Duration:
1 year (full-time)
2 years (part-time)
Number of credits:
180
Start date(s):
September 2026
Learn how to understand human development across the lifespan and gain the knowledge, skills, and professional insight needed to make a meaningful difference in education, wellbeing, and community settings.
In a rapidly changing world, this programme equips you with scientific understanding and applied skills while exploring how people grow, learn, and adapt from infancy through to adulthood, preparing you for a wide range of careers or further study in psychology and related fields.
You’ll gain a strong foundation in applying developmental psychology to real-world challenges such as:
- Children’s learning, wellbeing, and inclusion
- Adolescence, identity, and mental health
- Lifespan development, ageing, and resilience
You’ll become a confident thinker and communicator, able to understand diverse groups and apply psychological knowledge ethically and effectively. As your skills grow, you’ll develop strong abilities in research, critical evaluation, and professional practice, supporting your future career goals.
Through our MSc Developmental Psychology, you’ll gain academic depth on the real-world experience through applied learning, projects, and expert supervision, preparing you to progress into professional roles or further study with confidence.
Did you know
On this programme, you’ll use specialist research tools and digital technologies, including developmental assessment methods and data analysis software, gaining practical research skills valued by employers and postgraduate providers.
Modules
Module details: This module explores cognitive and biological development across the lifespan, from prenatal stages to childhood and adolescence. Topics include genetic and environmental influences, neurodevelopment, and resilience. You will examine key theories, methodologies, and neuroimaging techniques while considering applications in education, adulthood, and global contexts. This module equips you with essential theoretical and research-informed knowledge, fostering critical evaluation skills applicable to further studies and diverse professional settings.
How you’ll learn: This module includes virtual introductions to each week’s topic, campus lectures, seminars with assessment support, covering key theories, research, and practical applications through group discussions and debates about different perspectives or explanations. You will also engage with asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercises.
Assessment: This module will be assessed through a study proposal and an infographic on a developmental topic.
Module details: This module explores human development, focusing on cognitive and socioemotional differences across stages, and addresses developmental issues like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). You will learn to apply developmental psychology theory and research to assess and intervene in diverse contexts, considering individual and group differences. Topics will include diagnostic criteria, interventions, and how knowledge informs practice in various care settings. By studying this module, you’ll gain essential theoretical and research-informed knowledge and develop transferable skills for further studies and professional settings.
How you’ll learn: This module includes weekly virtual introduction to the topic, and campus lectures and seminar covering key theories, research, and practical applications through discussions and debates. You will also engage with asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercises.
Assessment: The module assessments include an engaging image-based presentation (Pecha Kucha) on a neurodivergent condition and a leaflet presenting an evidence-based intervention in a specific context.
Module details: In this module, you will study interpersonal and emotional development across the lifespan, focusing on attachment, parenting, temperament, personality, social identity, and transitions from childhood to adulthood. Discussions will explore social and emotional development's role in shaping outcomes and practical applications. You will gain essential theoretical and research-based knowledge, develop critical evaluation skills, and apply this knowledge in diverse contexts, enhancing your academic and professional skills for further studies or the workplace.
How you’ll learn: This module includes weekly virtual introduction to the topic, and campus lectures and seminars covering key theories, research, and practical applications. You will also have asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercises.
Assessment: This module will be assessed through a factsheet on a chosen topic and a critical analysis essay.
Module details: In this module, you will explore methods of investigating human development that enhance your research skills, including understanding data types, study design, analytic methods, and psychometric testing for children and parents. Practical workshops will focus on using tools and analysing developmental data. The module integrates into the programme, enhancing your ability to design and conduct studies, such as for the Capstone project, while providing essential investigative and technical analysis skills. Topics include research approaches, ethical issues, and dissemination of developmental psychology research, with transferable skills for further studies and the workplace.
How you’ll learn: This module includes weekly virtual introduction to the topic, and campus lectures and seminars on investigative approaches in developmental psychology, research studies, and practical applications of developmental test tools. You will also have asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercises.
Assessment: This module will be assessed through a research poster based on a study and a research report on a different topic and method from the poster.
