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PhD in Psycholinguistics

Offered jointly by the Departments of Language and Linguistic Science, Psychology and Education

Programme Leader: Dr Heather Marsden

Psycholinguistic research, which asks questions about how language is produced and understood in real time, and how it is acquired by first and second language learners, is inherently cross-disciplinary. It draws on knowledge and techniques from theoretical and applied Linguistics and Psychology, and is both informed by and has implications for Education. On this cross-departmental programme, your co-supervisors will be from two of the three departments, and you will join an interdisciplinary community made up of researchers across all three departments.

On starting the three-year programme, a bespoke training programme is set out for each student, drawing on the training opportunities across the three departments, which include psycholinguistic research methods, data science, and a range of advanced discipline-specific modules. Lab facilities for the specific project are identified from the extensive facilities available across the three departments (including eyetracking and pupilometry; EEG and psychophysiology; state-of-the art equipment for individual and group testing,  focus group monitoring and behavioural experiments; polysomnography in a three-bedroom sleep lab; and other facilities). Over the course of the three years, students design, conduct and write up their independent research projects, whilst simultaneously developing a broad perspective on psycholinguistic research through participation in the Psycholinguistics@York programme, including an annual presentation day, talks by invited speakers, and social and networking events. The programme welcomes PhD by publication (where a thesis consists of a series of papers for publication). 

Students will graduate with advanced technical skills, including use of specialist software, and data management and analysis skills. They will be equipped for an academic career but also for work in areas as diverse as artificial intelligence, language teaching and learning, speech and language therapy, and market research.

Full-time and part-time study routes are available. 

How to apply

Submit your application via the University’s online application system. Full details of the application procedure can be found via the postgraduate applications webpage.

Your application must include a research proposal. The application form also invites you to indicate a potential supervisor for your project. You can find links to our research areas and to staff associated with each area on the research pages of Language and Linguistic Science, Psychology, and Education.