Family and Child Psychology MSc

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Chester

Program Overview

The MSc Family & Child Psychology at the University of Chester equips students to understand child development and family dynamics in social and mental health contexts. It suits graduates aiming to work with children, families, or in policy and research roles.

Curriculum Structure

Students study Child & Adolescent Development (emotional, cognitive, social growth), Family Psychology in Society (social/cultural influences on families), and Family Lifestyle & Transition (life‑cycle changes). Advanced Skills for Research & Practice builds research and professional skills, while Child & Adolescent Mental Health & Neuro‑developmental Disorders focuses on assessment and intervention. The Research Dissertation allows independent applied research in family or child psychology.

Focus areas (string):
“Child development, family systems, social policy, mental health, applied research”

Learning outcomes (in a string):
“Understand family and child psychology; assess and support child mental health; conduct applied research; prepare for professional or doctoral roles.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
Prepares for applied child/family roles; not a chartered psychology qualification.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Graduates progress to social work, health services, education, or doctoral training.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical research skills through hands-on experiments in Chester's purpose-built psychology labs, utilising specialist equipment for cognitive and psychophysiological testing. This applied learning is central to the curriculum, with key experiential components including:

Software: Training in SPSS for statistical analysis and experiment-building platforms like E-Prime.
Research Project: Conducting a substantial independent dissertation using the department's lab facilities.
Laboratories: Access to specialist suites for eye-tracking, EEG, and behavioural observation.
Group Work: Collaborative research design and presentation tasks to develop team-based scientific skills.
Facilities & Support: Use of the university's library databases including PsycINFO and a curriculum designed for British Psychological Society (BPS) Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Family and Child Psychology at University of Chester are prepared for roles such as child psychologist assistant, family support worker, educational psychologist assistant, and child welfare advocate:

The university’s Careers and Employability Service provides personalized support including CV workshops, interview preparation, and connections with local social services and educational bodies.
Graduates benefit from strong employment outcomes, with many securing relevant roles across psychological, health, social work, and charitable sectors; salaries typically align with sector standards.
The program maintains partnerships with local health, social care, and educational organizations, facilitating placements and applied research opportunities.
The course emphasizes applied skills, research methods, ethics, and professional practice relevant to family and child contexts.
Graduates develop critical skills to assess, intervene, and support children and families in diverse settings.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue doctoral research or professional training in clinical, educational, or counselling psychology, or related fields to advance specialist careers and scholarship.

Additional Information & Requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in any subject.

India- 3-year Bachelor’s Degree with 55%-65%, depending on your academic history and the course you are applying for.

USA- Bachelor Degree from a recognised institution with 3.0 GPA or above.

IELTS - 6.5 (Min 5.5 in each sub-skill)

TOEFL- Overall score: 91 Min sub skill: Listening: 19 Reading: 20 Speaking: 21 Writing: 20

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