Psychology (Experimental)

About the course

Psychology has been defined as the science of mental life and its scope includes a wide variety of issues. It addresses such questions as: how do we perceive and understand the world around us? How do children acquire language? What predisposes two people to get on with each other? What causes schizophrenia?

Psychology at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection.

The Oxford Experimental Psychology Department is widely regarded as one of the leading psychology departments in the UK. The department’s size and its commitment to excellence in teaching and research means there are typically four or five research seminars each week, in addition to undergraduate lectures and classes. 

At present, there are particularly strong research groups in the fields of human cognitive processes, neuroscience, language, developmental psychology, social psychology and psychological disorders.

Students can elect to graduate after three years with a BA degree. Alternatively, they can decide to remain for an optional fourth year composed of a research-intensive, clinically-focused or translation-focused extended project.

Students who complete the fourth year will graduate with a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology. 

Fieldwork/international opportunities

A wide choice of research projects is available to students in their third and fourth years, including experimental, clinical or translational projects involving collaborations with other departments and outside the University.

Experimental Psychology has excellent facilities and very close links with neuroscience, including neurophysiology and neurology, as well as the Philosophy and Linguistics Departments.

Students benefit from the department being one of Britain’s most active centres for psychological research, with an outstanding international reputation.

'I chose the course here because it is strongly rooted in experimental methods and you’re given the chance to talk to the people who are at the top of their field and are involved in current research which is changing the face of psychology. I still find it amazing that you’ll learn about a fascinating experiment in lectures and then realise that the person giving your tutorials or lectures headed that research team! I am also able to take part in a range of really interesting experiments which widen my knowledge of the field as a whole and of how research is carried out. Every so often, some of the departmental researchers are on the lookout for a research assistant which is an amazing experience if you’re interested in staying in psychology after the degree. I’m quite keen on doing this as I would love to work in clinical psychology or research, so being able to work alongside some of the leading people in the field is absolutely ideal preparation.' Katrina		'I had a tutorial in second year on deciphering the neural basis of semantic knowledge. After an hour, the tutor paused and asked us if we wished to continue, since the discussion was so invigorating and we were all passionately debating the subject. My tutorial partner and I gladly agreed to continue the tutorial for longer. A few hours later I cycled back to college with my head full of curiosity and inspiration, and spent the evening in the library researching more! It was wonderful, and exemplary of how the tutorial system can inspire and prompt many new ideas between professors and students. During my undergraduate degree, we designed and completed our own research project, working with scientists at the forefront of the field. I knew then that I was hooked on the pursuit of knowledge through scientific enquiry and experimentation. I am now studying for a DPhil, here at Oxford, working to understand the neural basis of human parenting.' Eloise

Unistats information

Discover Uni course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for Psychology. 

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small. 

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

Academic requirements 

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on how we use contextual data.

Subject requirements

Applying

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our Applying to Oxford pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions tests

All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) as part of their application. 

All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on your test page.

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work as part of an application for this course.

What are tutors looking for?

In addition to a very good academic record, tutors are keen to see whether you appreciate the scope of scientific psychology. They will also want to check whether you can evaluate evidence, are able to consider issues from different perspectives, have a capacity for logical and creative thinking, appreciate the importance of empirical evidence in supporting arguments, and could cope with the demands of the course. 

Visit the Experimental Psychology website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.

Fees

Additional Fees and Charges Information for Psychology (Experimental)

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.