Discover the benefits of choosing a master's course in psychology that has been accredited by the BPS.

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), our globally recognised MSc in Psychology can set you on the path to a fascinating and rewarding career.

Designed specifically for graduates whose first degree was in a different subject, you’ll gain the specialist skills and knowledge to work in fields as diverse as healthcare, business, education or government.

Read on to discover more reasons to choose a BPS-accredited master’s degree. 

About BPS accreditation 

What is the BPS? 

Incorporated by Royal Charter, the British Psychological Society (BPS) is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the United Kingdom (UK). Championing the profession since 1901, it is responsible for the promotion of excellence and ethical practice in the science, education, and application of the discipline.  

As a society, the BPS supports and enhances the development and application of psychology for the greater public good, setting high standards for research, education, and knowledge, and disseminating its knowledge to increase public awareness. 

What is BPS accreditation? 

By choosing a degree with BPS accreditation, you can be assured that your master’s course offers the highest standards of education and training in psychology. Greatly valued by employers, it is a seal of approval which demonstrates that our programme has undergone a rigorous process of assessment.  

Our MSc Psychology has been successfully benchmarked against the BPS’s high standards for: programme design; programme content; working ethically and legally; selection and admissions; student development and professional membership; academic leadership and programme delivery; discipline specific resources; and quality management and governance. 

How can BPS accreditation lead to Chartered Psychologist status? 

By successfully completing our programme with an average grade of 50% or above, as well as getting a pass grade or higher in the Research Project in Psychology module, you will meet the requirements for Graduate Basis of Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society (GBC).

This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist in the UK, giving you eligibility to undertake further specialist training in Clinical Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology, Counselling, Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Sports and Exercise Psychology or Occupational Psychology. 

Benefits of BPS accreditation for you 

Industry recognition 

Having a degree that has been formally recognised by the professional body for psychology provides a level of industry recognition above that you would gain by studying a non-accredited course. It identifies you as a recognised psychologist and means that future employers, patients and peers understand you have been educated to an approved set of criteria. Should you go on to gain recognition as a Chartered Psychologist, you’ll possess a title that reflects the highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise. 

Learn how to study a person’s mind and behaviour with the University of Portsmouth's online MSc Psychology: 

Graduate Membership of the BPS 

Upon graduating from your accredited MSc Psychology degree with us (and having obtained 50% or higher on average, as well as passing the Research Methods in Psychology module), you will also be immediately eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society without any further training (you will still need to do further training to gain chartership, as mentioned above).

Graduate membership of the Society enables you to use the title GMBPsS after your name, demonstrating that you are a recognised psychologist within the BPS. You also get access to a range of publications and journals, as well as discounts on conferences and events.  

Latest knowledge and research 

As an accredited course, the BPS ensures that the design and content of our MSc follows their specifications, which ensures that your learning remains relevant and up-to-date for what’s going on across the industry to help your career.  

Furthermore, here at the University of Portsmouth, you’ll be supported by our distinguished Psychology Department, which follows a philosophy of research-led teaching. The content you receive will have been designed by research-active members of staff who are working at the forefront of their fields, meaning you can look forward to receiving a truly exceptional education.

In its submission to the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF 2021) – the UK’s most recent national research assessment exercise – 70% of our overall research quality was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour. 

Access to a global network of contacts 

The University of Portsmouth’s part-time online MSc Psychology is a distance learning programme that can be accessed from anywhere. This not only means you can be flexible with your learning and study at your own time, but you’ll also network with students from all over the world, which itself can open up a host of professional and personal opportunities. 

In addition to the University’s networks, as an accredited course, you’ll have access to BPS industry networks and news, offering you the chance to interact with people with similar interests and ambitions. 

Next steps 

You can start our two-year part-time MSc in January, May or September. To find out more, telephone +44 (0)23 9400 3692, email info@study-online.port.ac.uk, message us on WhatsApp on +44 (0)7862 468 106 or complete the form below.