About this course

This course is full and closed to new applications. Search similar degrees in related courses or by browsing our course finder.

Psychology is an important resource for educators and policy makers. This course is for those interested in how education evolves, how people learn and how they behave in educational settings. Like a single-honours psychology degree, this course will prepare you for a wide range of psychology careers, as well as education-related jobs and further study.

Our course focuses on the rigorous, scientific study of education alongside the core topics of a psychology degree. You’ll also examine how psychology research applies to education.

You’ll study topics such as:

curriculum design
behavioural neuroscience
developmental psychology
special educational needs

As part of your degree you can:

study UK and international systems, from primary to post-compulsory education
explore key topics like social justice, inclusion and digital literacy
use our custom observation rooms, eye-movement recording facilities and virtual reality labs
access our Institute for Equity and Effectiveness in Education (IE3), one of the country’s leading institutes for education research
study abroad at one of our exchange partner universities

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It can lead onto Chartered Membership.

Accreditations

British Psychological Society (BPS)

What it's like to study Education and Psychology at Southampton

Chloe talks about her experience as a second year Education and Psychology student

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Changes due to COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

ODT

Download 2022-23 Course Description Document

Entry requirements

A-levels

AAB

A-levels additional information

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

More information about A-levels

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: ABB and grade A in the EPQ

A-levels contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows: ABB

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level

More information about International Baccalaureate Diploma

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

BTEC

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A levels

DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A from one A-level

DDD in the BTEC National Extended Diploma

RQF BTEC

Additional information

The University aims to recruit students from a wide range of backgrounds who we believe have the potential and motivation to succeed on our challenging programmes. We are committed to fair admissions and strive to ensure we give equal consideration to all applicants who possess the necessary knowledge and skills.

More information about BTEC

QCF BTEC

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A levels

DD in the BTEC Diploma plus A grade from one A-level

DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

You’ll study a balance of modules from education and psychology. Each year you’ll take 7 single modules plus a double module that runs across 2 semesters. We use small-group teaching and a personal tutor system to provide a supportive and friendly environment.

Your studies will include formal class time in lectures, seminars, workshops and practical sessions, as well as independent work, such as directed study, reading, assessment preparation and revision.

With our ‘Critical Observations’ modules, in years 2 and 3, you can visit schools and colleges and gain valuable experience. You’ll organise your own visits and we’ll provide advice and guidance.

You can choose optional modules from other subject areas, and even learn a new language.

We offer a range of interdisciplinary modules, including Business Skills, Life in the Cosmos or Understanding Modern China. These are a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and create an impressive CV.

Year 1 overview

You’ll take compulsory modules that introduce you to a broad range of education and psychology topics, including:

Behavioural Neuroscience
Education in Other Countries
Individual Differences: Personality and Intelligence
Introduction to Teachers and Teaching
Special Educational Needs

Year 2 overview

You’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of research methods in both subjects, and you’ll learn about social and developmental psychology.

You'll choose your remaining modules for the year from a range, including:

Adult Learners and Learning
Curriculum Design
Developmental Psychology
Employability
Language and Memory

You must take the Cognitive Psychology in Education module to qualify for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation.

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your academic skills into practice by taking either a dissertation module or an empirical project, which consists of a literature review and research.

Your dissertation supervisor will help you conduct your independent research, collect data and write up your findings.

You'll also choose from a range of optional modules, including:

Advanced Research Methods
Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Development of Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Post-16 Learning: Critical Observations
Social Justice and Inclusive Education
Supporting Additional Learning Needs

You must take both the Advanced Research Methods and Current Issues in Clinical Psychology in Education modules to qualify for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

For entry in Academic Year 2022-23

You must study the following modules in year 1:

Behavioural Neuroscience

The module aims to develop the themes introduced in the Introduction to Psychology Module in semester 1. The module integrates the approaches and findings of biological psychology in an attempt to understand the biological factors that explain why people...

Contemporary Education Issues, Problems and Policies

This module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of key issues and debates in contemporary education. Through studying this module, you will be introduced to some of the main approaches and concepts for understanding key contemporary education i...

Individual Differences

The course covers the topics of personality and intelligence from the perspective of individual differences. Some research psychologists explore the ways in which people are the same and seek to draw general conclusions about human nature. However...

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology will touch on a number of different topics including The Science of Psychology, Sensation, Perception, Memory, Metacognition, Social Cognition, Attitudes and Emotions, Interpersonal processes, Development & Health Psychology, an...

