Graduate Conversion Programme in Psychology (Distance Learning Option)

Overview

The Certificate is a 60-credit introductory course for graduates with insufficient, inappropriate or no prior study of psychology at degree level. Satisfactory completion of the Certificate allows entry onto the one year full-time equivalent Conversion Diploma in Psychology for Graduates which confers graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and more importantly, the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS. GBC is a pre-requisite for entry onto postgraduate training in applied areas of professional psychology such as counselling, clinical, educational, forensic, health, occupational and sports psychology.

Graduates with a minimum of 60 credits in psychology in the areas of cognitive, developmental, social, and biological psychology and personality at degree level can apply directly for a place on the Conversion Diploma course. Any exemptions for the Conversion Programme are granted only by the Admissions Tutor. The Certificate is also offered in day time attendance mode.

The course content is delivered entirely online through the presentation of powerpoint slides and accompanying audio commentary from the lecturer which has been designed especially for this pathway. Coursework assessment is submitted and returned online. Examination assessment is usually taken within the University at City Campus for those within easy travelling distance, however it is possible to make arrangements for students to take examinations in other sites within the UK or abroad if necessary. For induction and enrolment we do offer the opportunity for students to come to the University and take part in this, however, this can also be done online.

The Certificate part of the Conversion programme is also available via attendance mode and information about this can be found at /pgprospectus/courses/graduate-conversion-programme-in-psychology-certificate.cfm

Faculty of Life Sciences

Applying and entry

PLEASE NOTE There is no official closing date for this course, but you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.

Tel: 020 7133 4202
Email: admissions@londonmet.ac.uk

Successful applicants must have a 2:2 Honours degree from the UK or an equivalent EEU/International qualification. In addition applicants must also have Maths and English GCSE or equivalent at a minimum grade C. In their personal statement applicants should indicate some knowledge about postgraduate training in professional areas of psychology and how gaining GBC relates to their future career goal. A detailed leaflet about careers in psychology and postgraduate training can be obtained from the BPS.

Course contents

The programme consists of 5 modules in total.

Core modules:

• Developmental Psychology 1
• Personality and Social Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology 1
• Biological Basis of Behaviour
• Psychological Research Methods 1*

* This is a one week intensive course which students are required to attend. It is held in the School of Psychology mid-September just prior to the start of the Diploma course. For 2011, the dates for the one week Research Methods course will be 5-9 September inclusive and the coursework assessment deadline will be the following week

Four of the modules will be assessed via unseen end-of-module examinations, you will be required to attend the examinations, and assessment will not be via distance learning. The one week intensive Psychological Research Methods 1 will be assessed by coursework.

The assessment period for those students starting in April for the four modules assessed by unseen examinations will be 18-29 July inclusive. There will also be a re-assessment period from 22 August to 2 September inclusive.

If students have successfully passed all components of the Certificate programme then they can progress onto the Diploma part of the Conversion Programme in September 2011.

Careers

The Distance Learning Certificate is ideal for students who are not able to attend the university due to work or other commitments but who wish to progress to the Diploma and obtain the GBC qualification. It is also possible to take individual modules of the programme.

Note the Diploma is only available in attendance mode and all classes are only offered during the day.

Students will be expected to purchase their own copies of the core texts but will have access to on-line journal materials through the library. Students will also have access to all learning materials on-line through WebLearn as well as discussion forums. Students will also have access to course tutors though WebLearn and email.

Student profiles