phd in psychology oxford

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Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych)

University of oxford, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

DClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Subject areas

Clinical Psychology

Course type

• Harris Manchester College
• Green Templeton College
• St Cross College
• Worcester College

The course aims to provide a thorough and integrated academic, clinical and research training in clinical psychology.

About our courses

Oxford offers more than 350 graduate courses across the disciplines, with courses opening in new areas every year. This includes taught courses and research courses available for full-time and part-time study, and at every level from diplomas to doctorates.

Each graduate course has a dedicated course page on our website, which will provide you with detailed information about the course and how to apply for it. You can browse our graduate courses A to Z or the list of courses organised by department.

As a graduate student you'll belong to a department or faculty – a thriving academic community working to advance knowledge in a particular field. Your department or faculty will provide your teaching and supervision, as well as extensive, specialist resources to support your studies. Our departments often collaborate on joint courses and interdisciplinary research projects.

Every graduate student at Oxford is given an academic supervisor. Throughout your course, you'll receive personalised support and guidance from an expert in your field, helping to guide your programme of study or research.

Students on matriculated courses also belong to a college (find out more about matriculation). You can find out more about Oxford's colleges in our Colleges section.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

Please refer University Website for fee the details

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

You must hold either: A 1st class or 2:1 in an undergraduate psychology degree, or An undergraduate degree in another subject, with a Masters level conversion course (merit or distinction).

MSc Health Psychology

Sheffield hallam university, health psychology with placement msc, university of bath, applied clinical psychology msc, health psychology msc, university of bedfordshire.

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DPhil and MSc by Research

• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• How to Apply
• Scholarships & Studentships
• Some Possible DPhil Projects
• Course Handbook
• MSc Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience Studentships
• Projects for Academic Psychiatrists in Training
• Careers in Academic

Graduate Studies Committee

Philip Burnet

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

Tracy Lindsey

Academic Administration Manager

Suzanne Williams

Graduate Studies Administrator

Ilina Singh

Professor of Neuroscience & Society

Mark Woolrich

Professor of Computational Neuroscience

Shivani Suresh

DPhil Student

Thomas Reilly

MRC Clinical Research Training Fellow

The DPhil at Oxford has few taught courses, and starts from the outset with expecting a high degree of independence from its graduate students. The DPhil in Psychiatry offers you the opportunity to gain a wide range of transferable research skills alongside in-depth knowledge and expertise in one of an extensive range of research fields ranging from molecular biology to brain imaging and from behavioural research to epidemiology.

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) and Master of Science by Research (MSc Res)  offer students the opportunity to develop research skills in their chosen field.  They have few taught courses, and students are expected to be able to study independently from the outset.  Our entry requirements do not specify degree subjects because of the broad range of research areas available but most research degrees require a background in medicine, psychology or a biological science. 

The DPhil is participating in Black Academic Futures via the Medical Sciences Division's guarantee of at least 10 places per year across its doctoral programmes for the next four years' intakes of DPhil students.

We are only able to offer places to students for whom we provide appropriate supervision.  Before completing an online application, therefore, we recommend that you  identify a potential supervisor  in your area of interest and then contact them directly to discuss possible topics for research. They will be happy to discuss your research ideas and indicate whether they are likely to be taking on graduate students next year, as well as giving details of any funds that are available to support you.  Please have a look at some examples of possible research projects. 

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 618209    

Email us at:  [email protected]

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MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology

• Entry requirements
• Funding and costs

College preference

• How to apply

About the course

Students on the MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology will carry out independent research under the supervision and guidance of principal investigators and researchers within a research group or lab. Areas of study include behavioural neuroscience, developmental psychology, perception and cognition, psychological and brain health, and psychological disorders, and social psychology.

The Department of Experimental Psychology runs a number of seminar programmes and all graduate research students are encouraged to attend talks and presentations relevant to their research interests.  On completion of the course, students are expected to have a high level of knowledge of their field of research and to have acquired research skills that will facilitate a future career in academic psychology.

The majority of our MSc by Research students are expected to be admitted for full-time study, referred to in the timeline below as FTE (full-time equivalent) study. A small number of part-time students may be admitted to the MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology. If you apply for admission to the part-time course you will be required to show that your proposed research topic is suited to part-time study and that the supervisor agrees with the part-time schedule.

