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, and 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; or others.

Year 4

You will choose from a wide range of specialised, research-led options. In psychology, these currently include: Clinical Neuropsychology; Children with Language Impairments; Psychological Therapies; Memory, Ageing and the Brain; Frontal Lobe Functions; Moral Judgment and Behaviour; Personality and Health; Sentence Processing; The Psychology of Wealth, Poverty and Social Rank; and others.

In linguistics, these might be Corpus Linguistics; Language Pathology; Lexical Semantics; Reading Old English; First Language Acquisition; or others. 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 (2018/19)

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.

Guaranteed study abroad funding for students required to complete a year 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 (2018/19)

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).

Typical offer range

The typical offer is likely to be:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - ABBB (Revised 26/6/2018 to provide more accurate information).
• A Levels: AAA - ABB.
• IB: 38 points (666 at HL) - 34 points (655 at HL)..

Access threshold

The access threshold for a contextual offer is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (655 at HL).

Find out more about access thresholds and contextual offers

Detailed requirements for all applicants

To be considered for an offer of a place all applicants must meet the following requirements:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or ABBBB/AABB from S4-S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6. One Higher from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology required. National 5: English at Grade C. Mathematics at Grade A or Mathematics and Physics both at Grade B or Higher Mathematics at Grade C. (Revised 12/9/2018 to provide more accurate information).
• A Levels: ABB including one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology required.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: Award of Diploma with 34 points overall and grades 655 in HL subjects including one of Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology required. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics at 6 or Maths Studies at 7 (if not at Higher Level).

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 provide evidence that your written and spoken English is at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your spoken and written English:

• 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
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

About English language requirements

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)

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

There is an optional weekend trip away in Year 3. The student contribution for this is typically £20.

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