Postgraduate studies
Psychology academics have a successful track record of research degree supervision and the department warmly welcomes postgraduate research enquiries
MPhil/PhD in Psychology
The MPhil/PhD programme is designed for students eager to pursue their own research under the supervision of experienced researchers.
Research areas and Supervision
The Department has active research groups in Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology, with key strengths in a number of sub-areas, and these are the broad areas under which students would undertake their research. In addition, the Department may be able to recruit students who have research interests in the area of Psychobiology. Postgraduate students are encouraged to become active members of one of the research groups and to attend research seminars.
The principal teaching method for the MPhil/PhD is supervision by a team of experienced researchers, all of whom have expertise in your area of research. Visit our Research Supervisors page to find out more.
Research Training
All students will be encouraged to undertake formal tuition on the MSc Psychological Research Methods in areas appropriate to their research. By these and other means, the Department is able to ensure that the research training students receive is designed to meet the stringent criteria of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) who set the standard for postgraduate training in Psychology.
Students will also be able to undertake training in the use of psychometric tests, such that students would attain the standard required for the British Psychological Society Level A Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing. This qualifies holders to use ability and aptitude tests and would be useful for those interested in working in applied settings, such as Human Resources, where testing and assessment is commonplace.
Finally, research students also attend generic research skills training classes together with students from all other University research centres.
Assessment
The assessment methods are a thesis and viva voce – an oral defence of your thesis.
Career opportunities
The MPhil/PhD programme is an essential step for anyone wishing to embark on an advanced research or academic career. The BPS Level A Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing would be a useful qualification for those interested in working in applied settings, such as Human Resources, where testing and assessment is commonplace.
Current postgraduate research
For information on the range of topics our current research students are working on, visit the Current PGR Research page.