Education and Psychology

Education and psychology together provide a powerful framework for understanding one of the most fundamental human activities: learning. Education as an academic discipline examines the personal, social, cultural and political forces that shape how and what we learn, in schools and beyond, in the UK and worldwide. It asks questions about inequality and access, about the purposes of schooling, about pedagogy and curriculum, and about how educational systems reflect and reproduce social structures.

Psychology brings the scientific study of mind and behaviour to these questions, examining how learning happens at the cognitive and developmental level, how motivation and emotion affect it, and how individual differences and social relationships shape educational experience.

At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time degree develops your understanding of both disciplines in ways that constantly illuminate each other. You will study the sociology and philosophy of education alongside developmental psychology, learning theories, educational psychology and the research methods used in both fields. The programme is particularly valuable for those who want to understand not just what happens in classrooms but why, and to bring evidence-based psychological knowledge to bear on educational questions.

A sandwich year placement, a year abroad, and a work placement are all available, giving you substantial professional and international experience that connects your academic study to real educational and psychological practice.

You will develop strong analytical and research skills, the ability to think critically about evidence, and the communication skills that working in education and psychology-related settings demands.

Graduates move into education, educational psychology (with further postgraduate training), SEND support, school leadership, youth work, social care, research, policy, and a wide range of roles in organisations concerned with learning and human development. Postgraduate study in education, educational psychology, psychology or related fields is a common and well-supported pathway.