ucl experimental psychology phd

UCL Psychology and Language Sciences

Postgraduate research degrees

Our PhDs are normally designed to extend over three years full-time or five years part-time. We offer the following MPhil/PhD programmes:

• Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology MPhil/PhD
• Developmental Neuroscience and Mental Health MPhil/PhD
• Experimental Psychology MPhil/PhD
• Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience MPhil/PhD
• Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD
• Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme for the Ecological Study of the Brain (Ecological Brain DTP) PhD programme
• Linguistics MPhil/PhD
• MPhil/PhD in Psychoanalytic Studies
• Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences MPhil/PhD
• UCL Interaction Centre MPhil/PhD

Professional Doctorate programmes

• Clinical Psychology DClinPsy
• Educational and Child Psychology DEdPsy
• Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy DPsych

The MPhil/PhD programme commences in late September/early October for all students. As a research student in the Division you will find yourself using 'state-of-the-art' techniques in a very active research environment. You will be part of a lively and friendly group of graduates. There is a wide range of technical assistance available when needed, as well as library and computing facilities.

UCL regulations require that initial registration as a research student is for an MPhil degree. If satisfactory progress is demonstrated a student's registration is 'upgraded' to PhD. As part of the programme students take a range of courses designed to equip them for research. In particular, they take a selection of research methods courses appropriate for different backgrounds, designed to help them develop key research skills, such as the ability to evaluate critically the literature in an area or to perform advanced statistical analyses.

The full-time PhD typically lasts for 3 years, including the time registered as an MPhil student, and if the thesis is not submitted within this time then students may register as Completing Research Students (CRS) for 1 additional year. The Division is assessed on how many PhD students submit their thesis on time so it is very important full-time students finish within 4 years. You may also study your PhD part-time. Part-time students are normally required to be registered for 5 years, with 2 additional years in CRS if needed. Part-time study arrangements are to be agreed with the supervisor.

A research student will have a principal supervisor, who takes the lead in the supervisory team and a subsidiary supervisor who enhances the effective supervision of the students work by contributing a second opinion. Other staff members, as part of a research group, may be closely involved with their work and students are encouraged to discuss their research widely with anyone having relevant experience. The Division of Psychology and Language Sciences contains expertise on a wide range of topics, so that students usually have little difficulty in finding someone who can give good advice. The UCL Doctoral School also offers a range of skills development courses for graduate students. Many full-time research students take some part in departmental teaching by giving tutorials and/or demonstrating in practical classes; payment is made for this work.

Each Research Department has a Graduate Tutor who is in charge of academic and pastoral arrangements for MPhil/PhD students. They can provide advice, support, and if necessary action, if any problems arise with respect to research, supervision or other academic problems.

Before applying

Application Deadlines

To be considered for all competitive funding awarded by UCL applications must arrive by the end of the  1st week in January  for entry in September of the same year. Applications must be complete with references, so please allow time for references to be completed and submitted. At that point you need to have identified a member of staff who has agreed to supervise you, should you be accepted. All applications are rated by 2 academic staff members. Suitable candidates are offered an interview, where they briefly present their research proposal and are questioned by academic staff. Offers of places are generally made within a month of interview. The MPhil/PhD programme starts at the beginning of the UCL autumn term. If other sources of funding are being considered, it is still in your interest to apply by the early January deadline, but later applications can sometimes be considered. Applications should be made as soon as possible, and not later than  end of June  for entry in September/October of the same year. Interviews for places not funded by UCL may take place at any time until late summer.

You need to complete:

Our academic staff are quite happy to receive approaches like this, in order that they can liaise with you to identify a potential research focus of mutual interest.

The potential supervisor should get back to you within a couple of weeks. They may invite you to apply formally. If they do not, there can be several reasons such as a full quota of research students, planned sabbatical leave and so on.

If you have difficulty identifying an appropriate supervisor, you can contact the relevant Graduate Tutor or PhD Administrator in the Department to which you are applying. If you are invited by the potential supervisor to apply, you need to submit a formal application. 

The general procedure for making a formal application is laid out below. Each Research Department may have slightly different requirements so please check with the PhD Administrator in your chosen Department before submitting your application. 

Formal Application

If you meet the above criteria, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take MPhil/PhD students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. Therefore, your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.

