PhD Clinical and Health Psychology

The PhD Clinical and Health Psychology programme provides the opportunity to do a substantial piece of research in an area linked to clinical and health psychology and to develop excellent research skills in the process.

Name PhD Clinical and Health Psychology
Start Date September and January
Mode of Study 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Programme Director Ingrid Obsuth

Please check the postgraduate Degree Finder to see the specific entry requirements, start date and application deadlines. 

When to apply

The School of Health in Social Science operates a gathered field approach to our postgraduate research applications. This means that all complete applications which meet our minimum entry requirements will be held until the next deadline, at which point applications received will be considered on a competitive basis by our subject area specific academic review panels. 

Deadlines

We will be running two gathered fields for new applications so please take note of these dates: 

  • First deadline: Monday 11 November 2024 11:59pm (GMT). Outcome notifications for applications received by this date will be issued mid-January 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will be held until the second deadline. 
  • Second deadline: Monday 21 April 2025, 11.59pm (GMT). Outcome notifications for applications received by this date will be issued mid-June 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be reviewed. 

If you are planning to apply for the University’s funding opportunities, you must apply before the first deadline in November. 

How to apply

Check that you meet the entry requirements

Before you apply for any of our postgraduate programmes, check that you meet the entry requirements. 

Things to do before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact your potential supervisor(s) before applying.

Documents you will need to provide

You will need:

  • Undergraduate degree certificate and transcript (and your MSc degree certificate and transcript if required) 
  • Research proposal based on the criteria for the programme you are applying for – you must use the form template below for your proposal, otherwise it will not be considered 
  • Two references – some programmes require one of your references to be from your most recent academic institution, please check the degree finder for more information on your specific programme
  • Evidence of English language competency, regardless of your nationality or country of residence. We do not require this before the application deadline, but you must submit it before we can make an unconditional offer. 
    • To find out more about our English language entry requirements, please visit the programme page on our Degree Finder.
  • If you are applying for the PhD by Distance you must also submit the PhD by Distance application form 

Apply through the degree finder

Applications for most of our postgraduate programmes are made online through the degree finder. 

Why choose this programme?

The PhD programme offers the possibility to work with and be supervised by a range of clinical academics across many areas of psychology, who have international reputations and outstanding publications in their areas of expertise. Our programme is undertaken over three years full-time or six years part-time.

Supervisor Specialties:

Research Interests

Jo WilliamsChild and adolescent mental health, children's health concepts, human-animal interaction (animal-assisted interventions, pet effects on health, psychological risk and protective factors for childhood animal cruelty). All of these areas are active and generating publications, but my focus for funding applications is likely to be on human-animal interactions for the next 12 months.
Karri Gillespie-SmithUnderstanding how core social and cognitive processes link to mental health outcomes in neurodivergent groups.
Roxanne HawkinsImpact of animals/attachment to animals on mental health, including companion animals, and animal assisted interventions. Carrying out work on pets and perinatal mental health.
Emily TaylorMy main research fields are developmental trauma, attachment and interpersonal processes and care-experienced children and young people (CECYP).
Zsofia Garai-TakacsI am interested in children and adults' self-regulation, including executive function skills. I currently focus on mindfulness-based interventions and mindfulness induction experiments. I typically conduct experiments and meta-analyses.
Jamie Kennedy-TurnerMy research interests are currently developing along a couple of main strands: family communication and how this impacts adolescent mental health, with a specific interest in attachment, EE, and adolescent self-harm/suicidality/risk taking. Along with the psychological characteristics of mental health professionals, particularly in their capacity for mentalising.
Helen SharpeBody image and eating disorders, early intervention approaches.
Tim BirdI'm interested in mechanisms in both the development and maintenance of psychological distress and in the process of change in psychological therapies. My current research focuses on predictors of treatment engagement and outcome in psychological therapy for depression, with a particular interest in the therapeutic relationship and using linguistic markers to quantify patient-therapist interactions. Linking to this research, I am currently planning a project focusing on treatment engagement and outcomes in computerised CBT, as well as a small case series project evaluating a novel dyadic intervention for mothers and children. Another ongoing project focuses specifically on the training and development of therapists, with a focus on therapist mentalizing capacity as a mediator of therapist confidence and wellbeing.
Charlene PlunkettMy specific interests are in perinatal mental health and infant mental health. I also generally interested in child, adolescent mental health & families. In terms of methodologies I'm interested in qualitative approaches.
Gemma BrownI am interested in intervention for a range of mental health difficulties, particularly in children and adolescents including the role of parents, carers and key adults. I am curious about what works for whom and the different factors that influence treatment access, delivery, engagement and outcome.
Melina KyranidesThe development of adaptive and maladaptive personality traits with a focus on psychopathic traits more specifically.

