An MPhil/PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. You need to find a suitable academic supervisor at Birkbeck, who can offer the requisite expertise to guide and support you through your research. Find out more about undertaking a research degree at Birkbeck.

The MPhil/PhD in Psychology provides an excellent forum for you to develop and enhance your specialist skills, as well as more general, transferable research skills. It is designed to allow you to gain insight into different research methods and to acquire valuable experience both in carrying out large-scale research projects and in teaching.

Our current research interests include: brain and cognitive development (development of perceptual, cognitive and linguistic abilities) cognitive modelling (Bayesian approaches to human reasoning connectionist modelling of language, memory, executive functions, cognitive development, developmental disorders and neuropsychological syndromes cognitive architectures) perception, attention and emotion/anxiety (investigations of relevant processes using behavioural, electrophysiological, TMS and hemodynamic measures of brain activity) child, family and health psychology (social and emotional development early childcare family stress qualitative approaches) and genetics of human development and behaviour.