Research Methods and Data Analysis I

Psychology is a science that involves experimental work and data analysis. The module will provide the fundamental information required to progress to more complex statistical techniques taught in Semester 2 and Year 2. Learning about research methods and...

Researching Learning

This module aims to prepare you for the rest of the programme and so it is intended that you will develop skills that will support you in subsequent modules. You can expect to develop your knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the interaction b...

Special Educational Needs and Disability

In this module you will learn about a variety of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SENDs). You will look at the impact of various SENDs on a child's education and progress. The module focusses mainly on the following aspects of Special Education...

You must study the following modules in year 2:

Developmental Psychology

This module will develop your understanding and knowledge of development across childhood, adolescence and adulthood. We will present historical and current research studies and explain how these link to related theoretical frameworks. The module will e...

Research Methods in Education and Psychology

The aims of the module are to: • Raise awareness of a variety of research designs for educational research • Further develop your knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods; data collection and analysis; and, correctly reporting research finding...

Social Psychology

This module is designed to familiarise students with the principal theories, concepts, and research methods relevant to social psychology. The lectures and readings are designed to acquaint students with both classic and current research trends in social ...

You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:

Adult Learners and Learning

The module is aimed at providing a broad overview of adult learning and adult learners. It touches upon FE, HE and work based learning. It aims to explore the barriers and enablers to adult learning and how such learning is a vital part of the world of ...

Cognitive Psychology in Education

This module is designed to provide you with an overview of the human cognitive system and its principles of information processing, demonstrating how these have been applied to understanding learning at different educational levels and in different educat...

Curriculum Design

You will study approaches to curriculum design and development and examine the conceptions and models that support these processes. You will come to appreciate the complexities and issues that surround curriculum design, including the influences of stake...

Early Years Education: Critical Observations

The module will incorporate critical observation and analysis of diverse aspects of Early Years education. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the values and theories that underpin current practice in Early Years settings. Your time in s...

Employability

This module explores the concept of employability both from a conceptual and practical perspective. It explores the many definitions and approaches to this issue, why it has gained significance in light of educational and employment changes and what this ...

Independent Study and Synoptic Reflection

This module offers students opportunity to track and reflect on their understanding of the major themes featured in other modules within their degree with a view to indicating through the submission of an assessed piece of writing evidence that demonstrat...

Internationalisation and Education

The forces of globalisation reach into all spheres of social life, including education. In this module you can expect to analyse internationalisation in education as a consequence of globalisation. You will consider how globalisation in its various dimens...

Introduction to Health Psychology

This module will introduce students to the discipline of health psychology.

Leading and Managing in Education

This module aims to introduce you to the core aspects of leadership and management theories. It will give you the opportunity to consider key themes related to leadership and management approaches and their impact on educational practice. This module aims...

Perception

The module will cover basic topics in perceptual psychology. We will discuss how the visual brain uses information from the two eyes in combination with learnt heuristics and other information sources to construct a perceptual representation of the world....

Research Methods and Data Analysis III

The lectures cover theory, terminology, calculations for statistical tests, concepts relating to research methods and the use of SPSS. This module will focus on understanding rationale behind different statistical procedures, discriminating between di...

You must choose your modules from the following modules in year 3:

Advanced Research Methods

This module is designed to provide you with some of the research skills required to carry out a final year dissertation in psychology. It involves developing your ability to critically evaluate and review research articles in education and psychology, and...

Attachment & Personal Relationships

The module will look at theories and research on attachment and personal relationships and to critical evaluate the application of attachment theory to understand personal relationships, for example by critiquing articles in the area.

Childhood Maltreatment and Mental Health

Childhood maltreatment is one of the leading causes of mental health problems in the world. This module is designed as an in-depth introduction to the mechanisms via which early adversity might lead to mental health problems. We will also discuss resilien...

Contemporary Debates and Issues in Education

You will engage in discussing and analysing contemporary debates in education and heighten your awareness of the relationship between empirical evidence and theoretical arguments in advancing public representations of educational issues. You will develop ...

Current & Emerging Issues in Psycho-Oncology & Pain Research

The course will comprise of an introductory session, five sessions on current and emerging issues in psycho-oncology, and five sessions on current and emerging issues in pain. The sessions on psycho-oncology cover genetic counselling, screening and treatm...

Current issues in Clinical Psychology

The module will provide an introduction to adult psychopathology, to present the psychological and biological models that have been developed to explain a variety of psychological disorders, and to examine both the empirical foundation of these models and...

