Experimental Psychology

Oxford’s department is widely regarded as one of the leading Psychology departments in the UK, hosting research groups in fields as diverse as neuroscience, language, and psychological disorders. 

Teaching

Somerville’s Tutor in Psychology is Professor Charles Spence, the head of the University’s Crossmodal Research Group, which investigates the integration of information across different sensory modalities. He is especially known for his work on the multi-sensory experience of dining. He has worked with Michelin starred chefs, multinational companies and even the European Space Shuttle on multi-sensory design. Charles gave a one hour online lecture introducing his work to Somerville alumni in Spring 2021, which you can watch here. 

In your first year, you can expect to attend around six lectures a week and two or three tutorials a week. You will also have practical classes. In your second and third year, you will have a similar number of lectures and practicals, but only 1-2 tutorials a week. In your third year (or fourth year, if you choose to do the four year Masters) you will have the opportunity to conduct independent research.

Somerville is ideally located for Psychology students, with the faculty building and weekly lectures only a 5-10 min walk away.

For more information on the specifics of the course and syllabus, visit the University’s course website.

Community

Somerville admits up to four students each year to read Psychology in the Honour School of Experimental Psychology (EP).

Distinguished Somerville psychologists include Professor Suzanne Higgs, a pioneering researcher of the psychology of healthy (and unhealthy) eating and the editor of the Journal Appetite; and the cognitive psychologist Anne Treisman, who was awarded a National Medal of Science by President Obama in 2013 for her work on the psychology of attention.

Next Steps

Our Experimental Psychology graduates pursue a wide variety of careers on graduating, including further academic research, psychology practice, education, market research, medicine, finance, commerce, industry, and the media. The BA course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, which will allow you to join on the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership if you graduate with a 2:2 or higher and pass the experimental project element in your third year.