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Postgraduate Research

Psychology

School of Psychology | MPhil
Entry Year
Academic Year 2024/25
Entry Requirements
2.1

Overview

The School of Psychology has a thriving, well-resourced and engaged PhD community that is central to its research environment. Students are strategically appointed to research projects with the express purpose of enhancing research capacity and development in prioritised areas for which the School aims to enhance world-leading research.

MODE OF STUDY / DURATION

Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).

Subject Summary

You’ll enjoy the high level of spontaneous peer-support, initiative, and engagement that exists among our diverse community of psychological doctoral researchers. Your research may cover topics such as Development, Social, Cognitive, Health and Biological Psychology. You may wish to continue within academia to take up postdoctoral research positions, fellowships or lectureships in psychology, move into clinical or educational psychology training, or take up a research position in the private or public sectors.

Course content

Research Information

Associated Research
Subject-specific postgraduate modules in research design and methods are delivered as part of the PhD training portfolio to complement the generic University training and further topic-specific research training is also available.
Students are expected and encouraged to publish during their PhD research and are supported in doing so through their research training.
Students are a central part of the research environment of the School and participate in School-level seminars and research meetings.
The School has made extensive material investments in infrastructure, including two computer labs and access to several suites of dedicated research labs, to support their research.
The School of Psychology has a postgraduate research community of around 50 PhD students who are very well resourced and supported in their research.
The School of Psychology at Queen's ranked in the top 10 psychology departments in the UK for research intensity in REF 2014 and provides an excellent environment in which to carry out PhD research.
Other opportunities exist to attract funding from non-governmental sources. Current and previous PhD sponsors include professional services firms, international Governments, charities, and technology companies. We also welcome self-funding students on a full-time or part-time basis.
One distinctive aspect of the PhD experience in the School of Psychology is the high level of spontaneous peer-support, initiative, and engagement among this community of Doctoral researchers. This is valued and fostered by the School through its support of the postgraduate conference and postgraduate week activities as well as wide-ranging involvement of research students across many aspects of School life.
Our PhD community also organizes numerous social events each year that are very popular amongst both staff and students. There is a range of sources of funding available for PhD students. Every year the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DEL) funds a number of PhD students to undertake research on pre-specified topics within the School of Psychology. These topics and the names of the associated supervisors are typically advertised online in December with a closing date in February. Last year's topics spanned research topics across Development, Social, Cognitive and Biological Psychology. Selected applicants are invited to interview and the successful candidate is offered a fully funded place with fees paid and an annual maintenance stipend for the three years of the PhD. Eligibility criteria can be found at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/delterms
Students who wish to self-fund or explore external funding sources are advised to peruse our staff webpages (http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Staff/) and to contact potential supervisors to discuss potential topics. Most students continue within academia to take up postdoctoral research positions, fellowships or lectureships in psychology. Some continue into clinical or educational psychology training while others take up research positions in the private and public sectors.

Career Prospects

Introduction
For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk. Our advisors - in consultation with the School - will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.

People teaching you

Dr Donncha Hanna
PGR Director
School of Psychology
Email: donncha.hanna@qub.ac.uk

