Online Psychology Courses

Search a range of online psychology courses from leading UK education providers

Use the filters on this page to search for the best online psychology degrees from UK universities.

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All the courses on this page are 100% taught online from accredited, recognised UK Universities and education providers.

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Academic Level
Certificate Options
Specialisation

Social and Psychological Inquiry

The Open University

Online Master’s /
Part-time /
24 to 48 Months
OPen university

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Distance learning, or Online Learning, now provides a way to achieve a higher education qualification without the need to take time away from work or relocate to be near the university.  This format is ideal for mature students and the most popular format for students looking to return to study.

Read more about modern online learning.

Studying Psychology FAQ

Yes, there are online courses available for all areas and levels of psychology.


Online study has become popular over recent years. There is a range of online courses for all levels of experience and qualifications. Suppose you already have an undergraduate degree in a non-related subject. In that case, an MSc psychology conversion is an ideal way to move into a career as a psychologist.

Psychology is a wide and varied subject. A great way to start on your learning journey is reading a few popular psychology books written for a general audience, such as,

  • The Social Animal by Eliot Aronson
  • Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
  • The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
  • Drive by Daniel H. Pink
  • The Power of Habit by Charles Dugigg

 

If these books resonate, an excellent next step is to take a short course. There are many ways to get started with studying psychology.

One option is taking an introduction course. Some universities offer introduction courses online. They provide a basic overview of the field of study and allow you to learn about different areas of interest.

 

It typically can take between 3 to 5 years to become a counselling psychologist. Graduate-level education is essential to becoming chartered.

A typical route is to take a three-year degree in psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society, followed by a similarly recognised postgraduate course.

If you already have a non-psychology degree, it is possible to take a postgraduate conversion course. As well as the academic qualifications, you will need to gain relevant work experience supporting people with emotional demands.

There is a wide range of courses available online covering psychology. However, if you plan on taking an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a UK university, you should check the university is accredited and that the course is recognised by the British Psychological Society (bps).

We only have courses from accredited universities on ukstudyonline.com.

The British Psychological Society (BPS) represents and promotes excellence and ethical practice and sets high standards for education and research.

Completing full undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications that the BPS accredits means you’ll be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS.

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is an essential part of the journey to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

When studying psychology at either graduate or postgraduate level, most universities will require a good understanding of math or cover some areas, such as statistics, as part of the syllabus.

Having a solid understanding of statistics is vital for clinical practice and research- understanding, gaining insight, and explaining the relationship between complex traits in human behaviour.

We only list courses from accredited UK universities on ukstudyonlne.com. You can use the filters on this page to filter courses by level. Once you have found a course that suits your goals and interests, you can use our guide here to confirm the degree-awarding powers of the institution.

In the UK, the typical career path for a child psychologist involves completing a graduate or Master’s level course followed by four years of clinical training. This clinical training typically leads to a Professional Doctorate in Child Psychology (DPsych)

You need to be “smart” in many ways to be a psychologist. You need patience, empathy, sensitivity, and a solid ethical compass. These are just a few required characteristics and a strong scientific and problem-solving mindset.

It could be possible, but it depends on a lot of factors. Psychology is a vast subject area. While there is an abundance of great resources available online, it can be hard to navigate the terminology, history and theories on your own.


If you know the area you want to learn about, taking a short psychology course can be a great way to find out if you have the passion and drive to study at it at higher levels. There is no replacement for exploring the subject in an academic environment that a university-level course can provide.

While university-level engineering and physics have a reputation for being challenging subjects, psychology is no walk in the park.

When you study psychology, you need to be prepared for a large amount of reading to develop a solid theoretical and practical knowledge base. Also, statistics will play a significant role in your learning to gain insight into developments and breakthroughs in mental health and psychology research.

No, in the UK, you must have a relevant postgraduate qualification to be a practising psychologist. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to becoming a Clinical Psychologist. However, there is no age limit on studying or gaining professional status, so if you have the drive and motivation, you can become a psychologist at any age.

The short answer is yes. In fact, it is common for people to decide on the profession once they have some life experience under their belt.


Taking a conversion course is an excellent way to start on your journey to becoming fully qualified. However, make sure you do your research before you commit. According to the BPS (The British Psychology Society), it can take up to seven to gain chartered status.

University Rankings

Use these links to view the full rankings (Opens in a new window)

THE World University Rankings

QS World University Ranking

ARTU Ranking (Out of 45 UK universities included in their table) 

QS World University Rankings- QS Quacquarelli Symonds rankings data– (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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