MA Philosophy and Psychology

Year 1

You will study Greats: From Plato to the Enlightenment, Morality and Value and Logic 1. These courses introduce you to key topics in the history of philosophy, morality and ethics, and the nature of argument.

You will also study Psychology 1A and Psychology 1B, which cover core areas and research methodologies in psychology.

It is also strongly recommended that you take the Data Analysis for Psychology in R1 course which will provide the foundations in working with data, probability, hypothesis testing and the use of R statistical programming environment.

Year 2

You will take two courses: Mind, Matter and Language; and Knowledge and Reality.

In psychology, you will take Psychology 2A and Psychology 2B, as well as Research Methods and Statistics. These courses will build on the core knowledge developed from Year 1 courses, as well as covering more in-depth statistical knowledge required for psychology.

Year 3

You must take Research Methods and Statistics 2 and 3. You will also take the Philosophy Dissertation Preparation Course.

Beyond this you can choose courses from a range linked to our areas of expertise. In philosophy, these include topics linked to the major areas of the subject including language, cognition and science, morality and value, knowledge and reality, and history of philosopy.

In psychology, these may include:

• Individual Differences
• Development
• Biological and Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology

Year 4

You will choose several courses from a wide variety available. You will also complete either an independent dissertation on a philosophy or psychology topic of your choice, or a coursework dissertation via two extended essays in philosophy.

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 (2020/21)

Our facilities

The majority of teaching takes place at facilities located within the University's Central Area.

You can use all the University libraries and computing facilities. There is also a dedicated library with study spaces and a wide range of offline and online resources for students within the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences.

Study abroad

There are opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 through international exchange programmes.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a mixture of coursework and exams and Year 4, you will also complete either an independent dissertation on a topic of your choice or a coursework dissertation via two extended essays.

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 (2020/21)

The philosophy courses you study throughout your programme provide you with the analytical and critical-thinking skills that are highly valued in the workplace.

Previous graduates have gone on to work in education, commerce, journalism, finance, law and computing.

Some graduates also choose to continue with their studies and pursue a research or academic career.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA-AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: A*AA - ABB.
• IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 39 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. National 5s: English at C. Mathematics at A or Mathematics and Physics both at B or Higher Mathematics at C.
• A Levels: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4 and Mathematics at A or 7, or Mathematics and Physics both at B or 6, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (or science double award) at BB or 66.
• IB: HL: one of Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at 5. SL: English at 5 and either Mathematics at 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 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 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 (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
• 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 degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

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 Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Philosophy and Psychology

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

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
• International enquiries