I feel that I have been equipped with a robust set of skills

After working for four years in education as a primary school teaching assistant, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in educational psychology; however, having had no formal education on the subject, I was unsure of how to proceed.

The University of Sheffield has a fantastic reputation for the impact its research has on the global community and, as I had already completed my undergraduate degree here in 2014, I checked online to see if there was a course that would provide me with a suitable qualification to begin my new career path and discovered the MSc Psychology and Education (conversion) course.

This degree provided the perfect opportunity to both learn the fundamentals of psychology and achieve a BPS accredited qualification and I was eager to enrol. 

This degree provided the perfect opportunity to both learn the fundamentals of psychology and achieve a BPS accredited qualification and I was eager to enrol.

James Comer

MSc Psychology and Education (Conversion)

Initially, I was concerned that I would be at a disadvantage due to my lack of experience in psychology but this fast-paced course quickly provided me with the foundational knowledge necessary to engage with a wide range of resources.

The staff on the course were supportive and knowledgeable with each specialising in a different area of psychology and the way that they incorporated their own interests and experiences into lectures greatly enriched the course.

Throughout the degree, I was able to learn about a variety of psychological perspectives and was actively encouraged to critique them with a conscientious attitude in order to become a reflective and ethical practitioner.

I finished the course by completing a dissertation which involved designing and conducting my own experimental research and reporting the findings in an APA style report – a feat that I was incredibly proud of after having only very basic psychological knowledge just one year ago.

A particular highlight of the course was being able to access professional resources that are utilised by educational psychologists and gain hands-on experience using those tools.

Overall, I feel that I have been equipped with a robust set of skills that will be a fantastic asset in my future career. 

Since completing the course, I have immediately been able to apply for a variety of professional roles not only in psychology but also in areas such as research, mental health care and education.

I hope to one day return to the University of Sheffield to complete my doctorate and become a fully qualified educational psychologist.