Select one or at most two potential supervisors whose research interests are related to yours, and send them an email containing:

To be admitted as a research student, applicants usually obtain a source of funding from a recognised funding body. Self-funded students should have sufficient funds to support themselves for a minimum of three years.

For details about  UCL Tuition Fees  visit the website.

Each individual PhD programme may have specific funding opportunities, see individual programme pages below for details.

Many students who complete a PhD in the department stay in academia, either going on to become postdoctoral researchers or research assistants, and ultimately lecturers. Some go on to further training in fields such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, consultancy or applied research. A PhD degree taken here is recognised both nationally and internationally as a qualification of the highest status.

Experimental Psychology

• PhD Tutor:  Dr Jeremy Skipper
• PhD Administrator:  Antonietta Esposito

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

• Doctorate Tutor: Prof Nick Midgley
• Administrator: [email protected]

Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology

• PhD Tutor:  Prof Valerie Curran
• PhD Administrator:  Sharinjeet Dhiman

Psychoanalytic Studies

• PhD Tutor:   Dr Patrick Luyten
• PhD Administrator:  Helen King

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience

• PhD Tutor:  Dr Sam Gilbert
• PhD Administrator:  Rosalyn Lawrence

Language and Cognition

• PhD Tutor:  Dr Merle Mahon
• PhD Administrator:  Richard Jardine

Linguistics

• PhD Tutors:   Prof Ad Neeleman  and  Dr Yasu Sudo

Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences

• PhD Tutor:  Prof Paul Iverson

UCL Interaction Centre

• PhD Tutor:  Dr Enrico Costanza
• PhD Administrator:  Dr Louise Gaynor

UCL-Yale MPhil/PhD in Developmental Neuroscience and Mental Health

• PhD Tutor: Prof Nikolaus Steinbeis
• Administrator: [email protected]

Register your interest

Register your interest in studying at UCL and receive important information about open days, applications, and more.

Find out about funding available to students including loans, scholarships and bursaries for specific subject areas.

• UCL Graduate School – fees and funding
• UCL scholarships and funding

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Qualification, university name, postgraduate general psychology courses at ucl (university college london).

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Psychology and Human Development MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

Our profile as a department focuses principally on psychology (particularly in relation to education) and special educational needs (SEN). Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,580 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

PGCE Psychology

The Psychology PGCE programme has been designed to enable all students to demonstrate that they have met the Teachers' Standards across Key Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £9,250 per year (UK)

Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology MPhil/PhD

We are the world's leading integrated department of applied psychology, focusing on the implementation of groundbreaking research to Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Experimental Psychology MPhil/PhD

We offer an outstanding research and teaching environment providing opportunities for graduate students to work with world-renowned Read more...

Psychology and Human Development EdD

About this degree The EdD is a research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields who would like to extend Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

The DClinPsy at UCL offers a uniquely broad range of clinical and research opportunities to trainees. Current research specialities Read more...

Psychological Sciences MSc

The MSc Psychological Sciences is a conversion programme designed for students who have not previously taken a psychology degree or only Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £15,100 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £7,550 per year (UK)

Clinical Associate in Psychology (Adult Mental Health) apprenticeship MSc

The course aims to train psychology graduates to become skilled professional Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAP), working within Adult Read more...

• 18 months Part time degree

Health Psychology MSc

The Health Psychology MSc, accredited by the British Psychological Society, aims to equip students to apply the scientific and theoretical Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £12,700 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £6,350 per year (UK)

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Experimental Psychology

Entry requirements.

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or a taught UK Master's degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject. Overseas applicants also need to satisfy the English language requirements.

Months of entry

Course content.

We offer a world-class research environment with a focus on behaviour and its neural underpinnings. Our programme helps students develop academic or complementary careers including clinical or educational psychology, and consultancy or applied research. A strong benefit of studying here is exposure to these diverse careers.

