1 Year On Campus Masters Program
The MSc Developmental and Educational Psychology at University College London (UCL) explores how children and young people develop cognitively, emotionally, and socially within educational settings. It suits students interested in research, teaching, or applied psychology roles in education and child development.
Curriculum Structure:
Year 1 (Full-time):
Students study core modules such as Cognitive Development and Learning, Social and Emotional Development, and Research Methods in Developmental Psychology. The program combines theory with practical research skills, focusing on how psychological principles can improve educational outcomes. The Empirical Research Project allows students to investigate real-world issues such as motivation, learning difficulties, or emotional wellbeing in schools.
Focus Areas: "Child development, learning processes, educational psychology, research methods"
Learning Outcomes: "Students develop critical understanding of developmental theory, gain research and data analysis skills, and learn to apply psychology to educational practice."
Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Offered by UCL’s Department of Psychology and Human Development, aligned with the British Psychological Society’s academic standards.
Reputation (Employability Rankings): UCL ranks among the top 10 universities globally (QS) and is highly regarded for education and psychology research.
This programme focuses on applying advanced research methods to understand human cognition and decision-making through hands-on experimental work. Students develop practical skills in experimental design and data analysis using UCL's world-class research facilities. This applied approach is delivered through:
UCL's Experimental Psychology Labs: Access to specialised research facilities including eye-tracking laboratories, behavioural testing suites, and neuroimaging resources.
Research Methods Training: Practical hands-on training in experimental design, computational modelling, and statistical analysis using programming tools like Python, R, and cognitive modelling software.
Substantial Research Project: A major research dissertation where students design and conduct original experimental research in cognitive science or decision-making.
Institute Collaboration: Direct engagement with cutting-edge research through UCL's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning
Graduates of the MSc Developmental and Educational Psychology at University College London develop advanced research and clinical skills to understand and support child development, childhood disorders, and family dynamics. They often pursue careers as Child Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Research Officers, and Child Mental Health Practitioners:
University College London offers comprehensive support through its Careers Service, providing tailored career counselling, internship opportunities, and employer connections through its extensive network involving NHS trusts, schools, and charities.
The employment rate is high: 100% of recent graduates are in employment or further training within 15 months, with median salaries for clinical and research roles typically around £32,000–£38,000.
The program benefits from strong collaborations with child mental health services, education authorities, and research institutes such as the UCL Institute of Child Health.
UCL’s long-standing reputation for excellence in psychology and social sciences enhances professional credibility globally, opening various career pathways in academia, healthcare, and policy.
Graduates contribute significantly to child development research, mental health interventions, and educational support programs across public and private sectors.
Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue PhD or MPhil research in Cognitive Development, Clinical Psychology, or Education Psychology at UCL or internationally. Many advance to clinical training programs specializing in child and adolescent mental health, or further master's degrees in related fields such as Educational Psychology or Child Psychiatry.



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