MPhil/PhD
Psychology

What kind of research could I do?

We are able to support PhD research in most areas of psychology.

Some students have already formulated specific research ideas before they apply here, and find a supervisor in the department who is able to help them develop these into a doctoral research programme. If this applies to you, see information on the expertise of all our staff and contact any who you think may be able to help you to pursue these.

Other students are attracted by the research interests of our staff, and may decide to undertake a project that has been suggested by them and which relates to their ongoing research. To explore these or other research ideas, start by emailing the member of staff whose research interests you and make arrangements with them to discuss research ideas.

You need to agree on a research proposal with a potential supervisor before you apply to the programme, so the first step is to contact potential supervisors. You should provide them with an academic CV and inform them of your academic and research qualifications (including degree classification on your undergraduate and MSc degrees),. You should also mention if you need funding.

You'll research

Our postgraduate students are offered a stimulating study environment in which to research their higher degree. We have a thriving postgraduate school with some 50 current students on full-time and part-time programmes, including mature students and international students.

Training and support

All our MPhil/PhD students are assigned a specific research supervisor (or sometimes joint supervisors).

Students undergo comprehensive training in psychological research methods (unless they already hold an MSc approved by the ESRC) in line with current ESRC training guidelines, including quantitative and qualitative research methods. This is mainly during the first year of registration (or first two years for part-time students). Students also attend various short generic research skills and methods training modules run by Goldsmiths.

Students have full access to the Department's excellent facilities for lab and field research, and first-rate technical support is available from the Department's team of full-time technical staff.

Progress and assessment

Students initially register for an MPhil until they achieve satisfactory upgrading to PhD status. This is dependent upon satisfactory progress reports, an upgrading report and a viva. The upgrading report is usually completed after 12 months full-time, or 24 months part-time. The report will include a plan of the thesis, a timetable, and one draft thesis chapter (or equivalent) and will be discussed at a presentation to the Departmental Postgraduate Committee.

Students will also be required to present their work at the Postgraduate symposium. Submission of the thesis is the final stage of the work, when your completed thesis is presented for examination (viva voce).

Most postgraduates take three years to complete a PhD full-time, and four to six years part-time. The maximum time period from registration to submission is four years of full-time study (eight years part-time). Your progress on your thesis is regularly monitored by the Department's Postgraduate Programmes Committee. The Head of Department can recommend suspension from the programme at any stage if progress is not satisfactory.

Postgraduate facilities

All full-time students have their own workplace and a networked computer with access to relevant software. Part-time students also have access to a networked computer, generally shared between two or three students. We also run a psychological test library for staff and students.

Seminars and presentations

Our postgraduates have regular opportunities to meet with other students and to make contact with staff. The department runs a number of active visiting lecturer seminar series. There are also several specialised research groups that hold regular meetings and talks that are open to staff, researchers and postgraduate students.

Postgraduates are also strongly encouraged to present their work as a paper or poster at national or international conferences and financial support is set aside for this.

Skills and careers

You will receive training in and develop wide-ranging research skills, including:

• Database searching and bibliographic skills
• Managing and analysing data
• Presentation and communication skills
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Handling legal and ethical issues in research
• Research design
• Project management

Studentships and departmental funding

There are several scholarship and studentship opportunities you could be eligible for as a psychology research degree applicant. The deadlines for applying for funding for 2024 entry have now passed, however the information below indicates the breadth of opportunities that could be available in future.

It is important that you contact a potential supervisor as soon as possible as they can provide you with more information about potential research projects and can advise you on whether a particular source of funding is suitable for you. Please note that funding is extremely competitive, and successful students would usually be expected to have had considerable research experience (through their degrees and working or volunteering in research labs). Potential supervisors may also have funding through their grants or may be able to recommend additional funding sources. You will also not be admitted without supervisor support of your research proposal, so it is essential that you contact them first.

You must indicate on the Psychology Department PhD application form if you wish to be considered for one of these studentships (see the 'How to apply' section for information).

Departmental awards

Explore the postgraduate funding available from the Psychology Department. Application deadlines for departmental bursaries and SENSS studentship funding will typically be in December to start in the next academic year in September. There may be other funding available throughout the year, os please keep checking back, and contact potential supervisors as they may be aware of additional funding.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

Please contact a potential supervisor first as your application will not be considered without supervisor support.

Before submitting your application you'll need to have:

• A completed copy of the Psychology Department PhD application form, which you should attach to your online application (see guidance below)
• Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• Contact details of a second referee
• A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

Please note that your application will not be considered unless all of this information is included in your application.

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Psychology Department PhD application form

For this will need to provide:

• A research proposal
• A proposed timeline for your PhD
• A personal statement
• The name of your proposed supervisor at Goldsmiths
• A statement of support from your proposed supervisor at Goldsmiths
• The name of your proposed second supervisor (you can consult with your primary proposed supervisor about who
• would be suitable)
• Funding eligibility
• Any training needs you might have
• Whether you're intending part-time or full-time study
• A copy of your CV

When to apply

The deadline for applications for departmental studentships (Departmental Bursary and ESRC SENSS student-led studentships) starting in September of 2024 has now passed (the typical deadline is December or January). Other funding may be announced by the university or through external sources, so please check external sources or with your supervisor about deadlines and requirements.

Applications from candidates who are self-funded are accepted throughout the year, with students having the option of starting at the beginning of an academic term (typically September, January, and April). Interviews (typically online) will be arranged on an ad hoc basis. Decisions will normally be made within two weeks of the interview.

If you are interested in self-funding, please contact Dr Gianna Cocchini, G.Cocchini (@gold.ac.uk). Otherwise, for funded studentships, please contact your proposed supervisor, the contact provided on the external funding website, or Dr Madoka Kumashiro, M.Kumashiro (@gold.ac.uk), Psychology Department PhD director, for more information.

Selection process

Admission to the programme is based on an interview (typically online) and the panel’s assessment of your application.

Further guidance

Find out more about applying.