psychology phd durham

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Psychology research degrees

Our postgraduate courses offer the opportunity to focus on a particular aspect of psychology, learn key approaches to the discipline including statistical training, and to undertake research for a dissertation in your chosen subject, supported by a member of staff with expertise in that area. Durham’s strengths in areas of psychology make these degrees a unique opportunity to participate in an active research environment and to develop ideas about your future career.

Our research degrees

MSc/MA by Research in Psychology

The MSc/MA by Research is a research-focused programme intended for students who already have a good background in psychology, typically from undergraduate study. It is designed to train students wishing to pursue a higher research degree. The programme can be tailored to your own research interests.

Course length 1 year full-time.

PhD in Psychology

The PhD is a three-year programme of research study. You’ll work in an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment, supervised by leading researchers in their field. Funding opportunities may be available from UK research councils and charities, and we also welcome self-funding applicants interested in doing postgraduate research in psychology.

Course length 3 years full-time.

See all country specific qualifications

My MSc training allowed me to go beyond theory taught by experts in their field, to utilise skills and knowledge in an applied way. Dr Helen Knight

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Psychology (Ph.D.)

Why pursue a Ph.D. in psychology at UNH?

If you’re interested in taking your academic career one step further with the intent of teaching at the college and university level, our psychology Ph.D. program is for you. You’ll have the option to complete your degree in five years as you develop a broad knowledge of psychology, hone your teaching and communication skills, and perform research in your area of interest. We offer specialization in three areas: brain, behavior and cognition; social/personality; and developmental psychology. Nearly three-quarters of our graduates have gone onto careers in academia.

Program Highlights

Our graduate psychology program has been recognized by the American Psychological Association for Innovation in Graduate Education in Psychology. As a student in the program, you’ll receive a full tuition waiver and stipend for five years (contingent on university funding). You’ll work closely with experienced faculty while conducting research. You’ll also gain significant teaching training through our Practicum and Seminar in the Teaching of Psychology, and teaching experience, first leading an Introduction to Psychology course, then teaching mid-level courses in your area of interest. Many of our students earn a master's degree or cognate in college teaching. Our Preparing Future Faculty Program has been nationally recognized.

Potential career areas

• College or university faculty

Contact Information

Curriculum & Requirements

Program description.

The Department of Psychology offers a four- or five-year program of study leading to the doctor of philosophy degree. The basic goal of the program is the development of behavioral scientists who have a broad knowledge of psychology, can teach and communicate effectively, and can carry out sound research in an area of specialization. Although some students seek employment outside academia, the program is oriented toward developing the skills required by the research psychologist who intends to become a college or university teacher.

Specialization Areas The three areas in which a student may specialize are:

• brain, behavior, and cognition
• developmental psychology
• social psychology/personality

Requirements for the Program

Degree requirements.

Depth in a particular area is obtained through participation in advanced seminars and by independent reading and research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.

Prior to the doctoral dissertation, the student carries out original research that culminates in either a master's thesis or a paper of publishable quality. A master's degree is awarded upon the successful completion of a program approved by the department and dean of the Graduate School. This typically takes place by the end of the second year.

The third year of the program is dedicated to the practicum and seminar in the teaching of psychology in conjunction with the teaching of introductory psychology.

Advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree depends on receiving the master's degree, passing a specialist examination in one of the department's areas of specialization, and identifying a topic for doctoral research. Advancement to candidacy is usually accomplished by the end of a student's fourth year in the program. During the fourth year, students typically begin dissertation research and teach an introductory course in their specialty area. Most students complete the Ph.D. degree in the fifth year.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate mastery of existing theory and research.
• Develop the ability to conduct sound, independent ethical research.
• Demonstrate abilities to conduct scholarly and professional activities in an ethical manner.
• Demonstrate teaching abilities.

Application Requirements & Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall : August 15
• Spring : N/A
• Summer : N/A
• Special : N/A

Application fee : $65

Campus : Durham

New England Regional : No

Accelerated Masters Eligible : No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form . This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted , you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts : Please have your institution send the transcript directly to [email protected] . Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts : Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

GRE Optional But Recommended

The GRE scores are optional, though strongly recommended. I f you wish to provide scores please email the scores directly to the department once you have submitted your application online.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

• Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
• Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.

Explore Program Details

Specialization: brain, behavior and cognition.

The Brain, Behavior, and Cognition program offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of cognition and brain function. Its aim is to provide students with the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to conduct independent research and to become productive scholars and teachers in this area. Mentorship comes from nine faculty members in Psychology, and can be enhanced by collaboration with faculty from other departments such as Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Linguistics, and Zoology. The faculty in Brain, Behavior, and Cognition offers a wide range of knowledge and experience analyzing behavior and applying the techniques of traditional experimental psychology, psychophysics, and modern neuroscience to the study of related cognitive, perceptual, biological and neurological mechanisms.

Most graduate students work on research projects that are part of a faculty member's on-going research, but students are encouraged to develop independent lines of research. Currently, faculty members have interests in basic memory processes; reading comprehension; psycholinguistics; language development; physiological mechanisms that underlie certain memory, stress, and mood disorders; psychopharmacology; psychoneuroimmunology; animal learning and behavior; comparative psychology; basic visual processes including spatial and temporal properties of stereopsis illusions, color vision, and physiological optics.

Animal labs include a variety of computer-controlled apparatus for training diverse behavioral tasks. These include a Morris water maze, video tracking system for open field, automated radial arm mazes, swim stress apparatus, chambers for olfactory discrimination and memory, rodent operant chambers for training DM and DNM with retractable levers, avian operant chambers with video displays and touchscreens, serial reaction task chambers, and shuttle boxes. Additional behavioral apparatus include measures of motor function, analgesia, behavioral despair, and fear conditioning. The labs are well-equipped for stereotaxic surgery, histology, light-microscopy and image analysis, intracranial infusion of drugs, neurochemistry and receptor binding studies, assessment of immune function, and stress-controllability programs.

