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The University of Edinburgh: Developmental Science

Institution The University of Edinburgh View institution profile
Department School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Web https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying
Study type Taught

Summary

This unique programme seeks to enhance your understanding of key theoretical and practical issues about typical and atypical development in children and young people, and provides an opportunity for intensive advanced training in developmental science.

You will learn how key topics in developmental science can be addressed using research techniques from several interrelated disciplines, such as:

  • developmental psychology

  • cognitive psychology

  • computational science

  • neuroscience

  • linguistics

Key research areas

The programme aims to equip you with the skills required to conduct independent scientific research that addresses key issues in developmental science.

Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation in a core research area, an original, publication-quality piece of research undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in the relevant group.

The core research areas of our department are:

  • social psychology

  • cognitive neuropsychology

  • individual differences

  • psychology of language

  • human development

Is this MSc for me?

This programme provides an understanding of advanced topics, methodologies and issues in the area of developmental science, as well as research design and management. You can flexibly choose option courses to customise your learning in areas you are most passionate about.

It provides excellent preparation for further research and knowledge of developmental psychology, whether you choose to pursue this in a professional career or further academic research.

As this programme is research-focused, it would not be a good option if you are looking for a clinical programme. However, it would be a good fit if you would like to get advanced research training before embarking on a clinical path.

Reputation, relevance and employability

The University of Edinburgh has a long tradition of research expertise in developmental psychology. Our large Psychology department is home to academics leading research in the field.

You will benefit from the breadth and strength of the interdisciplinary academic community at Edinburgh, having the opportunity to select option courses and attend research seminars across different disciplines.

Our students’ research projects are often published in academic or professional journals.

Our programme has an excellent reputation amongst employers and is known to prepare students well for further research opportunities. Many of our graduates have gone on to PhD training and academic careers, and advanced professional training in psychology.

We maintain close contacts with professional organisations such as the British Psychological Society (BPS).

MSc

Edinburgh University

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …

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