phd thesis university of manchester

Theses: UK Theses

• Manchester Theses
• Worldwide theses

Key UK dissertation and theses resource

• ProQuest dissertations & theses global ProQuest Dissertations and Theses: Global (PQDTGlobal) is the world's most comprehensive collection of full-text dissertations and theses. As the official digital dissertations archive for the Library of Congress and as the database of record for graduate research, PQDTGlobal includes millions of searchable citations to dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present day together with over a million full-text dissertations that are available for download in PDF format. Over 2.1 million titles are available for purchase as printed copies. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full-text coverage for older graduate works. It also includes PQDT UK & Ireland content.

Finding and accessing UK theses

• Electronic Theses Online Service (EThOS) EThOS is the UK’s national thesis service which aims to maximise the visibility and availability of the UK’s doctoral research theses. EThOS aims to provide a national aggregated record of all doctoral theses awarded by UK Higher Education institutions and free access to the full text of as many theses as possible for use by all researchers. There are approximately 440,000 records relating to theses awarded by over 120 institutions of which around 160,000 are available as full text. Requests for many of the remainder can be ordered for scanning through the EThOS digitisation-on-demand facility. You can download digitised PhD thesis from across the UK for free once you have registered on the website. Records are held for all UK PhD-awarding institutions, but EThOS does not yet hold all records for all institutions. This is constantly updated as more theses including University of Manchester outputs from March 2013 are submitted solely in electronic form.

• Web of Science Conference Proceedings via Web of Science: Index to published proceedings for international conferences, symposia, seminars, colloquia, workshops and conventions across a wide range of disciplines. Proceedings relating to Business and Management can be found in the Social Sciences Proceedings on the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science tab.

Institutional repositories

Most major research universities use institutional repositories to store records of their scholarly work. Institutional repositories are sometimes also used to disseminate research. They are valuable to researchers for various reasons:

• Free access to details of research carried out in your area.
• Free access to details of research carried out by particular researchers.
• Research papers may be available free of charge.
• Content can be found by internet search engines such as Google.

Pure  is our institutional repository. For other repositories search the Directory of Open Access Repositories .

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• Last Updated: Oct 7, 2022 3:07 PM
• URL: https://subjects.library.manchester.ac.uk/theses

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• The University of Manchester Library
• Prepare your eThesis

Your eThesis is the electronic version of your Postgraduate Research thesis or dissertation.

An eThesis is made up of three elements:

• A plain text metadata record describing the origin, themes and content of the thesis.
• One single Portable Document Format (PDF) file containing the full-text of the thesis.
• A declaration of the author’s preferred access level for the final thesis full-text and metadata record, subject to supervisor approval.

We recommend that you prepare for your eThesis submission in advance by:

• Familiarising yourself with the University's Presentation of Theses policy
• Considering any third party claims on the Intellectual Property (IP) and copyright of your thesis
• Considering your options for arranging storage of, and access to, research data
• Considering and discussing with your supervisor the appropriate access level  for your final thesis

See Submitting your eThesis  for more information on the eThesis submission process, or Access to your final eThesis  for more details on thesis access requirements. Specific guidance is also available if you're planning to submit a Journal format thesis .

You can also  contact the eThesis Support Service if you would like more information or assistance.

• Library services
• Researcher services
• Access to your final thesis
• Journal format theses
• Submitting your eThesis
• Sharing your thesis research data

• MyManchester
• Faculty StaffNet

• PGR handbook - Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Writing up and submitting your research

You can find up-to-date guidance on submitting your thesis on the Doctoral Academy website:

• Thesis submission

The guidance includes information on:

• plagiarism and referencing
• how to format and present your thesis
• using a journal format for your thesis
• electronic submission
• submission deadlines, including submission pending
• thesis binding
• the viva/oral exam
• getting your result.

Presentation of thesis

The University has a specific format required for PGR theses. You will find this detailed in the Presentation of Theses Policy .

If you have queries about presentation, you can ask staff in the Doctoral Academy , or ask them to have a look at a draft document.

Traditional and journal thesis formats

You may hear your supervisors or other PGRS talk about the different types of thesis format that are accepted for examination at Manchester.

