Health Psychology PhD

Why choose this programme

Health psychology is a rapidly evolving area of practice and research, that’s becoming increasingly relevant in modern society. Through our combined professional training and methodological-based research, we’re helping to improve people’s lives.

At Surrey, we investigate the processes influencing behaviours and behaviour change in health promoting contexts with a focus on exercise uptake, smoking cessation and weight management. We address issues of comorbidity, examine the onset and management of both common and rare chronic conditions, and evaluate responses to stress-inducing situations.

You’ll benefit from our expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, subjective measures, and objective and biological assessments of health. We’ll train you in advanced and innovative research methods, preparing you for your career.

On successful completion of this PhD, you’ll have the Stage 2 requirements needed to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work as a Health Psychologist.

What you will study

During your Stage 2 training you’ll cover five core competencies, including ethics, behaviour change, systematic reviews, research, and teaching and training. You’ll investigate these by completing individual research and developing a work portfolio.

In your first year you’ll complete four compulsory training courses covering quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods, professional academic skills, and teaching and training. You’ll also familiarise yourself with relevant literature, create a research plan, develop your methodological and analytic skills, and complete your first study.

Throughout your studies you’ll gain a solid grounding in research methods and improve your communication skills to effectively convey your findings. You’ll collect data and analyse this, completing a detailed literature review and then writing up your PhD thesis. Depending on your research project, data collection can take place in schools, hospitals, laboratories or online.

Applicants are expected to hold a upper second-class honours degree (65 per cent or above) in psychology (or a related discipline). Students must also: be a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) or hold the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC); hold the BPS Stage 1 Qualification in Health Psychology (e.g. MSc Health Psychology).