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A stack of textbooks on psychology
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DPhil in Experimental Psychology

About the course

Students on the DPhil in Experimental Psychology will carry out independent research under the supervision and guidance of principal investigators and researchers within a research group or lab. Areas of study include behavioural neuroscience, developmental psychology, perception and cognition, psychological and brain health, and social psychology.

The Department of Experimental Psychology runs a number of seminar programmes and all graduate research students are encouraged to attend talks and presentations relevant to their research interests. On completion of the course, students are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of their field of research and to have made a contribution to scholarship in that area. They are also expected to have acquired research skills that will enable them to pursue independent research in psychology.

The majority of our DPhil students are expected to be admitted for full-time study, referred to in the timeline below as FTE (full-time equivalent) study. A small number of part-time students may be admitted to the DPhil in Experimental Psychology. If you apply for admission to the part-time course you will be required to show that your proposed DPhil research topic is suited to part-time study and that the supervisor agrees with the part-time schedule.

You will be able to attend the seminars organised by individual research groups or groups with common areas of interest. The department also provides departmental seminars during term time, including a series dedicated to DPhil students presenting their own research.

Attendance

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The full-time course is studied over three to four years. The part-time course has the same requirements, but is studied over six to eight years.

Part-time study is expected to take place at 50% of the intensity of full-time study. There will be some flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance, which will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor. You will be required to attend training sessions on set dates within term time as determined by the department.

Provision exists for students on some courses to undertake their research in a ‘well-founded laboratory’ outside of the University. This may require travel to and attendance at a site that is not located in Oxford. Where known, existing collaborations will be outlined on this page. Please read the course information carefully, including the additional information about course fees and costs.

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

You will have access to the department’s IT support and university library services, such as the Radcliffe Science Library, and experimental facilities should be made available as appropriate to the research topic. The provision of other resources specific to your research will be agreed with your supervisor.

The department provides some funding towards a computer in the first year and further funding for consumables each year (for a maximum of three years) to students who do not have access to funds from funding bodies.

You are encouraged to attend departmental events such as departmental seminars and colloquia which bring research students together with academic and other research staff in the department to hear about on-going research, and provide an opportunity for networking and socialising.

The departmental social committee holds occasional events throughout the academic year for both students and staff in the department.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Experimental Psychology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Experimental Psychology.

Students normally meet with their primary supervisor at least every two weeks and with their secondary supervisor at least once a term.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support. Supervision and guidance may also include co-supervision from other collaborating groups or labs, both within the department or from other departments and faculties within the university or from another institution.

Assessment

First year of full-time study (part-time equivalent: years 1 and 2)

You are initially registered as a Probationary Research Student (PRS status). During your first year of FTE study, you are expected to attend courses, lectures and seminars that will enable you to gain the most out of your time at Oxford and assist you with the design and analysis of your own area of research. These will typically include:

  • graduate statistical workshops
  • skills training courses e.g. in Computer Programming and fMRI methods
  • analysis of research methods.

The Medical Sciences Division also offers a large number of courses on transferable skills such as teaching and communicating scientific findings which you are encouraged to attend as a part of your DPhil studies.

You are expected to be fully integrated within your own chosen group or lab and attend group or lab meetings as well as attending related seminars and conferences.

Second year of full-time study (part-time equivalent: years 3 and 4)

You will be expected to transfer your status from PRS to DPhil before the end of your fourth term of FTE study. For this, you will be required to submit a written report summarising your progress to date, which you will then discuss and defend in an oral examination (a transfer viva).

Third and final years of full-time study (part-time equivalent: years 4 to 8)

During your third year of FTE study, you will need to confirm your DPhil status through a formal assessment to ensure that you are on course to complete your studies within the three- to four-year time frame. You will be required to give a presentation and attend an interview. Finally, your studies will conclude with the submission of a thesis (maximum 100,000 words) and an oral examination, your final viva voce.

Assessment of your progress on the course is monitored through termly progression reports and at three key stages:

  • transfer of status
  • confirmation of status
  • thesis submission.

You will need to have successfully completed all three stages to be awarded a DPhil in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford.

Graduate destinations

A majority of DPhil students remain in academia. Others go on to pursue careers in consultancy and government. 

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

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