ucl funded phd psychology

UCL Mental Health

blogs on latest mental health research from UCL

Applying for the UCL-Wellcome 4-year PhD Programme in Mental Health Science by Humma Andleeb

By iomh, on 6 November 2020

This is a series of blogs about my experience of the UCL-Wellcome Mental Health Science PhD programme . It will cover applying for the programme, the interview and lead up to enrolment stage of the programme as well as my experience of the programme and my PhD. I am publishing these blogs for prospective students in response to the queries I have received about the programme in response to my Twitter thread  on successfully securing a place on the programme.

During my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, I worked with a PhD student on my research project and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go on and do a PhD too. However, I was aware that the financial constraints and the commitment of doing a PhD were things to be carefully considered before taking the leap.

I applied for various research assistant posts with no success until I came across an opportunity with The McPin Foundation as a trainee researcher, with an emphasis on the importance of lived experience of mental health problems. In my teenage years, I experienced quite severe depression and self-harm and was regularly seeing a child psychiatrist in my local Child and Adolescent Mental Health service. This was the start of my journey in mental health research and what better way to get involved in research than by using my lived experience to inform the work. I was elated when, much to my relief, I got the position at McPin.

In my three years at McPin, I was able to work on qualitative studies as well as use my background in quantitative methods on projects. It is during this time that my passion for research in mental health was cemented and I knew doing a PhD was the dream next step in my career as a researcher. I say it was a dream because it really was. It is rare for South Asian women to pursue academia beyond undergraduate or Master’s studies. There is a pressure culture around preparedness for marriage, children and family. Although it is difficult to detach yourself from the guilt of not pursuing the path set out for you, it felt like a natural progression for me to further my experience and training in mental health research.

During my time working at McPin, I loved the social and psychological research but I was missing the clinical neuroscience aspect that I had become so interested in during my undergraduate studies. I had been contemplating PhDs for a while, browsing Find a PhD , and speaking to various academics in the networks I had built at McPin about funding opportunities and PhD projects, until I came across a tweet by Jon Roiser (the course director) on the news that the Wellcome Trust had awarded UCL a 4-year PhD programme in Mental Health Science!

The description caught my eye and upon exploring it further on the website , it seemed too good to be true. I was baffled as to how much it matched my interests, experiences and what I was looking for, all in one PhD. The main thing that stood out to me was the emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary research – a topic that I have often openly spoke about the need for in research, to better treat and prevent mental health problems.

I spent the following week exploring the application process and what the programme was looking for from applicants, as well as what it could offer me, before deciding to apply for it. For me, a major factor of pursuing a PhD was ensuring that I was an ideal candidate for the programme, but also that the programme met my needs and future aspirations. Having lived experience and using it to inform the research I have been and will be involved in, it was fundamental for me to be able to disclose that, and to ensure that there was adequate mental health support available during the course of a PhD.

As most will be aware, PhDs have the potential to be isolating for students due to the nature of working on a stand-alone project – therefore it’s crucial that students have appropriate support systems and networks around them. Having previous mental health problems may further exacerbate this isolation so the fact that the programme assigns each student an independent mentor as well as being part of a cohort of five other students on the same programme eased my worries.

It was also critical that I would be able to express my identity and experience as a South Asian woman and for institutions to make space for those from minoritised communities or from a “BAME” background, who are less likely to pursue further studies in academia and when they do, retainment is very low. It is promising that the programme acknowledges and attempts to address these issues, and has ringfenced a scholarship for one “BAME” student each year of the programme.

Focus points of the programme that stood out to me included the opportunity to widen my skill set through access to a network of supervisors in rotation projects during the first year, working across three themes: Mechanism, Population and Intervention. This would allow me to work with teams I had not previously encountered, and to train in a range of methods and techniques applied in mental health research at UCL. The reason this stood out to me was because I am passionate about a range of topics including clinical neuroscience, social research, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as personal interests in the impact of lifestyle on mental health. I was torn on what I wanted to do my PhD on – all I knew was that I wanted it to be a collaboration between neuroscience and mental health, and ensure that the voices of those the furthest away from research were involved.

