Psychology in Education BSc (Hons)

Right from your first year, you will not just study psychological theory and educational ideas — you’ll apply them in contexts where learning, development and educational practice meet. At Keele you’ll gain hands-on skills, use specialist tools and engage in meaningful projects. Here’s how:

• You’ll complete laboratory-based sessions where you practice research methods in psychology: data collection, analysis (qualitative & quantitative), use of software such as PsychoPy or Qualtrics.
• You’ll work through modules such as “Psychology in the Classroom and Beyond” which directly examine how psychology applies within education: behaviour in classroom settings, intervention design and evaluation.
• Small-group seminars, workshops and tutorials help you collaborate on projects that reflect real educational issues (for example supporting learners with special educational needs).
• Optional work placement year (or international year) available between Years 2 and 3: you’ll spend time in an educational or community setting, applying psychological theory and educational practice in a real-environment.
• Final year independent research project: you’ll design, conduct and write up an empirical study (often in an educational context) under supervision — giving you tangible experience in research.
• Digital tools and resources: access to Keele’s virtual learning environment, specialised psychology labs, databases and library collections tailored to social sciences, learning and development research.

Why you’ll benefit

This degree uniquely positions you at the intersection of psychology and education — meaning you emerge with knowledge of how people learn, develop and function, and how educational settings can adapt, intervene and support learning. With the experiential learning built in, you’ll graduate with both theory and applied experience — making you attractive for roles in educational support, learning development, research, community outreach (and beyond).

Graduates from this degree typically go into roles such as educational psychologist assistants, research/data analysts in education settings, youth or learning-support workers, or broader roles in human resources or communications. You’ll finish with strong skills in research methods, critical thinking, and understanding how people learn and behave in educational contexts.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

• University support & services:
  • Keele’s School of Psychology provides academic mentoring, disability & dyslexia support, and dedicated careers tutoring (including a careers tutor who is an occupational psychologist).
  • The broader Careers & Employability team supports you with CVs, interview prep, alumni mentoring, career fairs and part-time/graduate job support.
  • The programme offers work placement year or international year options (you can study in the UK for 3 years or extend to 4 with one of these).
• Employment stats and salary figures:
  • While specific salary data for this exact programme weren’t published in the sources I found, Keele highlights a broad range of graduate destinations for this course: Teaching/Education; Social Care; Counselling; Human Resources; Marketing/PR/Sales; Researcher/Data Analyst; Healthcare; Policing.
  • The degree is designed to equip you with “core skills in communication, problem-solving and analytical thinking” for “a broad range of careers in psychology, education and beyond”.
• University–industry / real-world links:
  • There’s a Flexible Work Placement module (Level 5) for applied experience in professional settings.
  • The School of Psychology at Keele has advanced labs (EEG, eye-tracking, VR) and strong research groups (Cognition, Brain & Behaviour; Health, Well-being & Behaviour Change; etc) which means students are exposed to current research and technologies.
• Long-term accreditation / brand value:
  • The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), as providing the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), subject to conditions.
  • Keele University has a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 — indicating high standard in teaching and student outcomes.
• Graduation outcomes:
  • On completion you will have developed strong research methods skills (both qualitative & quantitative), an understanding of developmental, cognitive, biological, social psychology, a perspective on how psychology applies in educational settings (classrooms, interventions, learning support).
  • The programme explicitly lists that you’re equipped to work in education or psychology-related careers in the classroom, in learning support roles, or in data/analysis functions outside traditional teaching.

Further Academic Progression:
After this BSc you could go on to:

• A postgraduate qualification in psychology (such as a Master’s in Educational Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or Learning & Behaviour) which would further your route toward being a trained psychologist.
• A teacher-training qualification (e.g., PGCE) or Master’s in Education if you aim to work in schools or educational leadership, using your psychology background to inform practice.
• A research-based MSc or MRes in areas like cognitive neuroscience, applied psychology, education research and ultimately a PhD in psychology of education or cognitive development if you enjoy the research component.