Health Psychology Keele University

Overview

Health psychology is the study of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health, illness, and healthcare, and it is one of the fastest growing areas of applied psychology. Our British Psychological Society (BPS) aligned Health Psychology from Keele University provides you with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to pursue a diverse range of careers in health and related settings.

Key facts

Using interactive teaching and assessment methods, as well as hands-on work placements, you will learn about contemporary topics in health psychology, including:

• As part of the ‘Becoming and being ill’ module, you will learn about how biological, social, and psychological factors shape health, focusing on health challenges, recovery, and coping with illness.
• During the ‘Health Promotion, Prevention, and Behaviour Change’ module, you will learn how to support people experiencing chronic health problems, including exploring psychological principles behind health promotion, illness prevention, and intervention development.
• The 'Professional Practice in Health Psychology' module offers hands-on experience through a placement in a health organisation, allowing you to develop critical professional skills, reflect on ethical frameworks, and gain insight into the roles of health psychologists in multidisciplinary teams.
• As part of the ‘Applied Psychological Research Methods’, you will develop critical understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, while guiding you through the full research process - from selecting methods and analysing data to interpreting and disseminating psychological research findings.
• You will apply your learning from the programme by conducting your own health-related research as part of your ‘Applied research Dissertation’ module.

Beyond Health Psychology, you will also develop a range of transferable skills that are useful in almost all work settings, including: critical thinking, research and analysis skills, reflective practice, teamwork, and real-life work experience. These skills ensure that you graduate equipped for a range of careers.