The deadline for the application was looming, so I got to work filling out the application form in the mornings whilst having breakfast, and the evenings after work. The application form is made up of a diversity monitoring form and an application form for the programme. The diversity monitoring form is not compulsory, but allows the team to keep track of the characteristics of those applying for the programme and detect any biases in the process. The application form, which must be submitted online, consists of sections about your academic achievements, your work experience and any research publications you may have, followed by three free-text sections about your research experience, a statement of motivation and your views on mental health research. The statement of motivation is a particularly important section of the application form (and the section I spent the most amount of time going back and forth with!), giving me the opportunity to express why the programme was of interest to me, how it fit in with my career trajectory and potential research areas I was interested in. There is a word limit to each of the free-text sections of the application form, which for me was a positive – it meant I had to succinctly prioritise what was essential for the application form, and what could be further discussed at interview stage if my application was shortlisted.

As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I submitted my application on the deadline date, going back and forth with several edits, asking family and even my former colleagues who encouraged me to apply (I know!), to proof-read and provide feedback on it. I may have even dreamt about the application the night I handed it in!

The suspense in between submitting the application and hearing back was tense, as many people knew how much work I had put into the application and how energised I was about the programme. When I found out I had been shortlisted, I couldn’t believe it – I probably (definitely!) celebrated like I had been offered a place! To even get to this stage is a huge milestone as it signifies an acknowledgement of your potential suitability to the programme as well as the quality of your application.

The next step was to prepare for the interview coming up a few weeks later which was nerve-wrecking to say the least as COVID-19 started spreading in London and things were getting tense everywhere, but I will cover more of this in the next blog!

For prospective students reading this thinking of applying to the programme, from my perspective the main tips I would give would be:

• Think about why you want to apply to the programme and what you will get out of it, but also what the programme will get from you as a student
• Put time and effort into the application, it is your opportunity to impress the committee within a word limit, and to summarise your experiences and interests
• Look at the supervisor list before applying and think about any supervisors you potentially want to work with on your rotations and/or your main PhD
• Allow plenty of time to proofread your application and maybe get someone else to proofread it too
• Ensure that the application form presents you as a person, not only through your academic experience

Humma Andleeb is on the 4-year PhD programme in Mental Health Science at UCL. She has an academic background in biochemistry and neuroscience and previously worked at The McPin Foundation, using her lived experience of mental health difficulties to inform mental health research. She is passionate about patient and public involvement, specifically involving minoritised communities furthest away from the research field. She is a regular book reader, sourdough baker and lifestyle podcast listener. You can find her on Twitter: @HummaAndleeb

Filed under UCL-Wellcome PhD Programme

2 Responses to “Applying for the UCL-Wellcome 4-year PhD Programme in Mental Health Science by Humma Andleeb”

Hello, I’m a current student of MRes Experimental Neuroscience at ICL and whilst searching for PhD programmes I happened to fall upon this – a programme that sounds perfect! Thank you for sharing your experience 🙂

Being in a supportive environment that recognizes the mental health of its students is important to me. What has your experience been like in terms of the support offered? It’d be amazing to hear more about your experience.

Regards, Jerusaa

We will bring down poverty in the world by improving healthcare in developing countries. That´s bold! We will harvest the power of digitalized healthcare such as scalability, connectivity and mobility. That´s feasible! We will focus on epidemic diseases such as diabetes for prevention and better management. That´s focused!

#inempathy #healthcare #philanthrophy #scalability #connectivity #mobility

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Subscribe By Email

Get a weekly email of all new posts.

Your Email Leave this field blank

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Course type

Qualification, university name, phd psychology in london.

29 degrees at 16 universities in London.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Psychology
• PhD Behavioural Psychology
• PhD Clinical Psychology
• PhD Cognitive Psychology
• PhD General Psychology
• PhD Human Sexuality
• PhD Occupational Psychology
• PhD Organisational Behaviour
• PhD Organisational Psychology
• PhD Psychology Specialisations
• PhD Social Psychology

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Psychology PhD

Birkbeck, university of london.

An PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree
• 7 years Part time degree

University of Roehampton

The Centre for Research and Knowledge Exchange in Psychological Wellbeing (CREW) brings together the School of Psychology’s unique Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,711 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Behavioural Science and Health MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

UCL's Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health carry out cutting-edge research and provide high quality teaching into the Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour, MPhil/PhD

Faculty of engineering & science, university of greenwich.

Our research degree (MPhil/PhD) allows you to undertake rigorous and critical exploration in the area of work, employment, human resource Read more...

• 1.5 years Full time degree
• 2.5 years Part time degree

Royal Holloway, University of London

The Department of Psychology is a dynamic and varied research community covering the cognitive and neural underpinnings of social Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)

Mphil Phd Applied Positive Psychology And Coaching Psychology

University of east london.