Research Interests

Jess HafetzParenting, child and adolescent health/pediatric psychology, safety/injury prevention, post injury care and recovery, intervention development and evaluation, complexity/ds methods.
Jo WilliamsChild and adolescent mental health, children's health concepts, human-animal interaction (animal-assisted interventions, pet effects on health, psychological risk and protective factors for childhood animal cruelty). All of these areas are active and generating publications, but my focus for funding applications is likely to be on human-animal interactions for the next 12 months.
Ewelina Rydzewska-FazekasI specialise in autism and intellectual disabilities but to some extent also have interests in other neurodevelopmental disorders. I investigate health needs and inequalities, mortality, suicidality, physical and mental comorbidities, risk behaviours, health in homeless populations. I mostly do epidemiological and public health research, using big data, data linkage and secondary data analysis approaches. I'm currently working on a project exploring suicide deaths and attempts in autistic adults and am also developing a research proposal looking to investigate prevalence, incidence and health risks due to early-onset dementia in autistic people. Both projects include big data and data linkage.
Roxanne HawkinsUnderstanding and preventing animal cruelty, including interventions and prevention. Also have a broad interest in HE student and staff wellbeing. Have carried out projects on nature and wellbeing and still very much interested in this.
Emily NewmanBody image and disordered eating, primarily as it relates to consuming media including social media. Online offending and viewing child sexual abuse images. Future plans to look at media and partner violence.
Liz GilchristIntimate partner abuse support and intervention for those who have perpetrated and those who have experienced abuse, substance use, innovative psychological interventions, risk assessment, technology enabled interventions.
Melina KyranidesThe development of adaptive and maladaptive personality traits with a focus on psychopathic traits more specifically.
Karen GoodallAttachment and psychopathology in adults; trauma informed approaches; childhood emotional abuse.

Research Interests

David Gillanders

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Palliative Care and Cancer. We currently have active projects:

  • My grief, my way - a web based resource for people needing help with bereavement support
  • Working on a stage two NIHR grant proposal (due 14.09) for a large RCT of RESTORE - an ACT based wellbeing intervention for staff in palliative care
  • Developing ACT for men with Prostate Cancer Projects we may develop in future - does adding ACT skills help to improve rates and experience of advanced care planning in palliative care
Anne FinucaneI am interested in developing, evaluating and implementing psychological interventions to improve and optimise mental wellbeing amongst people impacted by terminal illness (including patients, their families and carers, staff and those bereaved).
Jess HafetzParenting, child and adolescent health/pediatric psychology, safety/injury prevention, post injury care and recovery, intervention development and evaluation, complexity/ds methods.
Ewelina Rydzewska-FazekasI specialise in autism and intellectual disabilities but to some extent also have interests in other neurodevelopmental disorders. I investigate health needs and inequalities, mortality, suicidality, physical and mental comorbidities, risk behaviours, health in homeless populations. I mostly do epidemiological and public health research, using big data, data linkage and secondary data analysis approaches.
Caroline BrettDeterminants and measurement of wellbeing (subjective, eudaimonic, psychological) and quality of life. Non-clinical interventions to enhance wellbeing, including nature connectedness, social prescribing, and creative activities. Development of robust evaluation frameworks (generally involving logic models / theory of change) for complex interventions. Student wellbeing and effectiveness of support. Increasingly using PPI / participatory action research and interested in continuing this, particularly co-production of research.
Roxanne HawkinsImpact of animals/attachment to animals on mental health, including companion animals, and animal assisted interventions. Carrying out work on pets and perinatal mental health. I also have a broad interest in HE student and staff wellbeing and have carried out projects on nature and wellbeing and still very much interested in this. 
Emily NewmanBody image and disordered eating, primarily as it relates to consuming media including social media. Online offending and viewing child sexual abuse images. Future plans to look at media and partner violence.
Maria GardaniSleep and circadian disorders across the lifespan - focus on young students and following stroke.
Paul Morris

