PhD by research
Research groups
PhD structure
A PhD typically lasts either three or four years, and can take a variety of formats depending upon doctoral programme followed. All programmes allocate three years for individual doctoral-level research projects but each route has tailored taught and training components.
- Candidates who are self-funding or who are funded through schemes limited to three years of financial support will generally be offered a three year PhD programme
- Candidates funded through the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTC will generally follow a one year MSc in Social Science Research Methods followed by three years as a PhD student (1+3). However, candidates who already have this or an equivalent qualification or part of the qualification may be offered a three year or three and a half year programme
- Candidates who are on the MGS ESRC DTC Digital Society pathway will be on a four year programme
- Candidates who enter through the BBSRC DTP are offered a four year PhD programme
Potential supervisors can advise on what options would suit you best.
Outstanding facilities
- Dedicated laboratories for human communication, human-computer interaction, social interaction and child development
- An extensive library of test materials
- Observation studio with one-way mirror
- Dedicated system for motion capture used in behaviour analysis
- A multiple video camera rig for facial behaviour analysis
- Wide selection of eye-tracking equipment
- Full-motion driving simulator
- Anechoic chamber for hearing research
- Laboratories for work on the physiological, psychophysical and computational investigation of the visual system
- Dedicated experimental labs for research in neuroscience, fitted with EEG and TMS facilities
- Doctoral candidates in psychology can also gain access to the world class facilities for brain imaging (7T fMRI and MEG) at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre in the University
- Laboratories for the study of animal behaviour through located in the University Biomedical Services Unit in the Queen's Medical Centre
- Behavioural laboratories are equipped with state of the art skinner box and maze environments