PhD Psychology

Our postgraduate research degrees in Psychology will enable you to enhance your skills as a researcher and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field.

Undertaking a programme of research that you design and conduct as the principal investigator enables you to pose questions, and obtain answers, to a range of issues that impact on the world around us, to improve the lives of others and ultimately embark upon a journey that can lead to you being one of the leading experts in the world within your field. Completing a postgraduate research degree is the first step for many towards a career in research.

Psychology within our School is focused on three areas: Cognitive and Neuroscience, Forensic Psychology, and Health and Clinical Psychology. You can opt to carry out research in these areas or a related field. During your studies you’ll have access to laboratories and the very latest equipment inside our purpose-built Darwin Building to enable you to carry out high quality research.

You’ll be part of a vibrant multi-disciplinary research community and undertake an individually tailored programme of further study and research training under expert guidance and supervision. We’ll equip you with outstanding research skills and the potential to advance knowledge and practice within the field of psychology.

Why study with us

• You’ll have access to our Cognitive Psychology Complex (CPC), which comprises facilities for eye tracking, decision making, reasoning, perception and attention research.
• We also have laboratories for Forensic Psychology research, including EvoFIT, our innovative and award-winning composite construction system for eye witness testimony research, based at our Preston Campus.
• Other key facilities include our Brain Imaging Laboratory (BIL), used to measure and assess brain activity, and our Child Observation Suite (COS), used for research into children’s behaviour.

Learning and assessment

As this is a research degree, there are no formal teaching sessions on this programme. However, you’ll undertake a range of online training courses which will contribute to your personal development and enhance your research skills.

With a strong tradition in experimental research, the School owns a wide range of equipment which you’ll utilise to carry out your own independent and collaborative research which will contribute towards the advancement of knowledge in Psychology. This includes our Cognitive Psychology Complex (CPC), Brain Imaging Laboratory (BIL), EvoFIT system for eyewitness testimony research, and Child, Observation Suite (COS). Students can also exit with MSc (Res) and MPhil awards.