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Education (Psychology) MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Education (Psychology) MA will introduce students to key theoretical issues in the psychology of education, critical analysis of psychological theory and research, and its contribution to educational issues and practice. It will develop students' understanding of research processes and give them the opportunity to undertake research in the psychology of education.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university (or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard) in psychology or a related discipline (for example, education, social science, cognitive science, speech/communication science or neuroscience). The ability to critically evaluate theory and evidence in psychology is an important element of the programme.

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.

This course is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

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 develop understanding of current issues in the psychology of education and have the opportunity to engage in research. On successful completion of the course students should be able to produce and communicate reasoned and informed argument, both in writing and orally. Students should also be able to critically evaluate theory and evidence in psychology.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for those who wish to pursue a research career either in academia or the public or private sectors, or progress to further professional training, teachers and professionals working in related fields and people interested in applications of psychology to education.

The MA in Education (Psychology) does not confer eligibility for the Graduate Basis of Certified Status with the British Psychological Society.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is one of the world's leading centres for education and related areas of social science. For the twelfth year in succession IOE has been ranked as the world's leading university for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

Our alumni include government ministers; heads of schools; other educational institutions and NGOs; and Olympians and prize-winning authors.

Students who join this course will benefit from an in-depth exploration of key psychological theories and their application within education. Engaging with cutting-edge research and current issues in the field, they will develop critical skills in analysis, research, and communication, equipping them for careers in academia, the public or private sectors, or further professional training. The course’s prestigious reputation, reinforced by its long-standing top ranking in education, ensures students will learn from leading experts, providing a strong foundation for future leadership and impact in the field of education.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This course offers a good grounding for doctoral study and valuable preparation for a research career in the academic community, the public sector or in industry.

Employability

Graduates of this Master's degree are currently working as professionals in educational settings, as teachers, as PhD students, as Educational Psychologists, school counsellors, in charities and in non-governmental organisations.

Networking

Students will have opportunities to attend research seminars, journal clubs and research talks.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, group work, student presentations, discussion, and computer workshops giving hands-on practice.

Assessment is through varied types of coursework, for example, critique of research, presentations, essays, exams and reports. Students will also engage in a dissertation supported by a member of staff.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 10-12 hours per week per 30-credit module, through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials. In the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors. Full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. The time allocated to self-directed study will vary depending on which module the student chooses and tutors will advise you in how to manage your workload.

Modules

The course comprises four taught modules and a dissertation. It is delivered through a combination of lectures delivered both by IOE academic staff and guest speakers, group work, and computer workshops giving hands-on practice.

The taught modules on the course are lecture-based theory modules, designed to provide you with a firm foundation in the different topics relevant to psychology of education. You will take compulsory modules in Contemporary Issues in Educational Psychology and Research and Analytical Methods in Psychology.  You will take two optional modules and you will also be required to complete a research component. The dissertation is carried out under the supervision of a member of academic staff from UCL.

The two optional modules can be selected from any of those on offer across the IOE (subject to availability). Examples of optional modules that are taught in the Department of Psychology and Human Development are in the list below.

If studied on a full-time basis, the course will take place over a full calendar year. Alternatively, it can be studied part-time over two years or Modular Flexible over five years.

The course comprises four taught modules and a dissertation. It is delivered through a combination of lectures delivered both by IOE academic staff and guest speakers, group work, and computer workshops giving hands-on practice.

Over the two years students take two compulsory taught modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits). In the first year of the course, you study the term 1 modules Contemporary Issues in Educational Psychology and Research and Analytical Methods in Psychology and one optional module. In the second year, you will take another optional module and the dissertation, with a submission date for the dissertation in early September. 

The two optional modules can be selected from any of those on offer across the IOE (subject to availability). Examples of optional modules that are taught in the Department of Psychology and Human Development are in the list below.

The course comprises four taught modules and a dissertation. It is delivered through a combination of lectures delivered both by IOE academic staff and guest speakers, group work, and computer workshops giving hands-on practice.

Over the course of the MA you will take two compulsory taught modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits). You can take up to five years to complete the course. It is expected that you will begin your studies with the compulsory taught modules Contemporary Issues in Educational Psychology and Research and Analytical Methods in Psychology, and that you will undertake the Dissertation in your final year of study.  

The two optional modules can be selected from any of those on offer across the IOE (subject to availability). Examples of optional modules that are taught in the Department of Psychology and Human Development are in the list below.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules














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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Education (Psychology).

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

DBS may be required depending on the type of research undertaken for the dissertation module. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but offer holders will also need to have their ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which they will incur a charge of £15 (note, this was the fee for 2025 but may change). The offer holder is also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary; costs vary by country. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the Admissions team.

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their dissertation or any school visits 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

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

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Education (Psychology) at graduate level
  • why you want to study Education (Psychology) at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Psychology and Human Development
Psychology and Human Development

ioe.ma.psychology@ucl.ac.uk

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