MSc Applied Psychology
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
AED 45,680 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* part-time | AED 91,361 full-time
Introduction
Welcome to the MSc Applied Psychology, a unique programme in Dubai offering students a range of modules that give a taste of various applied psychological fields. As a campus of Middlesex University, we bring you an internationally recognised degree developed by the expertise of applied and academic psychologists.
In particular, the MSc Applied Psychology programme has been designed with the international student in mind providing an introduction to a wide variety of applications for psychology in the real world. This allows students to gain diverse academic skills and psychological knowledge which can be applied to their individual situations and careers. It may also be used as a stepping stone for personal development and potential future studies in psychology.
The degree focuses on the application of psychological science to work and daily life and showcases the many fields covered by the psychology profession. These include organisation, counselling and neuropsychology of education. In each case, the understanding of human behaviour students gain can be generalised beyond the specific field of psychology. For example, counselling skills such as listening and re-formulating a problem are at the core of managerial skills. Also understanding how people manage their health and wellbeing is important in families dealing with illness or for individuals trying to kick bad habits such as smoking.
Psychology is one of those subjects where a little bit of genuine interest and understanding goes a long way. We encourage students to read widely and to consider how theories and research expand their knowledge.
Why Study MSc Applied Psychology?
The MSc Applied Psychology degree at Middlesex University Dubai has been designed with an emphasis on research but also equips you with knowledge of theoretical and practical issues in areas of Applied Psychology. We supply you with course content designed to impart the advanced knowledge required to serve your interests and career aspirations.
The programme is ideally suited to those with careers in Human Resources or Education who want to further their knowledge of psychology in these contexts, or, for those with an interest in personal development through gaining an advanced level, a research-focused degree in this field.
Teaching
Taught sessions are held at our Dubai Knowledge Village campus (Block 16, 17, 04 and 19) during the week (Sunday to Thursday) between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Additional sessions might be scheduled over weekends or holiday periods and you can expect to receive plenty of notice for these. You can expect to attend one session per week per module, except where otherwise specified in the programme timetable and for the Dissertation module in which you will be working individually on your thesis with some supervised elements. Attending scheduled weekly classes is an important requirement for the completion of this programme.
You will be actively involved in a range of learning, teaching and assessment approach as part of your programme. Such active approaches aim to put you at the centre of your learning so you are involved and engaged in all aspects of your assessment and learning. Your programme will require your active participation in learning activities and engagement with your fellow students both individually and collaboratively, working and learning with other students as part of a small group. Learning activities may also occur both within and outside the classroom.
Your learning will also be supported by technology. Increasingly your tutors will be using existing and emerging learning technologies to engage you in e-learning activities. Your programme may be facilitated using a variety of media and online tools (My Learning on UniHub, podcasts, wikis, etc.) which could allow you flexible access to a diverse range of online resources, quizzes and learning materials as well as collaborative tools with which you can engage and learn with your peers.
Not confined by the time and space associated with traditional teaching methods you may take part in online discussions and learning activities from wherever you are studying. By engaging with e-learning you will also be developing skills that are essential for your learning and are also highly valued by employers. These include but are not limited to: working flexibly, communication, understanding of IT, team working and creating shared understandings based on quality resources and access to global expertise.
Taught modules are devised to ensure active learning both of the subject matter and of the skills essential to postgraduate level study. In addition to scheduled class time, students are expected to undertake independent study doing research work, preparing for lectures and seminars and working in groups.
A number of assessment methods are used at Middlesex University, and these vary depending on the content of the modules being taught. Assessment comprises a mixture of coursework, peer review, presentations and logbook. For example, you may give an oral presentation, read and comment on an academic article or write an academic essay. In addition, each module has a comprehensive range of online resources available to enhance your studies with us. You will receive detailed module handbooks each year with information on teaching and learning strategies, assessment methods and reading materials.
Virtual Open Days
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You can speak to faculty and staff to find out more about our wide range of programmes, entry requirements, scholarships, study modes, and get a feel for what it’s like to study at a world-class UK university in Dubai.
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Admissions
Curriculum
Programme Content
The MSc Applied Psychology programme is studied over two years on a part-time basis. The programme is divided into study units called modules. It includes a range of taught modules together with a dissertation, (normally based on empirical research), carried out by the student. There are three 30 credit modules providing the opportunity to study topics within areas of Research Methods in Applied Psychology, and counselling psychotherapies, and business psychology. In particular, the Research Methods module provides the opportunity to develop research and practical skills relevant across all areas of Applied Psychology. These include qualitative methods, questionnaire and survey methods; methods for the statistical analysis of quantitative data. In addition, practical elements such as developing research proposals and identifying ethical and professional considerations are also covered.
Two further 15 credit modules give this programme its wider appeal by offering three further popular areas of study within psychology namely; Applied Neuropsychology in Education and contemporary research and issues in Applied Psychology.
The Thesis or Dissertation module (60 credits) encourages students to demonstrate learned knowledge in a particular area of Applied Psychology. Each 30 credit module represents approximately 240 hours of study commitment with typically 2-3 hours per week contact time. The MSc Applied Psychology is awarded for successful completion of 180 credits, including the dissertation.
Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.
- Research: Practice and Reporting (60 Credits) - Compulsory
- Applied Psychology Dissertation (60 Credits) - Compulsory
- Applied Neuropsychology in Education (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- Applied Psychometrics (15 Credits) - Compulsory
- Research and Issues in Applied Psychology (30 Credits) - Compulsory
- Research Methods in Applied Psychology (30 Credits) - Compulsory
- Counselling and Psychotherapy in Applied Psychology (30 Credits) - Compulsory
Program Outcome
The general aim of the programme is to provide an intellectual setting within which students can both develop a fuller appreciation of substantive areas of applied psychology and improve their analytical skills. The programme aims to provide a learning environment within which the successful student will:
- Gain knowledge and understanding of key areas of Applied Psychology in the workplace (e.g. Education, Counselling, and Business Psychology).
- Gain knowledge and critical understanding of the various research techniques and statistical methods that may be viewed as appropriate to a postgraduate level training in psychology.
- Gain experience developing practical research, analytical and reporting skills, therefore, making an appropriate contribution to research within an area of Applied Psychology.
Career Opportunities
The several areas of psychology covered provide an in-depth understanding of how psychology is applied in everyday life, thus furnishing students with the tools required for a successful career. In addition, there is an emphasis on research skills development culminating in the thesis project.
Applied Psychology graduates are concerned with the relations between people and work and the underlying causes of behaviour that impact managerial or social policy. Therefore their expertise is relevant to both the private and public sectors.
Opportunities for those with master’s degrees tend to be concentrated in business, industry and government settings; or students may work as ABA therapist. The degree will enable successful students to further their career in areas such as business education, psychology or care industries. In addition to this, successful graduates might join running research projects within various organisations, facilitating data collection, entry and analysis, and reporting research findings.
Our Careers and Employability Service (CES) offer students a range of support both while they’re studying and after graduation.