These are currently defined as 'standard' and 'journal' format, although you shouldn't get too concerned about the terminology used. One format is not inherently better or more widely regarded than the other.

The standard thesis will have an introduction, literature review, materials and methods, results and discussion and conclusion, references and appendices.

The journal format thesis comprises chapters that have been written in the form of journal papers.

These may be papers that have been submitted to a journal, already accepted and published or chapters that are written as journal papers but are not yet or even are not intended to be submitted.

The advantage of this format is that it gives you the experience of writing in journal paper format. This format is increasingly popular in some disciplines, and yet may not be appropriate for all projects. Your supervisory team is the best place to start discussing your thoughts on this.

There is no requirement to request permission to submit in journal format. However, it is important that you discuss the relative merits of this format with your supervisory team, and ensure that you pick the right format for you and your project. Further guidance is available in Journal Format Theses - Guiding Principles for Students and Staff (PDF).

Submission pending

• Three-year PhD, MD and part-time - 12 months
• MPhil and 3.5-year PhD - 6 months

If you are a PGR on one of the programmes above and you do not submit by the end of programme, you may be able to register for the submission pending period.

You will need to have completed all your research (such as data collection and experiments) and should have a draft of the thesis completed (usually 80% of chapters in a reasonable draft form).

Your Student Support Administrator will provide details on registering for submission pending and paying the fee (£225 in the 2023/24 academic year).

You should be aware that during this writing up period, you are not considered to be a full-time PGR at the University.

You will still have access to facilities and your supervisory team will continue to support you towards submission of the thesis and preparation for the oral examination (as appropriate).

Once you enter submission pending, you may be returning to full-time work or be involved in a number of external activities that will reduce the amount of time that you have to spend on writing your thesis.

Please note that due to HMRC requirements, the University cannot make stipend payments to a PGR during the submission pending period.

Submission deadlines

It is important for your career development that you submit your thesis within the period of your programme as set out in your initial offer letter.

If you are eligible to use the submission pending period, remember that it will be increasingly difficult to find time to dedicate to completing your thesis once you are in full-time work.

Your final submission deadline will be stated on your original offer letter. If you are granted any periods of interruption or an extension to your programme, you will be notified of any change in your final submission deadline in the letter confirming this change to programme.

You will also see your submissions deadline displayed in eProg ('Thesis Submission Deadline' on the 'My Profile' page).

Extensions to final submission deadlines

Extensions to your final submission deadline will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and where permission is sought at least two months prior to the final submission deadline. Visit the Forms page on the Doctoral Academy website for the relevant forms to complete.

You will need to provide clear, documented evidence as to how your mitigating circumstances have impacted your ability to meet the deadline. Examples of appropriate exceptional circumstances can be found within the policy on circumstances leading to changes to postgraduate research study .

It is expected that your mitigating circumstances will have occurred within the submission pending period, or the last 12 months of a four-year programme.

Should your request for an extension to the final submission deadline be rejected, you will have the right of appeal.

Please note that even if you submit an appeal, you should still submit your thesis for examination by the final submission deadline.

Oral examination/viva

An integral part of the PhD/MD process is the oral examination (viva). This will take place at Manchester with your internal and external examiner.

The Academic and Researcher Development Team provide courses on preparing for this examination, and you will also receive guidance from your supervisory team on what to expect.

MPhil PGRs may have to undertake an oral examination, and this will be determined by the examiners following initial review of the thesis.

You may find it useful to refer to the full University policies on PGR examination .

Examiner recommendations

• A (i) no corrections
• A (ii) subject to minor corrections (four weeks to complete, exceptionally up to 12 weeks can be granted for completion of minor corrections)
• B (i) permitting submission of a revised thesis without further research and without further oral examination (six months to complete)
• B (ii) permitting submission of a revised thesis without further research but with a further oral examination (six months to complete, exceptionally up to 12 months)
• B (iii) permitting submission of a revised thesis with further research and with a further oral examination (12 months to complete)
• C (i) but award the degree of MPhil
• C (ii) award the degree of MPhil subject to minor corrections (four weeks to complete, exceptionally up to 12 weeks)
• C (iii) advising that the thesis be submitted, after revision, for examination for the degree of Master (six months to complete)
• C (iv) not permitting resubmission
• Your programme

• Regulations  / PGR Presentation of Theses Policy

Presentation of Theses Policy

The Presentation of Theses policy is to be used by students to format their thesis for submission.

