Psychological Studies (Child Development and Education)
BA (Hons)
Course Overview
Whether you already work with children and young people or would like to work with them, our BA聽Psychological Studies (Child Development and Education) will prepare you for a wide range of jobs and help enhance your career progression. It offers you the opportunity to gain skills and understanding in how psychological theory and research can be applied to supporting children鈥檚 and young people鈥檚 learning and development more effectively.
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Why choose this course?
- This course is ideal if you want to work with children and young people. You will learn about their development, mental health, emotional wellbeing, and how psychology can be applied to support wellbeing and learning.
- Its unique and highly applied focus will allow you to explore how psychological theories and research can be applied to professional contexts.
- The course will also help you to develop your skills as a professional in the field, and to develop strategies and approaches that will be directly applicable in your work.聽
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What will I learn?
Drawing on our expertise in psychological sciences, this course focuses on a range of relevant issues, including:聽
- intellectual, social and emotional development聽
- children鈥檚 mental health and wellbeing聽
- learning and learning difficulties聽
- communication and relationship building聽
- special educational needs, inclusion and diversity聽
- reflective practice.聽
You will study key issues in developmental and educational psychology, critically analyse theories and research, and explore how these can support your professional practice. Throughout the degree you will be able to select option modules to reflect your interests. In your final year you will produce an extended essay on a topic of your choice, under the guidance and supervision of an expert academic member of staff.聽
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How will I learn?
This course is available to study full- or part-time in the evenings with some Saturday attendance in the first year, so you can fit your studies around other commitments.
Our approach is highly student-centred with a focus on building your skills including through additional study days and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on your own career and professional practice, as well as obtain valuable experience through a short placement.
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How often will I attend classes?
Full-time from 2027-28: Two to three evenings a week and some Saturday attendance, October to July
Part-time: Two evenings a week and some Saturday attendance, October to July
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Course disclaimer
糖心logo入口 makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.
Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.
More Highlights
- 糖心logo入口 is strongly oriented towards research in psychological sciences and we are home to the鈥�, the鈥�痑nd the鈥�. We also recently became members of the Bloomsbury Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Statistics.聽
- We are consistently regarded as one of the top institutions teaching psychological sciences in the UK. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and for the third time, we were ranked in the top ten universities in the UK.聽
Modules and Teaching
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Starting in October 2027
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Three years full-time, on campus
You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.
- Year 1: eight compulsory modules, including an uncredited study skills module, and one Level 4 option module
- Year 2: five compulsory modules and three Level 5 option modules
- Year 3: a core and a compulsory module, and five Level 6 option modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
- Psychology Study Skills
- Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Psychology
- Understanding Applied Cognitive Psychology
- Understanding Applied Social Psychology
- Understanding Developmental Psychology
- Understanding Individual Differences
- Understanding Neuroscience
- Understanding Research Methods for Psychology
Year 2 compulsory modules
- Developmental Psychology
- Individual Differences
- Psychological and Developmental Issues in Childhood and Adolescence
- Psychology for Personal and Professional Development
- Social Perspectives on Development
Year 3 core and compulsory modules
Year 1 option modules - Level 4
Year 2 option modules - Level 5
- Cognition
- Neuroscience
- Perception and Attention
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Social Psychology
- Your Career Development
Year 3 option modules - Level 6
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Four years part-time, on campus
Course structure
You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.
- Year 1: six compulsory modules, including an uncredited study skills module, and one Level 4 option module
- Year 2: five compulsory modules and one Level 5 option module
- Year 3: two compulsory modules, two Level 5 and two Level 6 option modules
- Year 4: a core and a compulsory module, and three Level 6 option modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
- Psychology Study Skills
- Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Psychology
- Understanding Developmental Psychology
- Understanding Individual Differences
- Understanding Neuroscience
- Understanding Research Methods for Psychology
Year 2 compulsory modules
- Developmental Psychology
- Individual Differences
- Social Perspectives on Development
- Understanding Applied Cognitive Psychology
- Understanding Applied Social Psychology
Year 3 compulsory modules
- Psychological and Developmental Issues in Childhood and Adolescence
- Psychology for Personal and Professional Development
Year 4 core and compulsory modules
Year 1 option modules - Level 4
Year 2 option modules - Level 5
- Cognition
- Neuroscience
- Perception and Attention
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Your Career Development
Year 3 option modules - Level 5
- Cognition
- Micro-placement
- Neuroscience
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Social Psychology
Year 3 option modules - Level 6
- Attachment Theory: Introduction and Critique
- Careers and Counselling at Work
- Family Studies
- Health Psychology
- Neurodiversity
Year 4 option modules - Level 6
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Teaching
We聽encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to聽help聽ensure聽you聽have the best learning experience聽and聽provide聽a聽range of聽different聽modes of learning聽to聽help you聽juggle聽study聽with work and other commitments.
What are the methods of teaching?
The course includes a number of learning and teaching methods offering you a variety of learning opportunities including lectures, seminars, small-group work and a supervised extended essay reviewing relevant literature.
