Psychology MPhil, PhD

Overview

Newcastle University has a world-class reputation and leading researchers and clinicians working in the field of psychology. With our new facilities we are well placed to offer psychology research opportunities of the highest standard. We accept both funded and self-funded students.

Our Psychology MPhil and PhD are based within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The programme is delivered in the School of Psychology and the relevant Research Institutes for:

• Biosciences
• Population Health Sciences
• Translational and Clinical Research

Our Psychology MPhil and PhD cover many areas of specialism in psychology, including:

• animal behaviour
• clinical psychology
• evolutionary psychology
• forensic psychology
• applied health psychology and behavioural science
• perception, cognition, and neuroscience
• sport, exercise, and coaching psychology

We use a wide range of methodologies and cutting-edge tools to support psychological inquiry and clinical research. Our teams develop and evaluate psychological interventions and co-produce resources with partners from across the region. We work with voluntary and community groups, the NHS, local Government and have partnerships across the globe.

Research projects align to the Newcastle University Centres for Research Excellence including the Centre for Healthier Lives, Centre for Ageing and Inequalities, and Centre for Transformative Neuroscience.

We conduct research on topics including:

• addiction studies
• advertising and consumer behaviour
• cancer survivorship
• cognitive skills development
• Dementia
• developmental disorders
• health and wellbeing
• human cognition
• learning and memory
• mental health including anxiety disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• offending behaviour
• pedagogy
• visual perception

Behaviour and evolution

We carry out studies of animal and human behaviour including:

• evolutionary psychology of mate choice
• attractiveness and co-operation
• evolutionary approaches to personality

Visual perception and human cognition

Our research includes:

• perception of natural scenes
• psychophysics and attention
• visual social cognition and face processing
• advertising and consumer behaviour

Development psychology

You'll focus on how different cognitive skills develop in children. You'll explore memory systems to learning in school. We have strengths in developmental disorders like Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Forensic psychology

Our research includes:

• investigative interviewing of victims
• witnesses and suspected offenders of crime, including eye-witness testimony
• sexual offending, including historical allegations of sexual abuse
• communication in legal contexts

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

MPhil - Master of Philosophy

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

How you'll learn

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Thesis
• Viva

Postgraduate research student support

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact
• Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements
• Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the FMS researcher development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

Newcastle Liverpool Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

You’ll spend most of your time within the School of Psychology where you’ll find scholars, clinicians and researchers working together to understand the mind, brain, and behaviour. We are located in the Dame Margaret Barbour Building, a new bespoke facility offering an excellent environment for learning, teaching, and research. Our psychology facilities include:

• psychological testing cubicles
• medical consultation rooms
• media and behaviour lab
• forensic interviewing suite

Housed within the School is the Psychological Therapies Training and Research Clinic which offers one to one Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for students at Newcastle University.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Why is this fee shown as a range?

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

PGR Home fee note

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI. The Home tuition fees for this course will be updated after this confirmation. 

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events