Our expectations of you under this policy:

This policy outlines the required format for the submission of a doctoral thesis.  It includes detailed guidance on how a thesis should be compiled.

Your expectations of us under this policy:

The University of Manchester will only accept a thesis for examination that meets the requirements set out in this policy.

View the full policy document

Who to contact.

Students should contact their Faculty/School Graduate Office in the first instance.

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(University Switchboard) +44 (0) 161 306 6000

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The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL

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Science and Engineering Doctoral Academy

Journal format thesis submission

Submission of a thesis in journal format is an increasingly popular choice and provides you with experience of writing in journal paper formats.

If you think that your thesis would be appropriate for a journal format submission the first step is to discuss this with your supervisory team.

A thesis in journal format comprises sections that are in a format suitable for publication or dissemination. These can be published or submitted papers of chapters that are written as journal papers but are not yet or may never be submitted. Apart from the inclusion of such materials, the journal format thesis must conform to the same standards expected for a standard thesis.

Any work submitted within the journal format thesis must be substantially different from any work which may have previously been submitted for any degree at this or any other institution.

One of the major considerations for submitting in journal format is the level of contribution that you have made to the journal papers to be included in the thesis (where published or submitted papers are used). It would be expected that you will have taken the major role in ALL aspects of production of the papers including: data acquisition, analysis and writing the paper.

As with standard doctoral/MPhil thesis, examiners should satisfy themselves that the journal format thesis meets the requirement of the doctoral degree as prescribed in the appropriate regulations and policies. The fact that a thesis contains material that has been published or accepted for publication does not guarantee that the examiner will recommend the award for which the candidate is being examined.

Approval for submission in journal format

In order to submit a thesis in journal format you should have the approval of your supervisory team. It is not necessary to request approval from the Doctoral Academy. You will be asked to indicate the format of your thesis during the examination process when completing your Notice of Submission Form.

Your supervisory team is best placed to advise on how to structure a thesis in journal format.

The work must constitute a body of publication tending towards a coherent and continuous thesis, rather than a series of disconnected publications. As such, any publications should be adapted and integrated within the structure of the thesis. Any sections of the thesis which are published or in publishable format should be clearly identified.

You should use the introductory section of the thesis to explain and justify in full the nature and extent of your contribution and the contribution of co-authors and the other collaborators to the publications presented. A significant proportion of the researched materials should be derived from original research undertaken after the date you initially registered with this University.

The number of papers included in the journal format thesis may vary according to discipline and is not prescribed, but should reflect the quantity, quality and originality of research and analysis expected of a candidate submitting a standard thesis.

Example structure

It is essential that the journal format thesis includes detailed and critical analysis of the work and methods used, since sections formatted for publication/dissemination may not already include this level of detail. The structure of the journal format thesis should include the following:

• rationale for submitting the thesis in an journal format and an account of how the thesis format has been constructed;
• context of the research which should incorporate sections / chapters defining the rationale of the investigation and the strategy employed during the research as demonstrated in the thesis;
• review of previous research including sections summarising and synthesising previous research in the field of investigation;
• methodology detailing the methods employed during the research and a detailed critique analysis of those methods and the information they provide;
• presentation of results and their analysis in a format suitable for presentation in a peer-reviewed journal and/or in conventional thesis chapters as in the standard PhD thesis;
• summary/conclusion drawing together the various outcomes of the work into a coherent synthesis and indicating directions for future work;
• references and appendices should be included as in the standard PhD thesis.

Co-authored papers

Materials included in the journal format thesis may include those which are solely and/or partly authored by the student and may be already published, accepted for publication, or submitted for publication in externally refereed contexts such as journals and conference proceedings.

You should use the introductory section of the thesis to explain and justify in full the nature and extent of the candidate's own contribution and the contribution of co-authors and other collaborators to the publications presented.

Formatting issues

You should ensure that you have read the guidance on the presentation of a thesis which outlines how to include offprints of published material.

