PhD Opportunities

Self-funded PhDs

We welcome applications for self-funded PhD study throughout the year.  Further details on PhD study at the University of Aberdeen, including details on how to apply, are available on the Study Here pages of the University website.

PhD Studentships Competition - February 2024

The School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen has two PhD studentships available. The studentships will commence in October 2024 and are fully funded for 3 years (or 4 years if the successful applicant does not have advanced methodology training at master’s level).

The studentships are open to home students and EU students with pre-settled status. They will cover tuition fees and a stipend at UKRI level (currently £18.622 per annum). International applicants may also apply, but the funding is limited to stipend and tuition fees at home student level.

Candidates must hold (or be expected to obtain) an Upper Second Class honours degree in Psychology as a minimum requirement. A master’s degree and/or additional research experience is preferred. Projects may focus on fundamental research in psychology aligned with our research themes, but we also particularly invite applications for projects that aim to achieve impact outside academia.

You will be joining a research-intensive School with a vibrant PhD community. Our research falls broadly into four themes: (1) Perception & Attention, (2) Cognition, (3) Social Cognition, and (4) Applied Psychology. The School houses state-of-the-art research facilities, including dedicated lab space, a large participant pool, extensive eye and motion tracking facilities, EEG systems, TMS systems, and psychophysics laboratories.

Please contact potential supervisors before applying, and ensure they are willing to give feedback on your proposal and supervise your project should your application be successful. A staff list and their research areas can be found here: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/psychology/research/index.php

Applications must include:

1. A project proposal which has been developed in conjunction with the supervisor. The proposal should not exceed one A4 page (2 cm margins, font Arial 11, single spaced) and must include a brief background, aims and an outline of proposed studies, and significance. A reference list can be included as an additional page.
2. Name and details of the supervisory team (two members of staff).
3. Supporting statements from two academic referees.
4. A one page CV listing qualifications and research/work experience (2 cm margins, font Arial 11, single spaced).
5. Academic transcripts (does not apply to University of Aberdeen graduates)

Above documentation must be submitted in full by email attachment to psy-pg@abdn.ac.uk before the closing deadline of 5pm on 19^th February 2024. For enquiries, please email Professor Patric Bach (patric.bach@abdn.ac.uk).