Psychology of Individual Differences

This programme comprises two semesters of taught courses, followed by a research-based dissertation supervised by a member of staff with similar research interests.

Compulsory courses:

• Seminar in Personality
• Seminar in Intelligence
• Current Topics in Psychological Research
• Multivariate Statistics and Methodology Using R
• Psychological Research Skills
• Univariate Statistics and Methodology using R

Option courses may include:

• Intelligence, Personality and Health (MSc)

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

The programme is aimed primarily at students who are considering advanced research in the area. Students who follow this programme will gain:

• an in-depth understanding of current research issues, research and methodology in the psychology of individuals
• the ability to formulate research questions and apply appropriate research methods to increase understanding of individual differences in human personality and human mental abilities
• advanced understanding of seminal and recent scientific findings relating to the study of human individual differences and the ways in which individual differences are currently being studied or applied
• skills in research management, including managing data and disseminating research in ways consistent with professional practice in the field of individual differences and the normal principles of research ethics
• advanced knowledge of the basic principles of multivariate statistical data analysis techniques (including multiple regression, factor analysis and structural equation modelling) and epidemiological techniques (including logistic regression and survival analyses), and the ability to carry out data analysis on different data sets using appropriate statistical packages
• a firm basis for subsequent advanced specialised research within the psychology of individual differences
• a broad understanding and awareness of issues and findings in the psychology of individual differences through application to other disciplines such as human cognitive neuropsychology, molecular genetics, evolutionary psychology, epidemiology and health psychology

This programme has been designed to help you progress your research career and offers a firm basis for further postgraduate study.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in psychological, biological or social sciences, or any similar subject based on methodological and statistics studies.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

All applicants must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of their English language ability:

• an undergraduate or masters degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration

  • UKVI list of majority English speaking countries
• IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
• TOEFL-iBT: total 100 (at least 23 in each module)
• PTE(A): total 67 (at least 61 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections)
• CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

Degrees taught and assessed in English must be no more than three years old at the beginning of your degree programme. Language tests must be no more than two years old at the beginning of your degree programme.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

• Fees for MSc Psychology of Individual Differences - 1 Year (Full-time)
• Fees for MSc Psychology of Individual Differences - 2 Years (Part-time)

Find out more about tuition fees and studying costs:

• Fees and funding

• Drever Trust Scholarship

Find out more about scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding
• Browse all postgraduate funding opportunities