Vision labs are equipped with a four-channel xenon-arc-based Maxwellian view optical system, a computer-based stereo Maxwellian view optical system, and a two-channel rear projection free-view optical system.

Cognitive labs consist of state-of-the-art computers and associated equipment, including eye-tracking technology. The cognitive neuroscience laboratory is equipped with a 64-channel ActiChamp EEG system.

Faculty Researchers

Sergios Charntikov: behavioral neuroscience & addiction Brett Gibson: spatial & categorical learning & memory Jill McGaughy: neurobiology & attention CASEY ROARK: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR and COGNITION William Wren Stine: stereopsis, motion and mathematical modeling Omer Daglar Tanrikulu: visual perception

Starting in the Fall of 2024, the department will welcome Emily Liquin as Assistant Professor.

Education Ph.D., Psychology, Princeton University M.A., Psychology, Princeton University B.A., Cognitive Science & Psychology, Northwestern University Research Interests

• Child development
• Question asking

Her research investigates how humans learn and discover new things, with a particular focus on curiosity, exploration, and question asking. For example, her recent work has asked: How are curiosity, exploration, and question asking shaped by a person’s prior knowledge, experience, and context? And how does information-seeking behavior change between childhood and adulthood? Dr. Liquin takes an interdisciplinary approach to answering these questions, incorporating perspectives and methods from cognitive, developmental, and social psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. Her ultimate goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how humans play an active role in their own learning—with the potential to inform interventions to improve learning in everyday settings.   Lab Website:  liquin lab.github.io

Specialization: Developmental Psychology

The Developmental Psychology program offers graduate students the opportunity to study social, emotional, cognitive and neuropsychological aspects of human development. Coursework and research in the department touches on development from infancy through old age, and encompasses both theoretical and applied perspectives. Students emerge from the program with a broad knowledge base in developmental psychology and familiarity with diverse methodologies.

Current faculty research interests include cultural and media influences on development, parenting, sexuality, social support, and memory development.

Pablo Chavajay: cultural variations in cognitive development Michelle Leichtman: autobiographical memory, suggestibility Bolivar (Boli) Reyes-Jaquez: morality and social cognition development

Education Ph.D., Psychology, Princeton University M.A., Psychology, Princeton University B.A., Cognitive Science & Psychology, Northwestern University

Research Interests

Specialization: Social Psychology/Personality

The Social/Personality psychology program provides opportunities for graduate students to do research on many topics. Some graduate students work on research problems that are closely related to ongoing faculty research programs, while others develop their own research interests. Students draw on the expertise of the faculty in Developmental, Cognitive, and other areas of psychology within the department, and with faculty in other departments such as Sociology, in addition to the faculty whose primary identification is with Social/Personality Psychology.

April Bailey: bias, gender, natural language processing Ellen Cohn: law, rape/dating violence, race John Mayer: systems framework, emotional intelligence Jolie Wormwood: emotion, social perception, decision making

Teaching Seminar and Practicum

During both semesters of the third year of graduate study, each graduate student has full responsibility for teaching a small section of introductory psychology. The student enrolls simultaneously in the Seminar and Practicum in the Teaching of Psychology. In this setting students receive close supervision from a faculty member who is a specialist in teaching psychology, and they have opportunities to discuss the goals and problems of teaching and to profit from the experiences and suggestions of peers who are also teaching for the first time. Our practicum is a distinctive feature of our program, and it has received national recognition.

Some graduate students also choose to take special training for the Certification in College Teaching, through the UNH Teaching Excellence Program (see also Preparing Future Faculty ).

Most graduate students also teach one or more courses in their area of specialization during their fourth or fifth year in the graduate program. This experience has been very valuable to our graduates when they seek jobs.

Financial Aid

We guarantee funding (an assistantship that provides an academic year stipend, tuition, and health insurance) for five years as long as:

• the student continues to make timely progress through the program,
• our graduate program funding is not cut unexpectedly (this has not been an issue in the 50+ years of the program), and
• the student writes a Dissertation Year Fellowship application during their fourth year (this is required to guarantee the fifth year of funding).

You may wish to visit the Financial Aid section of the Graduate School website for more information about the types of aid available to graduate students.

• How to Apply

Online Application

To apply to the Psychology Program, you must apply online through the Graduate School . Collect and submit all additional supporting materials in one packet, with the exception of the "Area of Interest Questionnaire," and send to the Graduate School, not to the Psychology Program.

Supporting materials should be sent to the Graduate School at:

UNH Graduate School Thompson Hall 105 Main Street Durham, NH 03824

Area of Interest Questionnaire

In addition to the the Graduate School application, please also fill out the Area of Interest Questionnaire . Once it is complete, please send the Questionnaire by email to Robin Scholefield at [email protected] or by mail to:

Robin Scholefield Psychology Department 468A McConnell Hall Durham, NH 03824

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the general Graduate School requirements, applicants must submit current scores (within five years) from the general test of the GRE. The UNH GRE code is 003918.  For more information about the GRE, please visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) website . To be competitive for admission, applicants typically demonstrate sufficient academic background in psychology to undertake doctoral level work in one or more of the areas of specialization represented in the program. 

There is no formal application deadline.  Review of applications begins January 15 and continues until the incoming class is filled. Fall semester admission only.

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Certificate in Developmental Psychology

Director of Graduate Studies UNC-Duke Collaborative Graduate Certificate Program in Developmental Psychology Duke University Box 90086 Durham, NC 27708-0086 (919) 660-5715

Email: [email protected]

Website:  http://psychandneuro.duke.edu/graduate/developmental

Program Description

This program is not accepting students at this time.

