Research Focus
Research on social inequality and vulnerable groups; the public understanding of science through social representations; research on risk and trust in health (qualitative methods); indigenous knowledge systems and psychology.
Programme Structure and Funding
This programme is a full-time PhD programme with a duration of 3–4 years (36–48 months), and tuition fees of approximately £32,000 per year.
Training Plan
The first academic year focuses on research methods training and coursework; from the second year, the focus shifts to the in-depth advancement of the individual research topic, with regular participation in academic seminars and workshops; students are encouraged to participate in international conferences, publish papers in high-quality journals, and actively integrate into the global economics research network.
This programme allows applications for the China Scholarship Council (CSC) – KCL Joint PhD Scholarship, with both parties jointly funding doctoral study: details are as follows: quota of 100 people per year (for all PhD programmes at KCL); funding duration of up to 48 months; funding content: China Scholarship Council: provides one international return airfare + full living allowance, previously approximately €1,800 per month (adjusted according to actual circumstances); KCL: waives all PhD tuition fees + provides research funding support. Application process: 1. Applicants must obtain an unconditional offer from KCL + a CSC nomination letter by 10 March; 2. From 10 March to 1 April, log in to the CSC online application system to submit materials, selecting the programme “Scholarship in Cooperation with King’s College London, UK”;
- After passing the CSC expert review, students will be dispatched to the UK in succession from July.
Entry Requirements
Academic background: a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a psychology-related field (master’s dissertation at distinction level); Grade requirements: master’s GPA of no less than 3.3/4.0 (UK standard 2:1 degree); Language requirements:
- IELTS overall score of no less than 6.5, with no individual component below 6.0;
- or TOEFL overall score of no less than 92, with writing no less than 23 and all other individual components no less than 20;
- applicants who obtained a master’s degree in an English-taught country may apply for a language exemption.
Admission Situation
(i) Applicants who already hold a master’s degree at the time of application may be issued an unconditional offer; (ii) applicants whose master’s degree has not yet been completed at the time of application may be issued a conditional offer if they pass the interview, and after subsequently submitting master’s grades and degree, may convert to an unconditional offer once the standards are met.
Application Materials
- Proof of English proficiency; applicants with a master’s degree from an English-taught country are exempt from language requirements; 2) undergraduate and master’s transcripts; 3) academic CV; 4) research proposal (approximately 1,500 words); 5) personal statement (no more than 2 pages); 6) Project Approval Form; 7) 1–2 academic reference letters.
Application Period
Three rounds throughout the year: 1) deadline 20 October, for entry in October of the following year; 2) deadline 20 March, for entry in October of the same year; 3) deadline 25 June, for entry in October of the same year.
Career Prospects
King’s College London provides a high-quality career development platform and global alumni network support, and PhD graduates have strong international competitiveness: Academic positions: teaching at multiple universities and research centres in the UK and Europe; Industry positions: employment in highly skilled roles across professional fields including business, IT, media, psychotherapy and research; Path to remain in the UK: after PhD graduation, graduates may apply for the “Graduate Route” work visa for up to 3 years; those who meet the conditions may switch to the “High Potential Individual” visa or the “Global Talent Visa”; Returning to China: programme graduates may apply for various “overseas high-level talent introduction” schemes, enjoying policy support such as household registration, research start-up funding and settling-in subsidies.
