Cyberpsychology MSc
- Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: 1 / 2 year(s)
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
Our MSc Cyberpsychology degree will provide you with the opportunity to develop the relevant academic and professional skills to commence a successful career in cyberpsychology, the psychological study of the Internet and digital technologies. Experts in the areas of cyberpsychology, Internet and technology will deliver the course.
The course is designed for both psychology graduates and graduates of other related disciplines, for example media or IT. It may be of interest if you are seeking to pursue a career in cyberpsychology, either in any organisation that uses any form of cyberpsychology (i.e. has a web-presence) or in research or academia.
Students will gain invaluable first-hand practical experience through completion of eight weeks of work-based learning as a cyberpsychologist in a cyber-industry or other professional workplace. You will also benefit from careers advice and mentoring throughout the course.
This degree is available as both a full-time and a part-time option.
What you’ll study
This course will provide you with the foundations for the next stage of your academic and professional development, and a solid framework for a professional career in cyberpsychology or allied professions.
You’ll develop your knowledge of cyberpsychology theory and practice, and explore the ethical, cultural, political and legal issues arising in cyberpsychological practice and research. You’ll also be able to gain valuable real-life experience as a cyberpsychology practitioner through a work-based learning opportunity, and will complete a research project on a cyberpsychology theme of your choice.
*Please note that modules are subject to change.*
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 the 8-week integrated short placement/internship in Term 3. Tutorials will scaffold preparation for assessed coursework, for the integrated short placements/internships in Term 3, and the individual, assessed consultancy report.
- Examples of sectors for the 8-week integrated short placement/internship 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 40 credits.
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.
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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. Part-time students attend for two of the three days only.
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).
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
Work-based learning
The eight-week work-based learning opportunity within the Applied Psychology of Digital Technologies module will provide you with invaluable experience working as a cyberpsychologist in a cyber-industry or other professional workplace. You’ll gain first-hand experience engaging with cyberactivities and will be able to apply relevant research and theory to your experiences. Examples of the type of company where you might work include: the gaming industry, online dating/social networking companies, a cybersecurity/filtering software company, academia, healthcare settings, research and education.
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 psychology student you will benefit from our dedicated learning environment. We have specialist research laboratories including eye trackers, motion capture labs and an £80,000 EEG system. These facilities support staff research as well as student projects in the exciting areas of human cognition, behavioural neuroscience, human interaction and communication, and human development. Find out more about these specialist facilities.
You will also have easy access to fantastic facilities in the Chaucer and Taylor buildings including:
- Lecture theatres and teaching classrooms;
- Open access PCs and secure wireless points;
- Study areas and social spaces;
- Chaucer cafe serving drinks and light snacks;
- Our brand new School of Social Sciences reception, providing you with easy access to our helpful and friendly support staff.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across our City Campus, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage and high-speed online printing services, with a free printing allowance for each student.
Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.
Books and library resources
Our state-of-the-art Boots library will give you access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the built environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.
Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist subject knowledge and can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources, and also with areas such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
Entry requirements
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.
Other requirements
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.
If you are unsure of your status and / or would like an informal discussion with the course leader, please contact us.
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions team or call +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
- 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.
- 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.
Other requirements
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.
If you are unsure of your status and / or would like an informal discussion with the course leader, please contact us.
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Fees for September 2024
| Study route | Home (UK students) |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £8,600 |
| Part-time | £4,300 for Year One |
*Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.
Funding your studies
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding for postgraduate students page will answer all your questions.
You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.
Please take a look at our postgraduates’ guide funding page for information about sourcing grants, bursaries and scholarships, and much more.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Fees for September 2024
| Study route | International/ EU students |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £17,500 |
| Part-time | £8,750 for Year One |
*Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
How to apply
All applications to this course can be made through our NTU Applicant Portal.
If you are interested in joining us in September 2025, this course will be open for applications through the applicant portal from September 2024. Courses starting in January 2026 will be open for applications from July 2025.
Writing your application
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieved, as well as a personal statement.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU in our postgraduates’ guide.
All applications welcome
We welcome applications from prospective students with a range of qualifications and experience, and all are assessed on an individual basis. Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria can still be considered providing they have relevant experience to compliment any qualifications. All applicants will need to apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.
If you're applying without prior qualifications, you'll need to submit comprehensive details of your achievements with evidence to substantiate your claim (any documentation can be uploaded to the My Documents section of the Applicant Portal). This type of application will be considered with respect to the University’s provision for ‘accreditation for prior experiential learning’. Decisions regarding the accreditation of prior learning are a matter of academic judgement.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formally known as a Criminal Record Bureau check
Many students choose to collect research data in the UK as part of their projects. You may be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check depending on your project topic.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Open days
The School of Social Sciences holds open events throughout the year. Come along and learn more about our courses, speak to programme leaders and find out about studying with the School.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or support, you can call our Admissions Team on +44 (0)115 848 4200, or contact us at Ask NTU.
Good luck with your application!
Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formally known as a Criminal Record Bureau check
Many students from overseas choose to collect research data in the UK as part of their projects. DBS checks only cover students from the UK, so unless you have been resident in the UK for five years or more, we will need a criminal record check from your home country if you plan to work with vulnerable populations. Checks from overseas can sometimes be referred to by a variety of names such as a Police Check or a Good Behaviour Record. To find out what it is called in your home country and how to apply for one, please visit the government website.
If you are an overseas student and are planning to collect data for your research project from vulnerable populations in your home country, you are advised to apply for a home police check to support your research. You will need to demonstrate in your ethics form that you have met all the requirements of your home country to work with vulnerable populations.
If you are unable to obtain a home Police Check and still wish to work with vulnerable populations in your home country, discuss this with your Course Leader in the first instance. It will need to be made clear in your written correspondence with any participants / organisations that the University has been unable to engage with any disclosure and barring service checks prior to you undertaking your research.
Once you have obtained your police check, a copy of the documentation (in English) should be passed to the relevant course administrator in the School of Social Sciences Office.