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Psychology and Human Development with integrated research methods training MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Psychology and Human Development with integrated research methods training MPhil/PhD (2025/26), click here

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) offers world-leading doctoral courses in education and related social sciences. Students will be taking four training modules in social science relating to methodologies and research in the social sciences alongside supervised research. Our MPhil/PhD students undertake research projects, working closely with their supervisors to develop each stage of their research, and undertake a tailored course of training courses and activities. This course is available to study face-to-face.

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£7,580

£3,790

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£31,300

£15,650

Duration

4 calendar years

8 academic years

Programme starts

October 2026

Applications accepted

All applicants: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

The normal minimum requirement is an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students on the MPhil/PhD course carry out research in the areas of developmental psychology (particularly in relation to education), mental health, special educational needs (SEN) and educational neuroscience. Potential candidates are advised to explore UCL IRIS and the Psychology and Human Development department website to identify appropriate supervisors before submitting an application.

We offer the largest group of psychologists in the UK dedicated to research in education, child and adolescent development. Neuroscience is at the cutting edge of psychology and we work in partnership with colleagues in UCL Psychology & Language Sciences and Birkbeck to extend our reach in this area.

The course is based upon successful completion of the four research training modules attached to the MRes in Social Science Research Methods.

Who this course is for

The MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest in an aspect of educational and social research, which may be understood broadly across the life course, in relation to other subject areas and wider social, economic, political and cultural changes. You may have a background in education or a cognate area of study. It is suitable for both recent graduates and those progressed in a career.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

IOE is a world-leading centre for research in education and related social science. We host the UK's largest doctoral cohort in these areas. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2025), the institute was ranked first for education for the twelfth year running, ahead of Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge. In the UK's recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), we were ranked first for research strength and research power in Education, according to the Elsevier REF 2021 Results Analysis Tool. We attract extensive research funding each year and host many prestigious research centres and projects.

Doctoral students at IOE have access to the wider UCL community as well as the education cluster constituting the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership. The Institute's course has been designed to provide comprehensive and broadly based research training and to meet the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the UK Researcher Development Framework.

Students work closely with their supervisor(s) to develop each stage of research; supervisors also help put together a course of additional courses and activities to support progress towards completion of the final thesis. Doctoral students at the Department of Psychology and Human Development can participate in departmental seminars and research groups which further enriches learning.

Students are able to engage in a unique area of research and make an 'original contribution to knowledge'. As part of a vibrant research culture, they work with supervisors and peers, helping to develop new responses to local, national and global challenges.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

IOE doctoral graduates may progress to careers in education, university teaching, educational research, and policy and curriculum development.

Employability

You will have opportunities to gain experience of planning and implementing research methodologies, as well as academic writing and presentation, and management of your own research projects. You may also be able to engage with a range of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other groups relevant to your chosen topic.

Networking

The Department of Psychology and Human Development offers a regular seminar series on a wide range of topics and each of the centres have separate specialist seminars. Doctoral students participate in active student seminar groups and we also hold specific support working seminars for doctoral students to enhance presentation skills before upgrades and vivas. We encourage our students to present at the two annual conferences for IOE doctoral students as well as other specialist conferences outside the UCL and IOE.

Teaching and learning

A wide range of teaching and learning strategies are deployed across the four modules and students are expected to engage in the wider research culture of their area of work.

The first part of the course consists of four taught modules, taken alongside supervised research. The taught modules are assessed by written assignments of 5,000 words.

The summative written assessments for the taught modules may include:

Writing research proposals
Analysing data
Critiquing published research papers
Contributions to online forums

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis (up to 100,000 words), which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline. It must also represent a distinct and significant contribution to the subject, whether through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views. It should reflect the exercise of critical judgement with regard to both your own work and that of other scholars in the field.

For those who decide not to pursue the full PhD, or are unable to do so, the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should represent a contribution to the subject, either through a record of your original work or a critical and ordered exposition of existing knowledge.

