PhD by Research

Image of a behavioral experiment on a baby

Overview

The PhD (or doctorate) is the highest academic qualification available. A PhD degree is designed to provide strong grounding in highly specialised areas through research. Its goal is to enable students to be researchers in psychology, contributing to academic knowledge and developing work of internationally publishable quality. Bangor Psychology offers PhD supervision in the following specialisms:

Cognitive and Social Neuroscience
Learning and Development
Language
Clinical Neuroscience
Clinical Psychology
Health Psychology
Experimental Consumer Psychology

Find out more about our research on the Research at the School of Psychology website.

Choosing a Research Topic and Supervisor

If you are considering a PhD degree, one of your first actions -- before applying for admission to the programme -- is to identify and communicate with a potential supervisor in the relevant area. E-mail the people whose research is most relevant to the area in which you wish to work, and initiate the discussion!

A list of supervisors currently seeking PhD students, and their research interests, is available at the link below. This list will also include news about available studentships.
http://psychology.bangor.ac.uk/postgraduate/supervisor_details.php.en

Entry requirements

You are expected to have an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related subject, with a minimum degree class of 2:1 or equivalent. If you do not already have an MSc degree, then we would normally expect you to complete such a degree prior to starting the PhD programme. Many students complete their MSc degree in our department before progressing to the PhD.

Overseas applicants will normally be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. For a research degree, applicants will require one of the following:
IELTS - 6.5 with no element under 6.0
TOEFL - 600 with a TWE of 4.5, or
Computer-based TOEFL (CBT) - 250, or
Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 92'

Study mode and duration

Full-time PhD students normally spend three years in study. If you do not already have a Master’s degree, then we would normally expect you to complete such a degree prior to starting the PhD programme. If you have already obtained an appropriate Master’s degree, you may be required to take one or more relevant modules in the School’s MSc in Psychological Research to complement your background and expertise. Part-time students have five years to complete the PhD, and two years to complete the MSc skills modules if required.

Your research thesis is a large project. It will require attention throughout your studies. We have established a system to keep your research on track and help you manage your time. Completing a successful thesis builds on skills and knowledge acquired throughout the MSc modules. It constitutes an original piece of research, usually including several experiments or observational studies.

Your PhD thesis must be defended at the end of your studies in a viva voce examination. This comprises an oral report of the research in the presence of an examining committee.

Funding

Funding for full-time PhD study (tuition fees plus living allowance) is available through a number of sources, including the ESRC, Bangor University, and the School of Psychology.

Please click here for information about the School of Psychology PhD studentships

External Funding

PhD funding can be obtained from a number of different bodies and we can help you to apply. Please see our funding page for more details.

Applications from students who have already obtained funding or intend to self-fund their studies are welcome at any time; you can download an application form from the University website

How to Apply

Applicants must have a first or upper second-class honours degree in Psychology or equivalent. International students are welcome and encouraged to apply, for exceptional international candidates, we also offer a fee bursary of up to £4,500 per annum.

Please click here for advice and information on how to apply

Please follow the link to the University website above to download an application form. Once completed, forms should be returned to Ms Catrin Roberts at the following address:

The Brigantia Building, School of Psychology
Bangor University
Penrallt Road
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2AS
UK'