Further information about part-time study

Part-time study is expected to take place at 50% of the intensity of full-time study, so all timescales below referring to full-time equivalent study (FTE) are normally doubled for students pursuing the part-time MSc by Research programme. As a part-time student you will be required to attend classes, seminars, supervision meetings and other obligations in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year. There will be some flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance, which will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor. You will be required to attend training sessions on set dates within term time as determined by the Department.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Experimental Psychology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Experimental Psychology.

Students normally meet with their primary supervisor at least every two weeks and with their secondary supervisor at least once a term.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support. Supervision and guidance may also include co-supervision from other collaborating groups or labs, both within the department or from other departments/faculties with the university or from another institution.

First year of full-time study (part-time equivalent: years 1 and 2)

You are initially registered with Probationary Research Student (PRS) status. During your first year of FTE study, you will be expected to attend various courses, lectures and seminars that will enable you to gain the most out of your time at Oxford and assist you with the design and analysis of your own area of research.

These will typically include:

• graduate statistical workshops
• skills training courses e.g. in Computer Programming and fMRIB methods
• analysis of research methods.

The Medical Science Division also offers a large number of courses on transferable skills such as teaching and communicating scientific findings which you are encouraged to attend as a part of your MSc by Research studies.

You are expected to be fully integrated within your own chosen group or lab and attend group or lab meetings as well as attending related seminars and conferences.

Second year of full-time study (part-time equivalent: years 3 to 6)

You will be expected to transfer your status from PRS to MSc by Research before the end of your 4th Term of FTE study. For this, you will be required to submit a written report summarising your progress to date, which you will then discuss and defend in an oral examination (a transfer viva).

Once you have transferred your status, you will be able to conclude your studies with the submission of a thesis and an oral examination, your final viva voce.

Assessment of your progress on the course is monitored through termly progression reports and at two key stages:

• transfer of status
• thesis submission.

You will need to have successfully completed both stages to be awarded an MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford.

Graduate destinations

A majority of students on the MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology remain in academia. Others go on to pursue careers in consultancy and government. 

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in psychology or a related discipline that is relevant to your proposed research.

You do not need to have a previous master’s level degree to apply for this course.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.
• Publications are not required, but if available, publications demonstrating prior experience and proficiency in psychological research will be considered as part of your application. 

Further guidance

• You are required to contact a potential supervisor in the first instance in order to discuss the area of research you wish to carry out during the MSc by Research, and to establish whether they are able to supervise your proposed project. If you are planning to study part-time, please discuss this with potential supervisors in advance.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  standard level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's standard level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.  

All applications are evaluated, initially by the potential supervisor(s) who will then provide a supporting statement for the Experimental Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee (GAC). When shortlisting, the GAC will take into account the supporting statement from the potential supervisor, academic record, references and the quality of the project proposal.

Shortlisted applicants will normally be invited to attend one interview which will last for up to half an hour. Around a third of graduate research applicants are invited to interview. Interviews are usually held in late January or early February.

Applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be invited to interview online via Teams (with video).

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

You will have access to the department’s IT support and university library services, such as the Radcliffe Science Library, and experimental facilities should be made available as appropriate to the research topic. The provision of other resources specific to your research will be agreed with your supervisor. The department provides some funding towards a computer in the first year and further funding for consumables each year (for a maximum of two years) to students who do not have access to funds from funding bodies.

You will be able to attend the seminars organised by individual research groups or groups with common areas of interest organised for your own members and others. The department also provides regular departmental seminars during term time.

You are encouraged to attend departmental events as departmental seminars and colloquia bring research students together with academic and other research staff in the department to hear about on-going research, and provide an opportunity for networking and socialising.

The departmental social committee holds occasional events throughout the academic year for both students and staff in the department.

Experimental Psychology

The Department of Experimental Psychology has a thriving graduate community. As a graduate student in the department, you will receive advanced training in psychological methods and theory, and gain hands-on research experience under the supervision of world-class academic staff.

Research in the department is organised around five core themes — behavioural neuroscience, developmental psychology, perception and cognition, psychological and brain health, and social psychology—and extends into several cognate areas. Research facilities in the department include labs for behavioural testing, EEG and brain stimulation, infant research including eye-tracking and EEG, and neuropsychological patient testing.

