PhD/MPhil Experimental Psychology

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what undertaking postgraduate research at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .

 

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our website . You should then complete the online application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Applications must be submitted online well in advance of your anticipated start date (6 weeks for Home/EU, 12 weeks for overseas).  We cannot accept late applications without prior agreement via the Doctoral Academy.

Application deadlines

Home/EU applicants:

September entry - apply by 15 July

January entry - apply by 15 November

April entry - apply by 15 February

Overseas applicants:

September entry - apply by 1 ^st week of June

January entry - apply by 1 ^st week of October

April entry - apply by 1 ^st week of January

In addition to the formal online application, candidates should send all supporting documents (CV, transcripts, certificates, confirmation of funding, English language ability (if applicable), references and a personal statement).

About the personal statement  

We recommend that your personal statement summarises:

• any research experience and your interests;
• your motivation for postgraduate research study;
• why you want to do a postgraduate research degree in Manchester;
• your career development to date;
• your future career plans;
• other supporting information: recent publications if any or other research training and experience.

If you have completed a research project during your undergraduate/master's study, please give a short description of the work you undertook, including the following details:

• the research problem
• your key findings
• techniques acquired and skills learned.

This information is especially important for applicants from overseas, so we can fully assess your practical background and experience alongside your academic qualifications. Failure to include this information may delay the processing of your application.

See further guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our website .

The discipline of experimental psychology involves application of rigorous scientific experimental methods to the study of psychology and its underlying neural processes. In the same way that a physicist might develop theories and test hypotheses about physical systems, experimental psychologists develop and test theories about the processes of human psychology.

Experimental Psychology has a long tradition at the University of Manchester. Prof. Samuel Alexander, the late 19 ^th and early 20 ^th century philosopher, kick-started the study of psychology in Manchester after visiting experimental psychologists in Germany. This eventually led to the appointment of the first lecturer in experimental psychology in Manchester in 1909 and the establishment of a dedicated psychology department - a rare phenomenon for Britain and, indeed, anywhere outside of London at the time.

We primarily use behavioural experimental methods in order to study psychological processes, measuring key metrics such as perceptual biases and thresholds, reaction times, pupil responses and eye-movements. We use these measures to inform, and further develop, models of cognition.

Our major research themes include:

• Sensation and perception
• Vision and action
• Memory
• Judgement and Decision making
• Language processing
• Emotion
• Time perception

To search for specific project keywords, disciplines, topics and/or supervisors visit our research project pages.

Training and development

All of our postgraduate research students attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Centre for Academic and Researcher Development (CARD).

The programme provides key transferable skills in areas such as commercial awareness, academic writing and public engagement. This training equips our postgraduates with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy.

The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.

See the  training and development  page for more information.

PhD/MPhil programmes are based on individual research projects that last three to four years (PhD) or one year (MPhil), working with a specific Primary Supervisor and Co-Supervisor(s).

Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.

International applicants interested in this research area can also consider the our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .

This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.

Find out more about what it's like to study at Manchester on the  Doctoral Academy Blog .

You will have access to a range of research and learning facilities across the University and at some of our partner organisations.

Your postgraduate research degree will open up a range of career opportunities after you graduate. Find out more on the Careers page.