university of sussex phd psychology

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Postgraduate psychology courses at University of Sussex

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Occupational and Organizational Psychology

University of sussex.

• University of Sussex Business School

Psychological Therapy (12 months)

• School of Psychology

Supervision of Therapeutic Practice

Low-intensity psychological interventions for children and young people - children's wellbeing practitioner pathway, psychological therapy (18 months), foundations of clinical psychology and mental health, low-intensity psychological interventions for children and young people, mental health practice, marketing and consumer psychology, animal behaviour.

• School of Life Sciences

Psychology (Conversion)

Applied child psychology, global health.

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Psychological Methods

Psychology of kindness and wellbeing at work (online), education mental health practice, cognitive neuroscience, neuroscience mres.

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Qualification, university name, postgraduate general psychology courses at university of sussex.

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• General Psychology
• Child Psychology
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Psychology PhD

University of sussex.

From crowd behaviour to perception and studies of the brain - you will work with experts who will guide and support you through your Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree
• 6 years Part time degree

Psychology (Conversion)

This MSc is a conversion course that gives you a thorough grounding in psychology. You don’t need any prior formal psychology Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £11,950 per year (UK)

Secondary Psychology PGCE

This course prepares you to start your career as a new teacher and be successful. You will learn to teach in schools in East or West Read more...

• 10 months Full time degree: £9,250 per year (UK)
• 20 months Part time degree

Occupational and Organizational Psychology MSc

If you are interested in how people think and behave at work - and in helping them optimise their wellbeing and performance - this is the Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £14,250 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £6,568 per year (UK)

Psychological Therapy PGDip

This course gives you a critical understanding of cognitive behavioural models of anxiety disorders and depression. You will develop the Read more...

• 12 months Full time degree: £11,500 per year (UK)

Psychological Methods MRes

Gain a strong grounding in the methods and concepts of psychology and get advanced research training. Study this course if you want to go Read more...

• 2 years Part time degree: £5,975 per year (UK)

Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health MSc

Develop advanced research skills relevant to clinical psychology. You also gain a broad understanding of mental health service Read more...

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Academic Sources: Psychology

• PsycArticles This link opens in a new window Access to full-text psychology publications covering the disciplines of Human Physiology, Personality Psychology, Social Psychology, Educational Psychology, and more.
• PsycINFO This link opens in a new window Access to international literature in psychology and related disciplines.

Academic Sources: Multidisciplinary

• Annual Reviews This link opens in a new window A comprehensive, current set of critical reviews written by leading scientists.
• ASSIA Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts This link opens in a new window An indexing and abstracting tool covering health, social services, psychology, sociology, economics, politics, race relations and education. Updated monthly, a comprehensive source of social science and health information for the practical and academic professional.
• BioMed Central Journals This link opens in a new window BioMed Central is an independent publishing house committed to providing immediate open access to peer-reviewed biomedical research.
• Mintel This link opens in a new window For consumer psychology; produces hundreds of reports into consumer markets every year. You will need to login to access Mintel.
• Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing (PEP) This link opens in a new window PEP has been designed to provide a powerful rapid search of the entire psychoanalytic literature in English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish.
• Science This link opens in a new window The world's leading journal of original scientific research, global news and commentary.
• ScienceDirect This link opens in a new window Full text and abstracts from over 2,500 journals in all fields of science and social sciences such as economics, management and business.

Scopus is a multidisciplinary abstract and citation database, which provides access to academic journals, books, conference proceedings, and patents from 1788–present.

Advanced Features: citation analysis, author profiles, journal metrics; data export and analysis, search alerts.

Subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Engineering ; Life and Health Sciences ; Social Sciences, Psychology and Economics ; Biological, Agricultural; Environmental Sciences.

• Web of Science This link opens in a new window Access to the Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index and Arts & Humanities Citation Index.

Academic Sources: Medicine

• Cochrane Library - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews This link opens in a new window A collection of databases that contain high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. We have access to a limited amount of freely available content.
• Medline This link opens in a new window Bibliographic database for biomedical literature covering research, clinical practice, administration, policy issues, and health care services.
• PubMed This link opens in a new window A search tool for accessing literature citations and linking to full-text journals. Developed by the NCBI in conjunction with publishers of biomedical literature.

Academic Sources: Developmental Psychology

• Ebsco Education Databases This link opens in a new window Access to a collection of educational databases, including the British Education Index, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Education Abstracts (H.W. Wilson), Educational Administration Abstracts and ERIC.
• Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) This link opens in a new window Provides extensive access to educational-related literature. The ERIC database corresponds to two printed journals: Resources in Education (RIE) and Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE).

