Established in 1919, psychology at Manchester is so large and diverse that it spans several departments. Our intrinsic links to fields across basic, health and clinical science (as well as education and business) help expand our psychology activity by integrating it with broader disciplines.
In this way, psychology at Manchester represents real strength and impact across neuroscience, biology, experimental psychology, public health, forensic, and applied psychology, including clinical and health psychology.
Breadth and depth of expertise
We cover a diverse range of topics, methodologies and applications. Our researchers collaborate internationally and work alongside the NHS, charities and public health bodies to best serve the community.
We address key topics including the fundamentals of human perception and memory, what happens when these go wrong, the fundamentals of developmental language and communication, and how we can best care for those with mental health difficulties.
A cross-disciplinary structure
We operate across multiple divisions within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, enabling us to undertake research and generate teaching opportunities across disciplines.
- Division of Neuroscience
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience
Research
Manchester is tackling the big questions facing mental health, development and breaking down the mysteries of the brain. Our researchers are leading globally influential research to understand brain function and help make a difference to the health, wellbeing and healthy development of society.
We cover a wide range of topics, such as applied clinical and health work, including mental health and wellbeing, as well as basic neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive modelling, perception, language, memory and cognition, visual perception, virtual reality, time perception, and socio-cognitive development.
We also carry out research into investigating the causes of mental health difficulties, developing and evaluating new psychological treatments, and working with public health organisations to improve health.
Our facilities include a fully-equipped EEG lab, eye-tracking facilities, a fully-furnished and equipped child study centre, a newly-built virtual reality suite, and links with many health, forensic and social care organisations.
Division of Neuroscience
Led by Professor Richard Baines, the Division of Neuroscience brings together expert researchers and lecturers in brain imaging and stimulation and experimental techniques, from single cell recordings to observing human behaviour. We also study the effect of brain disease on day-to-day functions.
Five key questions we tackle
- How do we use sensory information to initiate actions and interact with the world, and can virtual reality aid this research?
- How is our perception of time affected by our own experiences?
- How does the brain choose what information to learn, store and later remember, and how does this change with age?
- How can we best understand the sensory experiences of individuals with autism?
- How can we best use neuropsychology, neuroimaging and experimental methods to understand and treat brain disorders?
Division of Psychology and Mental Health
Led by Professor Richard Brown, the Division of Psychology and Mental Health has experienced clinical researchers and practitioners who are committed to understanding and treating mental health difficulties and helping people to achieve good physical health.
We frequently work to address public health issues by working alongside government and healthcare bodies such as the NHS.
Six key questions we tackle
- What are the causes of mental health difficulties such as psychosis and depression?
- How can we best treat individuals who struggle with their mental health?
- What is the role that technology can play in understanding and treating mental health?
- How can we help people to achieve behaviour change for a healthier life?
- What factors (e.g. stress, interpersonal relationships) influence health and wellbeing?
- Does better communication between healthcare professionals and patients improve the outcomes of medical consultations and procedures?
Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience
Led by Professor Anna Theakston, the Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience has a multidisciplinary team including audiologists, healthcare scientists, language therapists and psychologists to help improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages.
In a society where language, hearing and communications skills are vital, we are striving to understand treat difficulties in these areas through world-leading research.
Five key questions we tackle
- How do children go from gestures and babbling to being able to hold conversations, reason with others and make friends?
- How do children develop and use language within and across cultures?
- What happens when developing language skills goes wrong?
- How can we best treat and prevent hearing loss across the lifespan?
- How can we translate research into a direct benefit for those with hearing difficulties?
The University also has specialists in business psychology within Alliance Manchester Business School and the psychology of education within the Manchester Institute of Education.
Featured research areas
These are a few examples of psychology research groups at Manchester, and the questions being asked by our researchers.
Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health (CeNTrUM)
CeNTrUM conducts research that improves our understanding of mental health and how we can intervene to improve wellbeing and functioning.
Learn more on the CeNTrUM website.
Centre for Mental Health and Safety
Current research funded by the Centre for Mental Health and Safety aims to improve patient safety in mental health services. This is being done by identifying aspects of care associated with a reduction in suicide and self-harm rates.
Learn more on the Centre for Mental Health and Safety website.
Child Study Centre
When humans communicate using language, we use a complex set of skills – we want to find out how and when these develop. We are fascinated by how children learn to talk, play and make friends.
We use a wide range of methods to investigate the development of language, communication and reasoning skills, including observational studies and techniques such as eye tracking.
Learn more on the Child Study Centre website.
