BSc

Psychology and Education

Psychology and Education Code CX80 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

CX80

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 96

  • Course duration

    3 years

Available for September start 2025

Further details on entry requirements

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Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the BSc in Psychology and Education at Aberystwyth University offers you the opportunity to pursue a specialist field of study, where insights from one discipline can directly enhance understanding and application of knowledge in the other. It enables you to test out psychological theories in real-life settings, including education, and to appreciate an interdisciplinary perspective. You will be taught by experts engaged in innovative research in child and adolescent development, education, atypical development (e.g., autism, dyslexia), learning, neuroscience and mental health. On this course, you will work and engage with lecturers who use their research to create an inspiring learning environment in which you can develop your own thinking in a safe and supportive department. 

Course Overview

Studying this degree will enable you to develop a deeper understanding of cognitive and social development in human beings from childhood onwards. You will also have the opportunity to study and critique the learning environments in which this development takes place and how these are influenced by educational policy and practice.

Our Staff

Department of Psychology’s teaching staff are all research active and all permanent staff are qualified to PhD level with most having either a PGCTHE or are fellows/senior fellow of the higher education academy. Over half of the staff also have the qualification CPsychol; an indicator of the BPS’ highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise.

Undergraduate lecturers in the School of Education are either qualified to PhD standard or are experienced practitioners in their field. All teaching staff currently possess, or are working towards, a recognised teaching qualification.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Psychology of Learning and Thinking * ED20120 20
Cognitive Psychology PS21820 20
Qualitative Research Methods PS20310 10
Quantitative Research Methods * PS21310 10
Social Psychology PS20220 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Discourses Language and Education ED22420 20
Education, Diversity and Equality ED20420 20
Literacy in Young Children ED20220 20
Making Sense of the Curriculum ED20820 20
Research Methods ED20320 20
Safeguarding and Professional Practice ED24320 20
Working with Children ED20620 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Assessment and Education * ED30120 20
Behavioural Neuroscience PS32120 20
Developmental Psychology PS34320 20
Psychology Research Project for Joint Honours * PS34120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Children's Rights ED30620 20
Communication ED34720 20
Emotional and Social Development ED34820 20
Major dissertation ED33640 40
Mathematical Development in the Early Years ED30320 20
Special Educational Needs ED30420 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

About this course

Our ethos is to teach in a way which enables you to develop conceptual and theoretical knowledge to solve problems in real-world scenarios. During the three-year course, you will explore and learn about human development and the intricacies of what makes us humans tick and how we navigate the complex internal and external environment in an educational and societal context.  

At Aberystwyth, we offer a wide range of modules that allow you to explore the varied aspects of Psychology and counselling. Students on our Psychology and Education degree have access to exciting research tools to understand brain and cognitive activity as well as behavioural measurements equipment.  

Students on our Psychology and Counselling course will be joining one of the largest departments in the university. The Department of Psychology consistently ranks in the top 10 in the UK (United Kingdom) for student satisfaction and teaching quality. The Department prides itself on the high level of academic and pastoral support led by the academic team which ensures that you succeed in your studies and have the best university experience.  

Careers

A Psychology degree from Aberystwyth University will open up a variety of careers for you. Our BSc Psychology and Education degree will enable graduates to pursue a career in the core psychological professions including clinical psychology, educational psychology, counselling psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, development psychology and applied behaviour to name a few. 

We have embedded employability throughout this course, and we have a large number of opportunities that enable students to develop the transferrable skills needed to build a CV for a potential career in a psychology or non-psychology setting. 

Graduates on our BSc Psychology and Education degree have pursued careers in clinical and education psychology, healthcare, human resources and marketing and public relations. Your Psychology degree will equip you with the most transferable skills that employs seek, these skills include: effective research and data analysis; effective problem solving; ability to work independently and as part of team; ability to communicate effectively and concisely and information technology skills. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn? 

Our joint honours programme in Psychology and Education brings together two exciting, complementary disciplines and this is reflected in the way you will learn on this scheme. With teaching delivered by subject experts from the Departments of Psychology and Education, our combined ethos is to develop a learning community that facilitates you in the development of your conceptual and theoretical knowledge but also enables you to develop career-oriented, transferable skills that will support your continued development beyond your degree.  

The Education component offers a broad choice of specialised option modules, meaning you can tailor your degree to your developing interests and future career ambitions. A final year dissertation affords you the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary project that draws on the skills, knowledge and understanding you will have developed from each of your disciplines. 

During your first year, you will: discover the theory and principles surrounding the learner and the learning environment and undertake a work placement; explore theories of child development and their impact on professional practice; develop core psychological knowledge in areas such as social and individual behaviour, brain, behaviour and cognition; use research methods, techniques and forms of analysis that will enable you to conduct empirical investigations. 

In your second year, you will: consider the importance of safeguarding and professional practice; build on core psychological knowledge by exploring the cognitive and social approaches to behaviour; begin to shape your degree by choosing from a range of optional Education modules such as special educational needs, cultural diversity, bilingualism; develop advanced knowledge of research methods by studying both quantitative and qualitative approaches. 

In your third year, you will: consider the role of assessment in education; choose from a range of Education special option modules such as science education, maths education, health and education, children’s rights; extend core psychological knowledge by studying behavioural neuroscience, developmental psychology and individual differences; undertake a research dissertation on a theme of your own choosing. 

How will I be taught? 

Your academic and intellectual development are at the heart of the Aberystwyth experience. Our staff are committed to a student-focused approach to teaching, making your learning needs a priority in both what we teach and how we teach you. When you join us, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will support you throughout your degree and is there to advise and guide you on a range of academic and personal matters. 

From traditional lectures to small group work, we deliver inspirational teaching through a wide variety of different formats. You will also get to apply your knowledge in lab-based workshops and practicals, where you will be able to benefit from our wide range of specialist research equipment and facilities. Your development will be assessed in a broad variety of ways including; traditional exams, essays, wikis, blogs, observations, and presentations. 

At Aberystwyth, you can be confident that you will receive the best learning experience at the very forefront of your chosen disciplines. 

 

Student Testimonials

I love my tutors - they are truly amazing, passionate about their specific psychology areas and very, very kind! I also love my department - new, modern and accessible! I love how this course made me think deeper, explore new theories and come up with new ideas. C800 is also very receptive to bilingual people coming from other countries! Maryna Chwaszczewska, Department of Psychology.

I simply love my course because the topics we discuss are interesting and relevant to the world of childhood. The lecturers are very passionate about the subject, which is also reflected in the varied ways in which we are assessed - we even had the opportunity to design our own game! This is so much more hands-on and realistic when working with children than a dry exam! Overall, my confidence in a variety of topics and my abilities have been strengthened which is always a good thing in any career. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone who is interested in working with children and I can assure you that you are given great support by staff in any kind of academic situation! Caroline Korell, School of Education.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh and Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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