Edcuational Phychology Degree

[BeautifulTulips]

Bit confused here and hoping someone might know more about this! I always thought you trained as an Educational Psychologist by doing a three-year degree in educational psychology, but from what I’ve been reading it looks like you actually need a doctorate afterwards?
Trying to get my head around what the full route looks like — is it a psychology degree first, then some work experience, then the doctorate?
Also, does anyone know if the doctorate is funded, or are we potentially looking at paying for five or six years of uni in total 😳?
Would love to hear from anyone whose DC has gone down (or is thinking about) this route, or who’s looked into it in more detail. thank you !

Yes, first degree in psychology (that gives graduate basis for registration of BPS) then work experience, then best route is to get an assistant role then doctorate.

The doctorate first year is a 16k bursary, for years 2 and 3 most EPs are employed on trainee wages (around 30k).

To add to above, if you already have a degree (that is not psychology), you might be able to complete a conversion course to get GBR. Then it’s a 3 year doctorate.

I got my psychology degree quite a while back so some of this info might have changed!
it used to be the case that you got a psychology degree (this needed to be eligible for registration with the BPS in order to become chartered)
A PGCE was then usually the next route with a bit of teaching experience before eventually doing the doctorate which was funded.
I’m pretty sure you’ve always needed a doctorate - usually with some experience of working in education.
Does your DC have experience of working with children with SEND? I would have thought this would still be needed before starting a doctorate.

It's competitive. The work experience prior to applying for the doctorate ed psy is key. Best bet is to befriend a psycho to learn the tricks of the trade.

Thank you both- daughter had found a BSc which says educational psychology so thought she would be qualified after three years but I didn’t think it was quite that simple! Do you need teaching experience? I thought you did, but that doesn’t seem to be a requirement any longer.

I'm an EP. The advice above is correct.

The best EPs I have worked with have all had a background in teaching or considerable experience working with children in schools in a learning -as opposed to therapeutic- context. Encourage your DC to gain valuable work experience of actual working in an education setting as I'm convinced, being a primary practitioner, that this will increase their effectiveness and impact.

My own DC has required the involvement of EPs in order to secure an EHCP and suitable provision, and again, collaborating with an EP whose practice has a strong foundation in the needs of learners in the classroom has made such a difference.

Thanks all - daughter is in year 13. Has extensive experience volunteering in a special school and he is really keen to work with children with additional needs but not as a teacher. She is very interested in how the brain works and why children behave as they do, hence wondering about educational psychology. The three year degree described is actually quite confusing because it does make it look like you are a psychologist at the end of that but clearly not!

Before 2006, you did a masters rather than a doctorate to qualify and it was compulsory to be a teacher. Since it switched to the doctorate, you still have to have work experience with children and young people/related to education, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be teaching, though understandably lots of EPs are still ex-teachers (myself included). I’m confident that I’m a better EP for having been a teacher, but there are lots of good routes in, and reflecting on your work effectively is more important than any specific career path. The Association of Educational Psychologists website is a really useful source of information about applying, funding and essential requirements, so worth having a look at.

Just make sure she does a BPS accredited degree.

There are better informed posters on here than I am, but just to add, my DD is currently studying for a 4 yr Msci in Psychology at York. She has a friend who is taking a 3 yr Bsci in Psychology & Education. I expect each of them may be hoping for a PhD route, although those will not look the same at all.

Ideally EPs should have some experience in the classroom either through volunteering or actual teaching. I've worked with many over the years. Some great ones and not so great ones. Taking advice from a professional to help with challenging behaviour etc is really difficult when they've never stepped foot in a classroom.

I would also be very careful as some degrees may have Education and Psychology in the title but not be BPS accredited.
I think this is true of Education with Psychology at Bath.

Can you share the degree and uni with us, OP? Lots of us work in the field and are happy to advise! (It is anonymous after all!)

https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/course/educational-psychology/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=performance_max_f2&utm_campaign=apply_2026&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23061479644&gbraid=0AAAAACm7m-CD5CeTBDG0z4fEAO1eQFk6X&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3aLHBhDTARIsAIRij5_rHClAtVrkmjve9ZCdrgOWhKDAP4XvTzYsPyyXztcPhHInuCut0MIaAtcSEALw_wcB

Thanks for your insights everyone, she was looking at this one which is accredited, but it’s clearly not such a simple route into educational psychology as she had hoped!

You can see the course is actually being renamed for 2026 entry. Probably to reflect any misunderstanding by YP.

The name is likely changing because BPS are getting strict about universities not using the titles of jobs you won't be qualified for as the name of programmes...