You can also ask the Exams Team in the Doctoral Academy for guidance on presentation and formatting issues. Please contact [email protected] if you require further assistance.

The incorporation of publication-style chapters in the thesis will inevitably lead to some duplication since each publication-style chapter will have self-contained components that will overlap with parts of the other sections of the thesis. As a result, such a thesis might well be expected to be longer than a standard doctoral/MPhil thesis on the same topic.

The maximum length of the journal format doctoral thesis should not normally exceed 90,000 words of main text, including footnotes and endnotes.

The maximum length of the journal format MPhil thesis should not normally exceed 60,000 words, including footnotes and endnotes.

This is as expected for a standard thesis but it is essential that this format of thesis includes detailed and critical analysis of the previous work and methods used because the sections formatted for publication/dissemination may not cover these aspects in the depth expected of a PhD thesis.

For further information on journal format thesis submission see Journal Format Theses - Guiding Principles for Students and Staff

• MyManchester
• Faculty StaffNet

• Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy

Journal format thesis submission

Submission of a thesis in journal format (formerly known as alternative format) may be appropriate for a PhD, MD or MPhil. It is an increasingly popular choice and provides students with experience of writing in journal paper formats.

If you think that your thesis would be appropriate for a journal format submission the first step is to discuss this with your supervisory team.  You no longer need approval from the Doctoral Academy to submit in this format. 

A thesis in journal format comprises sections that are in a format suitable for publication or dissemination. These can be published or submitted papers of chapters that are written as journal papers but not yet or even ever to be submitted. Apart from the inclusion of such materials, the journal format thesis must conform to the same standards expected for a standard thesis.

Any work submitted within the journal format thesis must be substantially different from any work which may have previously been submitted for any degree at this or any other institution.

One of the major considerations for submitting in journal format is the level of contribution that you have made to the journal papers to be included in the thesis (where published or submitted papers are used). It would be expected that you will have taken the major role in ALL aspects of production of the papers including: data acquisition, analysis and writing the paper.

As with standard doctoral/MPhil thesis, examiners should satisfy themselves that the journal format thesis meets the requirement of the doctoral degree as prescribed in the appropriate regulations and policies. The fact that a thesis contains material that has been published or accepted for publication does not guarantee that the examiner will recommend the award for which the candidate is being examined.

Approval for submission in journal format

In order to submit a thesis in journal format you should have the approval of your supervisory team. It is not necessary to request approval from the Doctoral Academy. You will be asked to indicate the format of your thesis during the examination process when completing your Notice of Submission Form.

Your supervisory team is best placed to advise on how to structure a thesis in journal format.

The work must constitute a body of publication tending towards a coherent and continuous thesis, rather than a series of disconnected publications. As such, any publications should be adapted and integrated within the structure of the thesis. Any sections of the thesis which are published or in publishable format should be clearly identified.

You should use the introductory section of the thesis to explain and justify in full the nature and extent of your contribution and the contribution of co-authors and the other collaborators to the publications presented. A significant proportion of the researched materials should be derived from original research undertaken after the date you initially registered with this University.

The number of papers included in the journal format thesis may vary according to discipline and is not prescribed, but should reflect the quantity, quality and originality of research and analysis expected of a candidate submitting a standard thesis.

The Faculty Exams Team will be able to identify PhD theses in journal format that are available in the library for your reference. Please contact [email protected]  if you require any further information.

Example structure

It is essential that the journal format thesis includes detailed and critical analysis of the work and methods used, since sections formatted for publication/dissemination may not already include this level of detail. The structure of the journal format thesis should include the following:

• rationale for submitting the thesis in an journal format and an account of how the thesis format has been constructed;
• context of the research¹ which should incorporate sections/chapters defining the rationale of the investigation and the strategy employed during the research as demonstrated in the thesis;
• review of previous research including sections summarising and synthesising previous research in the field of investigation;
• methodology detailing the methods employed during the research and a detailed critique analysis of those methods and the information they provide;
• presentation of results and their analysis in a format suitable for presentation in a peer-reviewed journal and/or in conventional thesis chapters as in the standard PhD thesis;
• summary/conclusion drawing together the various outcomes of the work into a coherent synthesis and indicating directions for future work;
• references and appendices should be included as in the standard PhD thesis.