The faculties in developmental psychology at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) offer a collaborative approach to graduate training in developmental psychology: the UNC-Duke Collaborative Graduate Certificate Program in Developmental Psychology. Graduate students at Duke in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and students in UNC's Department of Psychology can apply to this program that offers training opportunities in addition to those of their home department. Students in the certificate program attend developmental talks at both universities and have opportunities to take developmental seminars or engage in supplemental research training with the faculty of their non-home university. Among the research emphases of the participating faculty are cognitive development, social development, applied development and developmental psychobiology. Students apply to the program by the beginning of their third year of graduate study.

Requirements

Attendance at program-affiliated developmental events and two of the following: a minimum of two courses, at least one member of the developmental faculty of the nonhome institution must serve on one of the candidate's Ph.D. committees, or participation in a research activity with a developmental faculty member from the nonhome university.

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Psychology Ph.D.

Notice – international study permits.

According to the January 22, 2024 IRCC news release, applicants pursing master’s and doctoral degree programs are not included in the intake cap on international student study permit applications that the Government of Canada has  recently announced . IRCC also noted that current study permit holders will not be affected.

IRCC has confirmed that applicants to master's and doctoral programs  are exempt  from providing an attestation letter from the province or territory where they plan to study. 

Build on gained knowledge, writing and research skills to conduct advanced research in one of several core research streams

The PhD program in Psychology prepares students with the core knowledge, skills and methodological expertise to conduct advanced research in psychology and become producers of original scholarly research.  Candidates engage in research directed towards understanding how cognitive, neurobiological, developmental and social processes drive and shape human behaviour, personality, health and well-being.

With this degree, graduates have the knowledge, skills and training to prepare them for traditional positions within academia (university) or to purse non-academic career paths in industry – government or community-related fields.

Psychology PhD Website

Application Deadline

• September 2024 intake - CLOSED

Program Options

• Full-time studies
• Thesis-based program
• 4 years to complete
• September intake only

Admission Requirements

• MSc or MA or equivalent degree in Psychology (or related field) from an accredited institution with a minimum A- (80%) or equivalent in the work completed in the last four semesters (full-time equivalent). Applicants with a course-based MA/ MSc degree will not typically be considered. 
• Must have completed at least 1 credit in Statistics or Experimental Design at the graduate level.  
• Aptitude for research inquiry as determined by the completion of an original graduate (dissertation) project and demonstrated excellence in scholarly written as determined from the submission of a written sample from the applicants MSc/ MA studies. Submission of a first-author manuscript/ publication is permissible with an accompanying letter from the corresponding author confirming the primacy of the applicant’s contribution to the paper. 
• A clear and detailed Statement of Interest that aligns with one or more of the following research streams: (a) Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience, (b) Development Psychology, and (c) Social, Health, and Personality Psychology. Potential supervisors must be named in the application and in the Statement of Interest.  
• Admission to the PhD program is based on the availability and agreement of an appropriate graduate faculty member(s) to serve as a PhD supervisor or co-supervisors. 

Required Documents

Transcripts.

Post-secondary transcripts and graduation certificates (where applicable) of all previous undergraduate and graduate work are required. This includes transcripts for courses taken on a Letter of Permission, for transfer credit, or on an exchange program.Transcripts must show all course work completed and grades received. If applicable, evidence of degree completion is required.

Please note: Transcripts are NOT required to be official and final when applying to the School of Graduate Studies. Official transcripts are ONLY required to be submitted if an applicant receives an offer of admission.

Previous or current Trent University students do not need to submit a transcript for degree and course work completed at Trent University. Transcripts must be submitted for any course work completed at another institution – i.e., study abroad, letter of permission, transfer credit.

Two letters of Reference

Academic references are required. Links for your referees to submit an online reference will be sent directly to the referees you have provided on your application. We recommend you contact your referees prior to submitting an application to confirm their availability and contact information. If your referee does not receive the link, you can suggest that your referee check their junk email folder and email setting.  The email may have unintentionally been blocked by their email server.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Proficiency in English usage, both written and oral, is essential to pursue graduate studies at Trent University. It is required for applicants to demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. Applicants who completed two or more years of post-secondary education at a university in Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the USA are exempt from this requirement. If you have completed two or more years of post-secondary education at a university where the primary language of instruction is English, the School of Graduate Studies is prepared to consider alternate proof of English language proficiency.

For detailed information about English Language Proficiency requirements, see International Applications. 

Plan of Study

Typically 1-2 pages, outlining applicant's objectives in a graduate program. Any specific research interests (if known), relevant experiences, and/or career aspirations can be included. If a potential supervisor has been discussed, please identify this in your plan of study.

Plan of study template           

A Writing Sample

Submit a sample of your writing of about 20 pages or less. Writing samples preferred format is PDF. Hard copies will not be accepted. Good choices for writing samples include:  an undergraduate essay, lab report, research report, journal article, a chapter from a masters thesis, or a published article. 

Detailed Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Additional Information

Proof of Citizenship (ie. copy of passport or birth certificate) will be requested, only if an offer of admission is made.

Program Contact Information

For any program-specific inquiries or current application status, please contact the program directly at [email protected]

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How to Get a PhD in Psychology (10 Steps)

A PhD in Psychology is the ultimate degree—a symbol of your commitment to the discipline and a representation of your knowledge and skills. Held by top-tier researchers, instructors in higher education, and clinical practitioners alike, a clinical psychology PhD may help you and the people and organizations you might one day serve. 1

While the benefits of a PhD in Psychology may be clear to you, how to go about earning this doctorate degree might feel confusing—until now.

Here’s how to get a PhD in Psychology, what to expect in a doctoral degree program, and what you might gain from obtaining one.

