Postgraduate research

Psychology

A psychology student takes part in a stereoscopic experiment

Tackle social, health and educational challenges by making an important contribution to the study of the brain and behaviour. Students join our tight-knit and diverse research community from all over the world.

About

You’ll be part of a community of 100 academic staff and 190 postgraduate researchers in a centre rated internationally excellent or world-leading for research impact and environment. You’ll also have access to a wealth of research laboratories and equipment from eye tracking facilities to our psychophysiology lab.

We offer 3 postgraduate psychology research programmes:

  • PhD in psychology
  • doctorate in clinical psychology (DClinPsych)
  • doctorate in educational psychology (DEdPsych)

We partner with NHS trusts, schools, government and industry and attract investment from all major research funders. The DClinPsych and DEdPsych are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

PhD in psychology

Your route to a career in academia and industry. Supported by a team of supervisors you’ll create an original piece of research aligned to our psychology specialisms. You'll report your research results in a thesis and aim to publish your findings in scientific journals and books.

Doctorate in clinical psychology (DClinPsych)

Study a mix of taught and research components. This route gives you eligibility for registration with the HCPC as a clinical psychologist.

You'll learn theoretical and empirical approaches to clinical psychology to develop competence as an applied psychologist and scientist practitioner.

This degree includes core modules in clinical psychology and research methods, a small-scale research project and a research thesis. Practitioner modules give you NHS experience in clinical services. This route is funded by the NHS.

Doctorate in educational psychology (DEdPsych)

With this professional qualification you can register with the HCPC to work as an educational psychologist. You will be able to work alongside children, young people, their families, and other professionals. You'll focus on children with additional educational needs and those from vulnerable and marginalised groups to improve their learning, wellbeing and feeling of inclusion.

Your first year will be mostly university based with a school-based placement running from September to July.  In your second and third years you'll work, with supervision, in different local authority placements to give you experience of educational psychology practise. This route is funded by the Department for Education.

Main areas of research

We cover a wide range of topics, including:

  • perception and cognition
  • mental health
  • health psychology
  • self and identity

Similar research degree topics