Study for a PhD with our passionate and expert Winchester Psychology team. Located in the historic city of Winchester, often considered one of the most desirable places to live in the UK, the Department of Psychology has grown rapidly in recent years, developing a vibrant, inclusive research culture. Reflecting this growth, in the REF2021 results we achieved the 7th largest increase in UoA4 research power (out of 93 units) and 64% of our research outputs were judged world-leading or internationally excellent.
We now invite prospective PhD students to join one of our psychology research groups/centres and help shape the next generation of psychological research.
Details of our research groups, academic staff, areas of PhD supervision and specific PhD project opportunities can be found by visiting our research group/centre webpages. Highlights include:
Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology
Our Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology seek students to work on: (1) “The Psychology of Interviewing in Investigative and Security Contexts”. This project will expand the evidence base for ethical, effective interviewing/information elicitation practices, focusing on topics such as interviewing vulnerable or intoxicated witnesses/victims or detecting deception. (2) “Supporting Vulnerable Witnesses to Give Evidence”. This project will examine how Autistic Witnesses with Intellectual Disability fare at each stage of a 'mock' criminal investigation. Supervision is also available in areas relating to: vulnerable witnesses and investigative interviewing; eye witness identification; detecting deception; psychology of offending behaviour.
Healthy Lives Research Group
Our Healthy Lives Research Group seek a student to work on “Developing and evaluating the feasibility of an intervention for use in large organisations to support women's return to work following treatment for breast cancer”. Supervision is also available in areas including: health behaviours, such as sleeping and eating; patient decision-making; healthy working practices in organisations.
Social and Organisational Research Group
Our Social and Organisational Research Group are seeking a student to research “Why people engage in environmental volunteering”. You would work with a research team that has an international reputation for work on voluntary and civic action, and how volunteering relates to the health and wellbeing of volunteers and communities. Our department houses the Volunteering Research Hub, a multi-stakeholder network, bringing together academics, voluntary and community organisations, NHS and other health stakeholders, and local and national government. Supervision is also available in areas including: wellbeing; social identities; group processes; interpersonal interaction; citizenship; political and civic engagement; culture; leadership; organisational behaviour.
Brain and Cognition Research Group
Our Brain and Cognition Research Group seeks students to work on: (1) Alcohol intoxication or mental health effects on perception, attention and social evaluation of face and/or body images. (2) Developing a strategic metacognitive approach to detecting deception. (3) The influence of cognitive biases (e.g. for emotional or threatening content) on the social transmission of information including the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Supervision is also available on topics relating to complex cognition and contexts including creative thinking, spatial cognition, social cognition, mental health, and head injury.
Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group
Our Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group seeks students to work on topics relating to its focus on children’s and adolescents’ social, emotional and cognitive development with the aim of improving psychological wellbeing, relationships at home and school, and academic achievement.
Get in touch!
To find out more about Postgraduate Research at Winchester and how to apply please visit our webpages, email our Postgraduate Research team (Doctoralschool@winchester.ac.uk) or call them on +44 (0) 1962 827483.
To learn more about PhD opportunities and research in the Department of Psychology contact the Psychology PhD Lead, Dr Margaret Husted: margaret.husted@winchester.ac.uk
Applicant notes
We accept applications all year round with start dates in September and January.
Applicants will normally have a first or high upper-second class undergraduate honours degree and/or a master's degree in psychology or a cognate discipline. We welcome international applicants.
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