MSc Psychology of Education BPS

The MSc Psychology of Education is a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited conversion programme that provides you with an excellent grounding in the psychology of education. It draws on a wide range of theories and methods from across the core areas of psychology and encourages you to consider how they apply to education and educational contexts.

You will benefit from our longstanding tradition of high-quality research and teaching in this area, and will acquire unique skills in both psychology and research methods. You will learn how research can inform theory, policy and practice, and how to conduct your own empirical research. You will also acquire transferable skills such as communication skills, statistical analysis, computer literacy and teamwork.

This programme is designed specifically for individuals who do not already hold a BPS-accredited degree in psychology and who are seeking to achieve Graduate Membership (GMBPsS) with the BPS. If you have completed a BPS-accredited psychology undergraduate programme, this programme will cover similar core content, but we offer a unique applied focus and a chance to specialise in specific areas.

Choose a specialism

You can either follow the core programme, or choose to take one of three specialisms. Each is aligned with a major area of growth in the discipline, taught by world-leading experts.

Child Development

Focus on the psychology of the early years to understand the impact of our earliest experiences on long-term outcomes. This pathway is ideal for those interested in working in early education, policy, or supporting families more broadly.

Educational Neuroscience

Bridge education with psychology and cognitive science to understand how people learn. This pathway equips students to apply neuroscience research on learning and development in evidence-informed and ethically responsible ways.

Neurodiversity

Discover the natural variety in how human brains process the world, the impact this has on education and life experiences, and how we can better support neurodivergent young people. This pathway supports careers in special education, child and clinical psychology, and mental health organisations in both UK and international settings.

The knowledge and skills you will obtain in all our specialisms are desired by employers internationally, and are relevant to a wide range of careers in which an understanding of human behaviour or research methods is relevant. Successful students will be eligible to apply for Graduate Membership and for further professional training accredited by the BPS, an internationally recognised accreditation.