Start Your Journey

Step 1: Understand the PhD Path

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, in Psychology is one of two of the highest degrees in the field of psychology. (The other is a PsyD , or Doctor of Psychology, a doctorate degree created in the 1970s to prepare students specifically for the rigors of working in clinical settings.) 2 A clinical psychology PhD may enable you to work in a variety of environments and a range of roles.

As such, earning this degree is an involved, immersive, and often exciting process that’s composed of: 3

• Statistics and methods
• Assessments 
• Clinical treatments

Coursework in a PhD program now frequently integrates discussions on psychology and technology , examining how digital advancements are transforming therapeutic methods and research techniques.

• Research – Research makes up the majority of the work you’ll do as a PhD student. Typically under the guidance of your mentor/dissertation advisor, you’ll delve into a topic of your choosing within the field. Examples of clinical psychology research topics include examining the effects of social media on teen suicide rates or the influence of childhood trauma on adult substance use disorder. Along the way, you’ll refine specific research skills: collecting and analyzing data, working with subjects/participating, and demonstrating your results.
• Clinical practicum and internships – Earning a PhD in Psychology also entails hands-on training in clinical practicums and/or internships. Generally speaking, you’ll perform an unpaid practicum for two years, followed by a one-year paid, clinical internship. 5 Precisely how you will fulfill this will depend on the program you choose, the opportunities within your community, and your concentration. A few examples include observing a clinical psychologist at a private practice, working with students at a university center, or conducting intakes at a substance abuse facility.
• Dissertation – Your dissertation is among the most important elements of your PhD program and the key to completing your degree. It serves several purposes: it illustrates your fluency in conducting research, demonstrates the knowledge you’ve gained in your PhD program, and adds an original contribution to existing psychology literature. 6

Step 2: Research Potential Programs

Finding the right PhD in Psychology program is paramount to your success. Researching potential programs is also one of the more thrilling aspects of pursuing a doctorate, but it needs to be approached strategically and mindfully. To that end, search for programs that, like the doctoral programs in psychology at Alliant International University, have received accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA). 7

Accreditation essentially serves as a seal of approval and demonstrates to future employers, the general public, and licensing boards that you have the scientific knowledge required to work in the world of psychology.

Additionally, you may want to zero in on programs that:

• Feature faculty members who are at the top of their field and whose research interests reflect your own 8
• Offer the area of specialization you want to focus on, whether it’s clinical health psychology, multicultural community-clinical psychology, or family/child and couple psychology
• Promote work-life balance through online instruction, or a hybrid of online and in-person instruction and training
• Have a high attrition rate

Further, if you do opt for a program that demands in-person attendance and training, be sure that it’s geographically feasible for you. The cost of living in the area should also be factored into your decision. Lastly, if you’re an undergrad or just finishing up your master’s, consider asking the professors you trust and admire for program recommendations. 9

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

Application and admission requirements vary by institution. That said, most programs ask for: 10

• A completed application (along with the application fee)
• Official transcripts from your bachelor’s and/or master’s program with required credits
• CV or resume
• Letters of recommendation

Depending on the program you’ve selected, you may also need to submit GRE scores. Importantly, nearly all programs require a personal statement—a topic we’ll look at in more depth below. While a PhD equips you for high-level research and academic positions, you might wonder if you can be a clinical psychologist with a master's . Although possible, a PhD significantly broadens your professional scope.

Step 4: Gain Relevant Experience

Not only will obtaining relevant experience help strengthen your application package but it will also help you gain invaluable insights into the industry. It might also assist you in choosing a specialization, such as working one-on-one with trauma survivors or dedicating your professional life to neuropsychology research.

Fortunately, there are dozens of ways to get the type of experience that will help your application stand out from the competition: 11

• Research assistantships
• Volunteering at a mental health clinic
• Shadowing a clinical psychologist or substance abuse counselor
• Working for a crisis hotline

Keep in mind that some PhD in Psychology programs require a minimum amount of relevant experience before you can apply. In fact, the Association for Psychological Science (APS) asserts that doctoral applicants usually accrue two to three years of research experience before applying to graduate school. 12 All of this emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough research on your schools of interest.

Step 5: Submit Strong Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are a crucial component of your doctoral application. In fact, some state that your letters of recommendation are more important to the decision process than grades. 13

Usually, they’re written by former professors and/or former employers or psychology professionals you’ve interned for or shadowed.

Be sure to request letters of recommendation from those with whom you have a visible track record. In addition, request letters well ahead of your application deadline, even as much as a year in advance of when you think you’ll start applying for your doctoral program.

Talk to Our Advisors

Step 6: Craft a Compelling Personal Statement

Almost every doctorate in psychology program requires a personal statement. As one of the most critical elements of your application (some indicate that it’s more important than your GRE scores and GPA), it should describe, in detail, your: 14

• Interest in the particular program you’re applying to and why
• Academic and research objectives
• Research and field experience and how they align with the particular program
• Intended area of specialization

Experts consulted by the APA also advise against using three things in your personal statement: humor, hyperbole, and “hard luck,” such as describing the obstacles you’ve overcome.

Step 7: Ace the Interview

Happen to receive an interview offer? Congratulations—your application clearly stood out!

The interview process may start with what’s known as a pre-interview, or a brief conversation to evaluate your fit with the program and department. 15 This may be followed by an on-campus interview that asks basic questions, such as the impact you hope your PhD project has and why you believe you’re the right candidate, as well as more precise questions prompted by your specific experience. 16

One of the best ways to make a solid, lasting impression is to create a bulleted list of your research interests. Practicing answers to the questions you anticipate ahead of time can also help ensure a smoother dialogue. And remember: you’ll be interviewing for the program, too.

