A-Z

About the project

Postgraduate research

Psychological & Behavioural Medicine PhD/MD/MSc (Research)

Our programme integrates psychological science and interdisciplinary approaches to study behaviours that influence health, treatment, and self-care. And develops new approaches to improve mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• PhD: 3-4 years full-time; 5 years part-time; MD (Doctor of Medicine): 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time; MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;
• MD (Doctor of Medicine): 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time; MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;
• MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;

Overview

Studying for a PhD in Psychological and Behavioural Medicine offers a uniquely rich, interdisciplinary environment where cutting-edge scientific research can make meaningful changes to people’s lives.

We bring together experts in psychology, medicine, public health, systems science and behavioural science to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. From preventing long-term conditions to improving patient care and shaping health policy. A fundamental value for this programme is understanding and addressing inequalities in health.

You will work within a vibrant, collaborative research culture that values innovation, rigorous methodology, and community engagement.

You will have

With strong links to clinical partners, local communities, and national organisations, this programme offers an exceptional platform to develop as an independent researcher whose work can directly improve health outcomes and transform healthcare policy and practice.

• access to state-of-the-art facilities
• opportunities to join multidisciplinary research teams
• tailored training that enhances both academic and applied skills

Specific areas of interest include

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators within our School of Health and Wellbeing. Generally, students may propose projects that align with one or more of the themes below:

Prospective students are encouraged to get in touch with individual academics within the Mental Health & Wellbeing research group within the School of Health & Wellbeing to find out about opportunities in their areas of research and supervision.

• Understanding and treatment of mental health problems
• Complex interventions for mental and physical health problems
• Developing interventions to improve uptake of cancer screening and reduce inequalities
• How in person and online social networks affect health and behaviour
• How methods from mathematics, physics and complex systems science can understand health and behaviour
• Psychological factors in recovery from psychosis
• Learning disabilities
• Understanding and preventing suicide
• Neurodiversity and neurodivergence
• Diagnostic tools in epilepsy genetics
• Public mental health
• Adolescent mental health
• Social determinants of health
• Health in educational settings
• New technologies and mental/physical health
• Assessment and rehabilitation of disorders of memory, attention and executive functioning
• Health in day-to-day life
• Reducing risk and increasing health promoting behaviour, prevention science
• Recovering and staying well: self-care, self-management and social support when recovering from mental and physical ill health, improving treatment and support for illness
• New methods for research: developing new ways of studying psychological and behavioural medicine
• Mental Health & Wellbeing research group

PhD

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.

• Duration: 3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time

MSc (Research)

• Duration : 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

MD (Doctor of Medicine)

• Duration : 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time (for medically-qualified graduates only)

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree. Candidates will also usually be expected to have completed or be undertaking a Master’s qualification.

Required documents Applicants should submit: Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates CV MVLS Cover Letter Two References

Required documents

Applicants to the MD option must hold an MBChB or equivalent and have been working in psychological medicine disciplines for three years since graduation.

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

2027/28

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
• International & EU: £33,708
• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.

This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

• Full details of our Alumni Discount

Possible additional fees

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Support

Our School of Health & Wellbeing provides a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment to study your PhD. Through university and school PGR training programmes, we will equip you with robust, transferable research skills that are relevant to a range of career options in academia and public, private and third sector organisations in the UK and globally.

If you require assistance before you apply, please contact our Graduate School: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk

Identify potential supervisors

All postgraduate research students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You must identify a potential supervisor supervisor from the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

Supervisor search

Research projects

If you are interested in a research project listed above, please include the title on your application.

Required documents

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

Contact us

If you require assistance before you apply: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk

After you have submitted your application: Admissions Enquiries form

Our research environment

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers

Induction

• Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Research areas