Psychology PhD studentship

Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship (UK and International) (2025)

What you get

• A stipend for 3 years (tied to the UKRI studentship rates, currently £19,237 per year) to cover living costs.
• UK or International fees are covered for 3 years.
• Research/training costs of £900 per year are also covered for 3 years, and enhanced costs are provided for some neuroscience projects.
• School-funded Postgraduate Researchers have the opportunity to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your PhD with a range of modules to choose from. This work is paid at Grade 6 which is currently £17.38 per hour, and covers contact time, preparation and marking. The rate is expected to increase slightly in 2025/26 and each subsequent year).

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

The School of Psychology is offering up to 11 Open UK/International Doctoral Research Scholarships for entry in September 2025 for a project proposed by the applicant.  

Details of our academics and a guide to the kinds of projects they are interested in supervising can be found on our list of supervisors. Please identify a member of faculty whose research interests/methodologies are similar to yours and approach them informally before submitting an application. They will be able to tell you if they would be interested in supervising a PhD on your chosen topic and may wish to comment on your draft research proposal.

More information about faculty research interests and expertise can be found via links to our four research groups:

• Developmental and Clinical Psychology
• Social and Applied Psychology
• Biological Psychology (including Cognitive Neuroscience) 
• Cognitive Psychology (including Cognitive Neuroscience)

Doctoral Tutor role: 

Postgraduate Researchers studying for a PhD are encouraged to take on the paid role of a Doctoral Tutor to gain teaching experience. As a Doctoral Tutor you will receive training and will be able to begin teaching in the first term of your studies. You will be encouraged to study for a formal teaching accreditation (Associate of the Higher Education Academy), enrolling on a ‘Starting to Teach’ module in the first term.   

Eligibility

• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience or a related discipline.
• The University of Sussex believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background. 
• This award will pay fees at the Home or International rate. International students must move to Sussex for the duration of the PhD and will not be permitted to register as Distance Learners. The studentship does not include additional funding towards the costs of visas or travel to the UK for International students.

Number of scholarships available

• Up to 11

Deadline

How to apply

• Please read Some questions we are often asked before you start your application.
• Please submit your application online for 'PhD in Psychology' for entry in September 2025.

• In the Supervisor suggested by applicant section of your application, put the name(s) of the supervisor(s) you have approached. If you leave this blank, it is unlikely that you will be considered for a School studentship.
• In the Proposed source of funding section of your application, please put Psychology Doctoral Research Studentship. If you wish to consider self-funding as an alternative should you not be offered the Studentship, please put this as a second option (this will not affect whether you are offered funding or not).

Candidates should provide: 

• A research proposal that outlines your knowledge of the research area, hypotheses that could be addressed in your PhD, and an outline of potential methods. The research proposal should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words in length and not exceed 3 pages, including references. It should be set at a minimum of 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses. 
• Two academic references.
• An up-to-date CV.
• A document summarising any teaching experience you have and illustrating your suitability for a Doctoral Tutor role. 
• International students should provide evidence of English Language as outlined under International Requirements on our PhD home page.

Contact us

For queries with respect to the application process: psychologyphdadmin@sussex.ac.uk  

To discuss the details of your research interests further, please contact an appropriate academic from the  list of supervisors. You must name a potential supervisor on your application.

Timetable

Deadline: Friday 13 December 2024 (16:00pm GMT)

Interviews (online): mid-January to February 2025

Decisions: before end of March 2025