Studying for an MPhil/PhD with UEL's School of Psychology will push you to the limit - and our world-class academic staff will support Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,740 per year (UK)

Brunel University London

Research profile Research in Psychology is broad in scope and includes cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, evolutionary psychology, Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,355 per year (UK)

London South Bank University

A member of staff, expert in the chosen field, is directly responsible for guiding and supporting your research programme. As a research Read more...

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £4,820 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,820 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,892 per year (UK)

Queen Mary University of London

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at QMUL is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2014 Research Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

University of West London

Psychology research at UWL spans a vast array of topics investigating the links between our mind, behaviour and our experience of the Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £3,995 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,000 per year (UK)

PhD/MPhil Psychology

City, university of london.

The Psychology PhD/MPhil offers you the chance to develop a substantial and original body of new research involving the discovery of new Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Psychosocial Studies PhD

Institute of cognitive neuroscience mphil/phd.

The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN) PhD students are based in a truly interdisciplinary institute. The ICN is situated within Read more...

MPhil PhD Psychology

The School of Psychology has a thriving research community, with a strong tradition of theoretical and applied research. Our research Read more...

• 5 years Part time degree: £2,870 per year (UK)

Gender and Sexuality MPhil/PhD

Birkbeck has a strong tradition in interdisciplinary gender and sexuality studies, and encourages research students to think in innovative Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD

We are at the forefront of research in human speech, language and communication investigating core issues in the development of spoken Read more...

• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Organizational Psychology PhD

Clinical, educational and health psychology mphil/phd.

We are the world's leading integrated department of applied psychology, focusing on the implementation of groundbreaking research to Read more...

Gender and Sexuality Studies MPhil/PhD

Gender and Sexuality Studies is an inter-faculty programme drawing on the unique breadth of disciplines for which UCL is renowned. The Read more...

Psychology and Human Development MPhil/PhD

Our profile as a department focuses principally on psychology (particularly in relation to education) and special educational needs (SEN). Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,580 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

1-20 of 29 courses

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• Imperial College Business School
• King's College London, University of London
• London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
• Imperial College London
• Goldsmiths, University of London

Related Subjects:

UCL Postgraduate Programmes

Anna Freud is a world leader in both research and practice in the fields of child development, psychopathology and intervention.

We have been hosting a range of University College London (UCL) postgraduate programmes from Postgraduate Certificate to Doctoral level for over 20 years, attracting students from the UK and abroad who wish to advance their research and clinical understanding and skills.

When studying at Anna Freud, you will be embedded in an environment active in cutting edge research and direct clinical work with children and families. For more details on each programme please click on the relevant title below.

Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, MRes

This two-year full-time programme offered in collaboration with University College London and Yale University focuses on developmental psychopathology drawing on a range of perspectives....

Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice, MSc

This two-year full-time programme combines multiple theoretical perspectives on child mental health with practical skills in working with children and families.

Early Child Development and Clinical Applications, MSc

This two-year full-time MSc programme (formerly known as MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology) provides a comprehensive understanding of early child development through a range...

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, DPsych

This four-year full-time, highly selective professional doctorate aims to develop the academic, clinical and research skills needed to practice as a professional Child and Adolescent Psy...

Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice, PG Dip (Distance Learning)

This new online distance learning programme provides a comprehensive overview of child and adolescent mental health, introducing core concepts, theories, and models of current evidence-b...

Psychoanalytic Studies, MPhil/PhD

This programme’s main focus is to conduct original research culminating in the submission of a doctoral thesis. The programme also includes a taught component, workshops and discussion g...

Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy, PG Dip

This Postgraduate Diploma is part of the Department of Health initiative to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and provides specialist post-qualification training for Child...

Educational Mental Health Practitioner, PGDip

This one year long programme enables students to gain experience within educational settings and leads to qualification as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).

Child and Young Persons Psychological Wellbeing Practice, PG Diploma

This diploma aims to train a new workforce for CAMHS by providing specialist training on evidence-based treatment techniques.

Leading Transformation and Change: Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, PG Cert

This Postgraduate Certificate is part of the Department of Health initiative to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and aims to provide Managers with the necessary backgroun...

Supervision: Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, PG Cert

This programme is aimed at supporting individuals in their role as Site Supervisors of trainees registered on various workforce development programmes delivered in collaboration with UCL...

Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, PG Dip

This new two-year programme is specifically being commissioned by NHS England with a view to developing the careers and employability of those trained on Children and Young People’s Men...

Share this page

The clinical program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.

Your program will typically be fully funded for five years thanks to stipend grant support and guaranteed teaching fellowships. Tuition support is also available for a six-year program. Funding is also available for research, travel, and conferences. You will have access to the latest technology at FAS Research Computing and the Neuroimaging Facility at the Center for Brain Science.

Examples of student dissertations and theses include “Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Developmental Risk Factors and Predictors of Treatment Response,” “Clarifying the Pathway to Suicide: An Examination of Subtypes of Suicidal Behavior and Their Association with Impulsiveness,” and “A Cognitive Neuroscience of Social Groups.”

Graduates have secured positions in academia at prestigious institutions such as Princeton University, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. Others have embarked on careers with companies such as Facebook, BetterUp, and Apple.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Psychology and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Cognition, Brain, and Behavior | Experimental Psychopathology and Clinical | Developmental | Social Psychology

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Psychology .

Academic Background

While an undergraduate concentration in psychology is not required, some social science coursework is recommended. Because the program is heavily quantitatively oriented, college-level math and statistics are also advised. Research experience is extremely helpful; successful applicants have often worked for professors, done research projects as part of college courses, written an undergraduate thesis, or volunteered in a psychology research lab.

Please Note: Before making the decision to apply, the program in Psychology suggests checking individual faculty/lab websites or emailing faculty directly to inquire whether they plan to consider applicants for Fall 2024 admission. It’s important to note that while individual faculty members may have every intention of bringing in a new student this year, we cannot guarantee that they will all be able to do so. The total number of offers of admission to be extended by the graduate program is based on applicant preparedness and fit, availability of university advising and support resources, and target class size. Some of these factors are not able to be determined until after the applicant pool has been finalized.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Psychology

See list of Psychology faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Psychology BSc

This three-year programme, accredited by the British Psychological Society, exposes you to a very wide coverage of the field of psychology. It includes the opportunity for a measure of specialisation within your studies, so you can make informed and rational decisions about your future career.

Key Information

Programme starts, entry requirements, contextual offer, uk applicants qualifications.

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D2,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including at least one, or preferably two, subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), including at least one, or preferably two, subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology at Advanced Higher.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades A*AA. To include at least one, preferably two subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

International applications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

The English language level for this programme is: Good (Advanced for GCSE/IGCSE)

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education .

Degree benefits

The first two years of the programme span the field of psychology while the third offers considerable choice of topics according to your main interests and aims.

The UCL Division of Psychology & Language Sciences is one of the largest centres of psychology teaching and research in the UK. Its cutting-edge research is internationally recognised.

The programme is accredited and audited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduates are eligible to become members of the BPS, which is the starting point for a career in psychology.

Excellent resources include our up-to-date web-based system, which makes all teaching materials (including course outlines, lecture presentation slides, handouts, video recordings of lectures) available to all registered students.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society . UK applicants for graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) require a minimum of a lower second-class Bachelor's degree. Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership is required for entry to all accredited postgraduate and doctoral programmes as part of the route to becoming a chartered psychologist.

Degree structure

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The first two years of your degree comprise a combination of compulsory and optional modules. Compulsory modules make up the majority of credits in both years and include the study of experimental design in psychology, the neurological underpinnings of behaviour, health and clinical psychology, language, cognition, individual differences, social psychology and perception.

Optional modules in the first year may be taken from a wide variety of subjects, in the arts or sciences, taught within UCL.

In your final year, all modules are taken in psychology and you will undertake a compulsory research project on a subject of your choice. Your project will be supervised by a staff member and will be an empirical and usually experimental piece of research which utilises the skills you have learned.

An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.

Core or compulsory module(s)

Evidence and Enquiry in Psychology Introduction to Psychological Experimentation Introduction to Statistical Methods in Psychology Memory and Decision The Psychology of Individual Differences Social Psychology

Optional modules

You will take 0.5 or 1.0 credit of subsidiary modules from across UCL.