Research Methodology

• Sage Research Methods Online This link opens in a new window A research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects.
• Springer Behavioural Science ebook Collection This link opens in a new window A collection of Behavioural Science ebooks from Springer, published between 2005 and 2013.

Audio-visual

• Alexander Street Press Video Collection This link opens in a new window Access to a large number of videos across a wide range of subject areas. The University does not subscribe to all the content within the collection.
• Kanopy (now via Library Search) This link opens in a new window You can now look for Kanopy films using Library Search. The benefit of this is that it will also search across our other film collections, to make sure that you don't miss out. Simply enter your search terms and select 'Video' from the drop down list at the end of the Library Search bar.
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• Last Updated: Apr 16, 2024 4:18 PM
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Research Degrees

Explore the science of the mind

Our department is home to an international community of academics and postgraduate researchers who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what we know about psychology.

Our research and teaching employ a multi-modal approach to explore the brain's complex processes, unravelling how we interact with , experience and think about  the world. Recognising the diversity of psychological development, emotional decision-making, and neuro-cognitive disorders, we foster a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.

As a postgraduate researcher, you'll benefit from our exceptional facilities , comprehensive support from award-winning academics  and technicians , and a unique research training approach. Our commitment to postgraduate development is highlighted by our participation in the ESRC-funded South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), ensuring a supportive and enriching journey towards academic and professional excellence.

• We are 20th in the UK for research outputs in psychology (Grade Point Average, REF 2021)
• We are a member of the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership.
• We have excellent facilities, such as laboratories in our purpose built Centre for Brain Science.

Psychology degrees

Applied and Clinical Psychology Degrees

Master of science by dissertation (msd).

A Master of Science by Dissertation (MSD) is a one-year research degree, sitting at the same level as an MSc.

Much like a PhD, you will carry out independent research on a topic of your choice with the support of an academic supervisor. At the end you will write up your research and defend it in an oral exam known as a viva.

An MSD is an ideal degree if you are considering a research degree without the longer commitment of a PhD. It doesn't preclude you from undertaking a PhD in the future, and if your research is progressing well you may be able to apply to move on to a PhD.

An MPhil is a two-year research degree, on a topic of your choice with a supervisor.

An MPhil is very similar to a PhD. You will still write up your work as a thesis and complete a viva at the end, but you will do this over two years instead of the minimum three years for a PhD.

PhD candidates are originally placed on an MPhil pathway when they join our university. In the second year you can move on to complete your PhD, or you may choose to remain on the MPhil track.

PhD and Integrated PhDs

Your PhD will take a minimum of three years, during which you will carry out research into your chosen area of expertise. You will write up your work in a thesis and defend it in your viva.

When you start at Essex you will be registered on an MPhil pathway. If you are progressing as expected then in your second year you will progress into a PhD.

For those who want to develop their research skills prior to commencing a PhD, we offer two integrated PhD options:  PhD Psychology  and PhD Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology . 

In your first year of your integrated PhD, you will complete the same modules as our Postgraduate Taught students, after which you then transition to a three-year PhD programme. Integrated PhDs can be an ideal option for those who want to brush up their skills before embarking on a research degree.

Part-time options

A full-time research degree can be difficult for many people to fit around other life commitments such as work or caring responsibilities.

That's why we offer part-time options for many of our research degrees. You will have the same expert supervision, access to facilities, and opportunities as full-time postgraduate students, but with the flexibility to undertake your research around other things in your life.

Research themes

"A research degree from our department offers you the chance to really dig into a research question, to become an expert in a topic and to develop research skills that can help advance your career, either in academia or outside. Drawing on our range of specialist labs and facilities including online experiment tools, cutting-edge equipment and software, you will be able to follow your curiosity to provide new findings for the wider scientific community. We work hard to make sure that students can achieve all this and more." Dr Rick O'Gorman Director of Postgraduate Research

Research topic

You should decide on whether you wish to pursue a MSc by dissertation or a PhD. Either way, you will need to have a topic that interests you. You might wish to browse our research themes , or look through our staff’s research interests .

It is useful to have some research questions in mind before you contact potential supervisors, but it is also okay to just have an interest in their area of research.

Find a supervisor

Once you have a topic (or maybe more than one), you need to identify one or more academics with whom you would like to work.

If there is more than one with whom you would like to work, that is fine, just contact each of them initially and see how it goes.