Co-authored papers

Materials included in the journal format thesis may include those which are solely and/or partly authored by the student and may be already published, accepted for publication, or submitted for publication in externally refereed contexts such as journals and conference proceedings. You should use the introductory section of the thesis to explain and justify in full the nature and extent of the candidate's own contribution and the contribution of co-authors and other collaborators to the publications presented.

Formatting issues

Students should ensure that they have read the guidance on the presentation of a thesis which outlines how to include offprints of published material.

Students can also ask the Exams Team in the Doctoral Academy office for guidance on presentation and formatting issues. Please contact [email protected]  if you require further assistance.

The incorporation of publication-style chapters in the thesis will inevitably lead to some duplication since each publication-style chapter will have self-contained components that will overlap with parts of the other sections of the thesis. As a result, such a thesis might well be expected to be longer than a standard doctoral/MPhil thesis on the same topic.

The maximum length of the journal format doctoral thesis should not normally exceed 90,000 words of main text, including footnotes and endnotes.

The maximum length of the journal format MPhil thesis should not normally exceed 60,000 words, including footnotes and endnotes.

¹This is as expected for a standard thesis but it is essential that this format of thesis includes detailed and critical analysis of the previous work and methods used because the sections formatted for publication/dissemination may not cover these aspects in the depth expected of a PhD thesis.

Further information

• Journal Format Theses - Guiding Principles for Students and Staff (PDF, University login required).
• Essential information
• Thesis submission

Find your project

Search our projects database to find available postgraduate research projects. You can filter by research area, supervisor or funding type to find the right projects for you.

The database below contains all of our advertised projects including  funded PhD programmes  such as our Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP), competition funded projects and self-funded projects.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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PhD/MPhil Public Health / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Programme overview

• Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
• Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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Student thesis : Phd

How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide

A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece

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Congratulations; you’ve finished your research! Time to write your PhD thesis. This resource will take you through an eight-step plan for drafting your chapters and your thesis as a whole. 

Organise your material

Before you start, it’s important to get organised. Take a step back and look at the data you have, then reorganise your research. Which parts of it are central to your thesis and which bits need putting to one side? Label and organise everything using logical folders – make it easy for yourself! Academic and blogger Pat Thomson calls this  “Clean up to get clearer” . Thomson suggests these questions to ask yourself before you start writing:

• What data do you have? You might find it useful to write out a list of types of data (your supervisor will find this list useful too.) This list is also an audit document that can go in your thesis. Do you have any for the “cutting room floor”? Take a deep breath and put it in a separate non-thesis file. You can easily retrieve it if it turns out you need it.
• What do you have already written? What chunks of material have you written so far that could form the basis of pieces of the thesis text? They will most likely need to be revised but they are useful starting points. Do you have any holding text? That is material you already know has to be rewritten but contains information that will be the basis of a new piece of text.
• What have you read and what do you still need to read? Are there new texts that you need to consult now after your analysis? What readings can you now put to one side, knowing that they aren’t useful for this thesis – although they might be useful at another time?
• What goes with what? Can you create chunks or themes of materials that are going to form the basis of some chunks of your text, perhaps even chapters?

Once you have assessed and sorted what you have collected and generated you will be in much better shape to approach the big task of composing the dissertation. 

Decide on a key message

A key message is a summary of new information communicated in your thesis. You should have started to map this out already in the section on argument and contribution – an overarching argument with building blocks that you will flesh out in individual chapters.

You have already mapped your argument visually, now you need to begin writing it in prose. Following another of Pat Thomson’s exercises, write a “tiny text” thesis abstract. This doesn’t have to be elegant, or indeed the finished product, but it will help you articulate the argument you want your thesis to make. You create a tiny text using a five-paragraph structure:

• The first sentence addresses the broad context. This locates the study in a policy, practice or research field.
• The second sentence establishes a problem related to the broad context you have set out. It often starts with “But”, “Yet” or “However”.
• The third sentence says what specific research has been done. This often starts with “This research” or “I report…”
• The fourth sentence reports the results. Don’t try to be too tricky here, just start with something like: “This study shows,” or “Analysis of the data suggests that…”
• The fifth and final sentence addresses the “So What?” question and makes clear the claim to contribution.

