Manchester metropolitan university psychology dissertation

The Department of Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University boasts research expertise of international repute. Choosing to study with us will not only provide you with an intellectually stimulating degree, but also by providing you with access to the latest research expertise and specialist equipment, we will develop your thirst for knowledge and inspire you to question, research and analyse your theories.

We are committed to ensuring that our graduates are employable professionals. It is increasingly important that your postgraduate degree programme develop the skills that employers are after and alongside the acquisition of academic knowledge, our students will develop and apply skills in:

Assessment
Verbal communication
Professional report writing
Evaluation
Analytical thinking

International Research

Research in the department primarily focuses on solving real world problems, ensuring that our theoretically strong work has an impact outside academia. Currently holding grants from the Medical Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council our research is not only relevant and underpinned by a unique blend of qualitative and quantitative orientations but has international reach and esteem.

Members of the Forensic Psychology team conduct applied and practitioner focused research. Particular areas of expertise are:

The investigation of crime; homicide and police decision making
Eyewitness and alibi evidence
Expert witness evidence
Juror decision making

As well as publishing hundreds of peer reviewed articles and journals, many of our staff have published popular and well established Psychology books in the areas listed below:

■Dr Tammi Walker.

Preventing self-injury and suicide in women’s prisons

Features and benefits of the course

130 high quality academic papers in print over the last 12 months
96% of students are satisfied with the quality of our teaching (NSS)
We have a clear focus on student employability, offering psychometric testing and workshops to support students in their personal progression and future job applications.

About the course

This route does not provide eligibility for Stage 1 training as a Forensic Psychologist.

Students who wish to gain Stage 1 eligibility in the future may find it useful to take the optional unit of Investigative Interviewing and Eyewitness testimony to make up the 180 credits required for a Master’s qualification and in this case should consider taking the Personal and Professional Development unit as 10 rather than 20 credits.

Part-time students are advised to take a minimum of 40 credits in the first year of study (in addition to the required Personal and Professional development unit). The Dissertation should be taken in the final year of study.

The following qualifications are available from this programme of study:

60 credits, PG Certificate Psychology
120 credits. PG Diploma Psychology
180 credits, MSc Psychology and Criminology

Units you will study

Ability Assessment

This unit provides the opportunity to develop an applied and critical understanding of psychological measurement. The unit addresses the fundamental principles and issues surrounding ability measurement and psychological measurement in general.

Dissertation

The overall aim of this unit is to develop your independent research skills. It is related to the themes of applied psychology, social and personal change and applied practice. The research may be desktop, laboratory based or field based; may be experimental or non-experimental; qualitative or quantitative and or collaborative with external agencies (if necessary). Reports of the work can take one of two forms: a standard thesis (incorporating references to literature, ethical issues) or a journal article (prepared to specification)

Introduction to Investigative Psychology

This unit provides an introduction to the theoretical frameworks, research methodologies and professional applications of Investigative Psychology (IP). Students will acquire an understanding of the emergence of IP from ‘offender profiling’ activities in the early 1990s and the importance of the empirical research carried out over the last 20 years to advance psychological understanding of criminal behaviour and police investigative processes.

Offender Assessment & Treatment

Within this unit students will develop a critical overview of specialist applications of forensic psychology in relation to diverse groups of offenders, in terms of assessment, formulation, management, and treatment.The unit will provide students with an understanding of a variety of assessment and treatment approaches used within public and private sector settings, specifically applied to an offending population.

Personal and Professional Development

This unit supports personal and professional development through your identification and monitoring of learning objectives and personal goals within a critical and supportive academic community. The unit promotes ongoing reflection, completion of personal development records, planning and participating.

Psychology and Law

The overall aim of this unit is to introduce how psychology is applied in legal settings. Topics covered include: psychologists as expert witnesses, the role of psychologists in the criminal and civil courts, the role of psychologists in mental health law and psychological assessment in legal settings. Students are encouraged to integrate theory with the development of practical skills to enhance their understanding of the topic and their professional development.

Qualitative Methods in Psychology

The overall aim of this unit is to provide a background to qualitative research concerned with social action and the role of individual subjectivity. The rationale for qualitative research approaches differentiated from the quantitative tradition is elaborated with reference to specific methodological frameworks. The unit covers a wide range of qualitative methods, with a focus on how to apply these in practice. Approaches to qualitative analysis are also covered, and students receive practical experience of data collection and analysis in teaching sessions, as well as training on being reflexive in research.

Quantitative Methods in Psychology

The unit introduces advanced techniques for quantitative data analysis and provides you with the opportunity to apply these to datasets in a workshop format. It is related to the themes of applied practice and applied psychology.

Theory and Practice in Forensic Psychology

This unit presents theory alongside practice and encourages students to develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of forensic psychology, and how this translates into practice. Viewing theory and practice as complementary components in forensic psychology, this unit forms part of core learning and provides key foundations for skill and knowledge development.