Some staff will want to know what you would like to do, others will have ideas they can offer you. But all staff will be happy to receive an inquiry.

If you are not sure who to contact, you can email  [email protected] for advice.

Research proposal

You will then need to develop a research proposal. Your chosen supervisor will work with you to develop this, so don't feel that you have to have this completed before contacting someone - in fact, many will want to work with you to develop it.

However, do allow time to work on this with a supervisor prior to applying as it is likely to be a months-long process.

Your proposal doesn't need to be too long - we do not have a minimum or maximum, but around 1500 words is usually sufficient to confirm a viable research plan.

Once you have supervision agreed and have developed a proposal, you can proceed to applying for a PhD .

It is helpful if you include an email or other document that confirms a supervisor has agreed to supervise you when you apply (you can upload this as a supporting document, along with your research proposal).

What do we have to offer?

Professional development support.

Postgraduate research students at Essex develop a range of beneficial skills, whether you work as an academic or in another career.

You will be joining a department with a strong commitment to research , covering many areas of empirical psychology. The research community includes academic staff , research fellows, research officers and postgraduates engaged on many research projects.

As a postgraduate research student, you will have access to our innovative doctoral training scheme, Proficio .

Depending on your degree type, Proficio will give you access to funding ranging from £1500 to £2500 to use for a range of training courses at Essex and beyond to enhance your professional development. Many of these courses cover important skills such as public engagement, impact, and specialist IT tools and software.

You can also undertake some teaching through Graduate Laboratory Assistant (GLA) or Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) roles. These are paid roles, in which you will assist academics in our department with undergraduate or Masters degree teaching, such as running seminars, helping with lab supervision or marking.

Excellent PhD completion rates

We have a fantastic completion rate in psychology at Essex. We achieve this by supporting you right the way through your degree, ensuring that you have a clear path to guide you.

We provide specific milestones for each stage of your research degree to ensure you know where you are at and how you are progressing.

We also work hard to ensure that there is an enthusiastic community of research students, offering each other peer support and outlets to just have some fun.

Our department is part of the ESRC-funded South East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) Doctoral Training Partnership psychology pathway. This recognises not only our research, but the excellent research training that we offer students and early career researchers. It gives PhD applicants access to SeNSS-funded studentships, which are advertised through the year.

Students in our department also have received funding from a range of other sources and bodies around the world. This includes the University’s postgraduate scholarships and interdisciplinary studentships from the Faculty of Science and Health; research grants; or overseas national-level government scholarships. For Essex graduates, there is also a fee discount scheme .

Conference attendance

Conferences are an important part of your postgraduate research experience. Through them you can present your research (by presenting your papers or through poster sessions), meet experts in your field from around the world, and start to develop a network of contacts in your specialist research area.

At Essex we know that conferences can be expensive, making them difficult for some students to attend. As a result, a portion of your Proficio funding is ring-fenced for conference attendance costs, and a small amount of the money for professional services training can also be used for conferences if needed.

We also run an internal conference for our research students, giving you the opportunity to gain important skills in a familiar setting with a supportive audience.

Active participation in department activities

Our department carries out a range of activities throughout the year, such as seminars, workshops, or reviewing papers for conferences and journals. As a research student you will be actively involved in these activities, giving you experience of the wider scholarly activities that researchers regularly participate in.

Our departmental research seminar series is held throughout the academic year. For these seminars an invited speaker will present their latest work to an audience that can consist of undergraduate and postgraduate students from our department as well as academics and others from the wider university who are interested in the subject.

Along with inviting experts from other institutions, we also encourage our PhD students to put themselves forward to present at these seminars. This will help you gain experience in presenting your research to and answering questions from a diverse audience.

Other departments and schools also run similar research seminar series which you will be able to attend and help you build a professional network.

Facilities and workspace

All research students have access to a range of laboratories and equipment in our department which you may need to carry out your research. You are supported in the labs by academics and by our excellent technical team .

All PhD research students are currently provided with desk space and access to a computer. This means that all students, regardless of background, have access to a dedicated quiet workspace and the technology they need to proceed with their work.

Regular supervision

As a research student your lead supervisor will be an integral part of your time with our department. They will be a member of our academic staff who has expertise in the area which you are studying.

You will also have an additional supervisor who provides extra guidance and support. If your area of research is interdisciplinary then your additional supervisor may be based in a relevant department at the university, giving you further expertise and insight into your research and the impact of your work. We have close working relationships with colleagues across our institution, particularly with the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering , the School of Health and Social Care , and the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences . 

