Psychology and Child Development

Psychology and child development together offer a particularly rich preparation for anyone interested in understanding how children grow, learn, and flourish, and why some children struggle. Psychology provides the scientific framework, the theories of mind, behaviour, emotion, and development that allow us to ask rigorous questions about human experience. Child development focuses that lens on the early years and beyond, exploring how biological maturation and social experience interact to shape the developing person.

At the University of Winchester, you will study core psychological science alongside dedicated content in child development, drawing on developmental psychology, attachment theory, cognitive development, language acquisition, social and emotional development, and the psychology of education. You will learn from experienced lecturers and qualified applied psychologists, developing both theoretical knowledge and the applied understanding that is needed for work with children and families. Research methods are central to the programme, and you will gain skills in designing and evaluating studies, working with data, and thinking critically about evidence.

The supportive learning environment at Winchester means you will have the guidance you need to develop your own academic voice and confidence over the course of the degree.

This is a three-year full-time programme with a typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points. No work placement or year abroad is included, so the focus is entirely on academic development within the programme.

Graduates from psychology and child development programmes are well placed for careers in education, early years provision, social work, health visiting, family support, children's mental health services, and research. Most routes into practitioner psychology require further postgraduate training, but the degree provides an excellent foundation for that progression, as well as for postgraduate study in education, social work, child and adolescent mental health, and early years practice.