Step 8: Consider Funding Options

The financial assistance you may receive will likely be an enormous determining factor in the program you choose. As discussed, funding may arrive in the form of:

• Grants 
• Scholarships
• Tuition remission
• Employer tuition reimbursement

Alliant International University, for example, has several forms of funding options available to doctoral candidates—those listed above, as well as fellowship assistantships .

Step 9: Plan Your Coursework and Dissertation

Once you’re accepted into a program, you should select your area of specialization, plot out your coursework, and choose your dissertation topic.

The APA notes that doctoral candidates should ideally land on a dissertation topic within the first year or two of their program. 17 Why? Because it will give your program enhanced focus and a guiding theme.

To jumpstart your thinking:

• Consult with instructors who are active in cutting-edge psychology research 
• Assess your topic’s viability and manageability (and if it will serve as an original contribution to existing research)
• Pinpoint the problems and questions you foresee and how you will approach them

Above all, be sure to choose a topic that will sustain your interest and excitement throughout the duration of your program. Earning a PhD in Psychology is a time-intensive commitment. Four to six years is about how long it takes to get a psychology PhD, but it varies by person based on how they balance their personal schedules with coursework, research, and clinical training.

Step 10: Engage in Professional Development Opportunities

One of the biggest benefits of obtaining a PhD in Psychology? The connections you may be able to make, such as through your internship and clinical practicum, as well as psychology conferences and seminars.

Yet, some of the strongest relationships you build might be right inside your program. And this brings us to our final piece of advice: consider choosing a program that features a warm and supportive faculty and a diverse collection of students who will motivate you throughout your academic journey—and beyond.

Your Path Begins Here

At Alliant International University, our PhD in Clinical Psychology program features a faculty that will challenge you in the best possible way alongside a nurturing, engaging learning environment.

Enrich your knowledge and prepare to make a lasting difference in the field of psychology. Apply today and start your journey.

Sources: 

• “What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Psychology?” Psychology.org | Psychology’s Comprehensive Online Resource, March 18, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/resources/jobs-with-a-doctorate-in-psycholog… ;
• Cherry, Kendra. “PsyD vs. Phd in Psychology: Which Is Right for You?” Verywell Mind, October 27, 2023. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-psyd-2795135.  
• “Psychology Doctorate Phd Defined: Explore Academic, Internship and Research Requirements for a Psychology Phd.” Psychologist, March 24, 2021. https://www.psychologist-license.com/types-of-psychologists/psychologist-doctorate-phd/.  
• “Daily Activities of a Clinical Psychology Phd Student.” Simply Mental Health, November 13, 2022. https://simplymentalhealth.ca/2022/11/13/daily-activities-of-a-clinical-psychology-phd-student/.  
• “Internships and Practicums.” Psychology.org | Psychology’s Comprehensive Online Resource, April 10, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/resources/internships-and-practicums/.  
• Herbert, Robyn S, Spencer C Evans, Jessy Guler, and Michael C Roberts. “Predictors of Dissertation Publication in Clinical and Counseling Psychology.” Training and education in professional psychology, November 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9635593 .
•  “APA-Accredited Programs.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs#.  
• “Choosing a Graduate Program.” Association for Psychological Science - APS. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/apssc/undergraduate_update/summer-2011/choosing-a-graduate-program.  
• “Clinch Your Graduate School Acceptance.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2007/11/cover-acceptance.  
• “Best Doctorate in Psychology Degree Programs of 2024.” Intelligent, April 3, 2024. https://www.intelligent.com/best-doctorate-in-psychology-programs/.  
• 14 ways to get clinical psychology work experience | indeed.com UK. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/clinical-psychology-work-experience.  
• “Rockin’ Recommendations.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/features/2009/recommendation.  
• “Preparing Your Personal Statement for Graduate School Applications.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2016/09/graduate-school-applications.  
• To ace your interview for doctoral psychology admission. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://mitch.web.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4922/2021/12/PsiChiI… ;
• Top 10 common Phd interview questions and answers. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/common-phd-interview-questions.  
• “Starting the Dissertation.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2005/01/starting.&nbsp ;

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Golf Beneath the Surface: The New Science of Golf Psychology Paperback – May 9, 2023

• how the brain ’s design impacts their performance
• how to interact with their own thoughts and emotions and train awareness for the present moment
• how to understand and effectively change unproductive habits
• the critical importance of their psychological framework and how to shape beliefs that cultivate and support steady confidence
• Print length 280 pages
• Language English
• Publisher BenBella Books
• Publication date May 9, 2023
• Dimensions 6.12 x 0.74 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1637743092
• ISBN-13 978-1637743096
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ BenBella Books (May 9, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1637743092
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1637743096
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.74 x 9 inches
• #20 in Golf (Books)
• #21 in Sports Psychology (Books)
• #401 in Success Self-Help

About the author

Raymond prior phd.

Known for building personable, knowledgeable, and confidential relationships with his clients, Raymond Prior, Ph.D. is one of the most sought-after names in performance psychology by the world’s best performers. His clients include Major Champions, World Champions, Olympic Gold Medalists, individual and team National Champions, National Coach of the Year Award winners, individual and team Conference Champions, and countless NCAA All-Americans. Dr. Prior also works with non-sport performers, including Grammy winners, Oscar winners, Tony winners, and Emmy winners performing on stage and screen.

Dr. Prior is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. As an author and researcher, Dr. Prior has authored several books, contributed a variety of chapters to several performance psychology textbooks, and published research in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.

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Reflections from Six Graduating PhD Students

Spring is always an exciting time here in the Department, as we prepare to graduate another cohort of students. We asked a few of our soon-to-be alums about their post-UW plans. Mariah Corey, Ella Lombard, Chao Qin, Katherine Seldin, Noah Triplett, and Liyang Wang share highlights from graduate school, next steps, what's exciting them, and their best advice for future students.

