Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree is a research higher degree. This research postgraduate programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge of research methods and the skills to independently conduct research in many areas of behavioural science. Students conduct original research which extends the frontiers of knowledge in a specialised area of Psychology. As a result of acquiring the abilities needed to undertake independent research, graduates will also develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills which can be applied in their future learning and work environments.
The core domains of Psychology are: Biological Psychology (which includes the areas of hormones and behaviour, brain function, and genetics), Cognitive Psychology (which includes the areas of attention, perception, learning, and language), Developmental Psychology (which includes the areas of lifespan development, and the social and cultural contexts of development), Individual Differences (which includes the areas of personality, intelligence, motivation, and mental health), Social Psychology (which includes the areas of attribution, attitudes, group processes and intergroup relations, and close relationships), and Research Methods (which includes the techniques for the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a problem).
Completion of the programme allows students to become experts who are able to facilitate and contribute to the advancement of Psychology. This is a required qualification for people who wish to go onto a career as an academic or independent researcher in Psychology.
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Research Scientists
- Academics - University Lecturer
- Research Consultant
- Technical Consultant
- Technical Author
- Senior Analyst
- RM57,490
for Malaysian students
- USD13,789
for international students
Programme Structure
Core Modules
Prior to starting their thesis, students complete two taught modules: Advanced Research Methods and Advanced Statistics. These modules help students develop the necessary skills to complete their research proposal.
Thesis
In consultation with their research supervisors, students identify a research problem based on findings from existing research. They then design and conduct research on the identified problem or issue using a range of scientific techniques while following the required ethical standards. They, therefore, make a unique contribution to understanding the issue under consideration or developing new solutions to address the identified problem.
Areas of Research
The Psychology Department has three research groups: Well-being & Community Psychology, Organisational & Work Psychology, and Cognitive & Experimental Psychology. This broad range of expertise means we have research supervision in the following areas:
i.e. learning environment & technology, Inclusive education, etc.
i.e socioemotional development, family mealtime, etc
i.e. face perception, sense of agency, speech perception, body image, etc.
Entry Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or equivalent with a CGPA of 3.00 AND
Master’s Degree
A Master’s degree in Psychology
Other Qualifications
Any other qualifications will be considered on a case-to-case basis*
*For case-to-case basis an interview may be required and will subject to the approval and acceptance by the University Senate.
English Language Requirements
Any of the following:
- IELTS: 7.0
- TOEFL: 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), 95 (Internet-based)
- PTE Academic: 65
- MUET: Band 5
- Cambridge English: Advanced/CEFR 185 (Grade A)/C1
- SPM English 1119: 2A
Note: Any other qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application Procedure
Initial enquiries should be made to the Programme Coordinator (email:@email). If the potential student is eligible for the programme, they will then meet with the Programme Leader to discuss their area of research interest and potential research supervisors.
Details on the specific documents required to complete the Sunway Postgraduate Application Form will be provided once the student has been assigned a research supervisor and agreement has been reached on the research topic.
Research Proposal
The research proposal should comprise between 1,000 and 1,500 words (excluding references), and covers the following structure:
- An appropriate title for the research project (designated supervisor if known)
- Introduction and justification of the study, which includes
- Research background
- Problem statement
- Research objective(s)
- Research question(s)/hypothesis
- Literature review
- Research methodology
- Proposed research schedule
List of references
Contact Information
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Eligibility Criteria for Bursary or Scholarship
Bursary
Programme: Master by Research and PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:- Master by Research: 30% tuition fee waiver
- PhD: 50% tuition fee waiver
Award Criteria: Sunway graduates who are meeting the entry requirement for the Master by Research or PhD programmes
Scholarship
Programme: Master by Research and PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:- Master by Research: 60% tuition fee waiver
- PhD: 100% tuition fee waiver
Award Criteria: Sunway graduates who are meeting the entry requirement for the Master by Research or PhD programmes. CGPA >= 3.5 or Merit (or equivalent)
Studentship
Programme: Master by Research and PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:- Master by Research: Not eligible
- PhD: 100% tuition fee waiver including registration and resource fees. Cost of living allowance of RM3,000 per month for 36 months
Award Criteria: Sunway graduates who are meeting the entry requirement for the PhD programmes.
CGPA >= 3.5 or Merit (or equivalent). One (1) published journal article indexed in WOS/Scopus as first or corresponding author. Eligible applicants will be interviewed, and Studentship awards will be given on a competitive basis*Bursary is only offered to Sunway graduates from Sunway Education Group higher education institutions.
**Scholarship is open to Sunway and non-Sunway graduates
For more information about the scholarships and financial aid, please visit the SEG Scholarships website.
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