Research students have regular progress reviews with a small panel made up of your supervisors and an independent chair. These reviews help ensure that your research is progressing, can identify issues you may be experiencing, and offer additional support for those who may be struggling.

Advanced training

Your degree is more than carrying out research. You will learn how to write peer-reviewed papers, how to assess the research of others, and how to present your work to audiences ranging from members of the public with no psychology background, to other academic experts in your field.

We know that it can be a jump from undergraduate or Masters level to a PhD. That’s why your supervisor will work with you before you join our department to identify any areas where you may need additional training to help bridge a skills gap. Your plan of action may include taking part in one or two modules from a relevant Masters course or finding a professional development course.

Along with access to Proficio , our department offers training in discipline-specific skills through advanced subject modules. If your background is not psychology or cognitive neuroscience, this can be particularly helpful. We are also developing additional training seminars to boost training across different research areas and career skills.

Beyond academia

Research students do not necessarily intend to stay in academia once they have finished their thesis. Graduates with a research degree in psychology can move into a range of roles, such as science communication, laboratory supervision, or policy advisor for national governments.

Along with the skills you develop through your degree you can also use your Proficio funding for professional development courses that will help you develop transferable skills that will help you find employment outside of academia, such as good communication skills, project management, and specialist software experience.

You can also develop your skills and your professional network through the university’s Research and Enterprise Office (REO). The REO includes a postgraduate consultancy service that allows students to gain or extend engagement with employers. This is helpful to build up your experience and your CV while you carry our your research, and can help you with employment references outside of your supervisors.

For those graduates with an interest in entrepreneurship, the university is a University Enterprise Zone , so you can get advice and guidance on important areas of business creation such as developing your business plan and securing start-up funding. The Innovation Centre also runs a series of events that help you build your network or develop your business idea.

Dr Jordi Asher talks about her journey from mature undergraduate student to PhD and lecturer in the Department of Psychology.

“My best memory, so far, was when I was told my first paper was accepted into a journal, it was such an achievement. Once I have completed my PhD, I would love to become a lecturer. Essex is one of the leading universities for research, so completing a research degree here will stand me in very good stead when I start applying for jobs.” Rachel Grenfell-Essam PhD Psychology

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PhD by research

This PhD psychology doctorate is a pure research programme, normally completed within 3-4 years of full-time work, or up to 7 years of part-time study.

Introducing your degree

The PhD by research in Psychology gives you an opportunity to engage in world class research at the University of Southampton. Students will, with the help of a supervisory team, develop and conduct novel research in Psychology. We have a number of excellent laboratories across the different disciplines in Psychology; your work might make use of our fMRI or ERP facilities, VR labs, or our other cutting-edge research tools. Visit our facilities page to find out more.

Below, you’ll find key information regarding the course. Read through our typical entry requirements, and our opportunities for funding through School of Psychology studentships and the new South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership.

If you still have questions, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer any enquiries. Visit our  contact us page for our telephone, email and address information.

Programme Overview

Unlike our other doctoral-level programmes, this PhD psychology by research is not tied to a particular area of professional practice, but can lead to a broad range of careers in academia and industry.

You might be funded by a UK research council, an overseas government, or the University itself.

View the doctoral programme profile for this course

Application for the PhD psychology doctorate is through the University of Southampton online system . You are strongly advised to explore both a potential area of study, and funding arrangements, before submitting your application.

Please visit the Fees & Funding section for the current fee charges for the PhD programme.

We offer two funding routes specific to the PhD programme; both options cover your tuition fees and offer you a stipend for living expenses.

• School of Psychology Studentships - 4 years full time for MSc/PhD, 3 years full time PhD (if applicant has a MSc)

Applicants for our MSc/PhD funding scheme should have, or will be expected to obtain, a First or a good Upper Second class honours degree in Psychology (or a related discipline). Applicants for only PhD funding typically have, or will be expected to obtain, a merit at masters level in Psychology (or a related discipline). (Note that applicants who want to be considered for PhD funding and who only have an undergraduate degree would usually be expected to demonstrate additional and significant research experience.) Further details can be obtained from the Programme Director

• South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

The new South Coast DTP is a beacon of excellence, innovation and imagination in the training of the next generation of social scientists. Through an exciting new collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth, the South Coast DTP aims to deliver the latest developments in training in research methods and skills to produce highly qualified and rounded social scientists, equipped to meet contemporary economic and social challenges. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the South Coast DTP awards 38 studentships per year to social scientists carrying out PhD studies, or Masters + PhD studies at its three partner institutions. Our first intake of funded students was for the 2017/18 Academic Year

Director of Doctoral Programme:  Professor Tim Wildschut +44 (0)23 8059 2639

Our PG community is a lively, engaging and friendly group, within which scholarship and intellectual discovery are encouraged. We are comprised of 4 research centres: 

• Centre for Vision and Cognition (CVC)
• Centre for Innovation in Mental Health (CiMH)
• Centre for Research on Self and Identity (CRSI)
• Centre for Clinical and Community Applications of Health Psychology (CCCAHP)

Related Staff Member

Professor Tim Wildschut PhD

Tim Wildschut is Professor of Social and Personality Psychology at the University of Southampton.