Course structure

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Learning and Teaching

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Project name School Funding Subject Status Sort Timestamp
Stress, eustress and positive psychology
School of Psychology | PHD Stress, eustress, coping, positive psychology, wellbeing learning motivation Dr Chris Gibbons
Supervisor
Dr Chris Gibbons
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
30 June 2023
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2 1688079600
One funded project in the area of Intergroup conflicts and collective trauma; Justice processes in post-conflict societies or Political resistance in non-democratic contexts.
School of Psychology | PHD Conflict and violence, peace, reconciliation, transitional justice, resistance, repression Dr Mengyao Li
Supervisor
Dr Mengyao Li
Funding
Funded
Department for the Economy (DfE)
Application deadline
16 March 2023
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1678924800
Integration in the Layers of Mathematical Skills
School of Psychology | PHD Mathematics; children; integration; interventions Dr Chang Xu
Supervisor
Dr Chang Xu
Funding
Funded
Department for the Economy (DfE)
Application deadline
16 March 2023
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1678924800
Navigating Childfreedom: Identity Disclosure, Communication Strategies and Adjustment in Childfree Individuals
School of Psychology | PHD childfreedom, non-normative life choices, identity, communication, adjustment, multi-method Dr Tanja Gerlach
Supervisor
Dr Tanja Gerlach
Funding
Funded
Department for the Economy (DfE)
Application deadline
16 March 2023
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1678924800
Walking in real-world environments for people living with Parkinson’s: Enhancing gait using movement analysis
School of Psychology | PHD Parkinson’s; gait; motion capture; rehabilitation; movement disorders Dr Matthew Rodger
Supervisor
Dr Matthew Rodger
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Supervisor
Professor Cherie Armour
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Identifying psychological mechanisms which promote resilience post-trauma.
School of Psychology | PHD trauma, PTSD, mental health, resilience Professor Cherie Armour
Supervisor
Professor Cherie Armour
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Identifying as “Other”: Disidentification with Traditional Identities in a Divided Society
School of Psychology | PHD Identity and Intergroup Relations, Social Identity Approach, Identification, Disidentification, Post Dr Danielle Blaylock
Supervisor
Dr Danielle Blaylock
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Transgenerational Contact: Exploring how a Child’s Positive Intergroup Relationships Improves Parental Intergroup Attitudes and Behaviours
School of Psychology | PHD Identity and Intergroup Relations, Intergroup Contact, Extended Contact, Dyadic Relationships, Post- Dr Danielle Blaylock
Supervisor
Dr Danielle Blaylock
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Integrated education in post-Agreement Northern Ireland
School of Psychology | PHD Integration, education, children, intergroup contact, social attitudes Dr Danielle Blaylock
Supervisor
Dr Danielle Blaylock
Funding
Funded
DfE (CAST)
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
The mediating role of trauma appraisals following potentially traumatic life events.
School of Psychology | PHD Trauma Appraisal, Trauma, Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth Dr Donncha Hanna
Supervisor
Dr Donncha Hanna
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Developing Trauma Informed Care principles for Health Professionals
School of Psychology | PHD Trauma, Trauma Informed Care, Health Care Professionals Dr Donncha Hanna
Supervisor
Dr Donncha Hanna
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Reducing ’flashbacks’ of paediatric trauma: Investigating the consolidation, reactivation, and reduction of intrusive traumatic memories in children
School of Psychology | PHD Trauma, children, paediatric populations, memory, clinical psychology Dr David McCormack
Supervisor
Dr David McCormack
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Diabetes Counselling and Empowerment Training: Developing a Programme Theory and Exploring the Benefits for People Living with Diabetes
School of Psychology | PHD Empowerment; Counselling; Diabetes; Healthcare professionals; wellbeing; emotional support Dr Emma Berry
Supervisor
Dr Emma Berry
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Beyond School Gates: Children’s Contributions to Community Integration
School of Psychology | PHD Children, integration, diversity, friendships, social cognition Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Supervisor
Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Communicating Truth: Consumption and transmission of polarised information amongst young people in a divided society
School of Psychology | PHD adolescents, beliefs, polarisation, epistemic vigilance, identity, social cognition Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Supervisor
Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Developing Belief Network: Cross-cultural research on the development and diversity of religious cognition, beliefs and identities
School of Psychology | PHD Children, beliefs, religion, identity, social cognition Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Supervisor
Dr Jocelyn Dautel
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Training goalkeepers to improve performance in stopping penalties
School of Psychology | PHD Penalties, Football, Goalkeeping, Virtual Reality, Sports Science, Decision Making Dr Joost Dessing
Supervisor
Dr Joost Dessing
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control: Understanding and Experiences in a Post-Bill Environment.
School of Psychology | PHD Domestic abuse, coercive control, family violence, post conflict society. Dr Katrina McLaughlin
Supervisor
Dr Katrina McLaughlin
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Developing cost-effective and future-ready approaches to neurorehabilitation of stroke and functional neurological disorders
School of Psychology | PHD Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Stroke, Functional Neurological Disorder, Conversion disorder, motor Dr Kathy Ruddy
Supervisor
Dr Kathy Ruddy
Funding
Funded
DfE
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Supervisor
Dr Mihalis Doumas
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Multisensory integration in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Investigating general vs task specific sensory processing deficits.
School of Psychology | PHD Autism, sensory integration, multisensory, speech, balance, auditory, visual, proprioceptive. Dr Mihalis Doumas
Supervisor
Dr Mihalis Doumas
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Double disclosure? Investigating how disabled students in higher education navigate the university to employment pipeline
School of Psychology | PHD Psychology; Applied Social Psychology; Disability; Disabled People; Graduate employment; Students; H Dr Stephanie Burns
Supervisor
Dr Stephanie Burns
Funding
Funded
Queen’s Collaborative Studentship (funded via Dep
Application deadline
12 February 2024
School of Psychology Funded Psychology Closed 2 1707696000
Multisensory integration in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Investigating general vs task specific sensory processing deficits.
School of Psychology | PHD Autism, sensory integration, multisensory, speech, balance, auditory, visual, proprioceptive. Dr Tim Fosker
Supervisor
Dr Tim Fosker
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Closed 2
Opting Out of Parenthood: Psychological Aspects of Childfreedom
School of Psychology | PHD Childfreedom, childfree, voluntary, childless, non-normative life choices, identity, communication Dr Tanja Gerlach
Supervisor
Dr Tanja Gerlach
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
The social costs and benefits of heeding and rejecting advice
School of Psychology | PHD Advice; Social Psychology; Judgment; Decision-Making; Open Science Dr Thomas Schultze-Gerlach
Supervisor
Dr Thomas Schultze-Gerlach
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Dark Personalities in Emergency Personnel
School of Psychology | PHD Personality traits; dark tetrad; childhood adversity; trauma; compassion fatigue; well-being; mental Dr Kostas Papageorgiou
Supervisor
Dr Kostas Papageorgiou
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2
Genetics of Spatial Ability
School of Psychology | PHD Genetics; Spatial Ability; Sex Differences; Cross-Cultural Differences Dr Kostas Papageorgiou
Supervisor
Dr Kostas Papageorgiou
Funding
Unfunded
Application deadline
None specified
School of Psychology Unfunded Psychology Open 2

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Psychology from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 TBC
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 TBC
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 TBC
EU Other 3 £25,600
International £25,600

1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Psychology costs

Depending on the area of research chosen there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.

Bench fees

Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.

How do I fund my study?

1.PhD Opportunities

Find PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.

2.Funded Doctoral Training Programmes

We offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.

3.PhD loans

The Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.

4.International Scholarships

Information on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.

Funding and Scholarships

The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor

If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Download Postgraduate Prospectus