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Sept. 11, 2024

The most in-demand UK psychology departments 2023/2024 revealed

Postgrad.comOur recent research has revealed the top most searched UK psychology departments over the last 12 months.

After detailed analysis using a bespoke algorithm, the psychology departments from the following UK universities have topped the table:

  1. University of Oxford
  2. The University of Edinburgh
  3. University of Bristol
  4. University of Bath
  5. Bangor University


This algorithm incorporates results specifically for postgraduate psychology courses from our web portal (Postgrad.com) by combining the following data:

  • Search-term frequency from the website’s search box
  • Direct traffic to psychology department listings from organic searches
  • Total number of views on each university’s profile on Postgrad.com over the last 12 months


Because these results are gleaned 100% from a postgraduate student perspective, they offer a unique insight into the popularity of the universities, their psychology departments and their PG courses, providing a different approach to some of the more traditional league table rankings. This makes them an invaluable resource for the PG sector as they differ from the majority of other university, faculty and subject rankings, which tend to be undergraduate-focussed and only consider UG courses rather than reflecting PG-specific demands.

“Psychology remains a top postgraduate choice and students are eager to find the perfect course,” said Rob Houghton, Co-Founder of Postgrad Solutions. “We are excited to highlight the results of our research with these five schools, consistently the most searched for on Postgrad.com. Each department boasts unique strengths and a fantastic range of courses, catering to this ever-evolving field.”

The top performing psychology departments in more detail

Let’s take a look at the top performing psychology departments in some more details.

The Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford was founded in 1898 and has a long and prestigious history. It includes over 30 research groups with around 400 undergraduates, graduate students and researchers. Key areas of research include Behavioural Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology and Psychological and Brain Health. Students at Oxford study Psychology, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Statistics and related topics via small-group tutorials and lectures. Many students go on to careers in research or clinical practice.. 

The School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language at The University of Edinburgh is home to an academic community producing world-leading research across the fields of Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics and English Language. It is known for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching and has well-established links with other areas of the university, such as Clinical Neuroscience, Medicine, Informatics and Edinburgh College of Art. Edinburgh Psychology focuses on brain and mind, with strengths in cognitive neurosciences, the psychology of individual differences, language and communication, and theoretical and applied work in social interaction and child development.

The School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol dates back to 1901, when Psychology was first established at the university by Conwy Lloyd Morgan, the first UK Professor of Psychology (and Ethics). It offers accredited undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses, with a mission “to deliver original, rigorous, and significant research into human cognition, emotion, and behaviour in order to advance the scientific discipline of psychology.” The main areas of research are divided into three themes: Health and Wellbeing; Mind and Brain; and Self and Society. 

The Department of Psychology at the University of Bath is primarily concerned with research into the clinical, cognitive, developmental environmental health and social aspects of psychology. It has a world-renowned research and teaching team of 40 academic staff, with 500 undergraduates and 100 postgraduate students.  

The School of Psychology and Sports Science at Bangor University is home to two of Bangor’s highly performing departments: Psychology, and Sport and Exercise Sciences. World-leading research from the Psychology department includes cognitive neuroscience, clinical interventions and psychological wellbeing.

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Content added on 11th September 2024.  

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