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements.

For the PhD by research, we expect you to have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree (at least a 2.1 or international equivalent) in Psychology or related discipline. Having already completed a Master’s degree is considered desirable but not necessary.

Selection process

Applications for our PhD programme are made using the University’s online application form here . Before applying for the PhD psychology doctorate you should identify your area of research interest and potential supervisor. You can find details of the specialist research areas in the School of Psychology here . Additional supporting documentation to be submitted as part of the PhD psychology doctorate application process. These can be uploaded with the online application form. This will include the following:     * Research proposal (two single-spaced pages - approximately 1000 words)     * Curriculum Vitae     * Degree certificate/s (& translated version if necessary)     * Degree transcript/s (& translated version if necessary)     * English Language Qualification (if applicable)     * Two academic references

This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country.

Programme Structure

Typical course content.

The PhD by Research programme is an entirely research-oriented programme in which students conduct original research under the guidance of their supervisors.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees.

Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK, EU and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.

Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.

Learning & Teaching

You will have opportunities for training in various research methods in psychology during your registration on this PhD psychology doctorate, plus access to our wide range of generic skills and specialist instructional workshops, such as writing, presentation skills and computer programming.

Study locations

Highfield Campus

Some of the Foundation Year subjects will be taught on the Highfield C... Find out more

You may also be interested in

• MSc Research Methods in Psychology (1 year)

PhD in Psychology Further Your Understanding of Psychology

Degree Options

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Understand the Human Experience from a Biblical Worldview with an Online PhD in Psychology

Do you want to deepen your knowledge in psychology and use your research to contribute to the field of understanding human behavior? Liberty University’s PhD in Psychology can provide rigorous research training that can better prepare you for a career in academia and research. An online PhD in Psychology is ideal for students who want to bring new knowledge of human behavior to the field and find new ways to help people heal, grow, and thrive.

Liberty’s PhD in Psychology is designed to prepare you to evaluate research and to understand the truth about human behavior from a biblical worldview. Our mission is to  Train Champions for Christ , and we fulfill this mission by training professionals to use science and biblical values to understand the full breadth of the human experience. Our unique, biblically-based approach to this field can help prepare you to make a positive impact on those you work with.

With Liberty’s PhD in Psychology, you can take part in optional face-to-face on-campus intensives that will allow you to meet faculty and other students while you develop your professional and research skills.

What Will You Study in Our PhD in Psychology Degree?

Liberty’s online PhD in Psychology is designed to build on your previous study and experience in human psychology and develop you into a researcher and psychologist who demonstrates ethical and academic excellence while integrating biblical values into your practice.

Through this program, you will:

• Learn how an appreciation of biblical values enhances psychiatric practice by putting human value at the forefront of technique and theory.
• Develop a grounded critical approach to psychiatric research and theory while integrating a biblical worldview into approaches to current issues in psychology.
• Master psychiatric research and writing techniques that can establish your work in the study of human behavior.
• Complete dissertation research through your program with mentorship from your professors so that you have the option to present research at conferences.

Through this program, you will be encouraged to become a thought leader on a variety of topics related to the human experience. Our goal is to help you venture into the world of psychiatric research and practice and offer insights based on biblical foundations of truth that can help people heal and thrive.

Featured Courses

• PSYC 510 — Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I
• PSYC 710 — Psychological Research and Biblical Worldview
• PSYC 716 — Theories and Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PSYC 775 — Teaching of Psychology

Degree Information

• This program falls under the  School of Behavioral Sciences .
• View the  Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides   (login required).
• View the  PhD in Psychology Dissertation Handbook
• The online PhD in Psychology is a non-clinical, non-licensure program.

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?

To help you meet your educational goals in a way that fits your life, our online PhD in Psychology provides scheduling flexibility and keeps affordability in mind. Our PhD in Psychology’s online format allows you to take your classes from home without traveling to campus. However, this program still provides a community of psychology professionals and the ability to take optional intensive courses to allow you to connect in person.

