Program Overview

Psychology PhD

Course Overview

Conduct your own piece of research in psychological sciences. Contribute to knowledge in the sector while improving your professional practice and developing advanced academic skills and knowledge.

Please note that applicants with projects that require consumables must apply under a funded project or have funds in place to finance these costs.

Research Areas

We offer research opportunities in:

• SCaN (Social, Cognitive and Neuropsychology) – director: Dr Kim Schenke
  • Measuring cognitive fatigue (Kim Schenke; Andy Champion; )
  • Motor rehabilitation after brain injury or stroke (Kim Schenke; )
  • Investigating predictive coding in applied settings (Kim Schenke; )
  • Face processing (Ebony Murray; )
  • Neurodiversity (Ebony Murray; Danielle Stephens-Lewis; )
  • Decision-making in applied settings (Kim Schenke; )
  • Explicit and implicit influence of social values, body image and identity (Kerry Rees; )
  • Attitudes, beliefs, values related to climate change (Richard Clarke; )
  • Pro-environmental behaviour (Richard Clarke; )
  • Vaccine hesitancy (Richard Clarke; )
  • Pandemic preparedness (Richard Clarke; )
  • Conflict and displaced people (Richard Clarke; )
  • Cognition involved in risk perception (Richard Clarke; )
  • Social support and social networks (Matthew Sitch; )
  • Technology, isolation and loneliness (Charlie Griffin; )
  • Parasocial relationships (Charlie Griffin; )
  • Situation awareness (Graham Edgar; )
  • Human error (Graham Edgar; )
  • EEG (Graham Edgar; )
  • Psychological language (Matthew Sitch; )
  • Psychology and social issues (Samantha Hughes; )
  • Pedagogy, diversity, and e-learning (Samantha Hughes; Emma Tickle; )
• FPaP (Forensic Psychology and Policing) – director: Associate Professor Amy Grubb
  • Police psychology (Amy Grubb; )
  • Police-civilian interactions (Amy Grubb; )
  • Hostage and crisis negotiation (Amy Grubb; )
  • Conflict and crisis communication (Amy Grubb; )
  • Sexual violence perpetration, victimisation, and victimology (Amy Grubb; )
  • Eye-witness testimony (Ebony Murray; Graham Edgar; )
  • Cyberpsychology and cybersecurity (Camilla Giambonini; )
  • Cross-disciplinary research topics in domestic abuse and homicide, stalking, and sexual violence (Camilla Giambonini; )
  • Socioemotional development in adolescence (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
  • Behaviour change interventions (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
  • Prevention of antisocial behaviour, aggression and offending (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
  • Rehabilitation of offenders and desistance (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
  • Identity development and transitions (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
  • Anger management and emotion regulation (Laura Castillo-Eito; )
• Health & Wellbeing
  • Investigating the influence of canine companions on health and wellbeing (Kim Schenke; Danielle Stephens-Lewis; )
  • Psychosocial interventions for people with chronic disease or mental distress (Samantha Hughes; Matthew Sitch; )
  • The social scientific study of the arts and popular culture, identity, and social interaction (Kerry Rees; Samantha Hughes; )
  • The arts in therapeutic contexts (Kerry Rees; Samantha Hughes; )
  • Care for people with dementia (Kerry Rees; Samantha Hughes; )
  • Understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder and implications for care (Kerry Rees; Samantha Hughes; Emma Tickle; )
  • Mindfulness (Kerry Rees; Samantha Hughes; Matthew Sitch; Kate Muse; )
  • Creative methods such as photovoice and photo-elicitation in health and emotions (Samantha Hughes; Danielle Stephens-Lewis; Kate Muse; )
  • Experiences of neurodiversity-understanding processes of diagnosis, means of support and living with the condition (Samantha Hughes; )
  • Management of long term health conditions (Matthew Sitch; Kate Muse; )
  • Fatigue in long term health conditions (Kate Muse; )
  • Lived experience research in physical and mental health (Kate Muse; )
  • The experience, impact, and management of stigma in physical and mental health conditions (Kate Muse; )
  • Experience of, impact of, and adjustment to living with gastrointestinal disorders (Kate Muse; )
  • Cognitive behavioural models and treatments (Kate Muse; )
  • Dissemination of evidence-based psychological interventions (Kate Muse; )
  • Therapist competence (especially within CBT; Kate Muse; )
  • Exercise and Physical activity (Matthew Sitch; )
  • Use of psychology in health care (Matthew Sitch; )
  • Experience and management of long term and invisible conditions (Danielle Stephens-Lewis; )
  • Contemporary relational approaches to therapy, brief therapies, and couples work (Kerry Rees; )
  • Technology as a facilitator of wellbeing (Charlie Griffin; )

Entry Requirements

• Typical offers
  • Applicants should have a degree level qualification equivalent to a 2.2 or above in any subject. Those who do not meet the minimum entry criteria of a 2:2 or above but have previously studied psychology and not achieved Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS will be considered, dependant upon experience.
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 writing, 5.5 all other components)
  • EU and international students need IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other component) or equivalent.
• International students
  • Please read the entry requirements for your country – and contact our admissions team if you have questions.

Fees and Costs

You're viewing fees for the PhD Full Time (4 years) course option. Choose a different course option to see corresponding course fees.

Please be aware that students may have to pay a continuation fee if their study continues after the expected duration of their programme.

International students can benefit from a range of scholarships and bursaries across many undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Careers

Our postgraduate research students cultivate a diverse set of skills that are highly valued in the UK and internationally, preparing them for successful careers within academia and beyond.

As a postgraduate research student at UoG, you’ll develop and refine a range of skills across research, academic practice, project management and critical analysis to equip you for your future. Whether it’s contributing to ground-breaking academic research or applying problem-solving skills in the workplace, we’ll ensure you’re ready to take on your next challenge.

This versatility opens doors to opportunities across various sectors, from education and research institutions to commercial organisations and NGOs, where you’ll have the confidence to apply your researcher skills and develop innovative solutions to meet your ambitions.

Teaching Staff

Academic Course Leader

Dr Kim Schenke

Academic Course Leader for Psychology

Visit academic course leader's profile

Can't see your research area listed?

With research submitted in each of our research areas judged to be internationally excellent according to the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), our research supervisors have a broad range of specialisms across a diverse range of subjects.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your research interests by emailing .

Develop advanced research skills with specialist training

Research students who have not already completed a relevant Master’s degree or other appropriate postgraduate research methods training will benefit from the university’s research methods training modules: Philosophy and Approaches to Research and Methodologies and Methods.

Focus on the application of psychological knowledge to real-world issues

Benefit from a broad range of research areas and access research-active supervisors. We offer research opportunities in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, social cognition, forensic psychology, and health and wellbeing.

School of Education and Science

Work with leading practitioners, coaches, and professionals in specialist environments where you will develop your skills and gain real-world experience.

Visit the School of Education and Science