My main research areas are Nature Connection, Planetary Health, Values and Unexplained Symptoms. Our Nature Connection research includes projects aimed at enhancing wellbeing via engagement with nature. This may be via facilitation of present-moment awareness and/or exercise, and sometimes by enabling a less pressured means of enabling socialisation and development of interests. Some projects encourage engagement with wildlife, with a focus on birdlife due to the greater accessibility of birds across demographic groups in the UK. 

Planetary health projects currently mainly relate to the experience of eco-emotions such as eco-anxiety, eco-anger and eco-distress in relation to the climate and other ecological crises, both in Western societies and in nations and demographics at greater risk from these crises.

Values-related projects mostly relate to recognition and promotion of the importance of living consistently with one's values for mental health and wellbeing. We also have some projects relating to value-congruence, whereby wellbeing can be affected by the level of consistency between your own values and those of significant others, friends and your society.

Melina KyranidesThe development of adaptive and maladaptive personality traits with a focus on psychopathic traits more specifically.

Research Interests

David Gillanders

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Palliative Care and Cancer. We currently have active projects:

  • My grief, my way - a web based resource for people needing help with bereavement support
  • Working on a stage two NIHR grant proposal (due 14.09) for a large RCT of RESTORE - an ACT based wellbeing intervention for staff in palliative care
  • Developing ACT for men with Prostate Cancer Projects we may develop in future - does adding ACT skills help to improve rates and experience of advanced care planning in palliative care
Douglas McConachieI am interested in the intersection of neurodiversity and mental health. I am specifically interested in people with learning disability and the mental health inequalities they and their families face, and the impact adverse life experiences have on mental health. I explore the application of mindfulness-based interventions and trauma-informed practice to carers in intellectual disability services.
Anne FinucaneI am interested in developing, evaluating and implementing psychological interventions to improve and optimise mental wellbeing amongst people impacted by terminal illness (including patients, their families and carers, staff and those bereaved).
Jo WilliamsChild and adolescent mental health, children's health concepts, human-animal interaction (animal-assisted interventions, pet effects on health, psychological risk and protective factors for childhood animal cruelty). All of these areas are active and generating publications, but my focus for funding applications is likely to be on human-animal interactions for the next 12 months.
Fiona DuffyImpact of obesity strategies and public health interventions on the development and maintenance of eating disorders, mainly taking a qualitative approach.
Angus MacBethInteregenerational mental health, focused on impact of parental/family adversity on offspring outcomes, particularly in first 1000 days, but extending to lifespan. Intervention focus on prevention. Data linkage, observational cohorts, intervention evaluation. Also, understanding and evaluating complex Mental health conditions such as psychosis and personality disorder. Current projects include Generation Malawi and PROMISE Malawi (psychosis). Projects in development: using UNICEF surveys on determinants of mental health; expanding evaluation of the Mellow Parenting programme in Asia and Eastern Europe.
Emily TaylorMy main research fields are developmental trauma, attachment and interpersonal processes and care-experienced children and young people (CECYP). My research and publications encompass trauma-informed practice in the third sector, most recently exploring cultural humility and competence in trauma-informed practice; kinship carer needs and experiences (ESRC-funded collaboration with Children 1st); interpersonal processes and development in CECYP; attachment process in residential care; rights-based approaches to care-experienced young people’s participation in research; and therapeutic approaches for care-experienced young people (advising on an NIHR-funded implementation trial of Trauma Focused-CBT for CECYP: ADaPT) and following exposure to interpersonal violence (Co-Investigator on Chilean Government funded RCT for CBT and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for adolescents: IGATI), in which I developed a novel IPT intervention for young people exposed to interpersonal violence, focused on developing their interpersonal skills and affect regulation.
Jamie Kennedy-Turner