Here’s an example that Thomson provides:

Secondary school arts are in trouble, as the fall in enrolments in arts subjects dramatically attests. However, there is patchy evidence about the benefits of studying arts subjects at school and this makes it hard to argue why the drop in arts enrolments matters. This thesis reports on research which attempts to provide some answers to this problem – a longitudinal study which followed two groups of senior secondary students, one group enrolled in arts subjects and the other not, for three years. The results of the study demonstrate the benefits of young people’s engagement in arts activities, both in and out of school, as well as the connections between the two. The study not only adds to what is known about the benefits of both formal and informal arts education but also provides robust evidence for policymakers and practitioners arguing for the benefits of the arts. You can  find out more about tiny texts and thesis abstracts on Thomson’s blog.

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Write a plan

You might not be a planner when it comes to writing. You might prefer to sit, type and think through ideas as you go. That’s OK. Everybody works differently. But one of the benefits of planning your writing is that your plan can help you when you get stuck. It can help with writer’s block (more on this shortly!) but also maintain clarity of intention and purpose in your writing.

You can do this by creating a  thesis skeleton or storyboard , planning the order of your chapters, thinking of potential titles (which may change at a later stage), noting down what each chapter/section will cover and considering how many words you will dedicate to each chapter (make sure the total doesn’t exceed the maximum word limit allowed).

Use your plan to help prompt your writing when you get stuck and to develop clarity in your writing.

Some starting points include:

• This chapter will argue that…
• This section illustrates that…
• This paragraph provides evidence that…

Of course, we wish it werethat easy. But you need to approach your first draft as exactly that: a draft. It isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper. Start with whichever chapter you feel you want to write first; you don’t necessarily have to write the introduction first. Depending on your research, you may find it easier to begin with your empirical/data chapters.

Vitae advocates for the “three draft approach” to help with this and to stop you from focusing on finding exactly the right word or transition as part of your first draft.

This resource originally appeared on Researcher Development .

Kelly Louse Preece is head of educator development at the University of Exeter.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter .

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A master’s in psychology involves wide-ranging study that can lead to careers in diverse fields. You’ll gain advanced research and analysis skills and a strong understanding of human behavior. Plus, a master’s in psychology can qualify you to work as an industrial-organizational psychologist or a school psychologist .

If you want to dive deeper into the field while maintaining a flexible schedule, you can pursue your degree online. Keep reading to learn about the 10 best online psychology master’s degrees.

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• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
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Our Methodology

We ranked 39 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online psychology master’s degrees in the U.S. using 16 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience and application process. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites. Data is accurate as of June 2023.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

• In-state graduate student tuition
• In-state graduate student fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

Application Process:

• Acceptance rate

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 84% or higher.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

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Best Master’s in Psychology Online Programs

Why should you consider an online psychology master’s program, accreditation for online master’s in psychology programs, how to find the right online master’s in psychology for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about the best online psychology master’s degrees, university of southern california, arizona state university digital immersion, ferrum college, william woods university, indiana wesleyan university-national & global, national louis university, palo alto university, lynn university, liberty university, southern new hampshire university.

Graduate Tuition

$2,244/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Based out of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California offers an online Master of Science in applied psychology that full-time students can complete in 16 months by taking two courses per term. The program’s 34-credit curriculum covers topics in consumer psychology, organizational psychology and research methods, and all students complete 240 hours of experiential field learning through a required internship.

Students can choose to complete the internship requirement through an optional summer experience in Dublin, Ireland.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $90
• Degree Credit Requirements: 34 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Consumer psychology, organizational psychology
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for internship

$565/credit

Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona State University is among the largest universities in the nation by enrollment. ASU features an online master’s in psychology that requires 36 credits. The curriculum includes courses in applied social psychology, professional issues and research methods and concludes with a capstone course in which students analyze current psychological literature and recommend policy.

ASU delivers most online coursework asynchronously, and the program does not include in-person requirements.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Public
• Application Fee: $70
• Degree Credit Requirements: 36 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Applied social psychology, professional issues in psychology
• In-Person Requirements: No

$475/credit

Based in Ferrum, Virginia, Ferrum College enrolls fewer than 1,000 students and maintains an affiliation with the United Methodist Church. The college’s fully online Master of Science in psychology prepares graduates for Ph.D. programs in the field and takes one year of full-time study to complete.

