DEdChPsy Educational and Child Psychology

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

Information Day Video

Association of Educational Psychologists

Applications are not made via The University of Manchester's online application system. Direct application to the University of Manchester is not possible as we do not offer any places outside of the public service-funded scheme.

Applicants should also be aware that only information provided in the Association of Educational Psychologists application form will be used for shortlisting. If applications are incomplete or unclear, it will not be possible for us to follow up with candidates.

We are also offering optional Zoom sessions on 11 October 2023 at which you will be able to ask tutors and current trainees further questions about the programme and the admission process. You can attend at either 12.30-1.30 pm or 6-7 pm. The Zoom room will open half an hour earlier to enable questions to be posted in Zoom chat. We will assume that you will have read the information on the website and viewed the video prior to coming to a Q&A as their purpose is for further clarification.

The Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a three-year full-time initial professional training programme for educational psychologists.

The six programme units are designed to provide effective coverage of the required core curriculum for training in educational psychology provided by the British Psychological Society (BPS). These units are:

• Programme;
• Professional skills; 
• Development (Age 0-25); 
• The context of children's learning; 
• Research in educational and child psychology; 
• Mental health and well-being.

Graduates can apply to the HCPC to be registered to practise as an Educational Psychologist.

A practitioner is not legally allowed to practise using the title Educational Psychologist without being registered with the HCPC.

An MPhil exit award may be made for candidates who do not complete the full programme, but this award does not confer eligibility to apply to the HCPC for registration as a practitioner psychologist.

Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.

Our students come from all over the globe, and our qualifications are recognised internationally.

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) is a unique interdisciplinary collaboration between the disciplines of Architecture, Education, Geography, International Development and Planning, Property and Environmental Management.

What unites us is a shared commitment to highlight and address the uneven relationships between societies, economies and the environment.

Our PhD and professional doctorate research community, grouped around a range of dynamic centres and themes, is central to the SEED research agenda across all our disciplines.

In order to further this agenda, we need fresh input and clear thinking from a fully engaged, curious, critical, socially aware PGR community.

Practical work is a central component of the programme and learning outcomes specific to placement activity are identified.

You will undertake supervised practical placement activity, overseen by programme staff, for one day per week in Year 1 until December and then two days per week in Year 1 thereafter.

These placements are normally within the Northwest.

There is a requirement for 130 days' placement in Years 2 and 3.

Further details about how you may pursue assistant educational psychologist posts or bursary placements are provided during year one of the programme. All our academic supervisors are research active and will support you to work on challenging research problems and develop rigorous, creative and original research. Alongside specialist research supervision on the programme you can also access wider research collaboration opportunities. These include MIE research groups and wider University networks such as autism@manchester.

You can expect to meet with your supervisor at least once a month to discuss progress on your project.

As a postgraduate researcher, you'll have access to a large and diverse community of internationally recognised academic experts offering an environment that will stimulate intellectual debate and development. We provide additional financial support for several activities related to your professional doctorate, including:

• presenting at international conferences;
• attending workshops that provide relevant professional opportunities;
• conducting fieldwork in the UK and overseas.

For assessment purposes, the programme is divided into four parts:

• three research-based assignments of 10,000 words each; a reflective practice assignment and an Educational Test User Portfolio;
• a professional practice portfolio of 20,000 words, submitted in Year 3;
• three practice placement supervisor reports and four tutor observations of placement practice;
• a written thesis comprising two academic papers, plus a dissemination evaluation with satisfactory oral defence (viva voce).

Discover what it's really like to conduct postgraduate research at The University of Manchester on our student spotlights page.

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on our Humanities PGR blog . 

MIE is in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students Union.

The University of Manchester Library

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester. 

Professional practice placements are an integral part of the programme. You will undertake 300 days of placement across the three years of the programme which will provide the opportunity for you to meet the professional practice requirement for HCPC registration.

All trainees who have successfully completed the programme and wished to work as educational psychologists post-qualification, have gone on to successfully gain employment as educational psychologists.

We offer training sessions to build your skills and confidence in writing and presenting, with specific sessions on viva preparation, thesis submission and preparing for your Review Panel. You'll also have access to a range of workshops, covering areas such as:

• increasing research impact through blog posts;
• making the most of social media;
• publishing in journals;
• designing academic posters;
• improving time and self-management.

As a doctoral trainee educational psychologist you will have access to and extensive programme of teaching and a dedicated programme team who will support your professional and academic development throughout the three years of your training.

In addition, our Humanities training hub - ProGRess@humanities  - gives you additional training opportunities within the University.

You can choose courses in public engagement, wellbeing, language training and teaching, alongside more specialist courses in tools and software such as Python, R and Nvivo.

methods@manchester , meanwhile, is an initiative that gives you the chance to learn from the very best in research methods expertise at Manchester and beyond.

Regular talks, workshops and other methods-related events are organised throughout the academic year, bringing in experts from across the University and externally.