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How to apply

Step I: Contact a potential supervisor

E-mail a potential supervisor (PI) expressing your interest (please include a few sentences describing your research interests and a CV). Recommended time frame: August-November.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/research/experimental-psychology/people

If the PI is interested, they will contact you to discuss further.

You may only move forward to Step II if you have secured approval from a PI to supervise your PhD.


Step II: submit an online application.

  • Deadline for application: Thursday 2nd January 2025.
  • Your application must include:
    1. A statement of your proposed research plan (1000 words max, figures can be included. References are not included in the word count). The research plan should provide the specific details of experimental or other kinds of studies and data that will be used to address the research question. Logical thinking, clear design of research studies, and relevant methodological knowledge are all key parts of a good research proposal. Where appropriate, the research proposal should explain how initial experiments or studies will lead onto further questions and studies in a coherent progression. The research proposal should be your own work, though the supervisor may give some advice.
    2. A statement describing your relevant qualifications and past experience (500 words max).
    3. A 5 minute recorded narrated presentation with slides: The first minute summarizing your relevant qualifications and past experience and 4 minutes describing your research proposal. You can use PowerPoint to record your presentation (see here) or you can use any other method you like.   Please add a link of your presentation to your proposed research plan statement.
    4. A current CV.
    5. Names and contact information of two individuals who have agreed to provide reference letters. Once you have submitted your application, these individuals will receive an email requesting their references, which they will need to complete and submit by Monday 6th January 2025. Please note that the Department will not receive your application until both references have been submitted. 
  • Contact the PhD Administrator, Antonietta Esposito (a.esposito@ucl.ac.uk), to let her know that you have submitted an application and/or if you have any questions.
  • The application portal can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply
  • The Department will need time to process your application.  To avoid delays please submit your application 3-4 days before deadline.

Useful country specific information with entry requirements can be found on the UCL International Students site: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international/countries


Decisions

You will receive notification about whether you will be offered a place on the programme by the end of January. This will be followed-up with a more formal letter from the UCL Admissions between March and April. The programme begins at the end of September/early October.

(If applying by June deadline you will be receive notification in early July).

For more information: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/study/doctorates

Timeline for applying for the 2024-2025 academic year


Thursday 2nd January 2025:
Applications from any students seeking funding must be submitted by this date so that they arrive at the department no later than Monday 6th January 2025.

Monday 30th June 2025:
Applications from self-funded students must be received by the Department by this date (complete with items 1-5 above).

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/research/experimental-psychology/graduate-programmes/how-apply