This unique programme offers an opportunity for advanced training in the psychology of individual differences. Specifically, you will gain knowledge and skills in the key subdivision of the field, personality, learning about its structure, assessment, environmental and genetic causes, and widespread consequences for health, relationships, workplace, and well-being.
You will learn how to conduct research that addresses how and why people differ from one another psychologically, and how these differences matter in their lives. We will also touch on the other individual differences subfield, intelligence. You will also be able to take a course on how psychological constructs are assessed in practice, or take a deep dive on how to study genetic and environmental antecedents and mechanisms of individual differences.
Building on training in research methods and statistics, you will take courses on the theoretical and methodological aspects of individual differences research and the findings in these areas.
Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation, an original, publication-quality piece of research undertaken in close collaboration with an academic working on the area, or an adjacent area, of your dissertation topic.
Staff involved in teaching and supervision include internationally recognised researchers whose expertise covers topics, such as:
In addition to being immersed in the history, theory, and findings in individual differences research, you will receive training in research methods within psychology, including research design and how to conduct advanced statistical modelling using the R statistical language.
You are also encouraged to take a course on how psychological assessment is used in the real world, which is one of the most practical applications of psychology. This knowledge and these skills are highly transferable, including to areas outside of psychology and academic research more generally.
If you are interested in learning how and why people differ from one another psychologically and behaviourally, the consequences of these differences, and how to answer questions in the area using the scientific method, and presenting these results to different audiences, then this MSc is for you.
The MSc in the Psychology of Individual Differences programme provides an understanding of advanced topics and methods in the field of individual differences, and how to design, conduct, and report research that builds on and/or challenges the existing knowledge base. In addition, the MSc allows you to choose an option course in another area, so there is some room to customise your learning.
It provides excellent preparation for further research and knowledge of individual differences, whether you choose to pursue this in further research or a professional career. Among other applications, our students often continue to pursue a PhD, hold corporate jobs in human resources, analytics or research and development, or apply their skills in the field of mental health.
There are few MSc programmes dedicated to individual differences in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world. The University of Edinburgh is uniquely positioned to offer this programme because of its long history of world-class individual differences research and teaching, which is possible because some of the top researchers in the field have made this department their academic home.
In addition, you will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, having the opportunity to select outside options and attend research seminars across different disciplines.
This programme has an excellent reputation amongst employers and is known to prepare students well f
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in psychological, biological or social sciences, or any similar subject based on methodological and statistics studies.
To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.