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Psychology of Child Development

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Preston Campus
More about University of Lancashire

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Course Overview

This course is taught through block learning. Find out more at https://www.lancashire.ac.uk/study/block-learning

Understand child development with our BSc (Hons) Psychology of Children Development. You'll look at the social, biological and cognitive issues that shape the way children think, feel and interact.

This course is designed to help you understand children’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour in scientific detail. You’ll study core modules in research methods, psychology and statistics, as well as specialist modules on child development.

You’ll have the chance to use our outstanding facilities. This includes an observation room to watch children playing and interacting with others, and a cognitive neuroscience lab for observing brain activity. There’s also the chance to go on a placement to assist with child-centred research.

You can choose to focus on educational psychology, thanks to our links with schools and children's services. You'll study language development, literacy, peer relations, online safeguarding, antisocial behaviour and bullying.

Your Psychology of Child Development degree will be taught in short, focused blocks. You will study one module at a time, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in that topic.

This degree can offer the tools and knowledge for a fascinating career, whether you see your future in clinical psychology, research, education or other child development roles.

Why study with us

  • At our child observation suite you can watch, record and analyse children’s behaviour and interaction with toys, peers and adults.

  • Your Psychology of Child Development degree will be taught one module at a time, allowing you to immerse yourself in that topic. There are no traditional exams.

  • We offer the chance to get involved in research, with paid internships, placements and part-time roles.

What you'll do

  • While our course has a strong focus on child development, you’ll also have the flexibility to choose from various optional modules.

  • You can choose to spend a year on placement, building work experience and professional skills to boost your career prospects when you graduate.

  • As this course shares a first year with Forensic Psychology, Neuropsychology and more, you may have the chance to switch specialisms as your interests develop.

Future Careers

Our Psychology of Child Development BSc (Hons) course offers specialist skills for a range of roles working with children. It provides the knowledge to open a broad range of other career paths too.

This degree offers a strong foundation to work with children in educational or clinical psychology. Many graduates complete a postgraduate degree to get their ideal role, including our own BPS-accredited masters degrees.

You could also pursue roles in allied health, working alongside occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.

Our graduates are valued in a wide range of sectors. You could get a role in organisations including:

  • Police

  • Prison Service

  • NHS

  • Social and community services

  • Health authorities

  • Pharmaceutical industry

  • Education and training organisations

Modules

Please visit The University of Lancashire’s website for the latest information about our modules.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Preston Campus

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C891
Institution code:
C30
Campus name:
Preston Campus
Campus Code:
U
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

University of Lancashire has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C891
Institution code:
C30
Campus name:
Preston Campus
Campus Code:
U

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points

A level

104 to 120 UCAS points at A2

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM - DDM

Access to HE Diploma

104 to 120 UCAS points

Scottish Higher

104 to 120 UCAS points

AS - Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D* - D*D

Scottish Advanced Higher

104 to 120 UCAS points

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

104 to 120 UCAS points at Higher Level subjects

GCSE/National 4/National 5

5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Maths and English or equivalent. Equivalent qualifications are Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English or Level 3 Key Skills in Maths and Communication.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM - DDM

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma - D*D* - D*D

T Level - M

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6with no component score less than 5.5 (To have been taken within two years of the course commencement date)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Our Fair Access Scheme recognises barriers into education and allows us to make an offer with lower entry requirements. At the University of Lancashire, we are proud to help people seize every opportunity to flourish in education, at work and for life. We recognise that students from disadvantaged backgrounds often face significant challenges to access and succeed in higher education. Our Fair Access Scheme ensures that students aren’t limited by circumstances and can achieve their potential.

Learn more on the University of Lancashire website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

*subject only to annual increase in line with UK Retail Price Index Inflation rate and increases permitted by the Government

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