The MSc Developmental Psychology focuses on social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of development across the life-span (children, adolescents, young adults, older adults), and is designed for graduates who want to expand their knowledge in several different areas of development while also acquiring a specialism in this area.

The School of Psychology has a growing reputation as a centre of expertise in developmental psychology, with research expertise in cognitive development, language acquisition, autism, motor development, and human-animal interaction. Research in the School is finding immediate real-world applications. For example, studies into the misinterpretation of canine facial expressions have led to a prevention tool to reduce instances of children being bitten by dogs.

Students may have access to the specialist Lincoln Infant and Child Development Lab, which is equipped with facilities for preferential looking, listening, and eye-tracking, as well as a motor lab and other research facilities for examining aspects of psychological development.

How You Study

Teaching is predominantly delivered on two days per week for full-time students, with part-time students expected to be present for one day per week. Delivery times are subject to time-tabling constraints.

On some occasions, teaching is shared with other Master's programmes, providing opportunities to interact with students from MSc Forensic Psychology and MSc Psychological Research Methods, supporting a rich postgraduate environment.

The composition and delivery of the course is different for each module and may include lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, practicals, research, and one-to-one learning.

How You Are Assessed

Assessments for this course are varied and may include a research proposal, essay, case study, literature review, research report, or presentation. Exams are not part of our assessments.

Career Opportunities

Specialists in the field work in a range of settings, such as hospitals, children and adult care services, schools, and non-governmental organisations. In addition, for those students who do not yet have a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree (Graduate Basis for Chartership; GBC), this Master's programme opens up opportunities for further postgraduate study requiring GBC, such as Forensic Psychology, Counselling, and Clinical Psychology. This programme also benefits graduates who want to further their careers by undertaking a PhD in a specific area of developmental psychology.