Through its links with departments and centres across the University, the department also enjoys excellent access to fMRI, MEG, genetic testing, and animal testing facilities.

The department recognises the vital contribution of graduate students to its research and teaching and strives to create a competitive and supportive programme to develop and challenge students. You would be encouraged to participate in training within the department and wider university, and to attend invited lectures and seminars by leading scientists from across the world, to complement the close supervision on your chosen topic received within your home lab.

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The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Full-time study.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Part-time study

Information about course fees.

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Brasenose College
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• New College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• Somerville College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

• Campion Hall

Before you apply

We strongly recommend you consult the Medical Sciences Graduate School's research themes to identify the most suitable course and supervisor .

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application.  You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

Before you apply, you should identify an academic member of staff who is willing to supervise you and has the resources to support your proposed research project. You should do this by contacting them directly. Details of academic staff, including their research interests and contact details, can be found on the department's website.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

Under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) who you would like to supervise your research. 

Referees Three overall, academic and/or professional

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Both academic references and professional references from employment relevant to the course are acceptable.

Your references should provide evidence of your intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation and your ability to work in a group.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal: Statement a maximum of 500 words, proposal a maximum of 2,500 words

Your statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with clear subheadings. Please ensure that the word counts for each section are clearly visible in the document.

Statement of purpose/personal statement

You should provide a statement of your research interests, in English, describing how your background and research interests relate to the programme. If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

The statement should focus on academic or research-related achievements and interests rather than personal achievements and interests.

This will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying;
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study;
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English;
• capacity for sustained and focused work; and
• understanding of problems in the area and ability to construct and defend an argument.

It will be normal for students’ ideas and goals to change in some ways as they undertake their studies, but your personal statement will enable you to demonstrate your current interests and aspirations.

Research proposal

The research proposal should be single spaced and written in English, outlining your proposed area of research. The text of your document should be no smaller than size 10 Arial or similar. The overall word count does not need to include any bibliography.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

You should be prepared to defend your proposal orally at interview if shortlisted.

• the coherence of the proposal
• the originality of the project
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time frame available for the course (a maximum of three years full-time equivalent study)
• commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
• preliminary knowledge of research techniques
• capacity for sustained and intense work
• reasoning ability
• ability to absorb new ideas
• the suitability of the research topic for part-time study (in applications for the part-time MSc by Research programme).

It is usual for your ideas to subsequently change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this point in the application process.

Your research proposal should focus on a specific area of research rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply - Full time   Apply - Part time

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 1 December 2023 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

†Included in 2023/24 places for the DPhil in Experimental Psychology *Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Department of Experimental Psychology

• FT course page on the department's website
• PT course page on the  department's website
• Funding information from the department
• Academic and research staff
• Departmental research
• Medical Sciences Graduate School
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 271376

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Other courses to consider

You may also wish to consider applying to other courses that are similar or related to this course:

View related courses

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

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Fully Funded PhD in Experimental Psychology at University of Oxford, England

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Students on the DPhil in Experimental Psychology will carry out independent research under the supervision and guidance of principal investigators and researchers within a research group or lab.

Areas of study include behavioural neuroscience, developmental psychology, perception and cognition, psychological and brain health, and social psychology.

The Department of Experimental Psychology runs a number of seminar programmes and all graduate research students are encouraged to attend talks and presentations relevant to their research interests.

On completion of the course, students are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of their field of research and to have made a contribution to scholarship in that area. They are also expected to have acquired research skills that will enable them to pursue independent research in psychology.

PhD Program Requirements

A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in psychology or a related discipline that is relevant to your proposed research.

You do not need to have a previous master’s degree to apply for this course. However, if you wish to be considered for the ESRC +3 funding then you will need to demonstrate that core training requirements have been met for entry to this course, eg by a recognised master’s degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.

Publications are not required, but if available, publications demonstrating prior experience and proficiency in psychological research will be considered as part of your application.

PhD Funding Coverage

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25.

You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships, if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline.

Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

Application Requirement

1. Online Application

2. Official transcript(s): Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

3. Statement of purpose: You should provide a statement of your research interests, in English, describing how your background and research interests relate to the programme. If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document. The statement should focus on academic or research-related achievements and interests rather than personal achievements and interests.

