Psychology PhD

• Contribute to research that’s focused on the application of psychology in the real world
• Benefit from our expertise in a breadth of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies using both subjective and biological assessments
• Train in advanced and innovative research methods
• Put theory into practice with our state-of-the-art equipment, including our observation labs, virtual reality (VR), eye tracking, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) software
• 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.

In your first year you’ll complete four compulsory training courses, covering quantitative and qualitative research methods, professional academic skills, and teaching and training. 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.

Current students are researching topics including:

• Deficits in flexible thought in stroke aphasic patients
• How the natural environment, or representations of it, can be of benefit to individuals with mental health issues
• The role of positive and negative social support in weight loss maintenance
• Every day decision making and the role of heuristics
• If the pronouns ‘they/them’ can be used as genderless pronouns and what impact these may have on STEM subjects.

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. 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.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which you’ll discuss in a viva examination with two examiners

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.

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. 

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.