MARIAH COREY

Area: Adult Clinical Ph.D. in Psychology, Summer 2024

W hat are your plans after finishing your Ph.D.?

After graduation, I will be a postdoctoral fellow at Seattle Children’s Hospital and part-time faculty in the Master of Arts in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology program at UW.

What was a highlight of your time in grad school?

The relationships I built along the way with other students, faculty, and supervisors!

What are you most looking forward to next?

I'm looking forward to resting, traveling, and spending more time with friends and family!

What advice do you have for current/incoming graduate students?

Graduate school is a long haul, so it's important to find ways to stay energized and to remind yourself why you're pursuing this degree. Celebrate every milestone (even the "little" ones!!), seek out experiences that you enjoy, keep your goals in mind, and surround yourself with supportive people with shared values. Importantly, learn to say no to the optional opportunities that don't excite you or align with your goals.

ELLA LOMBARD

What are your plans after finishing your Ph.D.?

I'll be spending a year as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist with foundry10 in the Digital Technologies and Education (DTE) Lab and the Technology, Media, and Information Literacy team, where I'll contribute to research about how we can best support young people's success and wellbeing in their interactions with digital technologies such as social media and generative artificial intelligence.

There are too many to pick! Exploring new cities at our area's annual flagship conference; cheering on the Huskies at soccer, volleyball, and softball games; all the outdoor café work sessions; leading the incoming first years in silly games at orientation—anything involving the fantastic people I've met along the way. Last year, a few of us ran a half-marathon, and our lab and S/P area-mates drove over an hour-and-a-half to surprise us at the finish line with personalized signs and cheering, then took us out for a celebratory brunch. I'm so grateful for the strong community we have at UW Psychology: in my time here, I've felt surrounded by support from both mentors and peers.

I've loved my ongoing part-time internship with foundry10, so I'm looking forward to starting full-time in August and becoming more fully immersed in the exciting research projects we're working on in the DTE Lab.

Identify ways you can contribute to fostering the kind of community you want to be a part of, and invest in building strong relationships. Some of the most valuable connections I've formed with friends and mentors here have been the most unexpected. The process of earning a Ph.D. is challenging, but it should also be fun!

A rea: Cognition and Perception Ph.D. in Psychology: Data Science, Summer 2024

I am headed to the Netherlands for a postdoc position in the University of Groningen, environmental psychology lab

My lab and I conducted highly applied and impactful research on COVID-19 and people's vaccine hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines.

Moving to and exploring a whole new continent.

When forming your committee, do not put too many people on it. Finding a time that everyone is available for a meeting is a nightmare.

KATHERINE SELDIN

Next year, I'll be completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). I'm excited about the opportunity to divide my time between clinical work, research, and providing clinical training to others. I loved being able to wear many hats during grad school, so I'm very happy that I will continue being able to do so next year. But, before this next step, I'm taking a few weeks off to spend time with the people who supported me through this long, arduous journey.

While I expected to learn a lot from faculty and professors during grad school, I was blown away by how much of my graduate school knowledge and wisdom came from my conversations with my peers. It is now clear to me that UW Clinical Psychology program draws some of the most brilliant, creative, compassionate, and centered individuals, and I am so fortunate to have completed my training here. Thank you to my teachers and colleagues for challenging me, encouraging me, and changing the way I think about the world.

I'm looking forward to having my career involve more systems-level thinking and being able to integrate my direct clinical and research experience into my broader understanding of and impact on the mental health field. And, of course, I'm looking forward to having more financial security—being able to take myself out to dinner sometimes will be nice.

I'd like to pass on some wonderful advice I received, which is that, when you find yourself feeling pressure to figure out the perfect next step for some unknown future career, just do the thing that is most interesting to you. If you follow what is most interesting to you, you will naturally find yourself with a CV that is a great fit for a future job that will also be interesting to you. Some additional essential advice is to get better at saying "no" and to become comfortable with doing work that is "good enough."

NOAH TRIPLETT

I will be starting as an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Psychology and Global Mental Health and Addiction Program (GMAP) at the University of Maryland in August 2024.

Defending! After transitioning to virtual coursework, research, and clinical work for most of my graduate training, being able to have a hybrid defense that brought together so many important people in my life in person and online was the highlight of my graduate school experience.

I am looking forward to continuing to develop my own independence and expertise as a scientist! I have been so lucky to have wonderful training at UW, and I cannot wait to use that as a foundation for new and exciting projects.

There is no one perfect pathway through graduate school. Do not be afraid to follow your interests, inside or outside of psychology, as you never know what opportunities might fall into your lap!

LIYANG WANG

Area: Adult Clinical Ph.D. in Psychology: Clinical Psychology, Summer 2024

I’m joining Florida State University as an assistant professor at the College of Nursing starting in August. As an affiliated faculty at the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, I’ll continue to conduct mHealth research—leveraging technology to create and disseminate behavioral health interventions.

The day when I defended my dissertation :) I remember having my parents on the Zoom call, and being surrounded by my mentors, advisors, colleagues, and friends in the room in Kincaid. I felt so much gratitude towards everyone who has helped me along the way!

I’m looking forward to getting more papers out this summer and getting some prep work done for a new project—haha (the life of an academic). Maybe a road trip sometime to check out the national parks!

Enjoy graduate school in whatever way that works for you! Try as many things as you can/want: perhaps it’s work-related (submitting and attending conferences in a different and adjacent field, attending networking events and seminars) or recreational activities (camping, exploring the mountains). The years go by so quickly and I surely miss the PNW wilderness :)

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Research reveals how sighted and blind people’s brains change when they learn to echolocate

• Media release

New research from our Department of Psychology has shown that the brains of sighted and blind people adapt in a similar way when they learn to use sound echoes to understand the world without vision.