Throughout this program, Liberty incorporates a biblical worldview into your instruction. This perspective in your research and practical training in psychology can help you develop professional and academic excellence without compromising an ethical appreciation for human life. Additionally, our caring faculty are devoted to helping you grow personally and academically.

With our online PhD in Psychology, you can learn effective clinical techniques, essential behavioral theory, and develop your research and writing expertise. You can be equipped with a thorough understanding of human thought and behavior while developing your own research to further the field.

Earning a PhD in Psychology online with Liberty means that you will be trained to engage with research and psychiatric practice critically and biblically. If you are interested in becoming a thoughtful, articulate, and research-focused professional, then this is the program for you.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Potential Career Opportunities for PhD in Psychology Graduates

• Corporate psychologist
• Program or department head
• Project manager

Degree Options for Our PhD in Psychology Program

Focus your studies in psychology with a specialization.

Behavioral Health Leadership

Through the  PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership , you can hone your research and leadership skills as you prepare to pursue administrative and management positions in mental and behavioral health organizations.

View the Degree Completion Plan .

Developmental Psychology

Through the online  PhD in Psychology – Developmental Psychology , you can learn about research theory related to human development, including cognitive development, social development, and language development.

General Psychology

The online PhD in Psychology – General Psychology provides an in-depth study of advanced psychiatric research and practice while giving you room to customize your course content.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Industrial/Organizational Psychology  track, you will study human behavior in organizations and the workplace. You will focus on deriving principles of individual, group, and organizational behavior and applying that knowledge to developing solutions for challenges in the workplace.

Social Psychology

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Social Psychology  track, you can learn about research and theory related to social processes and relationships, attitudes, and other constructs related to social psychology.

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Theology  track, you can learn how to study the Bible and integrate that study of the Bible with research in psychology to further your understanding of psychological concepts.

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour ( learn more ) .

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

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Admission Information for Our PhD in Psychology

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
• Contact information  for 2 recommenders is required (approved recommenders are the student’s former college professors or supervisors).
• Statement of Purpose  is required (1,000-1,500 words, double spaced).
• Departmental approval is required.
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
• Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official college transcript policy.

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

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• Veterans/Retirees
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Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour . Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there opportunities to interact in-person with peers.

You can meet faculty and fellow students in person through optional on-campus intensives.

Can I have an impact through this degree?

Through your dissertation, you can contribute to the understanding of human experience and behavior.

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Dr. K A Bloom

Clinical social work/therapist , phd , lcsw , acht.

My Practice at a Glance

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306

• Individual Sessions $200
• Couple Sessions $250
• Sliding scale: apply if you may be eligible
• Pay by ACH Bank transfer, Cash, Check, Discover, Health Savings Account, Mastercard, Paypal, Venmo, Visa, Wire, Zelle

Qualifications

• Verified by Psychology Today Licensed by State of Florida / SW5499 Dr. K A Bloom
• In Practice for 24 Years
• License: State of Florida 5499 / 2000
• Degree/Diploma from Loyola University Master of Clinical Social Work / 1993
• Attended AACS , PHD/ Clinical Sexology, , Graduated 2007

Specialties and Expertise

• Alcohol Use
• Codependency
• Coping Skills
• Impulse Control Disorders
• Life Coaching
• Life Transitions
• Marital and Premarital
• Mood Disorders
• Open Relationships Non-Monogamy
• Relationship Issues
• Self Esteem
• Sex Therapy
• Sex-Positive, Kink Allied
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Addiction
• Substance Use
• Transgender
• Women's Issues

Client Focus

Participants, communities, treatment approach, types of therapy.

• Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Equine Therapy (Eagala)
• Gottman Method
• Hypnotherapy
• Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT)
• Reality Therapy
• Strength-Based
• Trauma Focused

Primary Location

Nearby areas.

• Fort Lauderdale, FL

Neighborhoods

• Coral Ridge Country Club

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Broadcast: News items

Shaping west slope: virtual reality and what you told us.

Posted on behalf of: Better Campus Team

Last updated: Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Staff and students were invited to join the West Slope design team to share thoughts and ideas on how to make West Slope communal interior spaces feel welcoming, accessible and comfortable.    

Architects from Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and the West Slope team used virtual reality rooms and floor plans to demonstrate how the future café and study area and new Health and Wellbeing Centre could look once complete.