4. GRE General Test scores: No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

5. English language proficiency: This course requires proficiency in English at the University’s higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

Application Deadline

1 December 2024

Application Fee

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application.

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• Study with us
• Graduate Courses in Psychology

MSc in Psychological Research

This one year taught Masters course provides a broad-based research training programme in psychology, covering theory and methods in core domains of the subject which are reflected in the particular research strengths within the Department.

The Research Areas in the department

The course offers applicants hands-on research training within the many groups and labs within the core Research Themes of the department:

Behavioural Neuroscience: from animal models to human functional imaging and TMS.

Cognitive Neuroscience: including MEG, EEG and neuropsychology.

Developmental Science: BabyLab studies and studies with children with developmental disorders.

Social Psychology and Psychological Disorders : inter-group behaviour, emotion, anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

The course  provides training in generic personal and transferable skills including computing skills in the context of psychological research, qualitative methods and written and oral communication of research.

The Course Structure

The MSc in Psychological Research course consists of 9 modules and a Research Project, all of which are separately assessed. Students are required to pass 8 out of the 9 modules and the Research Project to pass the degree.

Five Core Modules

• Research evaluation
• Project design
• Statistical theory and methods
• Philosophical foundations of psychology
• MATLAB programming for experimental psychology

Three out of the four Optional Modules

• Affective science
• Computer modelling of brain function

Developmental Science

• Brain and cognition

A Research Project (a 10,000 word dissertation)

Assessment of the course

Candidates are awarded a Pass if they attain a grade mark of 50 or above in each of the eight graded modules they have taken and the Research Project Dissertation.

Candidates are awarded a Merit if they attain a weighted average mark of 65 or above across the Research Project Dissertation and the eight other graded modules taken.  The Research Project dissertation will receive a weighting of 50%, while the other eight modules will each receive a weighting of 6.25%.

Candidates are awarded a Distinction if they attain a weighted average mark of 70 or above across the Research Project Dissertation and the eight other graded modules taken.  The Research Project dissertation will receive a weighting of 50%, while the other eight modules will each receive a weighting of 6.25%.

Teaching Methods

• Lectures provide core knowledge, concepts and principles
• Seminars provide opportunities for testing ideas through dialogue, learning from group interactions
• Workshops provide opportunities for putting skills into practice
• Assessment is undertaken through written submissions, presentations and the completion of the Research Project Dissertation
• The teaching, learning and assessment methods are used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

The aim of the course

On completing this course, students will have the following:

Overall Disciplinary and Professional Skills

• Designing and implement psychological investigations
• Make ethical decisions in psychological contexts
• Understand the procedures for ethical approval when research involves human participants
• Researching topics using appropriate information source
• Knowledge of  PC-based application packages
• Analysing data using an appropriate statistical package e.g. MATLAB
• Produce reports in a format appropriate for the dissemination of scientific findings

Overall Transferable Skills

• Effectively managing time, tasks and resources
• Being able to work autonomously and in groups
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate using appropriate media
• Presentation Techniques

There is no need for applicants to contact a potential supervisor prior to applying to this course. A list of available Research Projects and the associated supervisors will be made available to new students at the start of the academic year.

If you have any further questions about this course then please email [email protected]

Course code

Module information.

Affective Science

MATLAB Programming for Experimental Psychology

Philosophical Foundations of Psychology

Research Evaluation

Project Design

Statistical Theory and Methods

Computer Modelling of Brain Function

Brain and Cognition

Research Project

Graduate Admissions Information

Application Deadline: 12noon, Friday 1 December 2023

Our Graduate Admissions Procedures

Entry Requirements for this Course

University Application Guidelines and How to Apply

Choosing a College

Fees and Funding Opportunities

Fees Information

Funding Information

Further Information

What happens after you've been made an offer

Student Profiles

Graduate Career Destinations

Graduate Admissions Statistics

Ph.D. in Psychology

• Academic Programs

About this Program

The Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts offers the Ph.D. in Psychology, with emphases in Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychology.

The emphasis in Clinical Psychology is based on the scientist-practitioner model and thus designed to prepare an individual to become a professional psychologist capable of working in clinical and/or research settings.