Experimental psychology students at UCL receive unparalleled training in the design, implementation and analysis of psychological and biological experiments. Our research is recognised internationally for sophisticated experimental design and statistical approaches to the analysis of human behaviour, and brain work. Students also benefit from embedded UCL research centres focusing on human brain imaging, brain stimulation, behavioural neuroscience, deafness and multi-modal communication. Our training and research environment allows students to work alongside elite academics and forge unique research agendas.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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Experimental Psychology MPhil/PhD UCL (University College London)

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Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

UCL (University College London)

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Course summary

We offer an outstanding research and teaching environment providing opportunities for graduate students to work with world-renowned researchers across a wide spectrum of topics. Our research focuses on understanding the psychological and biological bases of behaviour, to improve the health and wellbeing of both individuals and society. Research in the department includes behavioural neuroscience, perceptual and cognitive sciences and cognitive neuroscience. We host several research centres and institutes including the Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre, the Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, and the Birkbeck/UCL Centre for Neuroimaging. Research facilities available to members of staff comprise state-of-the-art equipment for most types of behavioural research, scanning facilities (MRI), eye- and motion-tracking facilities as well as TMS facilities.

Many students who complete a PhD in the department stay in academia, either going on to become postdoctoral researchers or research assistants, and ultimately professors. Some go on to further training in fields such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, consultancy or applied research. Others enter industry in consultant and professional roles. A PhD degree taken at UCL is recognised both nationally and internationally as a qualification of the highest status.

Employability

Experimental psychology provides a number of career pathways. Many of our former students progress into academic research as postdoctoral researchers, and ultimately become professors. Many instead expand their training into complementary fields such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, consultancy or applied research. One of the major benefits of studying in experimental psychology is the opportunity to form long-lasting connections with other students who follow these diverse career paths.

Tuition fees

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£ 34,400 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

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UCL (University College London), Gower Street, London, Camden, WC1E 6BT, England

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6th out of 118

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UCL Careers

Find Your Future

Brilliant Club tutor/PhD student in Experimental Psychology : Inspire Me

By UCL Careers, on 27 May 2015

How did you get into your role?

I am a Brilliant Club tutor and a first year PhD student at the Experimental Psychology Department. I found out about the Brilliant Club via an email of the UCL Graduate School. The relevance and suitability of the Brilliant Club as a part-time position specially tailored for PhD students motivated me to learn more, which I did through their website. I sent my application and was invited to the assessment centre to do a mini-lesson. I have just finished my first placement working with KS4 students, an enriching and exhilarating experience.

What are the best things about working in your role?

My PhD revolves around understanding teenage brain development. However, I deal with this in a laboratory setting. Having first-hand experience with adolescents in a real life setting has positively informed my research questions and procedures. I aim to do research that has applications beyond theoretical inquiries, and I believe this experience has helped me to better orient my research.

Working with students is stimulating and very fun! These interactions can be incredibly rewarding. Also, going into schools can be a welcomed break and change of setting once in a while. The programme is specially designed for PhD students and provides a flexible schedule and much of the work can be done from home or from the lab (i.e. planning the tutorials or marking). The Brilliant club is a meaningful way of engaging with the public and spreading the word about your research.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

I had little experience as a teacher for young students before starting. Designing my course and materials, specially tailored for a 15 year old audience, was a big challenge. Delivering lessons and making sure students understood and followed along was sometimes tricky. Extra work on top of a time-consuming PhD is also a challenge, and you need to develop time managing skills. Fortunately, the Brilliant Club really supports and trains the tutors, and they are always willing to help.

What top tips would you pass on to a student interested in this type of work?

In academia, most of us will find ourselves in front of a classroom at some point or other. I think the PhD is a perfect time to start developing teaching skills and didactic strategies. Don’t underestimate the challenge of teaching. There is widespread belief that being a research student automatically gives you the ability to talk about your research or teach. Even if we have been students for very long, there is a lot to learn in order to become an effective teacher. It is a good idea to explore teaching assistant roles to work with undergraduate students. Structured programmes such as the Brilliant Club provide a very useful scaffold to go beyond university students and reach different audiences.

To talk to a Careers Consultant for further information on applying for a PhD, visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/careers

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Tags: academia , advice , phd , UCLInspireMe

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Welcome to the UCL Love Lab, a learning and decision making lab based at UCL Experimental Psychology department and headed by Prof. Brad Love .

We are interested in understanding how humans learn and make decisions through formal modelling and behavioural approaches combined with functional neuroimaging. For more details refer to our publications

Our lab motto is " Inclusive, Productive, Accountable " or IPA for short, cheers!

Principal Investigator

Bradley Love is Professor of Cognitive and Decision Sciences at UCL. He integrates approaches from Experimental Psychology, Machine Learning, and Neuroscience to understand the mechanisms supporting human learning and decision making.

My research interests encompass the neural bases of human memory and imagination. To gain a better understanding of these processes, I combine functional MRI and MEG methods, with real-world behaviours. I am currently incorporating neuroscientific findings into the design of artificial neural networks, with a view to enhancing their performance and making them more human-like in their operation.

During my PhD, I worked on various different topics such as heuristics and biases in decision-making as well as on models of similarity for neuroimaging data. Currently, I am working on attention and similarity models for electro-physiological data. Other efforts include linking decision heuristics to principled statistical models and analysis of fMRI data related to subjective value and confidence.

I am interested in how the brain constructs mental representations of the world and how this enables complex thought and behaviour. My current research focusses on category learning in the brain using fMRI (including multivariate pattern analysis), cognitive modelling, and behavioural methods. Recently, I have been thinking about these questions in terms of concepts and abstract thought — how does the brain organise abstract information during learning? I am intrigued by recent work that suggests the brain might construct a 'cognitive map' for coding different types of task-relevant information, including regions in the medial temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex.

The goal of my research is to boost human learning and decision making using formal models of cognition. I use formal models ranging from highly constrained psychological models to relatively unconstrained artificial neural networks. My current research focuses on developing psychological stimulus representations and category learning models in order to make more accurate predictions of learning outcomes.

I'm interested in neural network models and human high-level cognition, and making links between the two. Currently I'm exploring an embedding spaces perspective on mental representations. Specifically, linking human brain data and neural network models by comparing their representations in embedding space. Mostly, my methods involve deep neural network models trained end-to-end on naturalistic datasets (e.g., categorisation of real-world images). My PhD was on modelling backward inhibition within human task switching (the n-2 repetition cost), and I remain interested in mechanistic accounts of human cognitive control processes.

PhD Students

As a student of the Ecological Brain DTP, I am interested in how humans acquire concepts in a largely unsupervised manner amidst the noise and complexity of the real world. Specifically, my research explores integration across conceptual spaces as a model for human concept formation. Using machine learning methods applied to multimodal naturalistic data, I aim to investigate how humans learn about the world outside of the lab.

My research focuses on semi-supervised learning, incorporating behavioural and computational approaches. In my current project I aim to better understand the role of feedback in category learning and how this is tied to mental representations. More generally, I am interested in building models that can capture learning in naturalistic setups in order to predict optimal learning conditions. I am a PhD student with the Gatsby Unit at UCL, but can currently be found at the MPI for Biological Cybernetics where I am supervised by Peter Dayan.

My research focuses on human learning, decision making and the ways it can be improved. For example – in one of my projects – I am trying to understand how consumers develop preferences and forage for information in complex environments. A key aim of this research is to inform the design of systems that aid decision making, such as recommender systems. Across all of my work, I’m keen to be data-driven, using cognitive models and machine learning wherever possible.

My research focuses on relating neural embedding spaces to embedding spaces extracted from real-world images. By using unsupervised deep learning approaches such as auto-encoders, I aim to shed some light on our understanding of human cognition.

• Eric Abel (2009-2010)
• Christiane Ahlheim (2016-2018)
• Johan Carlin (2016-2017)
• Tyler Davis (2005-2010)
• John Dennis (2003-2004)
• Gyslain Giguere (2009-2013)
• Brian Glass (2011-2012)
• Todd Gureckis (2001-2005)
• Aaron Hoffman (2007-2011)
• Laura Holland (2008-2009)
• Matthew Jones (2003-2007)
• Levi Larkey (2002-2003)
• Mike Mack (2011-2016)
• Takao Noguchi ()
• Ross Otto (2007-2012)
• Katie Parker (2013-2016)
• Paula Parpart (2012-2017)
• Peter Riefer (2012-2016)
• Yasuaki Sakamoto (2000-2005)
• Katherine Snyder (2007-2008)
• Marc Tomlinson (2004-2010)
• Anne Warlaumont (2006-2007)

Selected mainstream media articles on the Love Lab ’s work:

