Doctor of Philosophy in Health Psychology

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

This course is also offered at overseas locations.

Health Psychology

Health Psychology is concerned with human behaviour in the context of health and illness. Understanding the psychological aspects of medical problems helps practitioners to improve healthcare interactions.

Health professionals are increasingly dealing with chronic illness, aging and the problems of living with disability. All these areas have major health psychology components.

There is now an increased recognition that health services need to pay more attention to the psychological aspects of medical problems in order to improve health care interactions.

The University of Auckland is one of the first universities worldwide to offer a practitioner qualification in Health Psychology, with excellent facilities and resources for teaching and research.

Research opportunities

There are opportunities to undertake doctoral studies in many of the areas of expertise within the department. Some of our research interests/projects include:

• Coping with illness and chronic disease
• Psychological influences on the development of disease states
• Improving adjustment in healthcare settings
• Patient-practitioner communication
• Adherence to treatment
• Determinants of health-related behaviours
• Understanding how individuals make sense of and react to health screening, symptoms and illness
• Technology and health, including healthcare apps and robotics
• Emotions and health
• Placebo and nocebo effects
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Compassion in medicine
• Pain
• Mindfulness and other psychological interventions

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On possible to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.