The program’s 33-credit curriculum includes required courses in ethics, research methods and applied statistics. All students must also complete a thesis that involves significant original research. Ferrum College’s MS in psychology does not lead to licensure.

• Application Fee: $50
• Degree Credit Requirements: 33 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Ethics and professional issues; research methods in social sciences; applied statistics in the social sciences

$450/credit

Based in Fulton, Missouri, William Woods University offers an online master’s in psychology program that requires 33 credits. The curriculum includes coursework in psychological testing and assessment, advanced statistics, research design and advanced cognition. All students complete an original thesis before they graduate.

This program is designed for both working professionals looking to expand their career options and students who want to eventually pursue doctoral programs in psychology.

• Application Fee: Free
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Psychological testing and assessment; advanced statistics

$499/credit

Based in Marion, Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University has expanded its distance learning presence in recent years. The university offers an online master’s in psychology program with two concentration options: industrial and organizational psychology, and life coaching and positive psychology. Both tracks require 30 credits and include core courses in lifespan development, personality development and research methods.

All students also complete a capstone project. IWU delivers all online coursework asynchronously for maximum flexibility.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Lifespan development, theories of personality development, research methods in psychology
• Concentrations Available: Industrial and organizational psychology; life coaching and positive psychology

$790/credit

Headquartered in downtown Chicago, National Louis University features an online Master of Arts in psychology that students can complete in 18 months. The 36-credit curriculum includes four concentration options: general psychology, community psychology, psychological assessment and teaching of psychology. No matter their concentration, students in the program complete core foundational coursework in areas like abnormal and social psychology.

Online courses at NLU may include both synchronous and asynchronous elements.

$6,888/quarter

Located in the Bay Area in Palo Alto, California, Palo Alto University focuses primarily on counseling and psychology programs. The university’s online Master of Science in psychology includes limited in-person requirements. Students who pursue the Ph.D. prep concentration must complete a one-week, on-campus residency focused on clinical interviewing. Learners can take a generalist track or pursue a concentration in forensic psychology or technology and mental health.

The program uses Zoom to deliver synchronous coursework during the evenings.

• Application Fee: $80
• Degree Credit Requirements: 37.5 to 47 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Part-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Research methods and statistics; child and adolescent development
• Concentrations Available: Ph.D. prep; technology and mental health; forensic psychology
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for Ph.D. prep concentration

$650/credit

Located in Boca Raton, Florida, Lynn University offers an online Master of Science in psychology with either a generalist concentration or an industrial/organizational psychology concentration. In both cases, the curriculum requires 37 credits, and core courses include personality psychology, advanced social psychology, and scientific writing and analysis. All students complete a thesis with original research as a capstone requirement.

Incoming students can apply to begin the program in the spring, summer or fall semesters.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 37 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Advanced research in psychology, personality psychology
• Concentrations Available: General psychology, industrial/organizational psychology

Based out of Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University enrolls more than 135,000 students thanks in large part to its online programs. The university’s online master’s in applied psychology takes the typical student 18 months to complete. Students can choose between concentrations in general psychology, developmental psychology, industrial-organizational psychology and public mental health.

No matter their concentration, distance learners must complete 36 credits and take core courses in areas like social psychology and the psychology of learning.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Social psychology, psychology of learning
• Concentrations Available: General psychology, developmental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, public mental health

$637/credit

Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University is a private university primarily focused on online programs. The university’s online Master of Science in psychology offers three concentration options: forensic psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and child and developmental psychology. All students must complete 36 credits and take core courses in areas like social psychology and cognitive processes.

SNHU delivers all online coursework asynchronously, and the program does not include any in-person requirements.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Social psychology, cognitive processes
• Concentrations Available: Forensic psychology; industrial and organizational psychology; child and developmental psychology

A master’s in psychology is a widely applicable degree for all types of students. Here’s why you might pursue an online psychology master’s degree.

Master’s Degrees in Psychology: Fast Facts

• Nearly 25% of CEOs hold a master’s degree as their highest level of education. ( U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics )
• According to the American Psychological Association (APA), neuroscience is the most competitive psychological subfield at the master’s level, while counseling psychology accepts the highest percentage of students.
• Approximately 4 out of 5 graduate psychology students are women. (APA)
• Forty-three percent of graduate psychology students identify as BIPOC. (APA)
• The most diverse subfield of psychology among graduate students is developmental psychology. (APA)

Should You Earn Your Degree Online?

Online degrees have become more and more prevalent in recent years. However, they don’t suit all types of learners. To determine if distance learning is right for you, ask yourself a few key questions:

• What’s your budget? Distance learners generally avoid some costs associated with on-campus learning, including housing and transportation. Moreover, some public universities allow out-of-state distance learners to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates.
• What’s your learning style? Online learning requires plenty of discipline, organization, time management and self-motivation. If you rely on a peer group or the routine of a physical classroom for motivation, on-campus learning may provide a better fit.
• What are your other commitments? Flexibility is one of the main reasons many parents and working professionals opt for online learning. If you’ll have significant obligations outside of school, an asynchronous online program might help you juggle your studies with your other commitments.

There are two important types of college accreditation to understand: institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation is non-negotiable. You should enroll at a school only if it’s institutionally accredited, as this is the only way you can qualify for federal student aid. Plus, Ph.D. programs, employers and credentialing bodies may not recognize degrees that come from unaccredited universities.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the agencies that manage the institutional accreditation process. These agencies evaluate schools for the quality of their finances, academics and faculty. To verify a prospective school’s accreditation status, you can visit its website or check the directory on CHEA’s website.

Programmatic accreditation offers quality assurance and vetting in specific fields. Programmatic accreditation is uncommon among undergraduate and master’s-level psychology programs, though APA accreditation does apply to doctoral, postdoctoral residency and internship programs.

Once you’ve determined that you want an online master’s degree in psychology, it’s time to decide where you should earn it. Here’s how to choose a school.

Consider Your Future Goals

Psychology is a wide-ranging field. To choose the right program and specialization for you, it’s best to determine your career goals before committing to any specific program.

A master’s degree in general psychology can lead to careers in fields as diverse as public relations , education, human resources , user experience and marketing , among others. If you know you want to go into a specific field, such as industrial-organizational psychology , you may want to consider attending a psychology program that offers that specific specialization.

If you don’t want to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, and instead plan to continue your studies in a doctoral program, you should choose a master’s program with a significant research component. A completed thesis can help you take the next step into a Psy.D. program or a Ph.D. in psychology. Some master’s programs also offer Ph.D. prep concentrations, which explicitly prepare you to continue your career in academia.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Eliminating the one significant outlier (USC at $2,244), per-credit tuition rates for the 10 programs ranked in our guide range from $450 to $799. Over the course of a typical 36-credit master’s degree, these rates translate to approximately $16,000 to $29,000 in total tuition costs.

As a comparison point, according to the National Center for Education Statistics , as of the 2021–22 academic year, the average annual tuition for a graduate program was $12,596 at public universities and $29,931 at private, nonprofit universities.

To get help funding your education, the first step is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA is the portal to federal aid opportunities like grants, scholarships and loans, along with aid from other resources. You can also pursue graduate assistantships through your university. Keep in mind that some assistantships may be reserved for on-campus and Ph.D. students.

How long does it take to get an online master’s degree in psychology?

The 10 ranked programs in our guide generally take 12 to 18 months to complete. Keep in mind that completion times can vary depending on your school, program and enrollment status.

What can I do with an online master’s in psychology?

There are many psychology-related careers that you can pursue as a master’s degree holder, including market research analyst, user experience researcher, project manager , public relations specialist and human resources manager .

Is an online master’s in psychology respected?

Yes. As long as you attend an accredited university, a psychology master’s degree earned online carries the same weight as one earned in person.

Can I do a master’s in psychology online?

Yes, you can complete a master’s in psychology online. Many colleges offer fully online and hybrid psychology master’s programs.

Is it better to get an M.S. or an M.A. in psychology?

It depends on your goals. An M.A. in psychology often focuses on the applications of psychology, whereas an M.S. focuses more on research and scholarship.

Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.

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