The MSc in MSc Neurodiversity and Development (formerly known as the MSc in Developmental Psychopathology) will build on your interest in developmental psychology and neurodevelopmental diversity.
The aim of the MSc Neurodiversity and Development is to provide advanced research training for those interested in pursuing careers in the field of research, developmental psychology, neurodiversity and clinical or educational psychology.
The subject-specific and generic postgraduate training, provided by the course, enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding required of a professional conducting research in neurodiversity, clinical, child development or other fields.
Research training forms a key focus of the MSc course. In addition to providing training in basic research, the course aims to integrate research perspectives from the fields of developmental psychology, neurodiversity, clinical and educational psychology. This distinctive emphasis is reflected in the learning outcomes, structure and assessment of the course.
The course is divided into three parts. Three modules assess subject specific knowledge related to development (including neurotypical and neurodivergent). A further three modules assess research skills, including critical thinking abilities and statistical knowledge. The final part of the programme is the dissertation module, which culminates in the production of an independent and original body of research material under supervision from a member of staff.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Advanced Developmental Psychology Review
teaches the skills to create and deliver literature reviews as well as providing analysis of key topics in the field of developmental psychology, including research skills, data handling, writing styles and methods of presentation.
Critical Research Practice
is fundamental to learning and provides the knowledge and skills required to design, conduct and communicate research in psychology, ensuring it is conducted ethically. This module also teaches the analytical skills needed to evaluate research findings.
Research Design in Child and Clinical Psychology
provides an introduction to the methods and design used in child and clinical psychology and offers practical training in the transferable skills relevant for professional and personal development.
Current Issues in Neurodiversity and Development
provides in-depth knowledge of current theoretical stances and methodological issues within the fields of developmental psychology and neurodiversity. The aim is for you to gain a broad understanding of typical development and then consider different development pathways.
Statistics for Psychology and the Behavioural Sciences
teaches the core statistical methods that are commonly used across psychology and the behavioural sciences, as well as developing your confidence in identifying and applying appropriate statistical techniques. This module will also develop your ability for statistical programming.
Advanced Statistics for Psychology and the Behavioural Sciences
likewise provide an understanding of a set of advanced statistical methods that are used across psychology and the behavioural sciences and enable you to identify and apply appropriate statistical techniques.
Dissertation
The Dissertation enables you to design, conduct and write-up an empirical project, applying the theoretical knowledge you have acquired. You will gain experience of collaborating with other researchers and undertaking research and project management. The Department provides excellent support for conducting a significant piece of independent research.
This one-year course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshop classes. The balance of activity type varies across modules. Lectures provide key information on particular topics in development. Seminars provide a space for focused discussion on specific topics in smaller groups. Practicals and workshop classes allow students to gain direct experience, e.g. in using statistical tools.
Students attend approximately 12 hours a week of teaching activity and work on their dissertation-related activities in the summer term. Outside timetabled contact hours, students are expected to undertake independent study to prepare for their classes, broaden their subject knowledge, and complete their dissertation. Some prior knowledge of the topic area is assumed during delivery, so independent work is crucial.
Assessment
Assessments include examinations, written assignments, oral presentations, and the completion of a dissertation.
Entry requirements
We typically require a 2:1 Bachelor (Honours) degree or equivalent that covers the following content:
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.
Home students who do not meet our direct entry requirements, may be eligible for our Foundation Programme which offers multidisciplinary programmes to prepare you for a range of specified degree programmes.
The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only.
Our Masters qualifications provide the essential skills and understanding to progress to research at a higher academic level or to launch a professional career.
Our students enter the workplace with knowledge relevant to careers in psychology but also with the transferable skills in analysis and problem-solving that are valued by employers.
Such skills are highly sought after in a range of professions and our postgraduates have progressed to roles that include consultants, advisors, human resources professionals, talent managers, business analysts, market researchers, public relations professionals, marketeers, administrators, managers, civil servants, coaches, trainers and teachers.
In addition, the broad nature of the Department means that some of our postgraduates also qualify for careers in clinical and healthcare settings.
Department information
Psychology
Our Department provides world class teaching and research into understanding the mind and human behaviours. We investigate the processes that bring about the thoughts, feelings and motivations that lie behind our actions.
The Department of Psychology provides a world-class teaching and research environment for postgraduates who are interested in understanding more about the thoughts, feelings and motivations that lie behind actions and human behaviours and the processes that trigger them.
Our academic team are leading experts in their specialisms and provide outstanding supervision for postgraduate learning and research in key areas of psychology including Developmental Science, Cognitive Neuroscience and Quantitative Social Psychology.
Our range of taught Masters qualifications offer the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect of psychology be it biological, cognitive, social, developmental or neuroscience-related and to learn key approaches to the discipline including statistical training. For those who are interested in pursuing their own research interests we offer the MA/MSc by Research which offers a direct route to the PhD.
All postgraduate taught courses include a postgraduate dissertation in a chosen subject, supported by a member of staff with expertise in that area. Students also have access to state-of-the art technical, clinical and experimental facilities to support learning and research.
In the Department, we are proud to have passionate and committed teachers, who love their subjects and want to share that passion. We encourage collaborative working on new ideas so that together we can make new discoveries about human behaviour.
Facilities
The Department of Psychology is located on the main Mountjoy site, close to many academic departments and University services, and is within walking distance of Durham’s historic centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Facilities in the Department are outstanding. They provide state-of-the-art support for postgraduate work in understanding mind and behaviour through high precision experimental methods and ecologically valid controlled environments.
Apply
Find out more:
Apply for a postgraduate course (including PGCE International) via our online portal.
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