Infancy and Early Childhood Development MSc

About this degree

The depth and multidisciplinary nature of programme are singular. You leave the programme with a specialism in early years development and students aiming to apply for practitioner training will gain valuable skills for their application.

Core modules describe early development from in utero life to five years of age. Students study across disciplines to connect diverse perspectives on typical and atypical development using psychology, education, medical, health, social and education contexts, developing research skills and an understanding of clinical material.

The second notable feature of this programme is flexibility. Students choose optional modules allowing them to build a degree reflecting their specific academic interests and career requirements.

Course content includes social, emotional and cognitive development, caregiver relationships including feeding, play and early learning environments, neurodiversity assessments/intervention, childhood disorders, and medical/neurological conditions. You will learn statistics and critical appraisal in child health and MSc students undertake a research project.

A unique multidisciplinary programme exploring development from prenatal to preschool stages, suitable for practitioners or students. Strong links to Great Ormond Street Hospital offer clinical and theoretical psychology, neuroscience, medical and allied health perspectives. Students curate bespoke study pathways within this framework, boosting clinical practise or academic career trajectories.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in psychology, medicine or other health or education related topic from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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.

During the programme, you will acquire solid knowledge and theoretical base of child development, environmental influences, medical and educational aspects within the prenatal to five-year period. You will be exposed to a range of evaluation and treatment/intervention approaches and acquire research method, analysis and communication skills, including those for communicating research to the general public.