Brain and Behaviour Design and Analysis of Psychological Experiments Developmental Psychology Health and Clinical Psychology Language and Cognition Perception Research Methods in Psychology

Qualitative and Mixed Research Methods

Research Project

You will select six optional modules to the value of 3.0 credits. Options may include: Applied Decision Making Behaviour Change Brain in Action Cognitive Neuroscience Genes and Behaviour Human Computer Interaction Human Learning and Memory Language in Context Organisational Psychology Psychology and Education Social Psychology of Health Risks Social Psychology Topics in Developmental Psychology Topics in Neurobiology

Your learning

Your learning will involve attendance at lectures. You will also experience laboratory classes and independent research projects. Small academic tutorial groups meet weekly, for which you will be asked to produce essays and prepare discussion topics. Progression to the second and third years is dependent upon your achievement in years one and two.

Assessment is primarily by end-of-year examinations, but other methods include multiple choice and computational tests and coursework. Your final-year project will be assessed in two parts: the research proposal (10% of the project mark) and the project itself (90%).

Detailed module descriptions are available on the department website: Psychology BSc .

In addition to subject-based skills and knowledge, psychology graduates also acquire a number of transferable skills e.g. numeracy, IT literacy, data-management, time-management, independent research, team working, report writing, presentation skills, communications and literacy skills and the ability to work ethically and professionally with people. These abilities are all highly valued in a range of employment fields.

Your knowledge of all areas of the subject makes you eligible for entry into any field normally open to psychology graduates, or for further graduate training (which is required for graduates wishing to work as a chartered professional psychologist in the areas of health, forensic, clinical, educational and occupational psychology).

While many UCL psychology graduates have gone on to become professional psychologists in the National Health Service, in education, the civil service and industry, it is important to bear in mind that psychology provides a very useful basis for a wide range of other careers. For further information on careers, visit the website of the British Psychological Society .

UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship .

Student view

“ UCL is the best institution to be studying psychology at. It's an intellectually stimulating environment which pushes you to be the best version of yourself as a student. The quality and effectiveness of research that is conducted here is vast, and is definitely amplified in the teaching. ” Sara Tofiq - Psychology BSc Third Year

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2019/20 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website .

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Departmental scholarships

Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Application and next steps

Your application.

Together with academic requirements, we are looking to attract well-qualified students with a range of subjects at A level (or equivalent). We are also looking for you to demonstrate your understanding that psychology, in all its branches, is a scientific subject. Applicants may be asked for additional information, including the completion of a questionnaire, prior to a decision being made.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Application deadline: 15 January 2019

• Apply through UCAS
• Application guidelines

All applicants who are offered a place will be invited to attend an open day. This is intended to allow candidates to make an informed decision about whether the degree programme is right for them, and all candidates resident in the UK are usually expected to attend. Virtual open days will also be held for offer holders who are unable to attend in person.

For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students .

• Request a printed prospectus
• Download prospectus

UCL School of Management

University college london, phd in management.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully funded scholarships to all admitted students Application deadline: 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time). A late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time), although we encourage you to apply early as places are limited and applications are subject to close sooner if places are filled. Entry:  Minimum of a first class bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ‘ Level 1 ’ (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

PhD students pursue their studies in one of the Operations & Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics, and Organisations & Innovation groups. All four groups offer a unique education and research experience to a small number of highly motivated students, with the intent of preparing them for scholarly careers at the highest level.

PhD studies in Operations and Technology

Across the different research themes , there is a shared interest in management science, operations management and business technologies. Topics of interest include R&D management, innovation and new product development, service systems, supply chain management and healthcare operations. For candidates in this area, a degree in engineering (e.g. industrial, electrical, computer, mechanical etc), economics, mathematics, statistics or operational research is preferred. 

PhD studies in Strategy and Entrepreneurship

S&E faculty research  focuses on understanding what makes firms successful, how they cope with a complex and dynamic environment, and what leads to new business formation and growth. Doctoral training involves close collaboration between the doctoral student and faculty members on shared research interests, coursework at UCL and other institutions, and independent research. Doctoral students also benefit from the S&E group’s collaborative research community, a lively program of research speakers from other institutions, and links with researchers worldwide. Topics of interest include digitization, big data analytics, machine learning, information environment, platform ecosystems, new organisational forms, learning, innovation, competition, interorganisational relationships, corporate strategy, entrepreneurial strategy, entrepreneurship for development, social innovation. 

PhD studies in Marketing and Analytics

Topics of interest in this group include branding, retailing, advertising, pricing, product development, marketing channels, business marketing, marketing strategy and e-commerce. The researchers in this group use diverse quantitative methodologies that include big data analytics, regression analysis, choice models, field experiments and Bayesian econometrics.

