Psychology
Postgraduate Research Studies
Masters Degrees
For information about our Professional Masters courses see:
MSc in the Applied Psychology of Intellectual Disabilities
The degree of PhD
The Department of Psychology has a thriving postgraduate research programme and welcomes inquiries and applications from prospective full time and part time UK, EU and international PhD researchers. PhD researchers conduct independent and original research on a chosen topic, working closely with a supervisor team led by a Director of Studies who guides and advises them throughout their study.
At the end of the period of study, the results of the research are reported in a thesis, which is examined at a viva voce examination when the candidate is required to verbally defend his or her thesis to an external examiner. PhD researchers in the Department of Psychology are encouraged to submit their research findings for publication during the later part of their study, in order to maximise their chances of finding a job as a newly qualified PhD.
Department of Psychology becomes centre of excellence for Legal Psychology in Europe
Maastricht University, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Gothenburg are pleased to announce an exciting new collaborative PhD programme in psychology and law, funded by Erasmus Mundus. This programme, called the House of Legal Psychology, combines three centres of excellence in Europe and offers a unique educational programme to PhD students in the field of legal psychology.
The House now is enrolling EU-funded fellowships (open to EU and International Students). Key research themes include police decision-making, detecting deception, interviewing witnesses and suspects, eyewitness identification and evidence evaluation. For more information about the programme and details of the application process, see http://legalpsychology.eu/. The deadline for applications is 31 January. Read more here.
Applying to do a PhD in the Department of Psychology
It is not essential to have a specific research project in mind, although many prospective PhD researchers do. You should at least have a definite idea of what area you wish to focus on. Much (but not all) research in the Department takes place in the context of one of our Research Centres:
The International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology
Centre for Situated Action and Communication
Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology
Or the research group:
Quality of Life, Health and Wellbeing
The Department has internationally renowned experts in several research areas, and you are encouraged to use the staff pages to look for a possible Director of Studies with expertise in your area of interest. You should then contact the potential Director of Studies, and ask them if they would be prepared to supervise a research project. Additional information about PhD study is available at the Science Faculty Graduate School
Often the Director of Studies will have ideas they would like to pursue in the area. It is possible that the Director of Studies has funding, or is applying for funding and that the applicant could be involved at this stage. It is also the responsibility of the Director of Studies to ensure that the student has the qualifications necessary to undertake postgraduate research (normally a first or upper second class honours degree in Psychology or related discipline; see also the section above on Research Training).
If you find a member of academic staff willing to act as your Director of Studies, you then discuss your project with her or him in more detail, and when you have agreed a topic for your PhD project you can make your application. Applications may be made either by requesting an application pack from the Science Faculty Admissions Centre or through the University postgraduate applications page.
As well as your application form, you should send your Director of Studies a research proposal outlining the programme of work to be undertaken, together with any other information that he or she might require. The application form will be considered by the Departmental Postgraduate Research Degrees Committee, who may decide to interview the prospective student, either in the Department or by phone. At the interview the applicant will have the chance to learn about the research environment of the Department, and the members of the Committee can assess the applicant, and decide whether resources are available to supervise and support the proposed PhD project.
International students whose mother tongue is not English will need to meet an English Language Requirement of IELTS 6.5 average and 6.0 in Reading and Writing bands.
To find out more about doing postgraduate research degrees, how to fund your study and what it is like to be a PhD student, the British Psychological Society (BPS) have produced a useful guide on postgraduate research in psychology. This may be downloaded as a Word file from this link: Postgraduate Research Guide
Prof Alan Costall
Postgraduate Research Tutor
Department of Psychology
University of Portsmouth
King Henry Building
King Henry I Street
Portsmouth
Hampshire PO1 2DY
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