Prof Doc Educational And Child Psychology

This course provides full-time professional training leading towards registration with the Health and Caring Professions Council (HCPC) as an Educational Psychologist (this is a protected title). During the programme trainees will participate in University-based teaching and learning, modular assessments, research culminating in a doctoral thesis and professional practice placements in Local Authorities and other settings relevant to educational psychologist work.

This course will equip you to work as an Educational Psychologist in Local Authority children’s services, Educational Psychology teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), voluntary agencies or independently. We are driven by our determination to work towards social justice for vulnerable young people and their families and for children with special educational needs and to advocate for their rightful place in society.The Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology programme at UEL aims:

To ensure trainees:

develop the Standards of Proficiency required to work as safe and effective educational psychologists  

understand the implications of the HCPC’s standards of conduct, performance and ethics

develop autonomous practice and reflective thinking

develop appropriate research skills as a basis for evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence

respect the rights and needs of service users through a commitment to equal opportunities and the principles of beneficence, autonomy and social justice.

become competent and creative educational psychologists able to work effectively in educational and community settings

In reflecting the ethos of the University of East London the programme is committed to:

applying psychology to make a positive difference to children and young people and their families

using a broad range of assessment instruments with due consideration to their relevance to the client, their needs and likely interventions

applying and keeping up to date with research evidence in child development and educational psychology

listening to the child’s perspective and involving children and young people in decision-making

valuing the role of parents and carers in the education of children with additional needs

promoting the inclusion of children and young people with special educational needs into mainstream schools

exercising duty of care with regard to safeguarding children

reflecting our multi-cultural and diverse society 

promoting equal opportunities which recognise differences of race, disability, gender, sexuality, age, religious, cultural and socio-economic status

carrying out research that promotes participation and is of benefit to communities 

We are looking for practitioners who are seeking to extend their use of psychology with children, young people and families.  You will need the Graduate Basis for Certification with the BPS and relevant experience. Full details of the application requirements and processes are available from The Association of Educational Psychologists.

In recent years, around half of our students have been teachers or Assistant Educational Psychologists, while other professions represented have included Teaching Assistants, mental health and clinical practitioners, youth workers and social workers. Many have postgraduate qualifications as well as a depth of relevant paid experience.

The course meets both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards and the Division of Educational and Child Psychology – British Psychological Society (DECP) criteria for three-year training.

Successful applicants are expected to confirm their fitness to study and practice at the start of the programme. Potential applicants need to be aware of these requirements prior to application. Once on the programme, trainees are expected to maintain their health and well-being throughout the duration of the programme and in line with the HCPC’s guidance on conduct and ethics, to let the education provider know if their health status changes.

The programme is doctoral level and the overall credit rating for this course is 540 credits. This is a national standard for Professional Doctorates. If for some reason you are unable to achieve this credit you may be entitled to an intermediate award, the level of the award will depend on the amount of credit you have accumulated. You can read the full University Student Policies and Regulations on the UEL website. Because the title of Educational Psychologist is protected it is important to be clear that any award other than that achieved by successful completion of the full Doctorate programme will not entitle you to use the title Educational Psychologist. The title can only be used following successful completion and subsequent registration with the HCPC. The AEP also place stipulations related to completion in the contract for a funded place.

You cannot apply directly to UEL for this programme because there is a national system for applying to train to be an Educational Psychologist.

Full details of the application requirements and processes (including key dates) are available from the Association of Educational Psychologists.