The Department of Psychology has an excellent record of conducting and publishing internationally competitive research. In the Research Assessment Exercise 2008, we were ranked in the top five within the UK in terms of the proportion of our research outputs that were assessed as “intellectually excellent” or “world leading”.

Extensive postgraduate supervision experience is available within the three main research groups: Cognitive Psychology and Decision Science, Developmental Psychology, and Attention, Action, and Motor Control. We have also developed expertise in economic and consumer psychology as a result of collaboration with the Department of Economics. Facilities in our numerous laboratory suites include eye-tracking, ERP, EEG, virtual reality, movement recording, computer-networked cubicles for behavioural research, and equipment for conducting simulation and large-scale data analysis. Research is typically funded from sources including research councils, charities and industrial collaborations. The Department has a history of collaborative links both within Warwick and externally with, for example, the UK credit card industry and government departments. We have held collaborative studentships with companies and we have excellent links with local education and health services. The expertise and facilities available across a wide range of topic areas provide an ideal environment for postgraduate training and supervision. The Department also has ESRC-recognised Doctoral Training Centre pathways and +4 ESRC PhD studentships.

Research Groups

Attention, Action, and Motor Control

The work of this group explores the mechanisms and representations that underpin attention and motor control. General topics include: face and object perception; motion perception; visual attention; visual search; automatic and controlled attention capture; eye movement control; change blindness; psychophysics of vision; the influence of emotional content and the effects of aging on visual processing; motor control and sensory motor co-ordination.

Developmental Psychology

This group explores the course, functions and disorders of human development. Research topics include theory of mind; language development; memory development; reading, spelling and dyslexia; development of timing and temporal concepts; developmental disorders; conceptual development; social and emotional development.

Cognitive and Decision Science

This group’s research combines theoretical, experimental, computational, neuropsychological and applied approaches to understanding human cognition. Topics include memory and memory distortions; thinking and reasoning; judgement and decision making; categorisation; rational analysis; cognitive changes in normal human ageing; reading, spelling and dyslexia; psycholinguistics; cognition and emotion; cognitive neuropsychology and computational neuroscience.

Research Degrees

The Department of Psychology has a thriving group of postgraduate students carrying out a wide variety of research, supervised by academic staff who are recognised internationally in their respective fields. Researchers within the department have the advantage of laboratory facilities which are considered to be among the best at any Psychology department in the UK.

Master’s by Research (MSc)

Duration: 1 year full-time

For students who would like an advanced academic qualification, but who do not wish to commit to a PhD programme, the MSc by research provides the perfect opportunity to develop expertise in basic psychological science and applied issues. It is awarded for a thesis based on original research conducted over a 1 year period. The MSc can also provide the ideal foundation prior to entrance onto PhD programmes.

• More information on the Master by Research (MSc)

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Duration: 2 years full-time

Candidates for the MPhil will be expected to produce a clear, concisely written and well argued thesis based on original research conducted under the supervision of a relevant member of staff.

• More information on the Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Duration: 3 years full-time

Candidates for a PhD shall offer a substantial original contribution to knowledge, which, in principle, is worthy of peer-reviewed publication. Opportunities for research are available in: Cognitive Psychology, Development Psychology and Attention, Action and Motor Control. The research conducted will normally be supervised by two members of staff.

• More information on the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych)

Duration: 3 years full-time

The Clinical Psychology Doctorate leads to a professional qualification in clinical psychology. The course is run jointly as a partnership between Coventry University and the University of Warwick. The aim of this programme is to train Clinical Psychologists for work in the NHS and related settings, in accordance with the requirements of both the British Psychological Society’s Committee on Training in Clinical Psychology and for registration as a clinical psychologist with the Health Professional Council (HPC). The course has a core ethos of reflective practice; this involves thinking about and critically analysing one’s actions with the goal of improving one’s professional practice.

• More information on the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych)

Taught Master’s Degree

MSc in Clinical Applications of Psychology

Places available: 20

The course is designed for those who wish to pursue a career in clinical psychology and are building up their academic and work experience for competitive entry into doctoral training. It includes intensive training in research methods and content modules on evidencebased clinical practice and case study seminars. The key distinguishing feature of the course is a 6-month research placement in a partnership NHS trust leading to a dissertation project. This provides the NHS experience that is considered essential for entry into doctoral training, but is increasingly difficult for even highly qualified candidates to obtain.

• More information on the MSc in Clinical Applications of Psychology

MSc Behavioural and Economic Science

Places available: 30

This MSc is an innovative collaboration between psychologists and economists. It offers a thorough grounding in advanced core areas of behavioural economics, and the cognitive science of judgement and decision making. Modules cover the design, conduct, and analysis of behavioural experiments and contemporary theory and data in behavioural economics and cognitive and decision sciences.

• More information on the MSc in Behavioural and Economic Science (Science Track)

Download prospectus entry

Prospectus Entry

Related Links:

Psychology Department Homepage

Postgraduate Research Study in Psychology

Fees and Funding:

Postgraduate Fees

Funding your study

“The Psychology Department is packed with internationally recognised academics conducting cutting-edge research. As a postgraduate student you become a crucial part of this thriving research community and you learn from the best. Current graduate students will tell you that Warwick offers an open, welcoming, and professional environment. On top of that, I would say that our department encourages creativity, innovation, and scientific rigour. The research training we provide, along with our reputation for excellence, opens up a range of career opportunities for our graduates.”

Kim Wade / Psychology