Cyberpsychology MSc
About this course
Cyberpsychology at NTU is all about the psychological study of the use of the internet and digital technologies. On this course you’ll delve into the psychology of tech and platforms, from social media to video conferencing and VR: how people use them and why, and how this impacts on their health and wellbeing – both positive and negative. You’ll explore the breadth of user behaviours in the era of online interaction, including deviant activity from hacking and cybercrime as well as trolling and bullying.
On this course you’ll benefit from our academic expertise, alongside gaining invaluable first-hand experience as a cyberpsychologist. The combination of these will help you to develop the professional and academic skills required to commence a successful career in this area.
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Gain valuable Work Like Experience (WLE)
Gain experience through course content and engaging in activities led by the teaching team. This includes working with staff on critical research projects.
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Cutting-edge curriculum
The course delves into a wide variety of topical debates and developments, including the impact of technology in health and wellbeing, cybercrime and cybersecurity, and the psychology of digital tech.
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Set days in university each week
With 3 set days in university each week (2 for part-time students), balance your studies around your other commitments such as part-time work.
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Learn from the experts
at a university rated TEF ‘Gold’ for teaching and learning.
150
(out of 1,049 evaluated institutions)
What you’ll study
In addition to focusing on the psychology of digital tech and online behaviour, we’ll also delve into individual professional practice in the industry, alongside developing your research skills, and building your expertise in relevant research methods.
The course is built on the expertise of the Cyberpsychology Research Group and a lot of content is directly underpinned by the projects conducted by our own staff.
As an NTU Psychology student, you’ll get to undertake an independent research project where you’ll demonstrate the skills you’ve learned with us, which includes devising, conducting, analysing and presenting an empirical research study at postgraduate level.
Core modules
Applied Psychology of Digital Technologies
- Applied Psychology of Digital Technologies is a core module carrying 20 credits running across both teaching term.
- This module complements other core modules on the course that provide both a foundation of topics in Cyberpsychology and the critical engagement with these topics.
- The content is delivered by a team of academics and aims to cover a spectrum of applied research. Students will explore a range of theories to develop an understanding of the applied psychology of digital technologies, including various technologies (such as virtual reality, the Internet, mobile technologies), their applications in health and mental healthcare (with both advantageous and disadvantageous applications and usages), and education, as well as technology-mediated research (including virtual ethnography and other online methodologies).
Psychology of Cyberspace and Online Behaviours
- Psychology of Cyberspace and Online Behaviours is a core module carrying 20 credits running across both teaching term.
- This module aims to provide a link between psychological theories, concepts and models on the one hand and the recent questions and topics arising from the implementation of virtual environments and mediated social interaction on the other hand.
- You will explore various aspects of cyberspace (both as online and device-based environments) and the behaviours mediated by technology. Topics and theories related to online social relationships, wider consequences of social media engagement, communication processes, cybersecurity and safety, among others, will for the content.
Online Deviance
- Online Deviance is a core module carrying 20 credits running in term 1.
- This module introduces students to a range of negative, problematic or otherwise dysfunctional ways of engaging with the online world. It aims to provide a critical perspective on the available research underpinning our conceptualisations and explanations surrounding such deviant engagement, and to facilitate links between explanatory models and psychological intervention.
- Online deviance includes illegal behaviours, such as cybercrime and hacking, as much as behaviours that are more generally antisocial and/or aggressive, such as trolling and bullying. Psychological models will be used to explain deviant online activity, to identify determinants and to outline potential remedies. Further extensions of the content will look at behaviours related to low impulse control and impaired self-management, such as addictive behaviours.
Research Skills for Cyberpsychology
The module aims to:
- Provide practical experience of applying a range of analytic techniques to psychological data in a cyberpsychological context.
- Enable you to fully appreciate the designing and conducting of small-scale empirical research projects.
Practice in Cyberpsychology
- Practice in Cyberpsychology encompasses both the tutorial support system and Work-Like Experience (WLE) in Term 3. Tutorials will scaffold preparation for assessed coursework, for WLE in Term 3, and the individual, assessed consultancy report.
- Examples of sectors for WLE include:
- Digital marketing,
- App developers,
- The gaming industry,
- Social networking/online dating companies,
- Cybersecurity/filtering software companies,
- The government,
- Education,
- Research,
- Health services.
- Practice in Cyberpsychology is a core module carrying 20 credits.
AI and Cyberpsychology
This module explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and psychology, focusing on how AI influences human behaviour, cognition, and society. Key topics include:
- Attitudes Towards AI including examining public perceptions, trust, and ethical considerations surrounding AI technologies
- AI in Defence, analysing the psychological implications of AI applications in military and defence contexts; and
- Generative AI where you will investigate the impact of AI-generated content on creativity, communication, and misinformation.
Through a combination of theoretical frameworks and practical case studies, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychological dimensions of AI and its transformative role in various sectors.
Professional Skills
This module aims to equip you with the ability to plan, carry out and evaluate professional skills in a psychological setting. You’ll be introduced to a range of key professional skills necessary for the pursuit of an academic or professional career in psychology or related disciplines.
Research Project
You’ll explore and critically examine a psychological research question of your choice in the area of cyberpsychology. The research may be an empirical project, or could take the form of a non-empirical dissertation. In both cases, regular supervision will be provided to guide you in the planning, preparation, conduction, and write up of the research.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
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How you're taught
The MSc Cyberpsychology starts in late September/early October. A dedicated induction day is provided for all students which introduces you to your course, to your teaching teams and to the university facilities. The day ends with an informal social event.