• Love & Philosophy, Beyond Dichotomy Podcast (24-5-2024) .
• The Economist, “Artificial brains are helping scientists study the real thing” (24-5-2023) .
• Knowing Neurons Podcast (12-12-2022) .
• BBC’s from Nudge to Sludge .
• Brain Inspired Podcast, How we learn comcepts .
• Cognitive Revolution Podcast, Lifelong Exploration .
• Changing Minds Webinar, Big data, smart analyses .
• Royal Instituiton event on generalist AI.
• BBC frontpage article on consumer decision making, here , March 2019.
• British Neuroscience (BNA) Bulletin interview , Summer 2018.
• 10 Years of Nudge: Radio 4 .
• AI hype: The Register .
• Regulating AI, statement from Turing to House of Lords: Turing blog .
• Psychology and Data Science: Turing blog .
• W.E.I.R.D., typical experiment populations in Psychology: Aeon .
• Electorial Gerrymandering: Seeker .
• How we integrate others’ opinion to determine value of products: Daily Mail .
• Human and Artificial Intelligence: Guardian science podcast .
• How the brain represents concepts: Brains and Behaviour on Medium .
• Explore/Exploit in the Supermarket: Nature Podcast , Daily Mail , Science Daily , Nature News and Views , Neuroscience News , Impact .
• Data Science/Marketing: The Guardian .
• Science of Persuasion: Daily Mail .
• How brain acquires stereotypes: The Guardian .
• How attention shapes category representations in brain: ScienceDaily .
• Reinforcement Learning: BusinessWeek , ScienceDaily , Fox7 News (video) .
• Category Learning: UT Public Affairs , Psychology Today.
• Improving Prediction/Cleaning Memory: Daily Mail , ScienceDaily , CBC News (audio) , ABC (Spain) , Veja (Brazil) , ScienceNet (China) .
• Video Gaming and Cognitive Ability: Huffington Post , NBC Nightly News (Video) , Psychology Today , Slashdot , CNET Australia , PCR , ScienceDaily , CNET , and more… Visit PlayIQ.com to evaluate yourself!
• Sky News (23-8-2013) “Is the internet destroying our brains?” Answer: Not exactly . Video snippet from Swipe segment.
• Brain Basis of Category Learning: ScienceDaily , Neuroscience News .
• Developing Brain and Gaming: R7 Brazil (Video with Portuguese audio) .
• Optimism Bias: MinnPost , Newsweek , PHYS ORG , C.S. Monitor .

See the Publications section for more details.

Selected datasets, stimuli, and other resources from the lab. For code, also see the lab GitHub account — for data, also see Brad's OSF profile .

Beetle Stimuli

• Davis, T., Love, B.C., & Preston, A.R. (2012). Learning the Exception to the Rule: Model-Based fMRI Reveals Specialized Representations for Surprising Category Members . Cerebral Cortex.
• Davis, T., Love, B.C., & Preston, A.R. (2012). Striatal and Hippocampal Entropy and Recognition Signals in Category Learning: Simultaneous Processes Revealed by Model-based fMRI . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.
• Mack, M.L., Love, B.C., Preston, A.R. (2016). Dynamic updating of hippocampal object representations reflects new conceptual knowledge . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Decoding the brain's algorithm for categorization from its neural implementation

Data from: Mack, M. L., Preston, A. R., & Love, B. C. (2013). Decoding the brain’s algorithm for categorization from its neural implementation .

Heuristics under Time Pressure

Data from: Bobadilla-Suarez, S. & Love, B. C. (2018) Fast or Frugal, but not both: Decision Heuristics under Time Pressure .

Publications

2024 & in press.

• University College London
• Beata Grzyb

Beata Grzyb University College London | UCL  ·  Experimental Psychology

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PhD/MPhil Experimental Psychology / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Before applying you must:

• Choose a programme or find a project you want to apply for and check you’re eligible.
• Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme.
• Understand how your project is funded and, if it is self-funded, consider how you plan on funding it.
• Read our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out more.

Programme options

Programme overview

• Undertake research in a field you’re passionate about and join a project addressing leading challenges in the area while working with some of Europe's leading researchers and academics.
• Choose to research at a university ranked and 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings, 2025) and 2nd in the world for social and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings, 2024), where 93% of research activity is ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Impact Framework, 2021)
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at the University, through our industry partners, and at hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Benefit from dedicated support throughout your PhD journey, from pre-application to graduation and everything in between, through our Doctoral Academy
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme and progress into a career in research, academia or industry.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out about upcoming open days and events.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250
• PhD (full-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .