PG Study > All courses > Psychiatry and Applied Psychology PhD/DM/MPhil

2025

Psychiatry and Applied Psychology PhD/DM/MPhil

Full-time: Up to 4 years
Part-time: Up to 8 years
Start date: Multiple available
UK fees: To be confirmed
International fees: To be confirmed

Research overview

Specific subject titles have included:

Applied Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Health Psychology Research
Occupational Health Psychology and Management
Occupational Psychology
Psychiatry

Health Psychology MSc is also available. However, it has different entry requirements.

The nature of individual projects and supervisors' expertise will determine the subject or title of your course. If you have an idea about your research studies, but are unsure which subject it should come under, please get in touch with Dr Elena Nixon, or contact a potential supervisor.

Some project areas do not offer all of the qualification options, so we recommend getting in touch as early as possible to clarify which project area and qualification are right for you.

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Course content

For your postgraduate research degree, you'll complete a research project in your specific field of study and complete a written thesis with expert support and advice from your academic supervisor(s).

The written thesis must be no more than:

60,000 words for an MPhil
100,000 words for a PhD or DM

These word counts are inclusive of appendices, footnotes, tables, and bibliography.

You'll then take a verbal examination called a viva voce where you explain your project in-depth to an examination panel.

You'll gain your degree on passing your viva exam.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualification	PhD	DM	MPhil
Degree	2.1 (or equivalent) Bachelor's degree level and a Pass at Master's degree level in relevant subjects and two academic references.	Pass in a medicine degree, registration with the General Medical Council and two academic references.	2.1 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two academic references.
Additional information	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.

Qualification	PhD	DM	MPhil
Degree	2.1 (or equivalent) Bachelor's degree level and a Pass at Master's degree level in relevant subjects and two academic references.	Pass in a medicine degree, registration with the General Medical Council and two academic references.	2.1 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two academic references.
International and EU equivalents	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.
Additional information	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.	You will need to provide us with a research proposal and a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.
IELTS	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element
English language requirements	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

If you need advice on which research course is right for you, please check out our guide to research courses.

Multiple start dates are available for this course. Make sure you specify when you would like to start university in your application:

Potential start dates include:

1 October
1 February
1 July

We strongly recommend identifying and getting in touch with a possible supervisor before making an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support to find funding opportunities in your area. Please send them a CV, research proposal and cover letter.

Find a supervisor

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification	PhD/DM/MPhil
Home / UK	To be confirmed
International	To be confirmed

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

You should factor some additional costs into your budget such as living expenses, printing and travel.

You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need to complete your project through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or access to more specific titles.

Funding

The School of Medicine may make a contribution to some of your costs relating to attending conferences or research expenses, however, this will be discussed with students as appropriate.

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

We are committed to providing support to postgraduate students across the course of their research studies in addition to their project supervision

Postgraduate research students will study as part of a division within the School of Medicine and each division has its own PGR representative who is there to address student concerns and feedback.

Peer support groups have been established to encourage students in all years of their studies to contribute to regular meetings covering issues such as tips for writing up and preparing for the viva. The topics are determined by the students in the group.

Further, students entering their second year of full-time study (or equivalent for part-time students) are encouraged to sign up to the formal Mentoring Scheme within the School of Medicine which offers one to one mentoring by a trained member of staff.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

academic and disability support
childcare services
counselling service
faith support
financial support
mental health and wellbeing support
visa and immigration advice
welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

international students
black and minority ethnic students
students who identify as women
students with disabilities
LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

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Where you will learn

Jubilee Campus

Jubilee Campus has eco-friendly buildings, alongside green spaces, wildlife and a lake.

This campus is home to our business, education and computer science schools, as well as a sports centre and student accommodation.

You can walk to University Park Campus in around 20 minutes or catch a free hopper bus. Nottingham city centre is 20 minutes away by public bus.

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

90% of postgraduates from the School of Medicine secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £39,564.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

My PhD journey has been a transformational experience filled with challenges, personal growth, and immense learning. My study has helped broaden my horizons and understand the crucial need to explore the well-being of NHS healthcare professionals which impacts the quality of care extended to patients. As a result of COVID-19, recruiting participants for this study was a challenging task; however, witnessing participants realise the value of the study and displaying enthusiasm was a heart-warming experience. Under my supervisors' guidance, I gained proficiency in research and writing, enabling me to think out of the box and approach situations with a solution-centric mindset.”

Nazm Berry, PhD Student

Related courses

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
100%* of our research is recognised internationally
51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 01 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.