Investigative Interviewing and Eye Witness Testimony

This unit covers the importance and relevance of applied social and cognitive psychological research relating to investigative interviewing and eyewitness testimony. How such research has shaped and developed police and legal system processes and practice will be explored and evaluated

Preparing for Academic Practice

This unit is aimed at postgraduate students who are interested in learning about academic practice and/or want to pursue a career in academia. It will primarily explore key components of research (such as research dissemination, producing research articles and applying for funding) and this aspect will be linked to your specific research interests.

Assessment details

Students are assessed utilising a variety of assessment formats including: essays, professional reports and presentations.

Why study in Manchester?

Manchester – a truly international city

Manchester is an international city, with world class transport and infrastructure not only to regional locations, but nationally and internationally. Home to one of the largest international airports, Manchester really is a gateway to the world.

Building on our impressive location and accessibility, we are a University with big ambitions. With a recent £350m investment in our facilities we have provided impressive new facilities for the School of Art, Hollings, Business and Law and most recently the superb £139m Brooks building. Brooks is home to the faculties of Education and Health, Psychology and Social Care. With our investment, we have modernised the student experience, providing state of the art facilities and equipment to support you in your studies.

Located at the heart of the thriving and cosmopolitan Manchester City Centre our Manchester Campus is home to over 30,000 students and provides a fantastic student experience- the combination of a dynamic academic centre and a vibrant, cultural and social scene attracting students from over 130 countries.

Why study at Manchester Metropolitan?

Manchester Metropolitan University is placed in the top 3% of global universities and with an international student population of over 3,000, the University hosts students from over 120 countries and has a strong global presence. The university’s extensive international student population is supported throughout the entire student journey, from application, pre-arrival and induction and during study. For more information on international student support please visit mmu.ac.uk/international .

We are experts in teaching, enterprise and research, providing international students with the academic experience and professional support they need to achieve their goals. Our academic teaching staff, professors and researchers are experienced professionals at the forefront of their fields, with well-established links in their area of expertise.

State-of-the-art facilities

The award winning Brooks Building is home to the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care and the Faculty of Education, providing superb specialist facilities for the education of Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, Allied Health Professionals and those wishing to work with children.

A community campus, the ground floor is open to the public and provides sporting and social facilities, café’s and green spaces for individual study, meetings and informal group working. There is also a Physiotherapy and Acupuncture clinic.

The upper four floors provide specialist teaching equipment and facilities such as

clinical skills laboratories,
simulation suites and equipment
gait analysis laboratories,
social development laboratories
Speech and language therapy clinics
And a range of Psychological experimentation equipment and laboratories.

Dedicated student support

The Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care has full service student hub on-site that provides a host of student support services. A Careers and Employabilty Service is also available on the first floor of the building, offering a host of information resources, one-to-one careers support and employability events throughout the year.

Get involved in university life

As a student in Manchester, you can join a range of student societies which are run by the Student’s Union . This includes a number of sport and special interest societies and the International Society .

Enjoy everything Manchester has to offer

Manchester is one of the most extensive higher education centres in Europe and second only to London as the most popular city for students in the UK. Our city centre campus is perfectly placed for you to enjoy this unforgettable city and our home in the Brooks Building, is just a short walk from the retail and cultural heart of the city centre.

Manchester and the region are well served by motorways and reliable public transport, so other cities are within easy reach and London is only a two hour train ride away. Manchester International Airport is just 10 miles (16km) south of the city centre, with flights to a huge variety of European and International destinations.

Living in Manchester

Manchester is world famous for its football, legendary music and a thriving arts and cultural scene with many museums, galleries and festivals to explore. The city is a hive of creativity and inspiration due to its rich industrial heritage and offers a vibrant and cosmopolitan quality of life . That’s why Manchester was voted UK’s most liveable city in 2015 .

Find out more about what Manchester has to offer.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants are required to have a minimum lower second class (2:2) UK honours degree (or international equivalent), postgraduate diploma or degree-equivalent professional qualification. You will also hold a GCSE or equivalent in English language. Prior learning and experience may count for advanced standing

There’s further information for international students on our international website if you’re applying with non-UK qualifications.

How do I apply for this course?

Download our course application form. There are instructions on what to do next and who to send the form to in the Word document.

Please provide a personal statement (typically around 750 words) where you will set out your interest in the programme and your reasons for applying. Your statement may draw upon your previous experience of relevance to the programme, and may include voluntary, employment, academic or personal experience. Where possible please relate this information to the programme for which you are applying.

Career options after the course

Successful completion of this course may equip you with the skills to go into research posts or gain promotion in the workplace. Recent graduates have gone on to establish careers in Clinical Psychology, Teaching and a variety of professional Psychology routes.