Take a tour of the interior spaces in virtual reality:

• Café
• Study Space
• Waiting room
• Therapy room

Creating welcoming spaces

With a wealth of expertise within our community, staff from across the U niversity were invited to join a workshop to get a first look at future West Slope spaces. Staff, including researchers from the School of Psychology with expertise in colour theory, and representatives from Student Experience, shared their insights on what makes an environment feel welcoming and how design elements could be used to promote wellbeing.  

Students were also consulted on furnishings, colour, textures and wayfinding, and how these can be implemented to best fit the needs of building users.   

A key theme of both sessions was biophilic design, which focuses on utilising natural lighting, imagery and colours such as green and blue to connect inside spaces to nature.

For those who couldn’t make it in person, we posted a poll on Instagram asking users to choose their preferred colour palettes, design features and furniture. Over 900 people took part, the results of which complemented the feedback we received in person – a preference for nature inspired interiors and for individual seating and study spaces.  

What happens next

All the ideas, advice and preferences both in workshops and online will be used to inform the next stage of the design process and will support design decisions in West Slope communal spaces.   

By involving the community in the design process, we aim to meet practical needs within our new buildings, and to also empower those who will visit and work in our new Health and Wellbeing Centre, café and study spaces, ensuring they are not only functional but also accessible, welcoming and comfortable.    

West Slope is now under construction and the new Health and Wellbeing Centre will be the first of 22 buildings being built, and is expected to open in 2026.  

Keep up to date with latest news on Viva Engage in our Creating a Better Campus community.

• Department of Psychology >
• Graduate >
• Graduate Admissions >

Social-Personality PhD Program

For information regarding the online application and admissions process, please visit the UB Graduate School. 

• UB's General Admission Requirements
• Admissions FAQs
• Check Your Admissions Status

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Admissions Requirements and Process

The Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo uses a holistic admissions process in our consideration of applications.  This means that we evaluate the entire application, rather than any single indicator or a few indicators. Thus, applicants are viewed as a whole person, the sum of their experiences, accomplishments, and aspirations. Consistent with this, we do not rely on or use “cut offs” for numerical indices of an academic record such as grade point average or Graduate Record Examination. A holistic approach also means that a candidate who may be less strong in some areas, can still have a highly competitive application by having greater strength in other areas. All elements of an application are taken into consideration, to maximize a good fit of the applicant with our training program and potential mentors, to reduce bias that can result from reliance on a limited number of components, and to reduce inequities in access to opportunities for graduate training.  

Over the years, we have learned that a holistic admissions process helps us identify applicants who are likely to succeed in our graduate programs, brings a diversity of experience and ideas into our academic community, and supports a fair review of all applicants.   Our goal is to recruit the next generation of academic psychologists who are passionate about making new discoveries and generating new knowledge in their chosen discipline.  We expect students to bring hard work, professional ambition, resilience, grit, intellectual acumen, and enthusiasm to our graduate programs.

Although we value quantitative criteria like GRE scores and GPA, we take a broad view of academic excellence and recognize that indices of success in our graduate programs and professional achievement cannot be reduced to numbers alone. In short, we endeavor to balance quantitative and qualitative indices of success. Because we want to give students the greatest opportunity to thrive in our program, we place a strong emphasis on fit with our programs and potential faculty mentors. A highly qualified applicant may not be strongly considered if their interests and goals do not provide a good fit with the orientation of our training program or with faculty research interests. Accordingly, we consider the following components in our admissions decisions: personal statement; undergraduate transcript and GPA (and prior graduate record if applicable); GRE verbal, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing subtest scores; letters of recommendation; and resume/research experience. These components are weighted equally. After initial review of applications, we invite a small pool of applicants for interviews.

Schomburg statements are optional for applicants interested in being considered for a Schomburg Fellowship. These statements are not used for admissions decisions.

Social-Personality PhD Program:

Components of the application and how they are used, personal statement (required).

Helps contextualize the more quantitative and objective credentials of an applicant.  The statement is used to evaluate the applicant’s goals and fit with the program and research interests of the faculty as well as how they would contribute to the diversity of thought and perspectives.

Prompt for Personal Statement (1000 words or less):

Describe the area of research you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. The statement should include your academic background, intellectual interests and training or research experience that has prepared you for our program. The statement should also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.

Submitting Personal Statement:

Uploaded as part of the online application.

Transcript and GPA (required)

Provides evidence that the applicant is seeking challenging coursework, while excelling and showing academic growth. The University at Buffalo requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.  However, applications with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 can still be considered, particularly when other components of the application are strong (e.g., a high graduate GPA, high GRE scores, etc.). 

