BSc (Hons) Developmental Psychology with a Placement Year

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of East Anglia

Program Overview

The BSc Developmental Psychology with a Placement Year at the University of East Anglia explores how people grow and change throughout life, from early childhood through adolescence into adulthood, focusing on emotional, social, and cognitive development. It is a strong choice for students who are interested in child development, education, mental health, and understanding how behaviour evolves over time, supported by research-led teaching and practical experience.

Curriculum structure:

In Year 1, you are introduced to the foundations of psychology and how human behaviour and development are studied scientifically. You cover core areas such as introductory psychology, research methods, and developmental perspectives on cognition and behaviour, which help you build essential scientific and analytical skills.

In Year 2, the course becomes more specialised as you focus on developmental psychology in greater depth. You study topics such as cognitive development, social and emotional development, and developmental psychopathology, while also strengthening your ability to design, analyse, and interpret psychological research.

In Year 3 (Placement Year), you gain real-world experience in professional settings such as schools, healthcare services, social care organisations, charities, or research environments. This year allows you to apply your psychological knowledge in practice while building confidence, communication skills, and workplace experience.

In Year 4, you return to university for advanced study and complete an independent research project. You explore specialist areas of developmental psychology in more detail while demonstrating your ability to critically evaluate research and conduct your own scientific investigation.

Focus areas (in a string): child development, adolescent psychology, cognitive development, social development, developmental psychopathology, autism spectrum conditions, learning differences, research methods, mental health, lifespan development

Learning outcomes (in a string): understanding of human development across the lifespan, ability to design and evaluate psychological research, strong data analysis skills, application of developmental psychology in real-world settings, critical thinking in interpreting behaviour, independent research capability, professional workplace readiness

Professional alignment (accreditation): British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree supporting progression towards professional psychology training and postgraduate study routes

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of East Anglia is consistently ranked among the top UK universities for Psychology in national league tables, with strong graduate outcomes supported by research-led teaching and placement opportunities

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of East Anglia, the BSc Developmental Psychology with a Placement Year is built around practical, hands-on learning where you actively study how people grow and change across different stages of life. You don’t just learn theories—you explore real developmental processes through lab work, research projects, and applied experience in professional settings. The course also connects you with specialist psychology facilities where behaviour, cognition, and mental health development are studied using modern research tools and methods.

Experiential learning:

Access to specialist psychology laboratories focused on developmental research, including cognition, behaviour, and emotional development across the lifespan
Practical experience using research tools to study conditions such as autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences in controlled environments
Use of advanced psychological research equipment and methods, including experimental tools and virtual reality systems used in developmental studies
Hands-on training in research design, data collection, and statistical analysis using professional psychology software
Opportunities to take part in research projects focused on child development, education, and developmental psychology topics
Group projects that develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills in real research contexts
Placement opportunities in settings such as schools, NHS services, charities, and child development organisations, allowing you to apply psychology in real-world environments
Access to extensive psychology libraries, academic journals, and digital databases to support independent research and dissertation work
Learning supported by research-active academics who bring current developmental psychology studies into teaching

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of BSc Developmental Psychology with a Placement Year at the University of East Anglia are well prepared for careers in areas such as child development, education, mental health, research, and social care. Many go on to roles like assistant psychologist, research assistant, education support worker, youth or childcare practitioner, and behavioural or data research roles, while others continue into further professional training in psychology.

University services that help employment: UEA offers support through CareerCentral, which provides one-to-one career guidance, CV and interview preparation, employability workshops, and access to internships and graduate opportunities. Psychology students also benefit from subject-specific career support and placement guidance to help them enter fields such as education, healthcare, charities, and research.
Employment outcomes and salary insights: Psychology graduates gain strong transferable skills in research, communication, and data analysis that are valued across many industries. Starting salaries vary depending on the role, with progression increasing as graduates gain experience or complete further training.
University–industry partnerships: The course is supported by links with organisations such as NHS services, schools, social care providers, charities, and research organisations, giving students opportunities for placements and applied learning experiences.
Long-term accreditation value: The degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is an important requirement for progressing into professional psychology training and postgraduate study routes such as clinical or educational psychology.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates leave with strong analytical, research, and applied psychology skills, making them well suited for careers in education, healthcare, social services, research, and behavioural science roles.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, students can continue to postgraduate study such as MSc Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, or other research-based programmes, with the option to progress to a PhD or professional doctorate depending on their long-term career goals.