The course is completed in one year of full-time study (your final piece of coursework is submitted in late August) or two years part-time. The teaching terms run from late September to Christmas and then from January to Easter. The contact teaching for full-time students is delivered over three days per week, and for part-time students over two days per week.
Study and support
The blend of research and practical learning is reflected in the course team, which consists of professionals working in the area of cyberpsychology and academics who have considerable experience working in the field of cyberpsychology across the UK and other countries.
You'll be assigned a personal tutor who will provide pastoral and academic support throughout your studies. A tutorial group will be held on a bi-weekly basis, where you'll be given the opportunity to reflect on practice and experiences on the course, and to provide a place for interaction and exchange with your fellow students.
The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, laboratory or field work, and independent study. You’ll also take part in group tutorials based on experiential learning strategies, where you’ll be asked to think about your developing professional identity, course material and independent study, your personal experiences of the course, and ethical issues. You'll also make full use of the facilities provided by the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Work Like Experience (WLE)
The course contains a wide variety of opportunities to engage in WLE, from engaging in work-experience with organisations connected with NTU through the employability team, to working alongside the teaching staff on cutting edge research projects. We also have the opportunity for you to engage in consultancy-based work within the Practice in Cyberpsychology module where you will explore critical real-world issues, as well as researching and presenting thoughtful solutions to these problems. You’ll gain first-hand experience of how cyberpsychology can be applied to real-world, applied settings, and in turn enhance your employability skills through research, collaboration, and team-working exercises.
Assessment methods
During the course, you'll be assessed in a variety of ways: through practical and research reports, assessed essays, portfolios, examinations, oral presentations, and a research project.
An active research environment
Throughout the course you'll benefit from research-informed teaching. Find out more about our psychology research.
World-leading research
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 100% of NTU's research environment in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of quality.
In-sessional English language support
In-sessional English language support classes are available to all international (non-EU) students studying on degree courses at NTU. There is no extra charge for these classes.
Careers and employability
Your future career
Throughout the course, you'll receive one-to-one careers support and mentoring. The course team currently have links to various organisations such as Confetti Media Group, ICN, Holovis International, Fuzzy Frog, British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, Redsock, Esendex, and Boom Online.
As a graduate of MSc Cyberpsychology you'll be able to critically appraise and apply key features of cyberpsychology research and practice. Awareness of your own experiences and characteristics will inform your knowledge and skills surrounding cyberpsychology science and practice, and your work-based learning experience in a cyberpsychology setting will be a foundation for the development of core employability skills, including team-working and effective communication.
As the MSc Cyberpsychology is highly multidisciplinary, it opens up a wide range of career options because it is applicable and relevant to any organisation with an online presence. Areas which graduates may work in could include:
- gaming
- social networking
- online dating websites
- usability testing
- consulting media industries
- cybersecurity
- virtual reality
- mobile apps
- online design
- online marketing
- online retail
- journalism
- research
- education
- healthcare.
Please note that for some careers, further study and / or a BPS-accredited conversion course conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership may be required.
Employability team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course. Find out more about the service.
Campus and facilities
As a postgraduate Psychology student, you’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer, Taylor and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, you’ll benefit from our dedicated Psychology learning environments.
We have specialist research laboratories including eye-trackers, motion capture labs, virtual reality and driving simulation suites, a mock prison cell, and an £80,000 EEG system. These facilities support your learning alongside staff research in the exciting areas of human cognition, behavioural neuroscience, human interaction and communication, and human development.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!
Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
Applying with prior qualifications
You'll need an undergraduate degree (minimum 2.2) in Psychology (or a related subject) or other recognised equivalent qualification. Related subjects include Media Studies, Media Culture, Communication Studies, Journalism, Psychology, Health Sciences, Psychopathology, Mental Health, Information Technology, Security, Sociology, and Research Methods.
Applying with non-standard entry qualifications/experience
Applicants without such qualifications will be considered on an individual basis but will be required to demonstrate how their experiences and knowledge would enable them to study this course at Masters level in their personal statement.
Additional requirements for UK students
Your application form requires a written statement in which you should outline reasons for wishing to undertake the MSc Cyberpsychology. We will be looking to ensure that you have a sound rationale for joining the course based on a realistic appreciation of the discipline and profession of psychology. Appropriate theoretical knowledge, work experience or an interest in working in the area of cyberpsychology will be considered advantageous, alongside personal attributes, such as interest in technology and good communication skills, which are essential for a career in cyberpsychology.
Applicants who are successful following assessment of their application form by the course team will be invited to a face-to-face interview with members of the course team. This may involve completion of psychometric tests, a problem-based task, and/or group work.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: You'll need an undergraduate degree (minimum 2.2) in Psychology (or a related subject) or other recognised equivalent qualification. Related subjects include Media Studies, Media Culture, Communication Studies, Journalism, Psychology, Health Sciences, Psychopathology, Mental Health, Information Technology, Security, Sociology, and Research Methods. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country
Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications and/or relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis. You will be required to demonstrate how your experiences and knowledge would enable you to study this course at Masters-level in your Personal Statement.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
Your application form requires a written statement in which you should outline reasons for wishing to undertake the MSc Cyberpsychology. We will be looking to ensure that you have a sound rationale for joining the course based on a realistic appreciation of the discipline and profession of cyberpsychology. Appropriate theoretical knowledge, work experience or an interest in working in the area of cyberpsychology will be considered advantageous, alongside personal attributes, such as interest in technology and good communication skills, which are essential for a career in cyberpsychology.
Applicants who are successful, following assessment of their application form by the course team, will be invited to an interview with members of the course team. This may involve completion of psychometric tests, a problem-based task, and / or group work.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
