Page Text: About us
Welcome to Psychology at the University of Exeter
We are in the top 50 worldwide1 for Psychology and are committed to providing an outstanding learning experience for all students, generating high quality academic research and advancing psychological practice.
We provide a friendly and supportive environment in which to study and work, and our inspirational programmes are led by academic staff at the forefront of their chosen fields.
This stimulating environment is complemented by state-of-the-art facilities that support ambitious, interdisciplinary research, while we also enjoy a number of unique collaborations with the NHS.
World-leading and applied research
We are one of the foremost Psychology departments in the country with an outstanding reputation for our research and teaching, with 85% of research classified as world-leading or internationally excellent2 in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014). We attract around £1.5 million annually in external research funding from UK research councils and charities.
Our research is supported by links with Government organisations such as the Met Office , NHS , and the Armed Forces, as well as the commercial sector including IBM , Microsoft , and the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD).
Our world-leading academics are at the forefront of the very latest research advances, and ensure that it is promptly and effectively applied to help shape vital, current social and economic policy, enhance business practice and improve health and wellbeing nationwide.
Research-led teaching and enriched learning opportunities
We offer a challenging and extremely rewarding education in Psychology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We place a strong emphasis on your personal and professional development, as well as academic performance, and are committed to providing challenging, stimulating and rewarding degree programmes.
We thrive on bringing out the very best in you, and recognise your degree is about more than just the time you spend with us, but also shaping you for your future career success. We ensure every student is at the very heart of what we do, and value contribution to not only enhancing our understanding of psychology, but also pushing the frontiers of knowledge.
This inclusive approach means our students not only learn directly from world-leading academics in the classroom, but can also conduct research projects or secure internships in our state-of-the-art laboratories alongside foremost experts in their field. This research-inspired teaching is embedded across all levels of study, and is exemplified by the third year undergraduate seminar modules and postgraduate research apprenticeships.
Training well-rounded psychologists
Our students are all trained in diverse areas of Psychology including social psychology, organisational psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, human cognition, cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and animal behaviour.
We deliver well rounded psychologists who are able to understand basic processes underlying human behaviour in the contexts in which these emerge.
Advanced clinical practice and improving public health and welfare
We have an outstanding global reputation as a centre of excellence for psychological therapy training and research.
Through Clinical Education Development and Research (CEDAR) we work in partnership with the NHS and the South West Strategic Health Authority to train tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.
CEDAR offers a suite of training and education programmes, from undergraduate to doctoral level, all underpinned by evidence-based research.
Our researchers are active in studies to improve health and wellbeing – from depression, anxiety, addiction and the health benefits of social groups, to working with regional care providers to bring about organisational change to improve the lives of people in care.
Our clinical research group works to advance theoretical knowledge and clinical practice through applied research. In partnership with the National Health Service, the group focuses on mood disorders, providing assessment and treatment for patients with depression through the Mood Disorders Centre .
The Psychology department’s ethos is one where we see ourselves as friendly, approachable and collegiate. So even though we have very famous people in our department, you will see them in the corridor, you will be able to meet them in staff meetings, and you can discuss their research findings with them.
Professor Manuela Barreto , Head of Psychology
1 QS World University Rankings 2018
2 Research Excellence Framework 2014 based on the percentage of research categorised as 4* and 3*