The study is the first of its kind to use MRI scans to analyse the brain activity of sighted and blind adults before and after they are trained in echolocation.   

Echolocation is a physiological process that allows us to understand the world around us through sound waves reflected back to the sender.   

It’s best known in bats and marine mammals such as dolphins, but it’s also used by some people who are blind or visually impaired to navigate their surroundings.    

Our researchers wanted to explore whether the brains of fully sighted people adapt to learning echolocation in the same way that the brains of blind people do.   

Learning how to echolocate 

Over the course of ten weeks, they trained twelve blind participants and fourteen sighted participants in echolocation in our Department of Psychology laboratories.  

They performed tasks such as identifying the size and orientation of shapes, or finding their way around, using only clicking sounds and without using vision.    

MRI scans were conducted before and after the training to determine whether any changes had taken place in the participants’ brains.   

The scans revealed that after learning echolocation, the primary ‘visual’ cortex part of the brain in both the sighted and blind participants had reorganized and developed sensitivity to sound echoes.   

Previously it was thought that such reorganization would only be possible in people who are blind, and that it would require much more extensive training.    

Positive implications 

The findings suggest that similar brain plasticity principles apply in both blind and sighted people.   

It has positive implications for those experiencing progressive sight loss because it demonstrates that the brain adapts successfully regardless of when echolocation is learned.   

The study has been published in the scientific journal Cerebral Cortex.   

Dr Thaler’s research helps inform training workshops at Durham University for visually impaired and blind people and for professionals who work with them.  

  Find out more 

• Read the full research paper in the Cerebral Cortex journal  
• The study was led by Dr Lore Thaler and Dr Liam Norman from Durham University, and Dr Tom Hartley from the University of York. It was supported by a grant from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council .   
• The next echolocation training sessions take place at Durham University in July, 2024. For more details and to register, visit: Human Echolocation Lab - Workshops (google.com)    
• Feeling inspired? Visit our Psychology webpage s to learn more about our postgraduate and undergraduate programmes.   

Nevada Today

Clinical psychology graduate program ranked 70th in the country, rankings provided by u.s. news & world report put the university of nevada, reno program in the top 100 in the u.s..

The clinical psychology program offers students opportunities for training in a clinical setting through the Psychological Services Center.

The U.S. News & World Report recently released rankings for the best graduate school programs in the country, and the University of Nevada, Reno’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program ranked 70th out of over 200 programs in the nation.

“We are very pleased with the recognition by U.S. News & World Report of our excellent program. We are also pleased that the program is continuing an impressive upward trajectory with the recent hiring of several top clinical scientists,” said Michael Crognale, chair of the Department of Psychology.

“I’m so proud of our faculty, who work hard to ensure that our students have access to a top-tier education,” said Louisa Hope-Weeks, dean of the College of Science.

Related Program

• Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology

The clinical psychology program provides students with training opportunities through the University’s Psychological Services Center. Graduate students work, under faculty supervision, to help patients with science-backed psychological support. The Psychological Services Center offers low-cost mental health treatment for a variety of backgrounds and needs and offers services in Spanish. The clinical psychology program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1972.

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ISU Clinical Psychology PhD Student Wins National Ethics Writing Contest

June 24, 2024

Clinical psychology doctoral student Ana Stalzer's submission titled "Harm Through Stigma: Commander Notification of Service Members’ Mental Health" to the APA Ethics Committee writing contest was selected as the award-winning manuscript for the 2024 Graduate Student Ethics Writing Competition.

She will be recognized for this award at the annual American Psychology Association conference in Seattle in August 2024 and her paper will be published in the peer reviewed journal Ethics and Behavior.

This paper describes issues in the confidentiality of military services members' mental health and the stigma military service members often face regarding mental health needs. This essay is based on work Ana began in graduate ISU psychology courses in Ethics with Professor Joshua Swift and continued to work on in Advanced Social Psychology with Professor Mona Xu.  The title of the paper is "Harm Through Stigma: Commander Notification of Service Members’ Mental Health." 

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• September 2025
• September 2024

3 years full-time

Durham City

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Course details

Our BSc in Psychology is designed to give you an understanding of the mind and behaviour. As such it shares features with other disciplines, including biology, anthropology, philosophy and education. You will study people's internal mental processes, the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour, and the social and developmental context in which they act.

This degree follows the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines and offers an extensive range of options in the final year, drawing both from fundamental scientific research and applied psychology. These modules include topics in social psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and behavioural neuroscience, as well as neurorehabilitation, education and health. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad  to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

The emphasis in Year 1 is to provide you with fundamental knowledge and skills. This will provide the bases underpinning second and third-year modules.

In Year 2, your knowledge and skills are further developed and fostered; moreover, all the subject areas essential for accreditation by the BPS and providing eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) are covered.

In the third year, you will carry out your own dissertation project. You will also select from a variety of specialist topic modules primarily provided by lecturers eminent in their field.

Course structure

Core modules:.

Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive and Biological Psychology introduces a broad foundation of knowledge of the core areas of cognitive psychology and biological psychology.

Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental and Social Psychology allows you to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge in core areas of psychology including developmental psychology, social psychology and individual differences.

Introduction to Psychological Research introduces key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology.

Academic Skill Development for Psychology introduces students to the fundamental skills required for studying Psychology at degree level in a tutorial-based manner. The skills covered will include aspects of written and oral communication in line with psychological literacy skills, e.g. summarizing articles, critical evaluation, presentations.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

• Careers in Psychology.

Cognitive and Biological Psychology develops an understanding of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches in cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on memory, decision making, learning, and perception

Social and Developmental Psychology provides a broad knowledge and understanding of research and theory in some of the key areas of developmental psychology and examines the contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between people and social structures involving people.

Differential and Clinical Psychology develops knowledge and understanding of theory and research in differential psychology, the study of psychological differences and similarities between people and understanding of theory and research in atypical and clinical psychology.

