Psychology

Research training is a strong feature of our Psychology PhD programme. Postgraduate researchers in Social Psychology may complete the MSc in Social Science Research Methods (or equivalent) prior to registration for their PhD.

For students funded through the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership ESRC this is mandatory.

During the PhD, you will have opportunities to be trained in many techniques relevant to your topic area, and to gain experience from projects beyond your own, to strengthen your research expertise and future employment prospects.

By the time our students have completed their PhDs, the majority will have published scientific papers in leading peer-reviewed journals, and go on to secure positions in academic or academic-related domains.

Assessment

This programme is assessed based on the research outcome produced (thesis of 80,000 words and viva voce).

The research undertaken in the School ranges from ‘synapse to society’, and includes normal behaviour in development and adulthood, the breakdown of cognition after stress, trauma and in neurological and/or genetic conditions, as well as key psychological issues of broad importance to society, such as prejudice, reproductive health and optimising performance at work.

We undertake outstanding interdisciplinary scientific research under four contemporary research themes:

• Neuroscience, including behavioural neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and imaging science
• Cognitive Science, including cognitive psychology, and perception and action,
• Developmental and Health Psychology
• Social and Environmental Psychology, including social psychology, and risk and environment

Detailed information on each of these research areas is available on the research pages of the School website.

Supervisors

A full list of academic staff can be found on the Staff pages of the School website.

Research facilities

Full details of research facilities can be found on the Facilities pages of the School website.

Funding

We offer three types of funded opportunities:

• Open studentships
• Specific funded projects
• Partner-linked opportunities.

See our latest PhD studentships and projects and find out more about other funding opportunities.

Tuition fees

Students from the UK

Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.

Students from the rest of the world (international)

Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.

To begin your application, please fill in the ‘Apply’ form and select your preferred programme, mode of study and entry year.

Funded projects

This is the application route if you would like to apply for one of our funded PhD projects.

Search for funded PhD studentships.

If you are applying for a funded project, then you do not need to provide a research proposal.

You should provide:

• The project title and supervisor.
• Personal statement (maximum of 750 words). This should include why you would like to do this PhD project and what skills/experience/knowledge you have that could be useful to the project. Please upload a document with your personal statement.
• A current CV (maximum of 2 pages).
• Ideally, evidence of meeting the English Language entry requirement.
• Certificates and transcripts for all post high school education to date. If you are still studying for your undergraduate degree, you will probably not have any certificates or final transcripts, but you should submit any end-of-year interim transcripts that you have so far.
• Two academic references, are to be requested by the applicant. Your reference letters should ideally be uploaded with your application, or alternatively your referees can email their reference letters to Admissions@cardiff.ac.uk

Please note that you can only submit one application form per start date. If you are applying to multiple funded advertised projects with the same start date, please submit one application form and provide personal statements for each project, clearly stating the project title and supervisor.

Self-funded projects

If you have your own funding or are likely to secure your own funding, then apply for a self-funded project. When you have an idea of what you would like to research, we recommend that you look at our academic staff profiles to see which staff member(s) have similar research interests to you. You can then contact them and give them a brief idea of what you would like to research.

Please note you should only contact full members of staff and not research associates. If they agree that they would be interested in receiving an application from you, please apply in the normal way.

Students who have already contacted the relevant supervisor are far more likely to be accepted than those who apply without doing this.

You will need to provide the following:

• Research Proposal (maximum of 2000 words, excluding bibliographic references). See guidance.
• Personal statement (maximum of 750 words). This should include why you would like to do this PhD project and what skills/experience/knowledge you have that could be useful to the project. Please upload a document with your personal statement.
• A current CV (maximum of 2 pages).
• Ideally, evidence of meeting the English Language entry requirement.
• Certificates and transcripts for all post high school education to date. If you are still studying for your undergraduate degree, you will probably not have any certificates or final transcripts, but you should submit any end of year interim transcripts that you have so far.
• Two academic references, are to be requested by the applicant. Your reference letters should ideally be uploaded with your application, or alternatively, your referees can email their reference letter to Admissions@cardiff.ac.uk

A 1st or upper 2nd class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in Psychology or a related discipline, is usually required.

English language requirements

A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 will be required (a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

Please read our English language requirements for more details.