Overview
As part of the Applied Educational Psychology Doctorate, you will study and develop an understanding of:
- development
- relationships
- behaviour
- inter-relationship in organisational structures within educational and community settings
The Applied Educational Psychology course suits those with an understanding of educational systems and settings.
You’ll explore applying psychology to make a difference in the lives of young people. We understand that development is taking place throughout education. This influences the psychology we draw upon.
Educational Psychologists (EP) work with:
- individual children
- young people
- parents
- carers/teachers/other agencies
You’ll support individuals and work at an organisational level. This is to facilitate the learning and wellbeing of children and young people. Along with all BPS accredited EP training programmes we draw upon a wide range of psychology.Â
Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
During your training, you’ll also undertake research projects. These include:
- a systematic review of published research in a relevant field
- an empirical study presented as a paper for an appropriate peer-reviewed journal
You’ll maintain a practice portfolio that chronicles and evidences your professional development.
As part of the Applied Educational Psychology Doctorate, you’ll also study four taught modules which cover:
- key issues of inclusion and diversity
- working in partnership
- learning and social environments
- frameworks for practice
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Applied Educational Psychology modules
Modules
Compulsory modules
Inclusion and Diversity (30 credits)
Working in Partnership (30 credits)
Learning and Social Environment (30 credits)
Frameworks for Practice (30 credits)
Professional Practice AÂ (30 credits)
Professional Practice BÂ (30 credits)
Year 1
Modules are shown above.
Year 2
You will undertake the following work, which is not modularised:
- a research proposal
- a portfolio of professional work
- a systematic review of the literature (5,000 words). This will examine an aspect of a broad topic of interest that will be the focus of the inquiry throughout the whole thesis (and be summarised in the title for the thesis)
Year 3
You will undertake the following work, which is not modularised:
- a brief chapter (no more than 3000 words) that will provide a methodological and ethical critique of possible and relevant research designs and methods to be employed in an empirical study.
- an empirical research study of 7,000 words presented in the required format for submission to a nominated Journal.
- a reflective synthesis (2000 words) of professional and academic learning acquired in achieving the above. This will show what the work means for the trainee as a practitioner and researcher. It will demonstrate what the implications are for education and educationalists. It will also provide a summary of the most appropriate next steps for the trainee as a fully qualified researcher-practitioner.
- a portfolio of professional work
How you’ll learn
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Essay
- Portfolio
- Thesis
- Viva
Additional assessment information
- an assessment of practice placements – four formal assessments across the three years
- a viva voce examination of a thesis
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Our team
Our Applied Educational Psychology programme directors are:
Our staff (as of July 2023):
Ashlyn Wong (Programme Administrator); Dr Tim Cox;Â Dr Emma Miller; Dr Fi Boyd; Dr Katie Gibson; Dr Rachel Hayton; Dr Tracey Heckels; Dr Wilma Barrow; Dr Richard Parker.
Your development
You’ll learn to support the development of young people aged 0-25 years. You will also learn how to work with other professionals, such as teachers.
Placements
Each year, you’ll undertake supervised and assessed placements in educational psychology services. You will work with schools and settings of other children’s service agencies and professionals. You will work with children and young people and their families.
The following patterns are typical but are subject to change. There will be some exceptions to these patterns. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are only placement days for parts of the year.
Year one*:
- Monday – study day (at home or at university)
- Tuesday – university day/placement day
- Wednesday – university day/placement day
- Thursday – university day
- Friday – university day
*University days will be either in-person or will involve online or directed activities during year one.
Years two and three:
- Monday – placement day
- Tuesday – placement day
- Wednesday – placement day
- Thursday – university day/research day
- Friday – university day/research day
The programme workload will mean working additional hours on top of study days. The DAppEdPsy is a full-time professional training programme. This reflects in the working hours at both the university and the placement.
Locations
Placements A and B in year one will be at the six Local Authorities in the North East region. This is the base for our six Field Work Tutors. You may also have placements at other services in the North East region. This will be agreed between service managers.
The placements available for years two and three are different every year. Placements are offered by Local Authorities. You can make requests to those available in the region or further afield. These are decided through a matching process that takes place regionally.
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 150 for Psychology – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 200 for Psychology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
- Top 90 for Life Sciences and Medicine – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Professional accreditation and recognition
British Psychological Society (BPS)
This course will enable you to meet the standards required by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) branch of the BPS provide further information regarding the Educational Psychology profession on their website.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
As an accredited programme of the British Psychological Society, this degree will allow you to develop professional skills and competence to meet the standards required by the ‌Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Successful completion will enable you to register with the HCPC as a Practitioner Educational Psychologist.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
Facilities
You’ll have access to facilities and a growing collection of online resources, including:
- a well-stocked Education Resource Centre
- an audio-video lab
- a recording studio
Find out more about the facilities in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences.
Fees and funding
If you’re awarded a place on the programme your fees will be paid throughout the three-year course.
You will be provided with a bursary in year one. In years two and three we will seek a bursary for you from a local authority or other commissioners of educational psychology services. 
The Department for Education directly manages the government-funded element. See the Educational Psychologist Funded Training (EPFT) scheme for more information.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
- a 2:1 honours degree, or equivalent, in psychology, which is eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration of the British Psychological Society. Where a 2:1 or above has not been achieved in psychology at Bachelors Level, an appropriate psychology Masters Degree.
OR
- completed an approved conversion course or Master’s degree, which is eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration of the British Psychological Society
After becoming eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration of the British Psychological Society you also need to gain at least one year of relevant, paid work experience at the point of application. Work experience should have:
- focussed on children and young people’s education development and psychological well-being
- given insight and understanding into educational systems in the UK
- led to ideas on how psychology may be applied
To be eligible for this programme you must be a UK resident.
If you’re an applicant from outside of the UK, you must:
- be living in the UK at the time of application and be able to provide proof of residency
- have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years preceding the start of the course
- be eligible to work in England for the duration of the course and for at least two years afterwards
