Master’s Degree Programme in Developmental and Educational Psychology (DYNAMIC)

A New Programme at ÅAU from 2027 onwards!

Welcome to the Master’s degree Programme in Developmental and Educational Psychology (DYNAMIC).

Targeted at those seeking to make a positive impact on children’s and young people’s learning and wellbeing, this master’s degree programme prepares its students to work as experts in developmental and educational psychology in schools, welfare regions, research organisations, and the EdTech sector. Developed in response to the growing societal need for research-based competence on learning, motivation, and wellbeing — highlighted by recent PISA results and by the Finnish government’s Right to Learn programme — DYNAMIC combines a solid foundation in developmental psychology with cutting-edge educational psychology and rigorous quantitative and qualitative research-methods training. 

Building on Åbo Akademi’s long tradition of high-quality international master’s studies in developmental psychology, DYNAMIC realigns the curriculum with the current research profile of the Developmental Psychology unit at Åbo Akademi. Students engage with topics such as typical and atypical development, concepts and theories of developmental psychology, learning and cognition, learning and motivation, learning and emotion, and learning and wellbeing in school contexts. Advanced research-methods training — including structural equation modelling and intensive longitudinal modelling — provides a strong platform for postgraduate studies and applied research. 

Skills learned throughout the duration of this two-year programme (which is based at the Vasa campus of Åbo Akademi University) are highly significant within today’s education systems and welfare services. The programme’s bilingual environment, its close cooperation with the Swedish-language Master’s Programme in Developmental Psychology at Åbo Akademi, and integrated Swedish-language courses give international students a competitive advantage in the Finnish and Nordic labour markets. Successful completion of this programme results in students being awarded a Master of Social Science degree.