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Programme summary for BSc (Hons) Developmental Psychology

About the programme

This degree is one of only a small number of programmes in the UK that allow you to specialise in developmental psychology at undergraduate level. Developmental psychologists study how social, emotional and cognitive processes change and develop in infants, children and adults. Research findings in developmental psychology are used to advance our understanding of, and knowledge of how to, support children in a variety of applied settings including education, health, the legal system and therapy.

Professional qualifications

This degree offers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society.

2-subject degrees

It is not possible to combine this programme with another subject as part of a 2-subject degree.

Programme structure

The BSc (Hons) Developmental Psychology is a three-year full-time programme or a four and a half year part-time programme (though this can sometimes be reduced to four years, depending on previous qualifications and experience).

To be awarded an honours degree in Developmental Psychology, a student would have completed (or been given prior accreditation in up to two-thirds of) a total of 18 modules, with a value of 360 credits. This would comprise 120 credits at Level 1, 120 at level 2 and 120 at Level 3. The Level 3 research project module must be passed in order to achieve an Honours degree.

There are two semesters in each year of study, and in each semester a full-time student would usually study and be assessed in three modules. Each module carries a 20-credit value. Level 3 includes a double, 40-credit research project module, which runs for the entire year. A student studying part-time would progress at a slower pace. Up to two modules per semester may be followed and assessed in the part-time mode.

Opportunities to develop skills related to academic learning, research and employability are incorporated into core modules at each level of the programme.

Career opportunities

As well as providing a route into professional psychology, a degree in this field is relevant to a wide range of other areas of work. Graduates of the Developmental Psychology programme would be well-suited to work in education, social welfare, speech and language therapy, counselling, coaching and mentoring. Since all graduates will have a BPS-recognised degree, they may pursue a career in other areas where knowledge of psychology is a positive asset, for example sport and leisure, human resource management, consumer research and advertising, media and
community work.

Support

Students joining the programme are offered an induction programme in the week before classes begin. Returning students also receive induction to the next level or year of their programme.

All students are allocated a personal and academic tutor. Additional help is available from year group tutors, the programme leader and leaders of individual modules. The School of Psychology has a well-established mentoring scheme in which volunteers from the second and third years of the programme act as mentors to the first year students.

First year students are supported by a programme designed to help them develop study skills, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups. Research Methodology teaching is supplemented by on-line interactive programme materials & discussion groups.

Final year project supervisors also provide personal support and help with career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs.

Students can take advantage of the flexibility of our provision (full-time/part-time), to adjust their mode of study to suit changes in their financial, occupational or family responsibilities.

Specialist support (for example, financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is also available from central University services. The University has a student special needs advisor.

Admission

For admission to the BSc Developmental Psychology programme

  • Candidates normally need 240 UCAS tariff points, with at least 140 points obtained from A2 qualifications or new GNVQ equivalent
  • We also accept people with Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate
  • We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications
  • Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes
  • In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.
  • International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

For further information or clarification, please contact the Psychology Field Administration Team at psychology@uel.ac.uk or telephone 020 8223 4609.

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