The School of Psychology at Sussex provides an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment for postgraduate study and research.
- Our research has real world impact, informs government policies and fuels media debates which is why it is internationally renowned.
- We work with a range of partners in government, industry and business so our students experience and learn about the practical applications of psychological theory.
- We are committed to your future which is why our career support continues beyond graduation.
Please refer to our Postgraduate Prospectus for information about our taught and research programmes, including academic and English language requirements and how to apply.
Further information about our MSc and PhD courses is also available by clicking on the titles below. More extensive information is available via the 'download our information sheets' tab on the left of this page.
Please see funding opportunities at Funding for postgraduate study.
- Applied Social Psychology MSc
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This course provides you with a theoretical grounding in important perspectives within applied social psychology, along with the methodological techniques to apply social psychology to real-world issues in subsequent research work. This MSc aims to advance your knowledge of the real-world applications of social psychological theory, develop your research methodology skills, provide you with experience of conducting high-quality research appropriate for publication in academic journals, further develop your communication and presentation skills, as well as enable you to use relevant computer software.
- Cognitive Neuroscience MSc
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Cognitive neuroscience is an exciting and rapidly developing field of research that straddles the traditional disciplines of psychology and neuroscience. It has been referred to as the 'biology of the mind' as it seeks to provide brain-based accounts of cognitive functions such as perception, memory, emotion, language and thought. In addition to the standard modules that you would expect from any MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, we offer a number of unique modules reflecting the Sussex research expertise (such as the neuroscience of consciousness; social neuroscience). The range of experimental projects we offer is influenced by our local research expertise such as in language comprehension, synaesthesia, visual illusions, developmental dyslexia, theory-of-mind, and eye-movements in psychiatric populations. It is our aim to offer you hands-on experience of the methods of cognitive neuroscience, including fMRI, EEG and TMS, in addition to providing you with a solid grounding in contemporary theories.
- Experimental Psychology MSc
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This course aims to give people with a good undergraduate degree in another subject a thorough grounding in experimental psychology, enabling them to progress to postgraduate research or professional training in psychology. This MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society as a qualification for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, formerly GBR). The programme aims to enable you to develop an understanding of how the brain modulates behaviour and contributes to conscious experience, and of the experimental techniques used to study the relationship between the brain and behaviour. It will also provide opportunities for you to develop research skills, including formulation of research questions, study design, data collection, selection and performance of statistical analyses and evaluation of findings and help you develop analytical, critical evaluation and problem-solving skills for assessing psychological issues and evaluating research findings.
- Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health MSc
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This course will equip you with skills and knowledge about clinical psychology and mental health but, at present, does not include any clinical practice. Clinical psychology aims to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being by applying knowledge derived from theory and research. This course will help you to gain knowledge about clinical psychology and mental health, develop a grounding in research training relevant to clinical psychology, and acquire a broad understanding of mental health service provision in the United Kingdom.
- Health Psychology MSc
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Health psychology is devoted to understanding the psychology of health and illness. The course enables you to gain a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of health psychology research and its applications. The MSc provides an essential foundation for those who wish to qualify as chartered health psychologists. This course aims to promote and facilitate an extensive knowledge of relevant psychological theory, the development of conceptual sophistication, provide you with the opportunity to develop skills in research methodology and comprehensive familiarity with basic and applied research in the domain of health psychology. It will also provide you with experience of conducting high-quality research of a standard appropriate for publication in prestigious academic journals, and develop further appropriate knowledge and skills for career development in areas involving the application of health psychology expertise.
- Psychological Therapy PG Dip & MSc
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of psychological therapy that has been well researched and has a track record of effectiveness for many types of psychological problem. It is recognised as a treatment of choice for mental health difficulties ranging from anxiety and depression to psychosis and personality difficulties (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; NICE). This course is a high quality practitioner training, focused on the development of competencies to practice CBT effectively. It emphasises both the empirical basis and the reflective practice of Psychological Therapy. Students will receive expert supervision of practice and be assessed for CBT competence against nationally recognised norms.
- Psychological Methods MRes
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The course provides a strong grounding in the methods and concepts of psychology and aims to promote and facilitate an extensive knowledge of the research methods and data analysis techniques in psychology. The MRes with enable you to develop skills in research methodology, provide experience of conducting high-quality research of a standard appropriate for publication in prestigious academic journals, advance communication and presentation skills, and enable students to use relevant computer software.
- Postgraduate research (PhD) studies
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As a research student, you will be working in a highly rated, research-active unit. We offer excellent supervision in all areas of psychology in which School faculty specialise, and train students for academic and research careers. If you are interested in applying, the first step is to contact potential supervisors in our Research groups to see if any of them would be interested in your proposed area of research. Funded PhD studentships are advertised through our funding page. Whilst such studentships may be advertised throughout the year the main bulk of studentships are advertised in October/November. You will then need to write a strong research proposal as part of the application process.
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions about applying for a PhD in Psychology, please download our information sheet about Applying for a PhD research degree in Psychology at Sussex. Further information can also be found in the PhD in Psychology information sheet. To find out more about life as a research student please see Excellence in research degrees.