The emphasis in Experimental Psychology provides rigorous and supportive scientific training that prepares graduates for careers in a broad spectrum of fields such as academic careers in teaching and research or corporate careers in health, behavioral, or social sciences. Experimental psychology students specialize in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, or social psychology.

On this Page…

Program information, program type.

Doctorate Program

Area of Study

Social Sciences, Law, and Policy

College of Liberal Arts

Program Location

Clinical Psychology; Experimental Psychology

Required Credit Hours

Program details.

The Department of Psychology welcomes student applications with the following materials. Additional details are found on the department website .

• Complete the Graduate School’s Online Application.
• Pay the application fee ($50).
• Submit official transcripts.
• International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test .
• Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Department of Psychology to the link provided by the online application.
• Statement of purpose. See guidelines on webpage for Clinical Psychology and on the webpage for Experimental Psychology
• Three letters of recommendation: provide contact information for three recommenders  
• Psy 505: Conditioning and Learning
• Psy 703: Quantitative Methods in Psychology I
• Psy 704: Quantitative Methods in Psychology II
• Psy 709: Advanced Conditioning and Learning
• Psy 710: Cognitive Assessment
• Psy 711: Personality Assessment
• Psy 729: Advanced Psychopathology
• Psy 730: Evidence-based Clinical Interventions
• Psy 731: Theories of Psychotherapy
• Psy 741: Ethics & Prof Standards of Clinical Psychology
• Psy 748: Research Design
• Psy 751: History and Systems of Psychology
• multicultural psychology
• physiological psychology
• developmental psychology
• cognitive psychology
• social cognition
• 2 elective classes

Students in the Ph.D. in Psychology complete 54 credit hours. 

The emphasis in experimental psychology includes 12 graduate-level courses (covering foundational content in methods, statistics, and psychology) and a doctoral dissertation. Additional minors and/or concentrations in gender studies and applied statistics are also available. See details on the experimental emphasis webpage . 

• Psy 717: Individual Experimental Research
• Psy 735: Seminar on College Teaching
• Psy 755: Research Colloquium every semester
• Psy 707: Advanced Cognitive Psychology 
• Psy 712: Advanced Social Psychology
• Psy 713: Advanced Social Cognition
• Psy 715: Physiological Psychology
• Psy 718: Advanced Developmental Psychology  
• two elective courses, excluding Psy 747 (Problems), 697 (Thesis), and 797 (Dissertation)

Historically we have been able to provide a full tuition scholarship, subsidized health insurance , and monetary stipend each year to every student while enrolled on campus, so long as they are making satisfactory progress and matriculate through the program in a timely manner. Additional financial support is available through the Graduate School Recruiting Fellowships, and each year we nominate multiple eligible individuals for these awards. The Department also provides funds to help with graduate student travel costs to conferences.

The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented.  

Faculty are working on a wide variety of research topics encompassing areas such as:

• Contextual influences on psychological outcomes, including how lay-theories influence individual and interpersonal outcomes, cultivating youth environmental leadership and civic engagement, and understanding the mental health effects of disasters.
• Development across the lifespan from understanding social and cognitive development in early childhood, to dissemination of evidence-based services for children and adolescents, to adolescent anxiety disorders and substance use within a family context, to health behaviors and activity engagement in aging.
• Interpersonal influences on well-being including stigma and discrimination, social ostracism, interpersonal relationships, and sexuality.
• Health psychology, including psychological and social factors that contribute to poor health in adults with chronic health conditions.
• Psychopathology including cognitive-behavioral therapies, understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders across the lifespan, dimensional models of personality disorders and antisocial behavior, misophonia, and the role of meaning and purpose in life.
• Self Regulation including choice, self-knowledge, rule governance, behavior acquisition, behavior analysis; facial and verbal expressions of emotion and self-regulation of emotion; impulse control and psychopathology; and the development of executive function.
• Visual perception focused on understanding low-level visual processes.

What is Psychology?

Interested in Our Clinical Program?

We’re Here to Help! If you have any questions about the Ph.D. in Psychology with a Clinical emphasis, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Todd A Smitherman

Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training

• [email protected]
• 662-915-1825

Interested in Our Experimental Program?

If you have any questions about the Ph.D. in Psychology with a Experimental emphasis, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Stephanie Miller Graduate Program Coordinator

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