Education with Psychology (With Foundation Year)

Our education courses rank in the UK top 5 overall in their subject field (The Guardian University Guide, 2026).

This multidisciplinary degree brings together two important research fields for anyone interested in child development, approaches to learning and young people's mental health and wellbeing. As you study, you gain a wide variety of perspectives on how today’s children and adolescents develop and learn, both in the UK and around the world, with the opportunity to apply your specialist knowledge to real-life practice. The course opens the way to rewarding careers in postgraduate teaching training and the wider education sector; working with vulnerable children, young people and families; or continuing your studies in the field of psychology.

Foundation Year
In the Foundation year, you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. It provides a balance between content related to your chosen subject and the range of wider skills required for undergraduate study. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning.

• Specialist sensory centre.

• Multimedia space for webinars and podcasting.

• A wealth of IT facilities and resources available throughout the campus.

• Four-storey on-campus library.

• Access to the wider University sports resources and facilities including our on-site gym.

Careeer-powered links

We have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, including community-led initiatives and support in the community.

Your student experience

Study with an expert academic team from teaching, education and psychology backgrounds.

Benefit from the support of your own personal tutor, a unit and course coordinator, and the additional support of our experienced library staff, all of whom will help you throughout your student journey.

We work closely with Martin Bacon Academy, a special education school in Northstowe; Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust (BILTT); and Trauma-Informed Schools UK, who offer training in creating settings where people feel safe, understood and are able to thrive.

Extend your learning with relevant field trips to educational conferences, seminars and talks**.**

Attend on-campus masterclasses and talks from external speakers from the fields of both education and psychology.

Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.

Course modules

This course pathway begins with a Foundation Year before moving onto the main degree course.

Year 1
Constructions of childhood – Examine definitions of childhood and how attitudes towards children have changed over time. Key concepts in education – Explore a range of concepts and theories that have shaped the study and understanding of education. Early child psychology – An introduction to the psychological and social development of young children. Education and inclusion – Consider issues of inclusion from a range of social, political and educational perspectives. Psychology of adolescence – Understand a range of social and psychological issues affecting adolescents. Safeguarding and child protection – Explore the development of safeguarding practices; includes safeguarding training leading to certification.

Year 2
Research methods – An introduction to a wide variety of approaches to and methods of research. Families and communities – How our understanding of the words ‘family’ and ‘community’ has changed over time. Social psychology and education – Understand key aspects of social and developmental psychology and be able to apply them to education. Positive psychology in education – Explore the use of positive psychology during childhood and in education.

You can also choose from four optional units:
Developing teaching practice – The practices and processes of teaching. Deschooling – A radical approach to education where you take control of your learning. Education and social justice – Explore social justice in relation to education as well as to global social, economic and political change. Difficulties in literacy acquisition – Analyse different ways people learn to read and use your knowledge to judge which methods work best for solving specific literacy problems.

Year 3
Children and young people’s wellbeing – Understand social and emotional issues in education, and how to support children and young people with their wellbeing. Dissertation – Plan and write an independent research project on a topic of interest that is relevant to your course. Inclusion and psychology – Study atypical development and how it may impact on learning as well as looking at inclusive practice in education. Coaching psychology in education – An introduction to coaching including applying core skills in a peer-coaching role. Psychology of education – An in-depth exploration of contemporary ideas around psychology in education, including engagement and motivation.

We make every effort to ensure the information here is accurate; however, for the most up-to-date information, visit our website.