Skip to main content

Welcome to the Department of Psychology

We are delighted to maintain our position as one of the TOP 100 psychology departments in the world, a distinction we have proudly held since 2022.

The 2025 rankings assess over 55 subjects from over 5,200 institutions across the world, based on academic and employer reputation, citations per academic paper, impact and quality of research and international research collaboration factors.

Recent research carried out by colleagues in our department includes work on fetal taste perception, promoting sustainable diets, children’s body image, and neuromodulation therapy for depression and much more.

Durham is a world-leading university. Our academic excellence and impact is reflected in our global rankings and this is a true credit to the outstanding teaching and research carried out at our University.

Find out more about us
Top 5 in Graduate Prospects in The Times UK University Rankings 2025
11th
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
15th
15th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
Athena SWAN Silver Award winner in 2013 and retained in 2017 & 2022, for promoting gender equality
This is the image alt text

Welcome new students 2024

We're looking forward to helping you settle into student life and make the most of your experience. We encourage you to meet staff and familiarise yourself with the Department, by preparing as much as possible before your course begins

Your next steps

Why study Psychology at Durham?

Play video 1

Study with us

Undergraduate Study

You will receive a genuinely research-led education. As well as learning the core principles of psychology, you will participate in research through seminars, conferences and research assistantship schemes. You will also have access to our world-leading clinical and experimental facilities, including motion capture, eye tracking and biophysical recording laboratories.

Postgraduate Study

We offer both taught postgraduate and postgraduate research degree programmes. Our MSc programmes provide students with core skills, ideal for continuing on to complete a PhD, taking a research position, or entering the workplace. Our postgraduate students are supervised by academics with expertise in their fields and have the opportunity to engage with the local vibrant research community.

Undergraduate

Find out more about our undergraduate courses

Postgraduate

Find out more about our postgraduate taught courses and research

What's new?

Filter:

Inside the sex lives of chimpanzees: it’s about much more than just reproduction

Dr Jake Brooker and Professor Zanna Clay of our Department of Psychology share their new research on the social role sex plays in bonobo and chimpanzee groups.
Four chimpanzees walk in a line in the forest

How our bodies react when we use social media – and when we stop

Dr Niklas Ihssen, from our Department of Psychology, explores what happens to our bodies when we social media - and what happens when we stop.
Several hands holding mobile phones

Bonobos and chimps give insight into early human sexual behaviour

Using sex to manage social tension dates back over six million years to humans’ common ape ancestor, according to a new study.
A group of bonobos at Lola ya BonobA group of bonobos at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, DR Congo.o Sanctuary, DR Congo.

Body image perceptions take shape from early childhood

New research by our Department of Psychology has determined that our perceptions of body image are shaped by what we see from as early as seven years old.
Child observing body image stimuli on a computer screen

Helping stroke survivors with visual perception problems

A new 15-minute tool to screen stroke survivors for visual perception problems has been launched by researchers from Durham and Oxford universities.
Two people sitting at a table pointing at a page in the stroke screening booklet.

Babies respond positively to smell of foods experienced in the womb

Babies show positive responses to the smell of foods they were exposed to in the womb after they are born.
A montage of four pictures showing close ups of newborn babies' faces with different expressions.

Why a social media detox may not be as good for you as you think

Associate Professor Niklas Ihssen and PhD student Michael Wadsley from our Department of Psychology explain how cutting your social media use dramatically or even avoiding it completely can reduce the positive effects of social media just as much as the negative ones.
Person looking at a smartphone

Chimpanzees are not pets, no matter what social media tells you

Research Associate Jake Brooker from our Department of Psychology studies the social and emotional behaviour of great apes. He explains that social media needs to recognise that putting exotic animals in a human context isn't cute and reflects animal abuse.
A chimpanzee looking directly into the camera

Bonobos and chimps give insight into early human sexual behaviour

Using sex to manage social tension dates back over six million years to humans’ common ape ancestor, according to a new study.
A group of bonobos at Lola ya BonobA group of bonobos at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, DR Congo.o Sanctuary, DR Congo.

Helping stroke survivors with visual perception problems

A new 15-minute tool to screen stroke survivors for visual perception problems has been launched by researchers from Durham and Oxford universities.
Two people sitting at a table pointing at a page in the stroke screening booklet.

Upcoming events

The Battle of Grievances: Consolidating the Impact of Intergroup Competitive Victimhood and Charting New Directions

Friday 14 March 2025 - Friday 14 March 2025
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
L68, Psychology building and online
Research Seminar General

Boost your business with behavioural science: join our free webinar

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - Wednesday 19 March 2025
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM
Online
Collage of images including busy crossing showing lots of people, and three work settings of colleagues collaborating

International Multisensory Research Forum 2025

Tuesday 15 July 2025 - Friday 18 July 2025
9:00 AM to 5:00 AM
Teaching and Learning Centre, Durham University
Logo for IMRF 2025 conference

Our facilities

One of our department highlights is the dedicated laboratory space with equipment linked to teaching on our programmes.

We have outstanding facilities for training in eye-movement recording, motion capture and psychophysics. 
Find out more about our facilities

Equality and Diversity

Our department has an "Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (EDI)" which oversees EDI issues across the department. This committee addresses 5 core issues, namely Raising awareness and supporting members of staff in relation to all protected characteristics; Equality issues; Supporting Diversity and Inclusion; Supporting Wellbeing & the Athena Swan charter.
Find out more about our diversity initiatives
Group of colourful wooden people

Staff

At Durham we focus on you. We are energised teachers, who love our subject and want to share that passion with you.

'What I think makes Durham's Psychology course truly excellent is the contagious passion and excitement each of the staff have for Psychology.'

Liam
Level 1 
Find out more about our staff

Blogs and social media

See what our staff and students get up to during their time at Durham University.

Highlights

Being an international student studying at Durham University

Psychology student, Alan from Hong Kong tells us what it's like being an international student in Durham.
/media/durham-university/departments-/psychology/59913-1.jpg

Day in the life of a second-year Psychology student

Psychology student, Amelia takes us through her day-to-day life at Durham University.
Group of postgraduate students discussing their work in a seminar room

Get in touch

Contact us to find out more about our courses and research. For current student enquiries please use "All other enquiries" button below

Department of Psychology

Durham University
South Road
Durham
DH1 3LE 


Phone: +44 (0) 191 334 3240  

Fax:  +44 (0) 191 334 3241

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

Your Durham prospectus

Order your personalised prospectus and College guide here.