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How will I be assessed?
Assessment includes: essays, case studies, research reports, critical analyses of published papers, class presentations, learning and reflective journals, and examinations.
Please see individual modules for more details.
Find out more about assessment at 糖心logo入口, including guidance on assessment,聽feedback聽and our assessment offences policy.
Entry Requirements
We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of your qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. However, as a minimum, you must have a good standard of written and spoken English and a good standard of basic mathematics.
Suitability for admission will be assessed on the basis of your application and all applicants will be interviewed. You can also take a written test of your English and mathematics skills if you do not possess previous qualifications in these subjects.
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Full-time study - how many UCAS points do I need?
- Three years full-time: 96 points (e.g. A-levels CCC)
- Four years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points
For full-time study on this course, you apply via UCAS.鈥疶he UCAS tariff score applies if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a for you to work out what your qualification is worth.
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Part-time study
For part-time study our standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.
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Alternative entry routes
The聽Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Psychology聽offers an entry route into the second year of this course.
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What are the English language requirements?
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our for more details about how we can help.
Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.
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What are the visa and funding requirements?
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.
The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:
- Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
- Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa
International students who require a Student visa should apply鈥痶o study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at 糖心logo入口 (with the exception of some modules).
As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study鈥� (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.
For full information, read our visa information for international students page.
Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)
If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to 糖心logo入口 or another institution.
Fees
Three years full-time, on campus
Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027
Full-time home students: 拢10,050 per year
Full-time international students: 拢19,320 per year
Four years part-time, on campus
Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027
Part-time home students: 拢7,530 per year
Part-time international students: 拢14,490 per year
Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.
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糖心logo入口's Lifelong Learning Guarantee
If you've studied at 糖心logo入口 before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.
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Tuition fees and maintenance loans
Eligible full-time and part-time students from the UK don't have to pay any tuition fees upfront, as government loans are available to cover them.
Maintenance loans are also available for eligible full-time and part-time UK students, to help cover living costs, such as accommodation, food, travel, books and study materials. The amount you receive is means-tested and depends on where you live and study and your household income.
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Am I eligible for a loan if I've previously studied?
You can apply for a government tuition fee loan for the four- and six-year part-time routes even if you already have a degree or a qualification at an equivalent or higher level (ELQ).
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Can I apply for an international scholarship?
We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship.鈥�View 糖心logo入口's available scholarships.
糖心logo入口's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by .
Careers and employability
On graduating successfully from this BA聽Psychological Studies (Child Development and Education), you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
- the ability to critically analyse and evaluate material
- effective oral and written communication skills
- independent and critical thinking
- numeracy, problem analysis and problem-solving skills
- knowledge and understanding of key areas of psychology and applied psychology
- reflective and evidence-based practice.
Our graduates have progressed to a wide range of careers, including:
- specialist support workers and special educational needs co-ordinators
- learning mentors and family support professionals
- nursery professionals and nursery managers
- school pastoral and wellbeing roles.
Others have continued their studies to master鈥檚 level or gained professional qualifications, for example, as teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, counsellors and psychotherapists specialising in therapeutic work with children and young people.聽
Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed in schools and nurseries, local authorities, mental health services and the National Health Service.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise聽- your career partner during your time at 糖心logo入口 and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Student Support
糖心logo入口 offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.
Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.
Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.
Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.
Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at 糖心logo入口.
How to Apply
You apply via UCAS for our full-time undergraduate courses or directly to 糖心logo入口 for our part-time undergraduate courses. For more detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to apply, visit our How to apply page.
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How do I apply to study full-time (UCAS entry)?
If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course at 糖心logo入口 you apply through UCAS. Use the Apply now button on this course page which will direct you to UCAS. There you will be prompted to sign in and create an account.鈥痀ou will have to give UCAS a few personal details, including your name, address and date of birth, and then you can start working on your application.
The first UCAS deadline is in January, and the majority of university applications through UCAS are made by then. Find the exact deadline date on the . We welcome applications outside of the UCAS deadlines, so you can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline, depending on the availability of places. We also take late applications via the UCAS Clearing system in August.
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How do I apply to study part-time?
If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate course (usually four or six years), you apply directly to 糖心logo入口 online by using the Apply now button. You will need to prove your identity when you apply.
Please note that online application opens in September.
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When should I apply?
You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.
You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - 糖心logo入口 can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.
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How can I get help with my application?
Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at 糖心logo入口.
Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.
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International agents
If you are an international agent applying to 糖心logo入口 on behalf of an international student, please use .
Related courses
Study routes for Psychological Studies (Child Development and Education) (BA (Hons))
Please select a study route below to continue your application.
Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.
Important Notice: Applications are now closed for undergraduate full-time courses starting in 2026. You can apply for these courses starting in 2027. All other courses starting in 2026 will close for application on 30 September 2026.
2027-28
Full-time
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Three years full-time, on campus starting in October 2027
Part-time
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Four years part-time, on campus starting in October 2027
Apply Now for Psychological Studies (Child Development and Education) (BA (Hons)) Four years part-time, on campus starting in October 2027