Psychology is an experimental science concerned with the explanation of human and animal behaviour. At Newcastle, our distinctive research strengths are in the biological and neuroscience context.
We have established research groups in: animal behaviour and the evolution of human behaviour; cognitive and visual neuroscience; clinical psychology; and speech and language sciences. Developmental psychology is well represented and we are developing links with other regional universities in this area. The quality of our research was recognised in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008. Seventy-five per cent of our work was classed as ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘internationally recognised’ with 10 per cent classed as ‘world leading’.
We have excellent facilities for psychological research in the Institute of Neuroscience (comparative and neuroscience approaches), the Institute of Health and Society (health psychology, and development and disability), Culture Lab (human–computer interaction), and the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences (disorders of language).
The MRes in Neuroscience and the MRes in Animal Behaviour combine the structure of a taught programme with the flexibility of a research degree. Taught modules enable you to develop research skills and build on your subject knowledge before undertaking a substantial research project in a topic of your choice. Funded PhD and MRes/PhD studentships are advertised on the website when details become available.
As a PhD student you will be supervised by research-active academics who will provide advice and guidance throughout your studies. Further support is provided through the comprehensive research training and professional development programme organised by the Medical Sciences Graduate School. We have a full calendar of psychology research seminars and lectures delivered by visiting speakers and hosted by the School of Psychology, the Institute of Neuroscience and other nearby institutions. These seminars, along with attendance at conferences, enable you to meet students and academics at other universities to discuss your work.
Three of our programmes are delivered in conjunction with the NHS. The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is the formal training for Trainee Clinical Psychologists. We also deliver training programmes in Low and High Intensity Psychological Therapies as part of the government initiative for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). We are developing new vocational and non-vocational programmes for 2012 in areas relevant to clinical and health psychology.