Prof Doc Educational and Child Psychology

Please note: The Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology has its own Open Event on Thursday 6 October 2022, 5.30 to 7pm at UEL Stratford Campus, Water Lane, London, E15 4LZ. 

This event will allow attendees to meet some of the Programme Team and current Trainees. During the event we will outline programme content and give details of the application process, which is a national scheme co-ordinated by the Association of Educational Psychologists.

Please click here to book your place at this course's Open Event.

This course provides full-time professional training leading towards registration with the Health and Caring Professions Council (HCPC) as an Educational Psychologist (this is a protected title). During the programme trainees will participate in University-based teaching and learning, modular assessments, research culminating in a doctoral thesis and professional practice placements in Local Authorities and other settings relevant to educational psychologist work.

This course will equip you to work as an Educational Psychologist in Local Authority children's services, Educational Psychology teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), voluntary agencies or independently. We are driven by our determination to work towards social justice for vulnerable young people and their families and for children with special educational needs and to advocate for their rightful place in society.

The Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology programme at UEL aims:

To ensure trainees:

• develop the Standards of Proficiency required to work as safe and effective educational psychologists  
• understand the implications of the HCPC's standards of conduct, performance and ethics
• develop autonomous practice and reflective thinking
• develop appropriate research skills as a basis for evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence
• respect the rights and needs of service users through a commitment to equal opportunities and the principles of beneficence, autonomy and social justice.
• become competent and creative educational psychologists able to work effectively in educational and community settings

In reflecting the ethos of the University of East London the programme is committed to:

• applying psychology to make a positive difference to children and young people and their families
• using a broad range of assessment instruments with due consideration to their relevance to the client, their needs and likely interventions
• applying and keeping up to date with research evidence in child development and educational psychology
• listening to the child's perspective and involving children and young people in decision-making
• valuing the role of parents and carers in the education of children with additional needs
• promoting the inclusion of children and young people with special educational needs into mainstream schools
• exercising duty of care with regard to safeguarding children
• reflecting our multi-cultural and diverse society 
• promoting equal opportunities which recognise differences of race, disability, gender, sexuality, age, religious, cultural and socio-economic status
• carrying out research that promotes participation and is of benefit to communities 

We are looking for practitioners who are seeking to extend their use of psychology with children, young people and families.  You will need the Graduate Basis for Certification with the BPS and relevant experience. Full details of the application requirements and processes are available from The Association of Educational Psychologists.

In recent years, around half of our students have been teachers or Assistant Educational Psychologists, while other professions represented have included Teaching Assistants, mental health and clinical practitioners, youth workers and social workers. Many have postgraduate qualifications as well as a depth of relevant paid experience.

The course meets both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards and the Division of Educational and Child Psychology - British Psychological Society (DECP) criteria for three-year training.

Successful applicants are expected to confirm their fitness to study and practice at the start of the programme. Potential applicants need to be aware of these requirements prior to application. Once on the programme, trainees are expected to maintain their health and well-being throughout the duration of the programme and in line with the HCPC's guidance on conduct and ethics, to let the education provider know if their health status changes.

The programme is doctoral level and the overall credit rating for this course is 540 credits. This is a national standard for Professional Doctorates. If for some reason you are unable to achieve this credit you may be entitled to an intermediate award, the level of the award will depend on the amount of credit you have accumulated. You can read the full University Student Policies and Regulations on the UEL website. Because the title of Educational Psychologist is protected it is important to be clear that any award other than that achieved by successful completion of the full Doctorate programme will not entitle you to use the title Educational Psychologist. The title can only be used following successful completion and subsequent registration with the HCPC. The AEP also place stipulations related to completion in the contract for a funded place.

You cannot apply directly to UEL for this programme because there is a national system for applying to train to be an Educational Psychologist.

Full details of the application requirements and processes (including key dates) are available from the Association of Educational Psychologists.

The course involves campus-based learning and teaching, self-directed learning, research and placement in Educational Psychology Services (EPS) and other employment settings, where you will work under supervision.

In your first year you will spend most of the first two terms on campus, completing two modules related to Professional Practice as an EP. Topics include Consultation, Values and Ethics. You will also spend time on placement developing skills with children and young people.

In your second year, you will take on a bursary-supported placement for three days of the week. During the autumn term, you will complete a module at the University on research - in order to complete your research proposal on the placement.

Throughout the year you will also take a module in Developing the Competent and Reflective Practitioner in Simple Systems and you will begin the research for your thesis.

In the third year, you will continue in your placement, as well as completing a module in Developing the Critical and Reflective practitioner in Complex Systems. You will complete your research and write up your thesis.

We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up to date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change. 

• Bachelor's degree: GPA of 2.5 / 4 or overall classification of "Good" or higher
• UK Bachelor's degree with Honours: Second Class, Second Division or higher
• US Bachelor's degree: GPA 2.5 / 4

Extended Diploma or Diploma

FROM

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Diploma with 24 points including a minimum of 15 points at Higher Level

There is a national shortage of educational psychologists and graduates of our programme are in great demand. 

Our programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
 

• Qualify as a practitioner educational psychologist with the HCPC
• Become a creative applied psychological practitioner
• Apply psychology to make a positive different to children, families, carers and schools
• Apply best educational psychology practice, based on research evidence and professional experience (practice based evidence) 
• Become a self-reflective practitioner and continue to develop personally and professionally through your career

We are focused on community involvement and we train people to work for local authorities. Some will go on to work privately but the vast majority will end up being public servants. We want to train educational psychologists who can work effectively across diverse communities. We therefore actively seek applications from underrepresented groups.

What every one of our graduates will take with them is a sense of our values - an awareness and understanding of diversity, a commitment to social justice, beneficence and promoting autonomy.

Please note a trainee place is an exempted occupation for the purpose of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All "spent" and "unspent" convictions must be declared. Having a "spent" or "unspent" conviction may impede your application for the course. This will depend on the circumstance and background to your offence in relation to the university place that you are applying for. Evaluation of information is based on strict confidentiality and discretion.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Useful links
 

• Association of Education Psychologists > 
• The British Psychological Society >
• Educational Psychology Research and practice at UEL >
• UCL Educational Psychology bursary placements >