My research interests are currently developing along a couple of main strands:

  • Family communication and how this impacts adolescent mental health, with a specific interest in attachment, EE, and adolescent self-harm/suicidality/risk taking.
  • The psychological characteristics of mental health professionals, particularly in their capacity for mentalising.
Maria GardaniSleep and circadian disorders across the lifespan - focus on young students and following stroke.
Sue TurnbullI am currently interested in developing research looking at the psychological support needs and experiences of older adults with autism. For example, the experience of being diagnosed later in life and accessing support; cognitive aging in this population; mental health older adult service staff knowledge and understanding of working with adults with autism. 
Helen SharpeBody image and eating disorders, early intervention approaches.
Vilas SawrikarApplications of personalised medicine in psychological care for children and young people; especially in relation to CBT for youth anxiety/depression and family-based interventions.
Tim BirdI'm interested in mechanisms in both the development and maintenance of psychological distress and in the process of change in psychological therapies. My current research focuses on predictors of treatment engagement and outcome in psychological therapy for depression, with a particular interest in the therapeutic relationship and using linguistic markers to quantify patient-therapist interactions. Linking to this research, I am currently planning a project focusing on treatment engagement and outcomes in computerised CBT, as well as a small case series project evaluating a novel dyadic intervention for mothers and children. Another ongoing project focuses specifically on the training and development of therapists, with a focus on therapist mentalizing capacity as a mediator of therapist confidence and wellbeing.
Helen GriffithsEvaluation of psychological therapies and interventions, especially; Development of mentalising cultures; Using mentalizing and attachment theory to think about populations who are reluctant to engage with traditional service structures.
Gemma BrownI am interested in intervention for a range of mental health difficulties, particularly in children and adolescents including the role of parents, carers and key adults. I am curious about what works for whom and the different factors that influence treatment access, delivery, engagement and outcome. 

 

In the first year, students typically choose a number of optional taught postgraduate courses from within the School of Health in Social Science, or other Schools within the University, as appropriate to their research programme, and as agreed with their supervisor. Subsequent years of the PhD programme primarily focus on the completion and analysis of the main research, which can then be written up and completed by the end of the third year. 