Dissertation

This module provides you with a structure and some key milestones in the preparation and development and implementation of a selected research project. Your small-scale project can take different forms and be situated in a range of contexts. For example,...

Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Influence

This is an advanced module that exposes students to the scientific study of intergroup relations and interpersonal influence. The module will cover research illustrating the psychological underpinnings of persuasion, conformity, obedience, group/group-mem...

Introduction to Educational Psychology

This module aims to provide a descriptive and critical overview of the practice of educational psychology in the UK and to highlight some of the key debates.

Literature Review

The Year 3 Empirical Project comprises two components, linked to one another. Each component comprises its own module. Thus, the Empirical Project consists of two modules. The first component, run in Semester 1, is the Literature Review (PSYC 3003). ...

Perspectives in Human Animal Interactions

The module will draw on the student’s prior learning with regard to various psychological areas; including but not restricted to, learning theory (operant and classical), attitude, attachment, behaviour change. An introduction to animal behaviour and welf...

Post-16 Education: Critical Observations

This module will incorporate critical observation and analysis of aspects of post-16 education. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the values and theories of post-16 education that underpin current practice. Your time in a post-16 settin...

Psychology of Advertising

Advertising is an everyday and significant phenomenon. Sponsors hire agencies to inform us about, and persuade us to buy, innumerable branded products and services on the market, though a variety of mass media. Advertisements also urge us to donate to cha...

Research Paper

Rethinking Autism

This module offers you an opportunity to learn about autism through the lens of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity offers a new perspective on our understanding of autism by emphasising the strengths and capabilities of autistic people, as well as challenging...

Self-Conscious Emotions

This module is designed to familiarize students with the principal theories, concepts, and research methods relevant to the area of self-conscious emotions. The lectures and readings are designed to acquaint students with both classic and current research...

Social Justice & Inclusive Education

Societies are increasingly diverse nowadays. This module aims to explore the complexity of the concepts of social justice and inclusive education and how everyone can contribute towards the development of a more inclusive world. This will be achieved ...

Social and Affective Neuroscience

Humans are adapted to be highly social. We interact with a number of other people everyday, and successful social interactions depend on the ability to infer other's mental and emotional state from limited cues. Social and affective neuroscience applies t...

Social and Psychological Approaches to Understanding Sexual Health

This module will help you to develop graduate attributes, including: - academic attributes – ability to critically appraise knowledge claims based on qualitative and quantitative methods; and - communication skills – ability to communicate research desi...

Sociology of Education

This module offers a critical perspective on the ways in which education is organised and delivered, the values and power relationships that underpin it, and the outcomes it produces. You will be introduced to a variety of sociology of education theories,...

Supporting Additional Learning Needs: Critical Observations

This module will incorporate critical observation and analysis of educational and training provision for learners with additional needs. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the underpinning values and theories of educational practices in ...

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

How you'll spend your course time:

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:

16%

Scheduled learning & teaching

84%

Independent learning

How we'll assess you

dissertations
essays
individual and group projects
oral presentations
written exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

45%

Written exam

54%

Coursework

Practical exam

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

James Hall is the course leader.

Careers

Graduates of this course will be eligible for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This stands out on a CV and provides access to career and training events at the BPS. It also qualifies you to apply for postgraduate training in the psychology professions.

You’ll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills, including:

understanding how people learn
effective communication with different audiences
empathy
research methodologies and techniques
evaluation of results
team working
problem solving

These skills are attractive to employers in the education, social science and psychology sectors and beyond.

After completing the course, our highly employable graduates pursue careers in:

teaching
the full range of psychology careers
social/educational research
educational welfare
local government
educational and community development
human resources
marketing and business-focused roles

You’ll be in a great position to continue your studies in education or psychology at master's and PhD level. You can also enrol on a PGCE and start teacher training. Because psychology is a school subject, you can apply directly to the PGCE in secondary education.

We offer a number of internships and placement opportunities to help our graduates gain valuable work experience. Our students have recently secured paid, year-long internships with the Office for National Statistics.

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Work in industry

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,250.
EU and international students pay £20,340.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

Extra costs you might have to pay

You’ll be responsible for paying certain costs not covered by the tuition fee. These include:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certification costs
study abroad and exchange fees
personal computer or laptop and data storage devices
books that are not available in the library
equipment and materials used in projects
costs related to modules from different courses

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

Education and Psychology (BSc)