Developmental Science MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Psychology Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study location Central Area Accreditation Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme 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 psychologycognitive psychologycomputational scienceneurosciencelinguisticsKey research areasThe 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 psychologycognitive neuropsychologyindividual differencespsychology of languagehuman developmentIs 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 employabilityThe 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). Thinking about an MSc in psychology? Hear from staff and students at the University of Edinburgh and find out more about our vibrant community. Programme rankings Ranked 3rd in the UK for Psychology by Times Higher Education for the quality and breadth of the research using the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MSc Developmental Science (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study There are a number of highly competitive scholarships and funding options available to MSc students.Deadlines for funding applications vary for each funding source - please make sure to check the specific deadlines for the funding opportunities you wish to apply for and make sure that you submit your application in good time. Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, either in psychology or in a cognitive-science related discipline.You should also be able to demonstrate evidence of your ability to learn advanced statistical/computational analysis techniques as well as evidence of your experience/interest in conducting research with children as participants. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study You will take courses on the theoretical and methodological aspects of developmental science and conduct an original research dissertation in one of these areas.You will also receive thorough training in advanced academic skills and research methods within psychology, including a comprehensive coverage of statistical modelling and research design using the R statistical language.This programme contains two semesters of taught compulsory courses and option courses, followed by a dissertation.The taught courses and their assessments take place between September to December (Semester 1) and January to April (Semester 2). Dissertation planning takes place until April, and the empirical work and writing are carried out between April and August, although an earlier start is often needed for projects involving child participants.DissertationThe dissertation involves conducting an empirical research project in close collaboration with an expert supervisor, sometimes also working with fellow MSc students.You will produce a written report, similar to an academic journal article. Some dissertations are also published as journal articles. The dissertation can be based on data collected by you or existing datasets, for example, from large cohort studies, biobanks or other projects.For students with a strong interest in clinical populations, there may be opportunities to join ongoing clinical research projects, subject to certain constraints, for example, an application for an NHS Research Passport. Compulsory courses In addition to topics specific to developmental science, the compulsory courses cover advanced academic skills and research methodology, including research design and statistical modelling. The compulsory courses are:Psychological Research Skills: General advanced research methodologyUnivariate Statistics and Methodology using R: Introduction to R and statistical modelsMultivariate Statistics and Methodology using R: Advanced statistical modellingDevelopmental Science 1Developmental Science 2 Option courses You can select option courses to tailor the programme to your interests. If you wish, you may choose the option course from an associated area, such as individual differences, informatics, psycholinguistics, or developmental or social psychology. Examples of option courses are:Brain Imaging in Cognitive NeuroscienceClinical NeuropsychologyNeuroscience of LanguageApplied PsychometricsQualitative Methodologies in Psychological ResearchYou may also take any other course available to MSc students, subject to approval from the Programme Director. Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MSc Developmental Science (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching How will I learn?We teach most courses through a combination of live and pre-recorded lectures, seminars/tutorials and practical sessions. The number of contact hours and the teaching format will depend to some extent on the option courses chosen.After classes finish in April, you will spend all your time working independently on coursework, exam revision and on your dissertation. When you carry out your supervised dissertation research, you will receive guidance from your supervisor through one-to-one meetings, comments on written work and email communication. Learning outcomes This programme provides you with a range of knowledge and skills to prepare you for a variety of career paths. On successful completion of this programme, you will have gained:An understanding of advanced topics, methodologies and issues in the areas of developmental science that are of most interest to you.An understanding of the basic and advanced principles of research design and application.Competency in applying a range of methods and research tools, including statistical models and programming.Skills in research management, including managing data and conducting and disseminating research in ways consistent with both professional practice and the normal principles of research ethics.Transferable skills in:written and verbal communicationgroup and teamworkcomputing, programming and numeracytime and project management.The ability to work as an independent researcher and as part of a team. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Careers and further study Career opportunities The programme is primarily designed for students who aspire to pursue a research-oriented career in developmental science. However, the course also teaches a broad range of transferable skills applicable to a wide range of modern jobs, such as:research designdata management and processingstatistical modelling and interpretationsynthesis and communication of complex literature Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:tailored adviceindividual guidance and personal assistanceinternships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)access to the experience of our worldwide alumni networkWe invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.Careers Service Applying How to apply You should avoid applying to more than one degree. Applicants who can demonstrate their understanding and commitment to a specific programme are preferred.Your application and personal statement allow us to make sure that you and your chosen MSc are good matches for each other, and that you will have a productive and successful year at Edinburgh. When to apply We operate a gathered field approach to applications for MSc Developmental Science.This means that all complete applications that satisfy our minimum entry requirements will be held until the nearest deadline and the admissions panel will meet to consider all applications received together after that date.To be considered as having met the deadline, your application must include transcripts and an academic reference.Applications will not be accepted after the final deadline.Supporting documentation and refereesApplications must be complete with all supporting documentation to be passed on for consideration. This includes references. Please ensure that you inform referees of any deadline you wish to meet.Round Apply byReceive decision by Round 113/11/202522/01/2026Round 227/11/202505/02/2026Round 329/01/202626/03/2026 Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit one reference with your application.You will be asked to add contact details for your referees. We will email them with information on how to upload their reference directly to your online application. Alternatively, they can email their comments to the PPLS Postgraduate Office:pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk Personal statementsWhen applying you should include a personal statement detailing your academic abilities and your reasons for applying for the programme.The personal statement helps us decide whether you are right for the MSc programme you have selected, but just as importantly, it helps us decide whether the MSc programme is right for you.A good personal statement can make a big difference to the admissions process as it may be the only opportunity to explain why you are an ideal candidate for the programme.Your personal statement should answer:What makes this particular MSc programme interesting for you?What are the most important things you want to gain from the MSc programme?What are the key courses you have taken and that are relevant for this specific programme and what are your academic abilities?You should include any other information which you feel will help us ensure that you are a good match for your intended MSc programme. You should also describe:Your experience with collecting empirical data (for example, preparing and carrying out experiments, surveys or interviews)Your experience with statistical analysis and programming or qualitative research methodsYour experience with writing empirical research reports (including any that have been published)How this programme would help you reach your long-term goals Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Developmental Science (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh Our community The School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences is home to a large, supportive and active student community, hosting events and activities throughout the year which you can join. As a postgraduate student, you will have access to a range of research resources, state-of-the-art facilities, research seminars and reading groups.Find out more about our community Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries PPLS Postgraduate OfficeDugald Stewart Building3 Charles StreetCentral CampusEdinburghEH8 9AD pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 651 5002 Academic contact Dr Bonnie Auyueng Programme Director School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 3451 Email: bonnie.auyeung@ed.ac.uk
