MA Psychology and Linguistics

Year 1

Through lectures and tutorials, you will complete a general introduction to psychology, covering:

• Cognitive neuroscience
• Developmental psychology
• The psychology of memory and perception
• Individual differences
• Language and thinking
• Social psychology

You will also discover basic concepts in research methods and statistics, and you will have a practical introduction to laboratory-based psychology research.

You will also have an introduction to the study of language structure, variation, dialects, change, and history, in Linguistics and English Language 1.

Year 2

You will continue to study core areas of psychology, along with abnormal (clinical) psychology. You will practice and develop your professional and study skills, such as literature searching, report writing and ethical awareness.

You will also complete a year-long, intensive grounding in research methods and statistics to prepare you for Year 3.

You will also take Linguistic Theory and the Structure of English. In this you will learn detailed aspects of modern English structure. We strongly encourage you to take another linguistics course in either Cross Linguistic Variation or Phonetic Analysis and Empirical Methods.

Year 3

You will choose advanced courses in psychology, expanding upon and combining the core areas required for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. To support your research work, you will complete further specialist courses in research methods and statistics, and practice qualitative as well as quantitative research methods.

You will also take a selection of courses in linguistics. These may include:

• Psycholinguistics
• Origins and Evolution of Language
• Morphology
• Pragmatics

Plus others.

Year 4

You will complete a series of option courses that focus on specific areas of psychology. These courses build on and combine the core domains of psychology (biological, developmental, cognitive, social, and individual differences).

Precise course options change each year to reflect emerging topics, staff availability, and student demand. Examples of courses offered include:

• Social Psychology of Groups
• Introduction to Neural Network Modelling
• Methods and Controversies on Parapsychology
• Psycholinguistics of Language Production
• Clinical Psychological Problems in Context

In linguistics, these might be:

• Corpus Linguistics
• Language Pathology
• Lexical Semantics
• Reading Old English
• First Language Acquisition

Alongside these courses, you will undertake a dissertation in either language sciences or psychology.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2019/20)

Our facilities

Teaching will take place at the Psychology building at George Square, and at other locations within the University's Central Area. You will have use of the specialised laboratories and the University's library and computer facilities.

Study abroad

There are opportunities to study in Europe through Erasmus or further afield through the University's international exchange programme.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, project work, peer-supported group work, and computer-based exercises.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by various types of coursework and exams. In Year 3 will complete a group research project and in Year 4 you will complete an independent research project.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2019/20)

Our graduates develop high-level research, statistical, IT, and report-writing skills, which are valued by employers in various sectors.

Many psychology graduates have gone on to work in healthcare and social services, charitable organisations, human resources, management, business and finance, consulting, and media and advertising.

Some students continue their studies to enter a research or teaching career, or to train as a professional psychologist in a specific field (such as clinical, educational, forensic, health, or organisational psychology).

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - AABB by end of S5. If you haven’t achieved this by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a strong performance in S6. A minimum of BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB.
• IB: 40 points (grades 766 at HL) - 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Higher: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at grade B. National 5: English at grade C. Mathematics at grade A or Mathematics and Physics both at grade B or Higher Mathematics at grade C.
• A Levels: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at grade B. GCSEs: English at grade C or 4 and Mathematics at grade A or 7 OR Mathematics and Physics both at grade B or 6 OR Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (OR science double award) at grade BB or 66.
• IB: HL: one of Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at grade 5. SL: English at grade 5 and Mathematics at grade 6 or Mathematical Studies at 7 (if not at HL).

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 Grade C

• SQA Standard Grade 3

• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A

• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C

• GCSE Grade C or 4

• Level 2 Certificate Grade C

• IB Standard Level Grade 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component

• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section

• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component

• PTE Academic: Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section

• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

(Revised 05/06/2019 to provide more accurate/comprehensive information.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Psychology and Linguistics

Additional costs

None.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions@ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565
• Web: Psychology website
• International enquiries