Research profile
Research in Psychology is broad in scope and includes cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, and cross-cultural psychology. Experimental research is supported through a well-resourced infrastructure including MRI, EEG, TMS, and eye-tracking facilities, cubicles for testing, hardware and software resources, psychometric test library.
Our psychologists have several field sites in Asia and Africa, facilitating research on diverse samples. Our research strengths are in evolutionary approaches to human behaviour as well as in cognitive neuroscience.
Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research within the Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience and Centre for Culture and Evolution and, their inspirational research activities you too could be part of.
We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.
Learn more about research in this area.
Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups
Find a supervisor
Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.
You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.
PhD topics
While we welcome applications from students with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:
- Blinded by the load – electrophysiological and pupillometric indices of the interplay between non-spatial and spatial attention, supervised by Bianca De Haan
- Children’s gender-related development: The role of cultural visibility and acceptance of gender diversity, supervised by Francisco Gomez Jimenez
- Constructing a stable world: how the brain uses gaze direction to disambiguate sensory information, supervised by Adrian Williams
- Item-Level Scoring of Memory Tests as an Approach to Detect and Study Abnormal Cognitive Ageing, supervised by Matteo De Marco
- Mindfulness-based Environmental Sustainability (MiBEST), supervised by Elena Antonova
- Naturalness of autonomous vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
- Trust In Autonomous Vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
- Turning the curse into a blessing: using mindfulness to reduce psychosis-risk in people with high positive schizotypy who have heightened creative abilities, supervised by Elena Antonova
- Understanding teaching and learning in Higher Education with a focus on AI and/or authentic assessments, supervised by Stephanie Baines and Pauldy Otermans
- Understanding the effects of meditation on mood, cognition, and the brain, supervised by Andre Szameitat
Research journey
This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.
Research support
A training programme will be provided by the College to assist students with achieving targets. The programme will include the underpinning principles such as philosophy of science, research integrity, ethics and specialist methodology. Sessions in core, specialist and advanced research methods will prepare students for an independent research career.
Careers and your future
Following the completion of the course students may follow several career paths:
- Research within the academia which may lead to the career path of a University Lecturer
- The data science, statistics and experimental design skills are valued within the private sector
- The career path within the government agencies (e.g. Department of Health, Public Health England) or international agencies (UN, WHO, IAEA etc.)
UK entry requirements
The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1).
An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.
Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement and a research statement.
Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement here.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 68% (58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 98 overall (min 20)
Fees and funding
2024/5 entry
International
£23,615 full-time
£11,805 part-time
UK
£4,786 full-time
£2,393 part-time