PhD studies in Organisations and Innovation

O&I faculty research focuses on understanding individual and team outcomes within organisations. Group members engage with a variety of perspectives and approaches including network research, experiments and ethnographies. There is a shared interest in the topics of creativity, innovation, social networks and diversity. For applicants to the PhD programme, prior training in social science (e.g. social psychology, sociology or economics) is highly relevant. 

PhD studies in Financial Economics

Our MRes and PhD Programme in Financial Economics with UCL’s Department of Economics now has more information about how to apply and what you can expect from the programme on a brand new programme page, please see the specific entry requirements and programme structure here . 

PhD Structure

• The programme typically consists of five years of full-time study, starting with one year of modules registered as MRes. These modules are typically advanced postgraduate modules to provide rigorous methodological training to prepare students for their PhD research. Along with the School’s modules, students typically take some of these from other UCL departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), the London Business School, Bayes Business School, and Imperial College Business School.
• In addition to methods modules, students also undertake a first-year research project under the tutoring and supervision of a faculty member later in the MRes year (Term 3 + Summer period).
• Progression from MRes to PhD is not automatic . Superior performance in taught modules and independent, original research is required for progression from MRes to PhD.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or engineering department of a world-class university
• PhD applications are reviewed once a completed application form has been submitted online . 

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project:

• MSIN0135 - MRes Research Project: 8,000-10,000 words . 105 credits.

Students take 75 credits of taught modules, of which the following three are compulsory modules:

• MSIN0131 - Research Presentation and Critical Writing Skills . 15 credits
• MSIN0132 - Seminar in Organisation Theory . 15 credits
• MSIN0240 - Designing Management Research Projects.  15 credits

Finally, students choose elective modules (15 credits each) among those offered by the School of Management, other UCL Departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology), and partner universities in London.

Students can take additional (non-credit) modules at UCL and our partners schools in the remaining years to complement their learning, but there is no requirement to take modules after the MRes year.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion based on case studies and other activities. Student performance is assessed through simulations, presentations, coursework, group projects, class participation, and examinations. 

Students typically study 3 compulsory modules over Terms 1 and 2. Students will also typically study 2 optional modules which may take place in Terms 1, 2 or 3. Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually be undertaken over Terms 2 and 3. 

Each taught module is delivered over 10 weeks, with 3 contact hours per week comprising lecture content and interactive components. 

In addition, students typically spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What our students say:.

‘The UCL School of Management PhD programme is designed to provide students with skills that lead to academic excellence. Candidates are part of a dynamic and vibrant group and benefit from the programme’s flexibility, as they can choose from a wide range of disciplines. The frequent cooperation with world-leading faculty members enhances our knowledge and skills and ultimately leads to high-quality research output, laying the foundations for a subsequent successful academic career.’ 

UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF. 

VIDEO LIBRARY

Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

We seek to recruit highly motivated, ambitious students with strong educational backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a first-class Bachelor’s degree from the UK or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard from a leading university. We encourage students from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g, engineering, economics, business, mathematics/statistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, among others) to apply to our programme. Also, notice that a Master’s or graduate level degree is not required for admission, you can apply with only an undergraduate (e.g. bachelors) degree. 

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand – you do not need to do so. In fact, applicants are discouraged from randomly contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

All MRes/PhD applicants are normally expected to take either a GMAT test or GRE test (UCL’s institution code is 3344, but also make sure you include a scanned copy of your test result on your online application), although the School has no minimum score requirements.  

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 1” English qualification which corresponds to:

• IELTS: Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
• TOEFL: Score of 92, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 20/30 in the listening and speaking subtests.  

Application Deadline

The application window closes 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 01 February 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 2-3 page personal statement or research proposal* that clearly indicates: (i) which research group you are interested in (i.e., Organisations & Innovation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics or Operations & Technology, (ii) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (iii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iv) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE / GMAT  score report**
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

* While submission of a full research proposal is not required, you can send us one if you have already written it up.

** You can submit your application even if you don’t have a GRE/GMAT score —simply indicate when you plan to take the test. Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year MRes/PhD scholarships in the UCL School of Management to all admitted students. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000, which is tax-free.

Additional costs 

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  

Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Apply today

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

Programme Information

Application process, admissions requirements, further information.

If you have any other questions regarding the programme that are not addressed on our web pages please email the programme team ( [email protected] )