We use cookies to provide you with the best user experience and to improve our services. Cookies help us understand how our site is being used, allowing us to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking "Accept," you consent to the use of all cookies. If you choose to reject, we’ll only use necessary cookies to ensure the site functions properly. Learn more.
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Development and Education
Learn to treat and support children and young people with your comprehensive knowledge of their learning and development. Our BPS-accredited degree covers the full journey from infancy to adulthood. TOP in Scotland for Student Experience (Psychology - The Times 2025).
Why study Psychology with Development and Education?
Our BPS-accredited Psychology with Development and Education degree focuses on child and adolescent development. Gain the knowledge and expertise you need to support and treat children and young people.
You’ll develop a deep understanding of children’s minds, emotions, and behaviours at different life stages, including how they learn. This covers infancy through to the end of adolescence, including divergent needs, developmental disorders and psychological challenges.
You'll graduate with the skills and expertise required to support and treat children and young people effectively.
Work placement and strong sector connections
We have excellent connections with local education authorities, health services and charities. There’s also a work placement option to help you put theory into practice.
You'll cover topics such as:
Learning and Education across childhood.
Language, communication, social relationships and social interaction.
Changing patterns of childhood experience including interactions with technology.
Atypical child development such as neurodivergence, developmental disorders, and the mental health issues that typically emerge in childhood.
British Psychological Society accredited
This Psychology with Development and Education degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and its core areas follow the curriculum set out by the BPS. This accreditation is essential for students who want to become a Chartered Psychologist and means that successful graduates can apply for further professional psychology training.
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology courses rated Top in Scotland for Teaching Satisfaction by both the Times Good University Guide 2025 and the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Plus you’ll be taught by developmental psychologists who are producing internationally excellent or world leading research (REF2021).
Why study Psychology with Development and Education?
You’ll gain the skills necessary to support children and young people. This covers the mental, emotional, and social development that occur as a child grows from infancy to adulthood.
We help you develop a deep understanding of children’s minds, emotions and behaviour at different stages of childhood and adolescence. You'll graduate with the tools and expertise you need to treat children and young people effectively.
You'll cover the theoretical reasons for developmental disorders and psychological challenges, as well as how to provide relevant support and treatment. Alongside this, you’ll develop skills in report writing, numeracy, statistics and IT, communication, and analytical thinking.
This gives you a great start to your career, whatever you decide to do after you graduate.
Potential Careers
With your deep understanding of children’s minds, emotions and behaviour and strong analytical skills, potential careers are varied. Possible roles include:
Educational psychologist.
Children's wellbeing practitioner.
Teacher.
Youth worker.
Clinical psychologist.
Education Mental Health Practitioner.
Social worker.
Strong Industry Links
We have excellent connections with local education authorities, health services and charities.
This includes strong links with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and many of the lecturing staff are members of professional societies. All of which means you will be learning from academics who have wide ranging research and professional networks.
You’ll have the option to connect with local organisations, or apply your learning in the work placement module.
About your modules
All modules shown are indicative and reflect course content for the current academic year. Modules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change. If you receive an offer to study with us we will send you a Programme document that sets out exactly which modules you can expect to take as part of your Abertay University degree programme. Please see Terms and Conditions for more information.
All Abertay students have access to Adobe Express, empowering you to enhance digital skills with industry-leading tools.
In late 2024, Abertay proudly became the first institution in Scotland to achieve the designation of Adobe Creative Campus.
The Adobe Creative Campus programme is an initiative involving a select group of colleges and universities dedicated to empowering staff and students across all disciplines with essential digital skills for success in both the workplace and the classroom.
But if you’re unsure which to choose, don’t worry, apply for the course that appeals most.
This is because you have an opportunity to switch to a different pathway at the start of Year two, Year three and Year four (conditions apply*). Our academic team will always be available to help if you do decide to switch pathways.
Your degree title will be reflected in the pathway you choose e.g: BSc (Hons) Psychology with Development and Education or BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Scene Investigation.
No other Scottish university is offering these flexible undergraduate degree pathways in psychology. We believe this gives our graduates a distinct edge when it comes to applying for postgraduate study or employment.
*Dependent on the relevant modules being taken. Please check your Student Handbook or ask a staff member for full details.
Teaching and assessment
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars, tutorials, and independent study.
The practical laboratory classes are where you’ll learn relevant scientific techniques first-hand and engage in research by designing experiments then collecting and analysing the data.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods. These include examinations and class tests, practical laboratory reports, essays, oral and poster presentations, research projects, writing scientific articles and case studies.
All students must complete their Honours project on an area of psychological research related to their chosen pathway.
Accreditation
The British Psychological Society (BPS) is our professional body and this the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Development and Education degree has their accreditation. The BPS Accreditation is essential for students who want to go onto become a Chartered Psychologist.
Please note: All applicants must have passes in English and Maths - National 5 grade C or GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent. National 5 ESOL is accepted in lieu of National 5 English. National 5 Lifeskill Maths and Application of Maths at grade B is accepted in lieu of Maths.
Higher Application of Maths at grade C accepted.
If there is a subject that does not appear, please contact our Admissions Office (admissions@abertay.ac.uk) who will be able to confirm whether or not it would be considered for entry.
Higher (minimum entry) We may make you an offer at the minimum entry grades if you meet the criteria. Find out if you're eligible for minimum entry (see below).
BBC
None
A-Level
CCC
None
T Level
C or higher
in Core Component in one of the following:- Education & Early Years, Health, Healthcare Science, Science or Legal Services
Irish Highers
H3H3H3H3
None
International Baccalaureate Diploma Based Programme (IBDP)
28 Points
None
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)
We encourage applications with the IBCP but understand that your combination of qualifications may differ depending on where you are studying.
We accept the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP). Any subject requirements must be met as per our published IB Diploma requirements.
BTEC Extended Diploma
MMM
Any
AHEAD
Successful completion of the relevant stream of our AHEAD programme
SWAP Access
Access to: University Study/Community, Education & Humanities/Arts & Social Sciences and Primary Teaching/Languages, Arts & Social Sciences/Humanities & Primary Education/Degree Studies/Celtic Studies/Arts & Humanities/Humanities/Humanities (Teaching)
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)
See next column
If you are taking HNC/HND with one or more Higher Levels IB subjects, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.
Not sure if you're eligible for entry?
If you have the potential and motivation to study at university, regardless of your background or personal circumstances, we welcome your application.
We understand some people have faced extra challenges before applying to university, which is why we consider the background in which your academic grades have been achieved when making an offer.
If you expect to receive passes in three Scottish Highers (grades A-C) and have...
been in care, or are a young carer yourself
attended a school or lived in an area where not many people go to university
are eligible for free school meals
are a young person estranged from your family
are a government-recognised refugee or have asylum seeker status
are a registered pupil with sustained engagement in a targeted aspiration-raising programme such as LIFT OFF, LEAPS, FOCUS West or Aspire North
... we encourage you to submit an application.
Support for Ukrainian students
We're keen to offer help to Ukrainian students who may wish to transfer from their existing institution in Ukraine or to register with us as new students for intake in September. There will be no tuition fees charged for the duration of the degree programme, as those with refugee status are treated as ‘Home/Scottish’ students and will also have access to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland bursary and student loans. Our Recruitment Team can help guide applicants.
The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.
We offer a range of scholarships to help support your studies with us.
As well as Abertay scholarships for English, Welsh, Northern Irish and international students, there are a range of corporate and philanthropic scholarships available. Some are course specific, many are not. There are some listed below or you can visit the Undergraduate scholarship pages.
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats) is an official source of information about higher education. It collates comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study.