Funded PhD Opportunities in the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast 2025-26

The deadline for applying for funded places for 2025 entry has now passed.

However, we still welcome applications from potential students who have other sources of funding. Please see the list of potential supervisors in the School of Psychology

If you are interested in carrying out a PhD under the supervision of any of our academic staff, please contact the staff member directly to express your interest.

The School welcomes applications from international students.  Mobility allowances of up to £500 per year to cover travel expenses to Belfast will normally be available to successful candidates eligible for QUB international tuition fee rates. 

Applicants must have at least a 2.1 degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a related subject and meet English Language requirements.

The University welcomes and encourages applications from disabled people or those with long term conditions.

The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. Prospective students with a disability or long term condition are encouraged to disclose as early as possible in the application and selection process by contacting admissions@qub.ac.uk. Upon disclosure the University will ensure appropriate reasonable adjustments and additional supports can be put in place for applicants. Reasonable adjustments and additional supports will be determined on an individual basis, in line with the course entry requirements to ensure selection standards are maintained.

Currently unfunded projects

A number of staff in the School of Psychology are offering PhD projects that are currently unfunded. Successful applicants will need to self-fund or locate an alternative funding source, although it should be noted that funding occasionally becomes available later in the academic year.

An Autonomy Supported Daily Mile to Improve Children’s Cognitive Function and Wellbeing - Dr Gavin Breslin

Are children’s intuitions about ownership impacted by concerns for human flourishing? - Professor Aidan Feeney

Bridging Divides: Parental Socialization and Youth Attitudes in Northern Ireland’s Diverse Future - Dr Gulseli Baysu

Communicating Truth: Consumption and transmission of polarised information amongst young people in a divided society - Dr Jocelyn Dautel

Developing Belief Network: Cross-cultural research on the development and diversity of religious cognition, beliefs and identities - Dr Jocelyn Dautel

Developing Trauma Informed Care principles for Health Professionals - Professor Donncha Hanna

How human perceptual and motor abilities shape human-robot interactions - Dr Joost Dessing

Identifying as “Other”: Disidentification with Traditional Identities in a Divided Society - Dr Danielle Blaylock

Identifying psychological mechanisms which promote resilience post-trauma - Professor Cherie Armour

Individuality in Complex Skill Learning - Dr Matthew Rodger

Leader Personality, Behavioural Inconsistency and Employee Presenteeism - Dr Kostas Papageorgiou

Lost in Thought: Exploring Children's Awareness of Mind Wandering - Dr Agnieszka Graham

Reference frames used for coding target and body information for interception - Dr Joost Dessing

Remembering the baby’s first year: Do new parents forget negative experiences more than positive ones? - Dr Anna Truzzi

Staying Focused: How Mind Wandering Impacts Students' Ability to Delay Gratification and Achieve Academic Success - Dr Paddy O’Connor

The Development of Psychologically Informed Mental Health Guidelines for Community Sport - Dr Gavin Breslin

The mediating role of trauma appraisals following potentially traumatic life events - Professor Donncha Hanna

Training goalkeepers to improve performance in stopping penalties - Dr Joost Dessing

Transgenerational Contact: Exploring how a Child’s Positive Intergroup Relationships Improves Parental Intergroup Attitudes and Behaviours - Dr Danielle Blaylock

Two halves make a whole: Exploring the role of the families in caring for police officers with occupational related psychological distress - Professor Cherie Armour

Words for Feelings: Exploring the Development of Emotional Granularity in Children and Adolescents - Dr Agnieszka Graham

The School welcomes applications from international students.  Mobility allowances of up to £500 per year to cover travel expenses to Belfast will normally be available to successful candidates eligible for QUB international tuition fee rates. Note that international students do not normally meet the residency criteria set out for DfE funded studentships.

For a full description of these projects please visit the following link https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/phd-opportunities/ and go to School of Psychology.

Applicants must have at least a 2.1 degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a related subject.

The University welcomes and encourages applications from disabled people or those with long term conditions.

The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. Prospective students with a disability or long term condition are encouraged to disclose as early as possible in the application and selection process by contacting admissions@qub.ac.uk. Upon disclosure the University will ensure appropriate reasonable adjustments and additional supports can be put in place for applicants. Reasonable adjustments and additional supports will be determined on an individual basis, in line with the course entry requirements to ensure selection standards are maintained.