Alexandros KapataisAlexandros is currently studying university students' experience of the peak performance state, known as flow, with the aim of understanding and promoting the flow state within higher education, as a way to enhance student wellbeing, engagement and performance
Alicia GroomCamouflaging behaviours in Autistic adolescent girls and the impact on the diagnostic process
Ally Pax Arcari MairAutism & Grief: a mixed-methods study on the perception of grief and loss experienced by autistic adults
Amber RamosIntegrating cognitive, behavioral and veterinary healthcare using applied behavior analysis to improve health and welfare in captive marine mammals
Aradhita GuptaUnderstanding the process and impacts of narcissistic parenting
Asaly SkrenesDisclosure experiences of and resilience in male survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Catarina GaglianoneThe Impact of Soothing Images on Prospective Visual Imagery and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Cristian Alcaino MaldonadoBipolar Disorder early detection in adolescents
Dennis Relojo-HowellDigital mental health intervention
Ercan OzdemirThe relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis: Testing the Mentalization Model of Psychosis
Hamdullah TuncUnderstanding mental health through personal values: The effect of value priorities, value congruence, and valued living on depression, anxiety, and mental well-being
Hongen MaExploring the Role of Psychological Flexibility on Relationship Functioning Among Couples Affected by Prostate Cancer
Imogen PeeblesFriendships and peer relationships in inpatient eating disorders treatment
Isabella WebsterAttachment in adolescence: An investigation of collaborative and disrupted parent-teen relationships and associated mental health outcomes
Islay BarneUsing experience sampling methodology to understand experiential avoidance in clinical and non-clinical samples
Kate LeventhalSocially Transformative Resilience: Exploration of a new construct among marginalised adolescents
Kathryn HigdonThe development of a school-based psychological intervention for role-confusion and disorganized attachment in adolescent young carers
Koraima Sotomayor EnriquezThe role of mentalization and emotional regulation in risk and protective factors among community and clinical samples of young people
Katie BaynhamA mixed-methods investigation into the role of companion animals in the experiences of early adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and depression
Lillian ClarkPsychosomatic experiences in eating disorder development
Lisa GoldsThe impact of maternal smartphone use on mother-infant interaction
Louisa LeiThe Influence of "What I Eat in a Day" Social Media Content on Body Image Perception and Disordered Eating Behaviours Among Young Adults
MacKenzie RoberstonMaladaptive eating and body image
Mathilde LotteauCreation of a standardized assessment tool for fitness to plead in Scotland
Michelle CarrollDisordered eating and body image concerns amongst fitness professionals
Peilin LinHorticultural therapy and its acceptability and feasibility among the Chinese elderly population in a community (non-clinical) setting
Qiyue XiaoMindfulness and sleep outcomes in young people
Rabia AfzalCross-Cultural differences in humor use, altruistic acts and mental health among young adults
Rhys Maredudd DaviesAthlete and Retired-athlete mental health
Rita KalliniCyber Sexual Trauma and its relationship with eating disorders
Roberto Maluenda GaticaTherapist mentalization capacity, therapeutic process and outcome within an evidence based-treatment for psychosis
Rowena PiersCo-developing and evaluating a digital mental health intervention for young people
Rea MichalopoulouChildren, COVID-19, and Virtual Reality
Samar AlzeerTransgenerational Trauma in Arab Refugees: Approaching a Constructivist Grounded Theory to Explore Intra-Familial Trauma in Cross-Culture-Developmental Context
Sarah JamiesonKinship Care: What makes a kinship care placement successful?
Sian MuirheadA dynamic systems perspective on co-regulatory behavior among adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their parents
Siennamarisa BrownPro-Eating disorder online communities
Siti NuraeniAnalysing Parenting Support for Autistic, ADHD, and AuADHD Adults
Suzanne LawrieRSPCA Studentship
Yingna LiThe roles of intolerance of uncertainty and psychological flexibility in distress and quality of life for men living with prostate cancer
Yixuan LiMy research revolves around mental health in children and adolescents, with a special focus on cyberbullying victimisation and their mental health outcomes
Yuze ShiExploring Social Support as a Resilience Factor in the Recovery of Psychosis

 

The PhD programme allows you to conduct an independent research project that makes a significant contribution to your chosen field of study and to further develop your research skills. We provide expertise in a variety of research methods including qualitative and quantitative approaches.

A vibrant and inclusive research environment

The University of Edinburgh is a world-leader in research and innovation and an international centre of academic excellence. Students on this programme will become part of an active and diverse research community in the School of Health in Social Science and will have access to the wide-range of learning environments and outstanding resources that the University has to offer. Our postgraduate researchers work in close proximity to each other, enabling them to pool their expertise and knowledge to tackle complex challenges and push the boundaries of discovery. Students will be encouraged to engage with a wide range of seminars, talks, and events, and often have the opportunity to present their own research at national and international conferences. Our student-led postgraduate research blog provides a snapshot of the activities and events our PGR students organise and are involved in.

 

Find out more about ongoing research in our School

The expertise of our academics in Clinical and Health Psychology cover the whole of the lifespan, focusing on childhood to adult and older adult mental health and emotional wellbeing as well as the psychological impact of chronic physical ill health. Our research involves national and international collaborations, with many projects involving NHS partnerships.

Funding Opportunities

The School of Health in Social Science offers several fully funded MScR and PhD studentships each year. A variety of scholarships are available, which vary from full scholarships covering tuition fees and a stipend to cover living expenses, to partial scholarships.

Beyond the programme

The research degrees within Clinical and Health Psychology are designed to help you develop your skills for a successful future in research, as an academic or in a related profession. 

The PhD Clinical and Health Psychology is typically suitable for those who wish to pursue a career in academia or research, however, graduates from PhD programmes are also increasingly sought after in private, public and third sector organisations. 

The PhD Clinical and Health Psychology is an academic/research based qualification. The training for it does not entail clinical work, or training in therapeutic interventions and therefore does not entitle graduates to work as a psychologist in any clinical or applied capacity. Applicants interested in an applied career should consider the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.