Psychology > Prospective students > Postgraduate research

PhD courses

Click here for currently advertised PhD opportunities.|

The Department is active and expanding, well-equipped and situated on a beautiful campus close to London. There are around 35 academic staff members, around 20 research staff and about 25 postgraduate research students. Academic staff include leading researchers in several fields, and the Department was ranked 7th out of 75 Psychology Departments in the UK in the most recent RAE.

A wide range of research facilities| is available. The Department has a research-dedicated MRI scanner on the site and offers considerable MRI support and expertise. There is also a TMS laboratory and several laboratories with sophisticated equipment for measuring body movements, actions and eye movements. There is a well-equipped baby lab for research on infants. There are vision research laboratories and a language research laboratory.

Most members of academic staff are available for supervision of postgraduate research students, and a description of the research conducted in the department (including research interests of individual staff members) is available here|. Prospective applicants are invited to make contact informally with individual staff members, who will be able to discuss possible projects and provide information about the facilities and funding opportunities that are available within their specialist areas of expertise.

Both full-time and part-time students are expected to engage in the departmental research training programme. This is tailored to the needs of the individual student and can include attending a postgraduate research methods course, another course in an area of specialist interest, departmental colloquia, and an annual postgraduate convention. In addition, research students are required to attend the College Research Skills Programme (RSP): details about these courses are provided here| .

The Department has research links with several hospitals, including Guy's, St. Thomas's, Barts & the London, and St. George's Hospitals as well as with more local hospitals such as St Peters, St. Helliers in Carshalton and Hillingdon and West Middlesex hospitals. The Department also has close links and collaborations with several other imaging laboratories. Research opportunities are also available through established links with schools, civil aviation authorities, police, industrial sponsors, charitable bodies, national and international research institutes and the World Health Organization. Postgraduates may attend lectures and seminars at other London colleges and use the extensive collection of psychological literature at the University of London Library.

A number of studentships are available each year from both the College and from the UK Research Councils (ESRC, EPSRC). These awards may be applied for after consultation with the proposed supervisor. Funding may also be available from charitable bodies or industrial sponsors. Overseas students may be able to apply for ORS awards which provide assistance with tuition fees.  

If you have independent funding, this should be stated on your application.

In the first instance, you should check the research interests of members of academic staff in the department to see who is conducting research in the area that you are interested in. You will be asked to provide some details of your research proposal.  We are not expecting a fully worked up proposal here - rather an overview of what you would like to study (you can get help with this by emailing your potential supervisor).  Please do not apply unless you have found an appropriate supervisor as we can only take on PhD students in the research areas in which we work.

Informal enquiries and further details about the application process can be obtained here| (doc).

Any remaining queries should be directed to t.pincus@rhul.ac.uk|

Applicants should have the equivalent of a 2.1 honours degree in Psychology, or a related discipline, (or equivalent) and meet College requirements for English (for international students).