PhD in Psychology - Mental Health

Mental health research is a new strength in our department. This cutting edge work investigates a range of populations and disorders with different techniques and approaches such as Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), behavioural studies, questionnaires and interviews.Our research has examined emotional control and conceptual regulation in people with stroke aphasia, how sleep supports mental health by supporting the ability to suppress unwanted thoughts, and how negative experience of the body during pregnancy is associated with lower antenatal attachment.Ongoing research also examines interventions for trauma in vulnerable women and young offenders, emotions and mental health in autism and across different developmental and neuropsychological disorders, the mental health of carers, risk factors and body perception in relation to disordered eating, social prescribing using smartphone applications, and the impact of COVID-19 on mental and emotional well-being.

As part of the online application we require a research proposal. We are not looking for a fully worked out 3-year research programme, but we need a summary of the topic that you propose to address that includes key previous research in the area, a statement of your broad aims and specific questions, and some information on the methods that you propose to use to tackle the questions. Research proposals are typically 2-3 pages in length and should be uploaded as word documents in the 'research proposal' section of the online application. We expect applicants to formulate this proposal in consultation with the staff member who will potentially supervise the work. For this reason, it is important that you contact a potential supervisor to discuss your research plans before submitting a formal application , Once your application has been received, we will interview you to determine your suitability for a postgraduate research degree. For overseas applicants this will typically be done over the phone or via Skype. To demonstrate their competence in English, international applicants are normally required to obtain an overall score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.5 in all four areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in an IELTS test or equivalent.