Psychology (Developmental Psychology) BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology) at Nottingham Trent University focuses on how people learn and develop across the lifespan, particularly within educational and support settings. This course is ideal for students interested in working with children, young people, or learning environments while building a strong foundation in psychological theory, research, and real-world application.

Curriculum structure

Year One
In your first year, you’ll develop a broad understanding of psychology alongside an introduction to developmental perspectives. Modules such as Understanding the Self: Psychology 101, Psychology in Action (Developmental Psychology), and Exploring Psychological Impact and Change introduce key ideas about behaviour, learning, and development. You’ll also build essential research skills through Research Design and Practice (1) and develop academic abilities that support psychological study.

Year Two
Your second year deepens your understanding of development and learning while strengthening core psychology knowledge. You’ll study modules including Brain, Behaviour and Cognition: Understanding the Mind, Social Evolution and Individual Development, and Analytical Thinking in Developmental Psychology, alongside Research Design and Practice (2) and Analysing Data: Methods and Tools (2). This stage focuses on understanding development across the lifespan and applying psychology to educational contexts.

Final Year
In your final year, you’ll apply psychology directly to educational and developmental settings. You’ll complete the Research Project in Developmental Psychology and study modules such as Psychology, Educational Support Needs and Inclusion and Psychological Applications to Work Settings. These modules allow you to explore learning differences, inclusive education, and real-world developmental challenges in depth.

Focus areas (in a string): educational psychology, developmental psychology across the lifespan, learning and cognition, inclusion and special educational needs, social and emotional development, research methods and statistics, psychological applications in education, independent research

Learning outcomes (in a string): understand human development in educational contexts, apply psychology to learning and inclusion, analyse behaviour using scientific methods, conduct independent research, evaluate educational interventions, develop critical thinking and data analysis skills, communicate psychological findings effectively, build ethical and professional awareness

Professional alignment (accreditation): British Psychological Society accredited degree providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and progression toward professional psychology training

Reputation (employability rankings): Nottingham Trent University psychology courses are highly ranked for student demand and provide strong employability support, with applied learning, work experience opportunities, and career-focused development built into the degree

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students on the BSc (Hons) Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology) at Nottingham Trent University build practical experience through applied research, education-focused projects, and real-world placements. You’ll work in specialist psychology laboratories, use professional data analysis tools, and take part in collaborative projects that apply developmental psychology to learning and inclusion. The course also integrates placement opportunities, independent research, and employer-led activities to help you develop skills for working in educational and developmental settings:

Dedicated psychology laboratories including eye-tracking labs, EEG labs, motion capture lab, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) lab
Developmental observation lab, interview rooms, and focus group facilities for studying behaviour and learning
Transport lab with driving simulators and computational modelling labs for behavioural research
Use of R statistical software for analysing psychological and developmental data
Employer challenge projects working with organisations on real educational and developmental issues
Minimum 60 hours of structured real-world work experience built into the course
Placement opportunities including roles supporting young people and educational environments
Optional year-long sandwich placement between Year Two and Final Year
NTU SHIELD opportunities providing supervised wellbeing support experience
Independent Research Project in Developmental Psychology using specialist facilities
Group-based applied project work within Psychological Applications to Work Settings
Study abroad opportunities and international summer schools
Virtual learning environment with digital collaboration tools and learning resources
Access to Boots Library, psychology study spaces, and dedicated research areas.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology) at Nottingham Trent University gain strong knowledge of learning, development, and inclusive education, preparing them for roles working with children, young people, and families. Many move into careers such as teacher, early years educator, family support worker, or speech and language therapy assistant, while others pursue wider psychology or public sector roles. The course also develops research, communication, and analytical skills that are valued across education, health, and community organisations:

Dedicated careers and employability support from NTU Employability, including one-to-one career guidance, CV workshops, and interview preparation
Work-like experience embedded within the course to help students apply psychology in educational and developmental settings
Optional year-long sandwich placements with support to secure roles in schools, support services, or community organisations
Employer engagement through guest speakers, networking events, and applied project work
British Psychological Society accreditation providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and progression toward professional psychology training
Transferable skills development in research, communication, teamwork, and data analysis
Opportunities to study abroad or join international summer schools to enhance experience
Strong student satisfaction for teaching and academic support reported in national surveys
High demand for psychology courses at Nottingham Trent University based on UCAS data
Work-like learning integrated across the degree including projects, placements, and independent research

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can continue to postgraduate study in areas such as educational psychology, developmental psychology, child psychology, speech and language therapy, counselling, or psychological research methods. The British Psychological Society accreditation also allows progression to specialist professional training, Master’s degrees, or doctoral study, supporting long-term careers in educational psychology, research, and child development.