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology (MCHP)
What drives us to make decisions affecting our health and wellbeing? Why might we do things even though we know they are bad for our health?
These are some of the questions tackled by health psychology and Manchester has a thriving community of researchers in this area.
Learn more on the MCHP website.
Body Eyes and Movement Lab (BEAM)
How do we navigate the world around us using our available senses such as vision and touch? This is what the BEAM lab are addressing through research.
We investigate how sensory information enables us to create actions and interact with the world, the role of eye movements, how and why we imitate other people, and how our senses and actions can be affected by conditions such as autism and Parkinson’s disease.
Learn more on the BEAM website.
Time Perception Lab
Research into the perception of time has a long history at Manchester, going back at least as far as John Cohen's work in the 1960s. Other famous time researchers who have worked here include Dr Cliff Bell and Professor John Wearden.
All aspects of time perception are investigated at the Time Perception lab. These include:
- sub-second interval timing
- the effect of aging on timing
- motor-timing
- the distortions of the sense of time that occur in everyday life
- cross-modal timing.
We have also discovered interesting links between the perception or 'rate' of subjective time, and the rate at which people can process information.
We use a variety of research methods mainly focused on psychophysics and computer modelling, augmented with brain imaging techniques.
Learn more on the Time Perception Lab website.
Dementia
Manchester has a tremendous breadth of dementia activity that ranges from cell to society - from looking at the biological mechanisms of dementia, to bringing forward real benefits to enable people to live well with dementia.
Perception Action and Decision (PADLab)
Much of human activity involves one or more of perception, action and decision. The ease with which we undertake everyday activities such as recognising a car, estimating its distance and approach speed, deciding to cross the road, and successfully avoiding other pedestrians when crossing belies the staggering complexity of the computations the brain has to carry out to make this happen.
In the Perception, Action and Decision Lab (PADLab) at Manchester, we use a combination of behavioural and computational modelling approaches to investigate these computations.
Our people
Our academics contribute to internationally recognised research and teaching, and bring a rich diversity to psychology research at Manchester.
You can view a full list of academics in the University Research Explorer, including links to individual profiles with contact details:
Featured researchers
Professor Sandra Bucci
Professor of Clinical Psychology
Sandra's research focuses on psychosis and interventions for the condition. She teaches on the ClinPsyD programme and is co-Director of the Complex Trauma and Resilience Research Unit.
Dr Ellen Poliakoff
Senior Lecturer
Ellen explores perception-action relationships, with particular applications in Parkinson's disease. She is Co-Director of the BEAM lab and Director of Social Responsibility in the Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology.
Professor Anna Theakston
Professor of Developmental Psychology
Anna is Co-Director of the ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development (LuCiD), which investigates how children use language to communicate.
Study
Manchester is an outstanding place to study psychology. Our students learn from leading researchers and clinicians who are making exciting discoveries in the fields of psychology and mental health.
Taught and research degrees
A full list of our undergraduate, master's and postgraduate research programmes can be found on the Faculty website.
Professional development
We also offer a range of courses for continuing professional development (CPD) in psychology and mental health.
Hear from our students
Find out what it’s like to study psychology at Manchester on the Faculty student blog.
Public and patient engagement
We put patients' views at the centre of our research.
We work with local schools, community groups and service users to understand how research can benefit them. This helps us to ensure that science is for and informed by everyone.
Public and patient involvement
Some of our projects include Dance with Parkinson's, a collaboration with the English National Ballet to explore dance as a way to improve movement and communication for people with Parkinson's disease.
Our CARMS project sees individuals with lived experience of mental health problems generously contribute their highly personal perspectives to help our researchers produce research informed by in real life needs.
Find out more about public and patient engagement within the Faculty.
Science communication
The psychology community at Manchester includes many enthusiastic, committed and award-winning science communicators who take part in a range of projects aimed at our local communities and the general public. These include:
- activities with schools that enable pupils to learn about psychology study options and careers;
- working with local organisations such as the Museum of Science and Industry and the Manchester Museum;
- working with local artists and community groups;
- translating and promoting science to the wider community.
Some of our activities contribute to wider events such as:
We also provide opportunities for our PhD students to engage with the local community by becoming a Widening Participation Fellow.
Stories
Tackling inequalities in mental health
People of African and Caribbean backgrounds are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis, but the least likely to access psychological care.
From student to teacher
Dr Doron Cohen, lecturer on the BSc Psychology course, helps to make the big pond feel smaller.
Helping children in conflict
Experiencing the traumatic events of war leaves children at a high risk of behavioural and developmental problems.