Psychology - PhD

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in Psychology
School: School of Education and Social Sciences
Campus(es): Paisley, Lanarkshire, Ayr, and London
Start date: October, February, April, or June
Admissions Deadline: September, January, March, or May
Duration: Minimum of 36 months full-time or 72 months part-time
Fees: Tuition Fees for Research Degrees

Psychology Research

Becoming a researcher in psychology allows you to become part of a diverse, dynamic and supportive community within the School and UWS. Research conducted under psychology can be in any area of our expertise including:

Active areas of interest include:

  • Decision making in health and industry contexts
  • EEG imaging, emotion processing and emotion processing disorders
  • Efficient navigation and signage in healthcare settings
  • Creating therapeutic environments
  • Poverty-based stigma

Active areas of interest include:

  • Cannabis, alcohol, mental health and addiction
  • Individual differences in alcohol use and consequences and effects of alcohol hangover
  • Social determinants of mental health

Active areas of interest include:

  • Online identity and impression formation, including the impact of online presentation on political views and employability
  • Online images and body satisfaction; prejudicial beliefs and culture in online environments, including sexism in gaming
  • Technological facilitation in cybercrime (cyberstalking, domestic abuse, cyberflashing)
  • Online victim blame
  • Gaming and serious games

Active areas of interest include:

  • Adverse childhood experiences
  • Understanding the experiences of neurodiverse children and young people
  • Youth skills and employability development via work-based learning experiences
  • Social and cumulative learning in pre-schoolers

 

Active areas of interest include:

  • Online/hybrid learning and post-digital learning
  • Inclusion and neurodiversity
  • Language and literacy skills
  • Designing effective learning spaces
  • Applying learning theory to classroom practice

Applied Psychology Research Group

UWS's Applied Psychology Research Group (APRG) is a newly formed research group which will consolidate and advance our nationally and internationally recognised applied research. Through our diverse portfolio of research, this grouping will facilitate the sharing of expertise with internal and external stakeholders. It will build on existing strengths to enhance, expand to produce a body of impactful work, by increasing our external funding and production of quality outputs.

Find out more about Applied Psychology Research Group

Research Excellence Framework

The APRG will drive a successful UoA4 (Psychology & Neuroscience) for the first time in our Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2027 submission, increasing the number of 3 and 4* outputs and impact case studies.

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

UWS aims to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the United Nations SDGs by placing them at the heart of our Strategy 2025.

In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, UWS was officially recognised in the top 400 universities worldwide as assessed against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UWS was recognised as the 2nd most impactful university in Scotland, and 16th globally, for 'reducing inequalities' (UN SDG 10).

Find out more about UWS and UN SDGs

 

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for an applicant for registration for the degree of MRes or MPhil or for the degree of MRes/MPhil with the intention of transfer to PhD shall be a first or second class honours degree of a university in the United Kingdom, or of an equivalent qualification.

Applicants holding qualifications other than those specified in (above) shall be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed.

Direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University if the applicant holds an MRes/MPhil degree of a United Kingdom University, or an MRes/MPhil degree of equivalent standard of a non-UK University, provided that the MRes/MPhil degree is in a subject area which is appropriate to the proposed programme of work.

Exceptionally, direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University, even if the applicant is not the holder of an MRes/MPhil degree, but does hold an exceptionally high-quality honours degree or taught master’s degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline, AND has appropriate research experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in significant peer-reviewed publications, and where verifiable evidence of accomplishment is supplied.

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • Overall score of 6.5
  • No sub-test less than 6.0

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

HOW TO APPLY

Applying for postgraduate research study at UWS has never been simpler. Click the link below to find more information about:

Postgraduate Research step-by-step guide – everything you need to know to submit a successful application
Link to our online application system

applying for research degrees

Last updated: 14/10/2024

Search Research System

PURE is the University's research information management system and provides a single source of research information for UWS. It is used to record and manage research activity with details of research outputs, funding applications, conference contributions, external impact and staff profiles.