Why should I come to Sheffield for my postgraduate studies?

The Department

• We received grade 5A in the RAE 2001 research assessment. We have never been rated lower than 5 in an RAE.
• 100% of staff in post September 2002 were returned as research active in the 2001 RAE. With 37 staff returned this was fourth (out of 73) in the UK.
• We go for excellence in all areas. Whatever your intended research area - social, health, cognition, development, work, neuroscience, computational neuroscience, brain imaging, clinical, developmental disorders - we have world class research groups, targeted training and tailor-made projects available.
• We are accredited for postgraduate training and research by the British Psychological Society and by the ESRC - for both three-year and four-year courses. There is also a one-year MSc in Psychological Research.
• The postgraduate community at Sheffield is one of the largest and liveliest in the country with over 150 enrolled on our PhD and taught postgraduate courses. If you want any objective evidence, find a postgraduate in your department who attended the outstandingly successful BPS PsyPAG postgraduate conference here in 2001.
• We received 'excellent' in the QAA undergraduate and postgraduate teaching review.

The University

• One of the biggest civic Universities in the country with over 23,000 students, from 116 countries, and 5,500 staff. The University of Sheffield is a popular choice with applicants for university places, and once they arrive our students enjoy the experience so much that many settle in Sheffield after they graduate.
• Winner of the Sunday Times 'University of the Year' in 2001 based on "a range of qualities including teaching, the overall academic robustness of an institution, the student experience and the university's role on regional, national and world stages".
• Complete commitment to teaching and research excellence. One of the 'Russell Group' of top UK Universities, and a founder member of the Worldwide Universities Network.
• Within the city of Sheffield rather than marooned on some windswept campus.

The City

• Fifth biggest city in England, one of the lowest crime rates, friendliest people. Recent crime statistics named Sheffield as "the UK's safest city."
• Sheffield rated number 1 by the Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities 2001 - based on students' views on quality of student life in the University and the city.
• Room to breathe. Sheffield is one of England's greenest cities, with 150 woodland and 50 public parks. Easy reach of the Peak District and Pennines - among the most varied and beautiful countryside in England
• City centre within easy walking distance of the Department. Good public transport - including a tram link from the University.
• An affordably low cost of living helps your money go further. And because Sheffield has a big student population, more than 40,000 at the two universities, there are plenty of special deals from local shops, eating places and entertainment venues.

Being a Psychology postgraduate at Sheffield

The Department of Psychology has a thriving postgraduate community of doctoral, post-doctoral, and masters students. This provides a mutually supportive and creative environment in which to carry out your research. You will be a core member of an internationally renowned, research-led department.

Read about our staff's research interests

As a PhD student you will be assigned at least two supervisors, one of whom will have overall responsibility for helping you with your research. You will have your own computer and desk in a shared office. There are also a variety of well-equipped labs, depending on your area of research.

The department and university provide funds to help you to attend conferences at home and aboard and we encourage you to submit your research for publication and to leading conferences.

Every year we hold a postgraduate conference at which each postgraduate presents their work to a supportive and helpful audience of their fellow postgraduates and members of staff. The conference is a great departmental occasion that provides a stimulating arena in which to try out your ideas and practice your presentation skills.

Every year you will have at least one meeting with the team in charge of postgraduate affairs and your supervisors, to discuss your programme of research and review progress. This provides you with a further opportunity to talk about what you are doing and where your research is going.

What our students have to say...

Don't take our word for it - here are some remarks from some of our current and past research postgraduates:

"The course did not disappoint! I was taught a really broad spectrum of neuroscience and given the opportunity to use and develop a lot of really useful new skills, like programming in Matlab. As I had come from a life sciences background I was slightly apprehensive about the computational theory and techniques. Fortunately the whole course was taught really well and I ended up getting some of my best marks in these areas.The course was extremely challenging but I was always given the support I needed and I had a really great year as a result. I would recommend the course to anyone interested in neuroscience and thinking of entering academia."
Donny Yates, MSc in Cogntive and Computational Neuroscience 2007-08

"Postgraduates play a central role here in Sheffield. The excellent resources ensure that you feel an integral part of this supportive and lively department. I came to Sheffield following my first degree and have been lucky enough to have great personal experiences of research, supervision, and the social side of study."
R. Brookes, MSc in Psychological Research 2003-03, PhD 2007.

"If you're thinking about doing a Ph.D. at the department, the MRes course provides an invaluable transition period from the undergraduate course to your doctorate. As well as gaining further understanding in statistics and designing experiments, your research project allows you to review relevant literature before choosing the direction for the next three years. As many of the new postgraduates start on the MRes, it's also a great chance to make new friends."
N. Muhlert, Current PhD student and Past student on the MSc in Psychological Research course.

"The Univeristy Sheffield gave me the invaluable opportunity to engage in interdepartmental research. The professors and other postgraduate students were welcoming and always willing to answer questions or offer assistance."
Laura Bishop, MSc in Psychological Research 2007-08

"I have always enjoyed studying at Sheffield. Both university and city are vibrant and welcoming. The department of Psychology is extremely diverse, bringing together students of several sub-disciplines. Between regular departmental seminars and social events this allows wide ranging discussion, collaboration and exposure to novel research that might otherwise be difficult to achieve. There is a sense of community in the department that made being a part of it thoroughly enjoyable."
Jen Lewis, MSc in Cogntive and Computational Neuroscience 2007-08