PhD Psychology
On our Psychology PhD, you'll contribute to research that’s focused on the application of psychology in the real world and train in advanced and innovative research methods.
3,930+ people have created a bespoke digital prospectus
Why choose this
programme?
- Benefit from our expertise in a breadth of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies using both subjective and biological assessments.
- Put theory into practice in our state-of-the-art facilities, including a six-room virtual reality suite and observation laboratories.
- Join a team of researchers who collaborate with research councils including the Economic and Social Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, as well as both EU and UK governmental departments.
Statistics
100%
Of our psychology research graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2025, HESA)
Top 20 for research outputs
The University of Surrey is ranked in the top 20 for the quality of our research outputs (REF 2021)
33rd for overall research quality
The University's overall research quality ranking has risen by 12 places to 33rd in the UK (REF 2021)
What you will study
In your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to study modules covering quantitative and qualitative research methods. You’ll also familiarise yourself with relevant literature, create a research plan, develop your methodological and analytic skills, and complete your first study.
Throughout your studies, you’ll gain a solid grounding in research methods and improve your communication skills to effectively convey your findings. You’ll collect and analyse data, complete a detailed literature review and then write your PhD thesis. Depending on your research project, data collection can take place in schools, hospitals, laboratories or online.
You will also have the opportunity to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education run by the Institute for Education. This would confer eligibility for becoming a fellow of the Higher Education Authority and is a mandatory qualification for lecturers in the UK.
Previous students have investigated areas including:
- Cognitive, Affective, and Neural Mechanisms of Rumination in Early Adulthood and Work: A Multimethod Approach (Dr Delia Ciobotaru, 2025)
- When and Why Intuition Predicts Decision Satisfaction (Dr Claire Gregory, 2024)
- Beyond Menopause: Novel Insights into Oestrogen's Influence on Women's Neurochemistry and Brain Morphology (Dr Daniella Jones, 2024)
- The role of depressive symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors in the prediction of dementia: a cross-country comparison in England, the United States and China (Dr Panagiota Kontari, 2023)
- The Role of Partner Social Support Throughout the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Journey (Dr Sophia Quirke-Mcfarlane, 2025).
Conferences
Each year we run a postgraduate research conference where you’ll be able to present your work and network with fellow researchers. You can also attend external conferences that are relevant to your area of research.
Assessment
Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.
You’ll have a confirmation assessment to formally review your project and progress. If you're a full-time student, this will take place around 12–15 months into your studies or 24–30 months if you’re studying part-time. You’ll be required to submit a written report and successfully complete an oral examination.
Location
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
Research themes
The School of Psychology’s research includes the following groups:
- Brain Research and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience (BRAIN) Section. By integrating psychology and neuroscience, this group investigates the biological, genetic and neural underpinnings of behaviour, as well as individual differences in traits and mental health conditions. It leverages advanced methodologies, blending experimental rigour with state-of-the-art tools such as neurostimulation, eye tracking, EEG, fMRI, and behavioural genetics.
- Development, Education and Outreach in Psychology Research Group. This group investigates psychological development from the prenatal stage through to adulthood. Research covers diverse topics such as cognitive development, language acquisition, neurodiversity (including research on specific neurodevelopmental conditions), mental health and resilience. The group includes the Surrey Baby Lab, Neurodevelopment Research Lab, Extended Reality Lab and the Cognition, Genes and Developmental Variability Lab.
- Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre. This group explores how psychology, nutrition, food safety, and management meet to tackle global challenges. The group’s work spans food and behaviour change, policy and ethics, food systems research, risk and communication, and digital futures.
- Health Psychology Research Group. This group has four broad research areas: health, behaviour, habits and behaviour change; chronic conditions; stress, rumination and heart rate variability; and interoception. The health psychology research group includes the Habit Application and Theory Group (HABITAT).
- Optimising Health and Wellbeing Group. This group looks at health, wellbeing and mental health across the life course from birth through to older age. Current PhD topics include olfaction and menopause, realist evaluations of approaches to dementia care, ageing well in Black British adults with lifelong disability, and ageing with HIV.
- Enduring and Severe Mental Health Group. This group seeks to better understand and support those with chronic and distressing mental health difficulties. Research covers a range of mental health diagnoses and symptoms including depression, psychosis, anxiety, suicidality, and personality disorders.
- Social Psychology Research Group. This group represents a team of social and personality psychologists whose work spans three main themes: social emotions and judgements; promoting equality and social change; and the self and interpersonal relationships.
Throughout your studies you’ll have at least two supervisors from the School of Psychology.
Your supervisors will have expertise relevant to your research project, and will give you academic guidance and tuition, helping you develop your skills in experimental design, conduct and analysis. They’ll also give you pastoral support and advice, referring you to more specialist services where necessary.
Supervisors may include:
Research support
The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.
Progress reviews
In addition to the confirmation process you’ll have six-monthly progress reviews with your supervisors. These meetings are an opportunity to reflect on your progress, discuss successes and challenges and set targets for the next six months. These reviews will be monitored by postgraduate research directors and recorded on your student record.
You’ll also have one formal meeting with your supervisors every month and can expect to have more frequent meetings between these. The regularity of these will depend on the nature and stage of your project.
Facilities
Our psychology facilities will give you access to the latest equipment, including a six-room virtual reality suite to simulate real-life scenarios, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, where you can perform neuroimaging and observe the brain in action, and two observation laboratories.
With our equipment you can conduct experiments using electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). You'll also be able to monitor eye tracking and physiological measures such as earlobe temperature, heart rate and galvanic skin response, in our laboratories and remotely, using mobile data loggers.
Francesca Trevisan
Student - Psychology PhD
"My project looks at inequality in higher education, specifically how students interpret university rankings and how these can favour the support of a hierarchical society."
Claire Gregory
Student - Psychology PhD
"The thing I enjoy the most about my PhD is getting to really dive deeply into topics that interest me. I love having the freedom to choose what areas I research, and that there are always people around interested in discussing new discoveries with me."
UK qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold a minimum of an upper second-class (2:1) UK degree (65 per cent or above) in psychology (or a related discipline) and a masters degree in a relevant subject with a pass of 65 per cent or above.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6 in each individual category.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
Selection is based on applicants:
- Meeting the expected entry requirements and providing all relevant documents
- Being shortlisted through the application screening process
- Completing a successful interview
- Providing suitable references.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA's website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.
* Please note: any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).
April 2026 - Full-time
- UK
- £5,006
- Overseas
- £24,500
April 2026 - Part-time
- UK
- £2,503
- Overseas
- £12,300
July 2026 - Full-time
- UK
- £5,006
- Overseas
- £24,500
July 2026 - Part-time
- UK
- £2,503
- Overseas
- £12,300
October 2026 - Full-time
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £25,500
October 2026 - Part-time
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £12,800
January 2027 - Full-time
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £25,500
January 2027 - Part-time
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £12,800
- Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
Additional costs
There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.
Funding
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
Studentships
Browse our frequently updated list of funded studentships open for applications.
Application process
Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before submitting an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our application guidance.
After registration
Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Code of practice for research degrees
Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.
Download the code of practice for postgraduate research admissions (PDF).
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage and are shown again at registration. You will be asked to accept these terms and conditions when you accept the offer made to you.
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2025/26 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.