Contemporary and Conceptual Issues in Psychology develops skills in researching and communicating a range of contemporary and conceptual issues in psychology. It provides an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a tutorial context.

Advanced Research Methods and Statistics provides experience of the practical application of a wide range of methods in psychological research and develops presentation skills necessary for communicating research aims and findings. You will also be equipped with the knowledge and understanding of the more advanced statistical methods used in psychological research, together with the practical ability to apply such methods to a variety of data sets.

Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a placement or year abroad)

In your final year, you will design and carry out your own 7,000-word Dissertation . You will formulate the research question, employing appropriate methods of investigation and analysis, and interpret the results in light of relevant empirical work and psychological theory.

• Learning and Animal Cognition  
• Emotion and Social Perception  
• Clinical Neuropsychology  
• Neuropsychology of Amnesia
• Fetal Development  
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• The Ever Adapting Brain – Sensory Neuroplasticity 
• Face Recognition. 

Additional pathways

Students on the Psychology BSc can apply to be transferred onto either the ‘ with Year Abroad ’ or ‘ with Placement ’ pathway during the second year. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four.

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Your teaching will be delivered predominantly by leading research academics via lectures, small group tutorials, workshops and practical classes, as well through self-directed learning, such as research, reading and writing. You will get additional individual feedback and support opportunities from staff and student peers.

Most of the Psychology course is delivered through face-to-face teaching. Having face-to-face interaction is key to tutorials and many practical classes and can be important in lectures as it allows students to meet and talk with others. Some teaching also works best using a hybrid approach consisting of both face-to-face and online asynchronous (taking place at different times) components.  As such, some modules are delivered using a hybrid approach consisting of asynchronous online lectures and face-to-face tutorials or practical classes.

Generally, lectures highlight the main areas within a topic, covering historical and current empirical findings together with their associated theoretical interpretations. Small group tutorials guide your learning of lecture-based material and that obtained through independent study by promoting discussions and critical appraisal, developing your ability to organise and present information.

Workshops and practical sessions enable you to gain first-hand experience of key research skills in Psychology, and to learn and apply associated statistical and IT packages.

Throughout the course, various assessment methods are used, including essays, reports and examinations.

In your final year, you will submit a dissertation that details your own original work. This is a great way to explore a topic that you are passionate about, and to showcase the many skills that you have gained throughout the course.

Entry requirements

Grade 5 (or grade B) or above in Mathematics at GCSE  (or equivalent) is required.

A level offer – AAA

Contextual offer – BBB.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – DDD.

IB Diploma score – 37  with 666 in higher level subjects.

No specific subjects are required, and a combination of arts and science subjects is acceptable. 

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We also consider other level 3 qualifications, including T-levels.
• We welcome applications from individuals with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study.
• If you do not satisfy our general entry requirements, the Foundation Programmes  offers multidisciplinary degrees to prepare you for a range of specified degree courses.
• If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre .
• We accept applications for deferred entry.

Science A levels

Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications
• EU qualifications 
• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

Fees and funding

The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.

The tuition fees shown for home  students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated) .

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation .

Scholarships and Bursaries

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances and are delighted to offer a range of funding opportunities. 

Career opportunities

Your degree will equip you with the academic knowledge, analytical and problem-solving skills that are in demand across a wide range of professions.

We are committed to developing your skills and offer a range of support activities to help you find a career that’s right for you. From Year 1 you will have an academic advisor, and you will be invited to graduate careers fairs where you can talk to recruiters. You can also attend the Psychology Employability Retreat.

Our undergraduate degrees are recognised by the British Psychological Society – the first step towards a career as a psychologist.

Our graduates also progress to postgraduate courses and have qualified in areas such as teaching, law, and speech and language therapy.

Of those students who graduated in 2020-21:

• 84%  are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 81%  are in high skilled employment
• With an average salary of  £24,750

(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here  www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk )

Department information

How do we develop empathy? How does culture affect our behaviour? Where does prejudice come from? Learn from leading researchers in their fields as you explore some of the most challenging questions in psychology today.

Psychology is concerned with understanding the mind and human behaviour. You will investigate the processes that underpin the thoughts, feelings and motivations behind our actions. Learning from academics with real enthusiasm for their subject, you will explore topics such as social behaviour, childhood development and cognitive neuroscience.

Our psychology degrees offer a genuinely research-led education. While learning the core principles of psychology, you will have the opportunity to work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will have access to cutting-edge technologies, including the Department’s clinical and experimental facilities which include motion capture, eye tracking and biophysical recording laboratories.

Our innovative approach to learning takes us beyond the traditional student-lecturer dynamic. Through a combination of practical teaching sessions, an optional placement module, and even an employability retreat we actively prepare you for working life. The third year includes a research project, and you can gain additional lab-based experience with our popular Research Assistant Scheme. You can also apply for a placement year or year abroad.

Students who graduate with a 2.1 or higher are accredited by the BPS as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership – the first step towards a career as a psychologist.

To find out more see our  department pages.

• World Top 100  in the  QS World University Subject Rankings 2023

For a current list of staff, please see the Psychology Department pages

Guided by experts in the field, you will have access to a range of world-leading clinical and experimental facilities. This hands-on experience brings theory to life and helps you gain a deeper understanding of the mind and behaviour. Facilities in the Department of Psychology include body scanners with integrated eye tracking, molecular psychology suites, VR suites with motion capture and mock environments for ecologically valid research.

You will be ideally located in a dedicated psychology learning space, adjacent to many university departments and services, and within walking distance of Durham’s historic centre.

Find out more:

Use the UCAS code below when applying:

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) handles applications for all undergraduate courses.

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• Date: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
• Time: 09:00 - 16:00

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