Does the institution awarding your masters impact your doctorate application?

[wonderstuff]

I'm looking at studying for an MSc in Psychology (conversion) with a view to becoming an educational psychologist. Entry to the EP program is very competitive, I've got good work experience as an SEN specialist teacher. I've got the option to study an online course with Northumbria, which is relatively inexpensive and flexible, or Brunel which is more expensive or possibly a face to face course at Reading. Reading has higher entry requirements and would be more difficult because I've got to travel there. Would studying at a more prestigious university give me a better chance on a competitive doctorate course. If its just down to grades the Northumbria course would be my preferred option.
Exciting and terrifying.

Yes, to a certain extent but not the only factor. Courses vary a lot and work placements can help

That's a good point and I'd be in a much better position to complete a work placement if I wasn't commuting to university. I'm waiting on Reading to contact an enquiry about when course would run, I'm working part time while doing this so it may be the reading course is impossible.
I'm hoping my work experience will be seen as beneficial. Might not be in with much of a hope anyway, only 200 places nationwide on the doctorate.

I can confirm that where you do your conversion will not affect your prof doc application.

It’s a great time to consider retraining due to the increase in places from this September.

Best of luck!

Top tip - start keeping a reflective journal now of times when you have applied psychology in your practise. What were the outcomes? What went well? What would you change next time?

Practice not practise - the doorbell went!

Do all of the courses give graduate membership of the British Psychological Society?

@EdPsy thank you so much. Really helpful. I will start a journal.

They do all give graduate membership to the BPS.

Once you're on the conversion course, I found the Psychology Express series of books and the accompanying website resources really helpful for assignment writing. They have books for cognitive, biological, educational, research methods... all the areas really! Watch out for good deals on Amazon, I know the whole series was free on Kindle a few weeks ago.

Do any of the courses you're looking at have an Educational Psychology optional module? You might find that interesting/useful if so?

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

These books are considered 'bibles' - definitely try to have a read before you get to the applying stage, perhaps cite some of the frameworks, key psychologists/theories that you have been able to use and apply in your job.

If you are on Facebook there is a group - "Educational Psychology - Doctoral Applicants" - which has some good resources and peer support.

Some good UCL resources here

UEL has an open access journal called EPRAP, again some good reading!

Hope this is useful!

Thank you so much! That's so useful. I'm looking at a 2 year part time MSc so doctorate application in the 2022/3 year. I'm hoping to start MSc in July, slightly complicated by the fact I have adhd and want to restart medication for this during studies, which may take longer than a couple of months to organise. Previously my academic studies I've managed without but I'm hopeful that will make it a bit easier. Northumbria seemed supportive and will set me up with a weekly phone call to a tutor as well..

Will look at education psychology specific options though, theres a number of institutions running the conversion course so some may be a better fit..

I'll work through those links, thank you.

I used to approve applications for a variety of university courses and can confirm wholeheartedly that it never ever made one iota of a difference which university awarded the applicant's previous degree(s). Much of the other advice you have been given is very useful. For your PD or PhD, the proposal itself will be the defining factor, along with whether or not the university to which you are applying can actually support your work - it's not always only about the applicant. Sometime the university doesn't have the capacity or the expertise to support a particular research project.