For the first year of study full time, two years part time, you will attend taught modules in social science research methods for at least 3 hours a week in addition to any meetings with supervisors, seminars and other events.

You must ensure you have adequate time to devote to this research, at least six hours a day or 30+ hours a week (2-3 days a week, or 12-18 hours, part time). You would usually meet with your supervisors at least monthly and would also be expected to attend training and relevant seminars and events, which may equate to 2-5+ hours a week.

Research areas and structure

Our core areas of expertise include:

Mental health in relation to education and SEN
Psychology and typical development, including classroom practices and their relationship with learning and the role of families, schools and neighbourhoods in emotional and behavioural development
SEN and atypical development areas of autism, eating disorders, hearing and visual impairment, perception disorders, Williams and Downs syndromes, sleep disorders, language, literacy and numeracy difficulties, learning difficulties and youth offending
Educational neuroscience, with a focus on neurocognitive processes underpinning learning
International education development in collaboration with the London International Development Centre
Behavioural genetics
Methodological expertise in experimental designs, longitudinal secondary data analysis, quantitative and qualitative methods

The following research centres are of particular relevance:

We also have high-profile research labs including:

For more specific detail of research interests and to identify a potential supervisor for your research, please see the full list of our departmental staff.

Research environment

As a research student in the Department of Psychology and Human Development, you can participate in the seminars organised by department research centres or according to interest groups.

Initially, students undertake four taught modules alongside supervised research.

Students are expected to pass 120 credits from the MRes in Social Research before upgrading to the PhD pathway.

Upgrade is expected no less than 21 months after initial registration for full-time, giving an extra 12/18 months more than normally provided for the MPhil/PhD in order to complete the taught component.

Following the taught component, the IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. Full-time MPhil/PhD students are required to fulfil at least 20 units of training activity each year, which may be met by participating in training courses, seminars, conference and related activities. This training can be selected from the IOE Research Training Programme, each unit being worth approximately half a day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent.

In addition to the taught modules, all students on this course are expected to take a mandatory core course during their first year, which has been designed to meet the needs of early stage doctoral students. There is also a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic academic skills courses, as well as student led workshops and reading groups. Processes aimed at assisting you during your course of study include the Research Student Log (an online project management tool), and periodic reviews of students’ progress.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

Initially, students undertake four taught modules alongside supervised research.

Students are expected to pass 120 credits from the MRes in Social Research before upgrading to the PhD pathway.

Upgrade is expected no less than 33 months for part-time students, giving an extra 12/18 months more than normally provided for the MPhil/PhD in order to complete the taught component.

Following the taught component, the IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. Part-time students fulfil at least 12 units of training activity a year, which may be met by participating in training courses, seminars, conference and related activities. Students may also take additional training courses from the course, as relevant to their research and agreed with their supervisor.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

Optional modules

Advanced Research Theory and Practice

Undertaking and Disseminating Research

Understanding Research Practice

Analysing Research Data

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

9 February 2026

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Research courses: MPhil/PhD including Integrated Research Methods routes

17:00 — 18:00

IOE's impactful research leads the world in education and related social science. It informs our doctoral courses, supporting the largest cohort of education students in the UK. We welcome you to book your place at our Virtual Open Event. You will meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all.

10 February 2026

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Professional Doctorates - Doctor of Education (EdD)

18:00 — 19:00

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£7,580	£3,790
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£31,300	£15,650

Additional costs

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their thesis and should account for these costs when planning their finances.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) are available annually to prospective and existing UCL research students from any country: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/research-excellence-scholarship. The UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership offers studentships annually. More information is found here: https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/

UBEL, RES and other funding programmes are not available to online and non-resident students.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

After choosing a course to apply for, you should develop a research proposal and identify a potential supervisor. For more information, visit our website to find a supervisor and get in touch with departmental graduate tutors.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.