Environmental Psychology MSc - 2027/8
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MSc Environmental Psychology
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGDip | Environmental Psychology |
| PGCert | Environmental Psychology |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PLD61003 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PLD61004 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
Previous programme specifications and review documents
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - Psychology
Programme Leader
RATCLIFFE Eleanor (Psychology)
Date of production/revision of spec
18/05/2026
Educational aims of the programme
- To enable students to link theoretical and empirical questions to social and environmental issues, and to provide them with an in -depth understanding of the practical applications and action implications of environmental psychological theories and empirical findings
- To offer opportunities to develop the basic interpersonal, technical and creative skills required for the effective analysis and formulation of problems into research questions and, where appropriate, testable hypotheses
- To provide students with an in-depth knowledge of contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to the discipline
- To provide students with the skills to evaluate possible interventions in a variety of environmental domains
- To provide students with theoretical and qualitative/quantitative methodological expertise to conduct environmental psychological research by training them in the informed and systematic conduct of basic and applied research, involving the critical reading of theories and empirical findings
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Knowledge and understanding of research design and quantitative and qualitative research methods in psychology | KCPT | MSc | |
| Knowledge and understanding of ethical considerations when undertaking research and framing interventions | KCPT | MSc | |
| Critical evaluation of the contributions and limitations of environmental psychology theories, methods, and evidence | KC | MSc | |
| Evaluation of actual and potential psychologically informed interventions in a variety of environmental domains | KCPT | MSc | |
| Ability to design, conduct and evaluate environmental psychological research | KCPT | MSc | |
| Application of insights from environmental psychological theory and research to other domains of psychology | KCT | MSc | |
| Communication of environmental psychology topics for academic and non-academic audiences in written and verbal formats | KCPT | MSc | |
| Use of effective learning strategies and problem-solving techniques when studying and applying environmental psychology topics | KCPT | MSc | |
| Ability to analyse and interpret environmental psychological theory and evidence in a competent and critical manner | KCPT | MSc | |
| Management of own personal and professional development, including IT competencies, transferable skills, and consideration of EDI | C | MSc | |
| Ability to describe some of the practical applications and implications of environmental psychological theories and empirical findings | KCPT | PGDip | |
| Application of some quantitative and qualitative techniques and strategies to manage and analyse psychological data | KCPT | PGDip | |
| Ability to describe and critically evaluate environmental psychological theories, research methods, and practices | KCP | PGDip | |
| Application of some quantitative and qualitative techniques and strategies to manage and analyse psychological data | KCPT | PGCert | |
| Ability to describe some of the theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches involved in environmental psychology | KCP | PGCert |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Part-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
In Semester 1, students are required to take a compulsory research methods training module that suits their level of prior study of Psychology or a related social science. They should choose either PSYM147 Advanced Research Methods and Design, recommended for those with a first degree in Psychology or a related social science; or PSYM130 Academic Research Training, recommended for those without.
In Semester 2, students are required to take a compulsory quantitative data analysis module that suits their level of prior statistics training. They should select either PSYM187 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis (recommended for those with a strong grounding in statistics from their undergraduate/prior studies) or PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis (recommended for those who have not studied statistics before or who do not have a good understanding of statistics).
In Semester 2, students should also choose another optional module from the available options.
Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
In Semester 1, students should choose either PSYM147 Advanced Research Methods and Design, recommended for those with a first degree in Psychology or a related social science; or PSYM130 Academic Research Training, recommended for those without.
In Semester 2, students are required to take a compulsory quantitative data analysis module that suits their level of prior statistics training. They should select either PSYM187 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis (recommended for those with a strong grounding in statistics from their undergraduate/prior studies) or PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis (recommended for those who have not studied statistics before or who do not have a good understanding of statistics).
We can offer two different combinations of core modules to be taken in Year 1 (versus Year 2). This is to support part-time students in achieving a timetable that best fits with their other commitments. If you would like to explore this, the programme lead will be pleased to discuss the possibilities and offer advice.
Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
We can offer two different combinations of core modules to be taken in Year 2 (versus Year 1). This is to support part-time students in achieving a timetable that best fits with their other commitments. If you would like to explore this, the programme lead will be pleased to discuss the possibilities and offer advice.
In Semester 2, students should choose an optional module from the available options.
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | N | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2027/8 academic year.