Educational Psychology

Overview

This fully funded, doctorate programme aims to provide you with an advanced level of knowledge in educational psychology and, upon completion of the course, you will be qualified to practice as an Educational Psychologist.

You will also be eligible to apply for registration as a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and to the British Psychological Society (BPS) for Chartered EP status.

Programme aims

The aim of the Educational Psychology programme offered at Cardiff University is to offer knowledge and expertise for a career as an educational psychologist (EP), via doctorate-level study. Completion of the programme confers eligibility to apply for registration as a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to the British Psychological Society (BPS) for Chartered EP status.

Distinctive features

• Fully funded by the Welsh Government, with trainees receiving a bursary for all three years;
• You will undertake three placements across Wales and England, which are negotiated prior to commencing the course. This provides you with greater flexibility and enables you to plan and prepare effectively.
• This programme is underpinned by a psychologically informed framework for educational psychology practice called COMOIRA (The Constructionist Model for Informed and Reasoned Action: Rhydderch & Gameson, 2008; 2010; 2017) which was developed within the Cardiff DEdPsy Programme itself;
• Based within the Cardiff University Centre for Human Development (CUCHDS), an active, psychological and stimulating research environment;
• Gradual approach to carrying out and reporting research, an element of the Programme which trainees have reported to be ‘well scaffolded’ and ensures that they are equipped to fulfil the requirements of the thesis and to pursue research post-qualification;
• Small, cohesive group of tutors who have a diverse range of experiences and professional backgrounds within the field of educational psychology

Career Prospects

Successful graduates will meet all of the HCPC’s Standards of Proficiency and the BPS’s Required Competencies for Practitioner Psychologists. They are also eligible to apply for registration as Practitioner Psychologists with the HCPC and for Chartered status with the BPS.

Most educational psychologists in England and Wales currently work within Local Authorities. However, the profession is increasingly diversifying with a growing number of educational psychologists practicing independently or working within broader contexts such as the health sector.

All Cardiff University Educational Psychology Professional Doctorate programme graduates to date have found suitable employment, mostly working as educational psychologists in Local Authorities in England and Wales.