Research

We’ve been pushing the boundaries of biological, developmental, clinical, cognitive and social psychology since the 1960s.

Our REF 2021 results

We are pleased to share the results of the School of Psychology in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF 2021).

All faculty in the School with significant responsibilities for research were submitted to REF 2021 in Unit of Assessment 4 (Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience).

Overall, our research was assessed to be 50% ‘world leading’ (4*), with a further 38% assessed as ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). The rigorous assessment positions Psychology research at Sussex 18th out of nearly 100 institutions in the Times Higher Education REF 2021 rankings.

These results highlight strengths across our School in relation to our research outputs, the impacts of our research and the quality of our research environment.

The results of REF 2021 were published on 12 May 2022.

See all REF results at Sussex and read the stories behind the research we submitted.

Explore our research

With a team of 70+ academics, we're one of the largest research-intensive psychology Schools in the UK. We have notable strengths in areas as diverse as addiction, mammalian communication, ageing and dementia, child development, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, consciousness, health psychology, memory and attention, mental health and resilience, self-affirmation, synaesthesia, acculturation, crowd behaviour, and visual perception. 

Explore the four research groups that make up the School of Psychology and see what our people are working on to make an impact:


Strategic Focus Areas

We have identified five cross-cutting strategic focus areas that encourage our researchers to work together across traditional boundaries and translate research into impact. These are:

  • Changing Societies
  • Mental Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychological Methods & Open Science
  • Sensory Systems

We are also home to the following research centres:

  • SARIC
  • Sussex Kindness

  Find out more... 


   Want to do a PhD with us?


   You might also be interested in: