Experimental Psychology

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 11.6 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 31.9 k / Year(s) Deadline: Oct 15, 2025
1 place StudyQA ranking:5778 Duration:3 years

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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 colours? 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.

Psych Careers

Experimental Psychology graduates can enter careers including professional psychology, education, research, medicine, the health services, finance, commerce, industry, the media and information technology. Some careers will require additional study and/or training. This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.

  • Terms 1 and 2: About six lectures and two–three tutorials
  • Terms 3–8: About six lectures, one–two tutorials and one practical class. You will also carry out your own research project and be given the opportunity to write a library dissertation and undertake independent research
  • Term 9: About two revision lectures or tutorials and final examinations
Terms 1 and 2

Courses

Three introductory courses are taken out of:
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Linguistics
  • Neurophysiology
  • Probability theory and statistics*

*Students must sit the examination in Probability theory and statistics either at Prelims (first University examinations) or as a qualifying examination.

Assessment

First University examinations:
Three written papers

Terms 3–5

Courses

Students will study core subjects in Psychology covering:
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Biological psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Social psychology
  • Individual differences

Assessment

Final University examinations, Part I:
Five written papers, covering all core subjects Practical portfolio
Terms 6–9

Courses

Students will choose either:
  • Three advanced options or
  • Two advanced options and a library dissertation

A full list of current options is available on the Psychology website.

Students can carry out practical work in Psychology:

  • Lab-based ‘block’ practicals
  • Research project

Assessment

Final University examinations, Part II:
Research project, practical portfolio 
Three written papers (or two written papers and a library dissertation)
  • Attestat o Srednam Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) would not be sufficient for candidates to make a competitive application. If your qualification is listed as being insufficient to make a competitive application to Oxford, then you will need to undertake further study if you wish to apply.You could take British A-levels (the British Council may know where you can take A-levels in your country), the International Baccalaureate (IB), or any other qualifications listed as acceptable on this page. The first year of a bachelor's degree from another university could also be an acceptable alternative.
  • IELTS: overall score of 7.0 (with at least 7.0 in each of the four components)
  • TOEFL (paper-based): overall score of 600 with a Test of Written English score of 5.5
  • TOEFL (internet-based): overall score of 110 with component scores of at least: Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, and Writing 24.
  • Cambridge English: Advanced, also known as the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): grade A if taken before January 2015, or a score of at least 185.
  • Cambridge English: Proficiency, also known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grade B if taken before January 2015, or a score of at least 185.
  • English Language GCSE, or O-level: grade B (for IGCSE, please see below)
  • International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL): score of 5 in English (as Language A or B)
  • European Baccalaureate: score of 70% in English.

Hill Foundation Scholarship

Russian nationals wishing to study for a second undergraduate degree. 

Palgrave Brown Scholarship

Students must be ordinarily resident in and/or educated in the following countries:

Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Estonia; Georgia; Hungary; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz Rep.; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia;  Moldova; Montenegro; Poland; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan. 

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