Module details: This module explores current issues in developmental psychology, including education, technology, media, cross-cultural differences, and global concerns like climate change. Topical sessions examine theory, research, and practice, while interactive seminars discuss their impact on individuals and societies. You will develop critical analysis skills, apply developmental psychology concepts to real-world problems, and enhance transferable skills for further studies or the workplace. Topics include children’s media use, schooling, education transitions, migration, and developmental psychology’s role in these areas.
How you’ll learn: This module includes weekly virtual introduction to the topic, and campus lectures and seminars on key contexts like technology, media, education, and global issues, with group discussions, coursework support, and formative feedback. These are complemented by asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercise.
Assessment: This module will be assessed through a portfolio consisting of a précis in poster format on one of three current issues and an applied review evaluating the applications of the theory and research on another of the three issues.
Module details: This module differs from a typical dissertation by allowing you to investigate a developmental topic through research or reflective practice. You will apply analytic and project management skills as an independent inquirer, with supervision, while exploring ethical principles, research-practice links, and reporting techniques. The module integrates research and practice, enhancing your ability to design and conduct projects, develop presentation and writing skills, and apply knowledge to real-world contexts, supporting both academic growth and career aspirations in developmental psychology.
How you’ll learn: This module includes, in the spring term, weekly virtual introduction to the topic, and campus lectures and seminars on investigative approaches and reflective skills for developmental psychology. These are complemented by asynchronous digital materials each week, including pre-recorded instructions, video resources, and exercise. The summer term involves research or practice fieldwork for your individual project, with regular supervisions with an allocated supervisor.
Assessment: This module will be assessed through an oral presentation of the project plan and a dissertation write up of the project.
These are the current planned modules on this course and may be subject to change.
Careers
This programme supports a wide range of career pathways by equipping you with knowledge and skills relevant to developmental psychology and broader professional contexts.
It is suitable for graduates seeking to specialise in psychology, explore professional training routes, or pursue career changes where developmental psychology informs practice.
You will develop skills valued by employers, including critical and reflective thinking, communication, project management, interpersonal awareness, creativity and intercultural understanding.
Ethical judgement, research literacy and the ability to apply psychological knowledge in real-world settings are embedded throughout, preparing you for roles in education, social and community work, youth services, wellbeing initiatives, and other professional contexts.
Learning and Assessment
How you’ll learn:
You will learn through a blended approach combining face-to-face teaching, online learning and independent study.
Each module includes interactive seminars, practical activities and assessment focused sessions supported by online resources, recorded materials and guided readings. You will engage in discussions, quizzes, group work and applied tasks that connect theory to real-world practice.
Independent study and employability activities further support your academic development, professional skills and career readiness within an inclusive, technology-enhanced learning environment.
How you’ll be assessed:
You will be assessed through a coursework-based approach designed to support knowledge and skills development throughout each module.
Assessments include written assignments and practical tasks such as reports, case analyses, oral and visual presentations and other subject-specific outputs. Formative activities, feedback and reflection are embedded into teaching to help you prepare for summative work.
Most assessments offer topic choices and inclusive formats, ensuring flexibility while aligning with programme learning outcomes and real-world practice.
Open days
Get a real taste of our campus, community and what it’s like to study at Roehampton
Applying
Full-time UK postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.
Specific entry requirements
A second-class honours undergraduate degree or equivalent.
General entry requirements
International undergraduate students apply through our direct application system.
Specific entry requirements
A second-class honours undergraduate degree or equivalent.
General entry requirements
Fees and funding
UK students
Tuition fees
| Entry date | MSc (full-time) | MSc (part-time) |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | £11,250 | £5,625 |
| January 2027 | £11,250 | £5,625 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
Additional costs to consider
Some practice or research visits will require students to have an enhanced DBS check.
Travelling as additional costs unless students already work at the visited places.
Funding your studies
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London.
International students
Tuition fees
| Entry date | MSc (full-time) | MSc (part-time) |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | £18,980 | £9,490 |
| January 2027 | £18,980 | £9,490 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
Additional costs to consider
Some practice or research visits will require students to have an enhanced DBS check.
Travelling as additional costs unless students already work at the visited places.
Funding your studies
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London.
