry requirements will be placed on a shortlist and held until the next batch processing deadline. Applications will then be ranked and offers made to the top candidates.
Find out more about the degree programme and how to apply:
Connect with us
If you have any programme-specific enquiries please get in touch with the programme director:
Dr Alex Weiss (Programme director)
Feel free to get in touch with our friendly Postgraduate Team with any questions you might have about academic or English language requirements, course information, enquiries about your application and information on arriving at the University.
Postgraduate Team enquiries:
Email:Â pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk
How to apply and fees & funding information:
Degree Finder for MSc Psychology of Individual Differences
Sign up to hear about the latest School events, news and programme updates:
Follow us on social media: