School of Education

Prospective trainees

What is our programme about?

All of the professional training courses in the UK meet the standards for Educational and Training of the Health Professions Council and the Programme Standards of the British Psychological Society, yet they are all different in the way that they meet those standards.

It is important that you choose the course which is best suited to you.

The Exeter DEdPsych experience is marked by:

  • A philosophy that aims to make you the best applied psychologist that you can be – you become your own resource in terms of applying psychology;
  • A focus on how you may promote educational opportunity through the application of psychology
  • Your participation in a lively and interesting range of learning and training experiences across a range of educational settings;
  • A recognition that your professional development goes hand in hand with personal development and this can be both invigorating and uncomfortable.
  • Systems to support your transition into the role of a professional educational psychologist;
  • Being placed in an internationally recognised centre for educational research to which you have access on your journey to becoming a competent autonomous researcher;
  • Our expectation that the applied educational psychological skills you develop will be generalisable across time and contexts;
  • Our emphasis that psychology should be concerned with developing the capacity for humanity in ourselves and in others.

The DEdPsych Programme is structured around three strands:

  • Academic: 3 taught modules
  • Practicum: 3 taught modules
  • Research: 2 taught modules plus thesis

Academic Modules:

  • Introduction, Delivery and Diversity in Applied Educational Psychology
  • The Child in Context
  • Professionalism, Services and Communities 

Practicum Modules:

  • Basic Practical Skills
  • Gaining Competence in Practical Skills
  • Becoming Autonomous in Practical Skills 

Research Modules:

  • Research Methods and Testing
  • Group Research and Planning for Thesis
  • Thesis

We have a diverse range of formative and summative assignments across the modules, including problem-based learning activities, reflective accounts and conversations, academic essays, presentations, and a practice portfolio across each year. The Exeter DEdPsych thesis is 40,000 words and generally comprises two linked studies.

Essential

  • A first or second class honours degree in psychology that grants you the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society. You must have the qualification that grants you eligibility for GBC before the application deadline*
  • Normally one years experience of working with children or young people (0 – 19 years)
  • IELTS score of 7.5 or equivalent where appropriate
  • Clean driving licence or access to a car and driver or a willingness to travel large distances in rural settings on public transport
  • Enhanced level DBS check or equivalent for non UK applicants

* A candidate will still be eligible if they can provide formal evidence of graduand status at the time of application. This could be in the form of a communication from your university confirming your award status. This evidence should be forwarded to your chosen doctorate course providers directly.

Desirable

  • A critical understanding of current educational policy and practice.
  • An understanding of the educational and psychological issues in promoting social inclusion.
  • An ability to join with others to form an effective group.
  • An awareness and understanding of the effect one might have on others in a range of interactions.
  • Evidence of applying psychological knowledge in a range of settings including educational settings.
  • A lively and current knowledge of psychological theory and its generation.
  • An understanding of the role of educational psychologists and of a stance that is ethical and underpins the role.
  • A practical understanding of how psychology may be used to promote equality.
  • Evidence of an ability to reflect on practice.
  • An awareness, understanding and appreciation of the issues involved in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and an ability to apply policies and procedures aimed at safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Adaptability and flexibility in response to change with the potential for personal and professional growth.
  • An awareness of one’s own health and how variations in health may have an impact on one’s ability to practice safely and competently.

You may download the  Essential and desirable criteria‌ for your convenience.

Diversity & Inclusion

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented on the programme, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic students; male students; care-leavers, and mature students.

For any specific questions about the EP role or training requirements please contact Tash and Katie.

The deadlines for application are in line with those published on the Department for Education (DfE) website. We follow the DfE timetable for all funded place applications.

2024 Entry 

Please see below for the application system deadlines:

AEP online application system open Closed for 2024 intake, dates for 2025 intake TBC
Deadline for References to be submitted Closed for 2024 intake, dates for 2025 intake TBC
Application deadline Closed for 2024 intake, dates for 2025 intake TBC
University of Exeter shortlisting Thursday 08 February 2024
University of Exeter interviews Monday 04 and Tuesday 05 March 2024
Offers of places made by providers

Wednesday 20th March 2024 (midday)
Deadline for accepting offers Candidates will have 7 days from receiving an offer to accept or decline their place

How to apply

Programme code Duration Start date Applications
A760 3 years full-time September All applications for professional training courses in educational psychology are processed by the
Association of Educational Psychologists.

Each year we hold a 'Meet the Team' event for anyone who is interested in finding out more about training at Exeter; this event takes place every October.  

We usually hold two Meet the Team events:

To register your interest in attending either event, please use the Eventbrite links above.

For any specific questions about the EP role or training requirements please contact Tash & Katie.

Please also see the DEdPsych essential and desirable criteria for additional information.

We have compiled the following list of questions that are most often asked. We hope that they are helpful to you.

Degree Classification

Q. I do not have a Psychology degree, but I have lots of experience working with children/lots of other relevant skills, can I apply?

Q. I have a degree in another subject, can I apply?

Q. I have lots of lived experience from having my own children, but no formal qualifications, can I apply?

A. No. The essential criteria for applying are non-negotiable. The following website provides detail regarding approved qualifications and other essential criteria: https://www.aep.org.uk/EPFT. 

Most of the people who are successful at shortlisting and interview will have at least a 2:1 first degree or a credit for a master’s degree. If the degree class is a 2:2 for example, we would expect you to demonstrate your readiness to engage in doctoral work through your personal statement and through your references. Applicants with a 2:2 should not let this be a barrier to their application.

GBC - Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society

Q. I have not yet completed my Psychology qualification, can I apply before finishing?

A. No, your final grade must have been granted at the point of application. If your final grade has been confirmed, but not formally issued, you can submit proof of grade with the application.

Q. I do not have a Psychology qualification, what can I do?

A. In common with all of the accredited and approved professional training courses, we require that you have a degree in psychology that grants the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (GBC) https://www.bps.org.uk/graduate-membership-gmbpss.  If your first degree is not in psychology, there are conversion courses available that offer a qualification that will grant GBC.  You can search for an accredited course on the BPS website https://portal.bps.org.uk/Accredited-Courses.

Recommended work experience

Q. Can you recommend suitable work experience to help enhance my application?

A. Our current trainees come from a wide range of backgrounds, there is not a ‘set route’ to applying, but you must have a minimum of one-year’s full-time experience working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Examples of the range of prior experience which current trainees have include:

Having worked as teachers, teaching assistants, SENDCos, youth workers, assistant psychologists, social workers, nursery practitioners, college lecturers and mental health practitioners (to name but a few!).

We will be looking for candidates that show they meet the desirable criteria; this includes:

Having applied psychology within their job role

Able to demonstrate an understanding of what the Educational Psychology role will entail.

Meet the Team

Q. Please can I arrange a 1:1 meeting to ask specific questions/meet with staff from the course?

A. Due to very high numbers of requests, we are not able to offer individual meetings. We do however run two meet the team days in the autumn term (one virtual, one face to face). These meetings offer a chance to meet with the team and to find out more about the course, including lots of time for prospective trainees to ask questions. Keep an eye on our website for details regarding booking a space for the events in the autumn term.

Attendance

Q. Is it possible to study the course virtually?

Q. How often would I need to be in university?

Q. Can I have a placement in a particular location?

Q. Can I study part time?

A. The course is full time and in year one trainees need to anticipate being on campus face to face in Exeter between 10 and 5 every day. The course is practical, and it is not possible to study virtually.

Year one
  • Teaching sessions are face to face and run Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. 
  • Alongside the taught sessions on campus, in term one of year one, trainees complete a set of school-based placement visits. These are arranged by tutors and are usually in the Exeter area.
  • In terms two and three of year one, trainees are on placement at an Educational Psychology service for two days a week, with three days at university (with occasional private study days). These placements are arranged by the tutor team, and we cannot ever guarantee a placement in a set location. Placements could be anywhere in the southwest region, although we try to consider caring and other responsibilities where possible.  The hours for placement will depend on the location of placements. 
  • There are reading weeks each term which usually fall in line with the Devon half term dates.  Term time itself is slightly longer than standard University dates, and teaching usually finishes for the summer in early July (but you will have assignments to complete over the summer).
Years two and three
  • Trainees spend three days a week on placement and two days focusing on university work.
  • There are also an additional number of timetabled ‘return to university’ weeks across the year.  These are between 3 and 5 days in length and consist of compulsory face to face teaching sessions. 
  • Placements are allocated by a consortium involving Exeter and Bristol university representatives, as well as Educational Psychologists from local services. Caring and other responsibilities are considered where possible; however we cannot guarantee placements in any set area, and prospective trainees need to anticipate that placements could be anywhere in the southwest region.

Application

Q. How can I apply?

Q. Can I apply direct to the University?

Q. Can I apply for a self-funded place?

A. All applications must go through the Educational Psychology Funded Training Scheme - EPFT.  You can find full details on the AEP website http://www.aep.org.uk/training.  We are not able to offer self-funded places.

Should you have any further queries

Come along to one of our 'Meet the team' sessions in October each year or contact us - dedpsych-enquiries@exeter.ac.uk

This course is part of the Educational Psychology Funded Training scheme which provides funding in partnership with employers for the training of educational psychologists. The Exeter course does not accept self-funded applications.

The School of Education is an ESRC-recognised outlet for part-time, full-time and distance learning through the South West Doctoral Training Partnership

Further information can be found on the University funding and scholarships page