BA Hons Education with Psychology

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Bedfordshire

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Education with Psychology programme explores how children and young people learn, develop, and navigate diverse educational environments, combining education theory with developmental and psychological insight. You’ll examine learning, social and emotional wellbeing, policy and pedagogy, with opportunities for placements and real-world practice.

Curriculum structure

Year One

In the first year you’ll study foundational themes such as Narratives of Childhood, Early Child Psychology, and other introductory units exploring child and adolescent development through psychological perspectives. You’ll also take Developing Teaching Practice, learning the basics of curriculum design and classroom observation, along with Key Concepts in Education, where you begin understanding education systems, inclusion, and introductory research methods.

Year Two

In your second year, you deepen your understanding through modules such as Positive Psychology in Education, which focuses on wellbeing, motivation and resilience in school settings, and Psychology of Adolescence, exploring teenage development and social influences. You will also study Working with Children and Young People in the Digital Age, examining how technology shapes learning and development, along with completing a professional placement to apply your learning in real educational settings.

Year Three

In the final year you’ll complete an Independent Project / Dissertation, researching an issue in education and psychology in depth. You’ll also take advanced modules like Inclusion and Psychology, which examines neurodiversity, mental health and inclusive practice, and Families and Communities, exploring how family, culture and policy shape learning and wellbeing. A final placement helps you consolidate your professional experience.

Focus areas

Child and adolescent development; educational theory and policy; social inclusion and mental health in schools; research skills; applied placements; supportive learning environments.

Learning outcomes

You will graduate able to critically analyse educational and developmental issues, design inclusive learning approaches, understand psychological development across the lifespan, contribute to wellbeing in schools or community settings, and conduct education-based research confidently.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This programme does not directly confer QTS, but it strongly prepares you for careers in educational support, youth work, community services, non-profits, policy, or progression into teacher training or postgraduate psychology pathways.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of Bedfordshire’s education programmes rank highly for student satisfaction and career prospects, with the university placed among the top performers for graduate employment outcomes within this subject area.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA (Hons) Education with Psychology degree blends two powerful disciplines—education and psychology—so you can understand how children and young people develop, learn, and interact in different environments. The course is designed to give you a strong mix of theory, practical experience, and research skills, preparing you for a wide range of education-related careers or postgraduate teacher training.

Experiential Learning

Students gain hands-on, practical skills by working directly in real educational and community environments, supported by purpose-built facilities and extensive partnerships. The course encourages active engagement, observation, and participation from the early stages. This develops your confidence, analytical skills and ability to apply psychology to real-world educational challenges.

Here’s how that experiential learning takes shape:

Mock classrooms with specialist digital technology where you can practise delivering activities, record your sessions, and analyse teaching approaches.
Forest School and outdoor learning experiences, helping you understand long-term child development benefits and alternative learning environments.
Strong partnerships with schools and community organisations, giving access to enrichment visits, real-world observation, mentoring opportunities and collaborative projects.
Field trips, visiting speakers and external seminars that expose you to current educational issues, child development research and psychological perspectives.
Chances to participate in school-based activities, youth work and community projects as part of your studies.
Opportunities to attend conferences and professional events, deepening your understanding of contemporary education and psychology.
Research-based learning, including small-scale enquiry tasks and practical research that build toward your final-year dissertation.

Curriculum & Academic Focus

Throughout the degree, you will explore how psychology informs teaching, learning and child development in a range of educational contexts. Modules typically include:

Child and adolescent development
Psychology of adolescence
Children and young people in the digital age
Safeguarding, child protection and inclusion
Educational theories and contexts
Families, communities and social development
Inclusion, equality and psychological perspectives
Working with children and young people in digital or alternative learning environments
A final-year independent research project (dissertation) in an education-or psychology-related area of your choice

Why Students Choose This Programme

Education courses at Bedfordshire have achieved high student satisfaction, particularly in teaching, academic support and learning development.
The degree provides a strong pathway to teacher training, educational support roles, youth work, community development, policy roles, or postgraduate study in psychology or education.
You are supported by a dedicated personal tutor system, specialist teaching staff and a learning environment that encourages real-world practice, reflection and critical thinking.
The blend of education and psychology gives you a valuable interdisciplinary perspective that employers increasingly look for in child- and youth-focused fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this programme move into a wide range of roles supporting children, young people, families, and educational organisations. Typical career paths include:

Learning support practitioner, youth worker, or educational mentor
Educational outreach or community programme officer
Support roles within schools, charities, and child-focused organisations
Research assistant roles in education, psychology, or child development

Why this course works for you:

Outstanding student satisfaction and teaching quality: Education courses at the University of Bedfordshire consistently score above 90% in student satisfaction across teaching, academic support, and learning opportunities, placing the university among the UK’s top providers for education-related subjects.
Strong partnerships with schools and community organisations: With more than 500 partner schools and numerous community links, students gain access to varied placement settings that offer real-world experience working with children and young people.
Excellent specialist teaching facilities: You’ll learn in mock classrooms equipped with modern teaching technology, along with access to specialist spaces such as a Forest School area and a sensory centre used for SEND and early-years development.
Top-tier career prospects: The course is ranked among the UK’s top performers for graduate career prospects in its subject area.
Supportive learning environment: Personal tutors, small group teaching, guest lectures, workshops, and optional placements help you build both theoretical understanding and practical skills in education and psychology.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BA (Hons) Education with Psychology, you can progress into:

Master’s degrees in Educational Psychology, Child Development, Special Educational Needs, Mental Health, or Leadership in Education
Teacher training pathways such as a PGCE if you wish to gain Qualified Teacher Status
Professional qualifications in counselling, youth work, or mental-health support
Research roles or doctoral study in education, developmental psychology, or social policy