Submitting transcripts:

Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts as part of your online application.  Include the English translation, if applicable. 

GRE (required):

Mastery of quantitative methods, critical thinking, and good analytical writing are crucial to succeeding as an academic psychologist.  The GRE Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, and Analytic Writing scores provide common benchmarks in these domains. 

Submitting GRE scores:

Request an official electronic score report from Educational Testing Service (ETS). Use Institution Code: 2925 and   Department Code: 2016, 2001 or 2015 . Official electronic scores will be automatically linked to your online application. 

Q. Can GRE scores be waived? Can you accept another test in place of the GRE?    A. We do not waive the GREs, nor can we accept another test in its place. There are no exceptions.

Q. Is the GRE Subject Test required?    A. No. 

Q. What are the GRE codes (Institution and Department)?    A. The Institution Code is 2925. Any other Institution Code, regardless of the Institution name attached to the code, will not reach our office. You can use any Department Code (2001, 2002, 2015 or 2016), as we will receive all scores sent to Institution Code 2925.

Q. I sent my scores a while ago, but the department still doesn't have them. Why?  A. Most often this is because the Institution code was incorrect. Note that we ONLY receive scores sent to Institution Code 2925. If you accidently sent the scores to a different code, you will need to contact ETS and have them send the scores to the correct code.  Another reason we may not have received your scores may be because your name is spelled differently on your GRE test than on your application. If this is the case, please contact us at  [email protected]  with the spelling you used on your GRE test. 

Q. I sent my scores to the wrong Institution code. Can you still retrieve my scores?   A. No. You will need to contact ETS to have them resend your scores to Institution code: 2925 and one of the following Department Codes: 2001, 2002, 2015 or 2016.

Q.   I am taking the GRE near or after the deadline. Will it be a problem if my scores arrive late?    A. Any application materials received after the deadline are not guaranteed review. As applications are reviewed shortly after the deadline, it is best to schedule your GRE test at least three weeks before the deadline. If you are taking the test after the deadline, it is highly unlikely that your application will receive full consideration.

Q. What are acceptable GRE scores? Is there a minimum score required?    A. There is no minimum requirement for GRE scores to either our MA or PhD programs.

Q. What are the average scores of admitted applicants? A. The average GRE Verbal Score is in the 81st percentile, the average GRE Quantitative Score is in the 68th percentile and the average GRE Analytic Writing Score is in the 80th percentile. (The average rate of acceptance is between 15% and 20% of all applicants.)

Q. Can I still apply if my GRE scores are low?    A. Yes. Low GRE scores (or a low GPA) aren’t necessarily a problem if there are other strong credentials, such as having a lot of research experience or great letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation (3 required):

Provides a third-party endorsement of the applicant’s attributes, ability to succeed in the graduate program, and potential to contribute to the field.  The letter offers a perspective on the applicant’s prior achievements and potential to succeed, along with concrete examples of the subjective traits described in other elements of the application.

Submitting Letters:

Letters must be submitted electronically. Further instructions are included in the online application.

Resume and research experience (required):

Provides information on how the applicant has practically applied ideas and concepts learned in the classroom. It helps show that applicants possess the skills and dispositions needed to conduct extensive research and make substantive contributions to their chosen field.

Submitting resume

Interviews are a way for programs to get to know applicants as a person.  They provide a qualitative means of: (a) contextualizing quantitative and objective credentials, and (b) evaluating how well an applicant’s goals and training needs fit with the program and potential mentors. 

Schomburg Statement (optional Applications to our doctoral program):

What is a schomburg fellowship.

A Schomburg Fellowship offers support for students in doctoral programs who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. In order to be eligible for the Schomburg Fellowship, you need to be either a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above. 

Here is a link to more information about Schomburg Fellowships.

https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/current-students/funding-your-degree/graduate-awards-fellowships/schomburg-fellowship.html

The Schomburg statement provides useful information in helping the faculty decide whether to nominate an applicant for the Schomburg Fellowship.

Schomburg Statement:

If you would like to be considered for a Schomburg Fellowship, please  upload a written statement with your online application  (maximum of 500 words) describing how you will contribute to the diversity of the student body in your graduate program, including by having overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education.  Please note that such categorical circumstances may include academic, vocational, social, physical or economic impediments or disadvantaged status you have been able to overcome, as evidenced by your performance as an undergraduate, or other characteristics that constitute categorical underrepresentation in your particular graduate program such as gender or racial/ethnic status.

Submitting a Schomburg statement: