Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,620 for the course
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Gain an advanced understanding of human psychological development.
- Develop research skills applicable to real-world psychological challenges.
- Study psychological theories and methods, such as cognitive and social development.
- Balance on-campus lectures with flexible independent study.
This BPS-accredited conversion course provides a solid foundation in core areas of psychology, with a particular focus on developmental contexts. You’ll explore how humans grow mentally, socially and emotionally, from childhood through to later life. Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Accredited by
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), provided you achieve an overall mark of at least 50 per cent and pass your dissertation. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Graduate View
‘I was a bit nervous going back to university after taking time out of education, but the lecturers made me feel at ease and supported me throughout the course. I am now working as an assistant educational psychologist in a local authority.’
Matthew Robinson, MSc Developmental Psychology, 2017 graduate
How you learn
The course is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing you to balance your studies with existing commitments. You can choose to study full-time, attending two days a week for one year. Or you can study part-time, attending one day a week, which is ideal for professionals looking to advance their career.
You’ll be taught by lecturers who are experts in developmental psychology and allied areas. They’ll guide you through a flexible, blended learning experience that combines on-campus teaching with online learning.
You learn through:
- lectures and seminars
- workshops
- online learning and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE)
- presentations
- independent study
- discussion boards and research forums
- online support
Throughout the course, you’ll be assessed through various methods, including essays, research proposals, presentations, case studies, applied writing, and writing for publication. This approach ensures your learning is applied and practical, preparing you for real-world challenges in psychology.
Key themes
As a BPS-accredited course, we’ll cover all core areas of psychology – including biological, cognitive, social psychology and individual differences – all through the lens of developmental psychology. You’ll also develop a strong foundation in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The modules are designed to complement each other, allowing you to consolidate your learning within broad and cohesive conceptual and methodological frameworks.
In trimester one, you'll develop key skills such as critical analysis, communication, ethical practice, and an understanding of research, alongside a number of core BPS areas. You’ll expand these foundations in trimester two when you go on to study quantitative and qualitative research methods in more detail. Then in trimester three you’ll complete your final research project.
In addition to skills development and the core BPS requirements, you’ll also cover a non-core area each semester, such as exploring how childhood attachment can influence relationships throughout the lifespan, and the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy.
Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- access to dedicated student support advisers including academic, employability and personal advisers
- online resources and Skills Centre for assignment help
- access to Technical Operations, Resources and Services (TORS), supporting your own independent research
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Lectures on the course are primarily focused on core knowledge and theoretical content – while seminars and workshops provide the opportunity for you to apply understanding through discussion and practical-based activities. You’ll complete a large-scale research project under the supervision of a member of staff, which allows you to put your psychological knowledge and research skills into practice.
You may be offered the opportunity to assist with undergraduate teaching and/or staff research projects (subject to availability). This will especially suit those interested in a career in academia. You’ll also have many other opportunities for volunteering within the university and through other organisations.
Networking opportunities
The course helps you make the necessary links between the skills you’re developing and those required by professionals in psychology. To help we offer sessions that promote reflective skills, as well as more fundamental employability skills such as identifying the kind of jobs that the course opens up to you.
Future careers
This MSc is an ideal career progression route and conversion course, equipping you with the core academic and subject-specific skills you’ll need to access postgraduate training courses for a career in psychology.
This course provides Continuing Professional Development for individuals employed in areas working with specific age groups, and prepares you for a career in:
- education settings, such as teaching and SEN
- academia, such as a PhD in psychology and related disciplines
- doctorate roles in clinical or educational psychology
- research work within academic settings
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Psychology Facilities Tour
Take a look around Sheffield Hallam University's psychology facilities with student Angelica.
Equipment and facilities
The new City Campus offers a flexible and contemporary teaching and learning environment to encourage both staff-student contact and peer-to-peer engagement.
We also have a dedicated Technical Operations, Resources and Services (TORS) team who provide numerous resources to our students as well as access to laboratories for experimental research.
You’ll also use learning environments and digital and online resources to support your learning.
You’ll have access to our specialist research facilities, such as:
- an observation suite
- an eye-tracking laboratory
- a BioPac psychophysics laboratory
- a low-level vision laboratory
- a food laboratory
- electroencephalography (EEG) equipment
- transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS)
Entry requirements
All students
A 2:2 degree or above or equivalent in any subject.
We may consider graduates with relevant work experience.
If you do not have these qualifications, or you are unsure whether you have the equivalent, please contact us. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
International students
Typically you need qualifications equivalent to the above, and if English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in all other skills. For equivalencies see our English language entry requirements web page.
If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
If you do not have these qualifications, or you are unsure whether you have the equivalent, please contact us.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Applied Developmental Psychology
Developmental Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychobiology
Fundamentals In Design And Statistics
Lifespan Attachment Theory: Research And Application
Psychology Of Differential Development
Psychology Of Social Development
Qualitative Research Design And Analysis
Research Issues In Developmental Psychology
Research Project In Developmental Psychology
Theory And Practice In Counselling And Psychotherapy
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences (PDF, 154.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
