PhD Psychology at University of California, Irvine

Programme overview

The PhD trains behavioural scientists to apply psychological theory and methods to human behaviour and health across the life span, and trains researchers rather than clinical practitioners. A Clinical Concentration is also offered.

Faculty: School of Social Ecology | Department: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior | Duration: Normative time 5 years; maximum 7 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Irvine, CA, United States

What you will study

The core includes research methods, data analysis and applied psychological research, with specialisation in Health Psychology, Social and Personality, Affective Science or Developmental, plus a minor. Students complete a second-year research project, a comprehensive exam and a dissertation defence.

Career pathways

Employers include academic institutions, research organisations, government policy institutes, health care and human services settings, and the private sector.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

UC Irvine Graduate Division (all graduate programmes): bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. International applicants whose prior degree was not taught solely in English need TOEFL iBT 80 overall or IELTS 7 overall with no module below 6 (departments may set higher). GRE requirements are set by each programme; there is no minimum GRE score.

Requirements published at program group level.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,722 a year (2026-27). Graduate tuition (resident rate) from the standard Graduate/Credential Student Fees schedule for state-supported graduate degree programmes; the page does not list programmes by name, so this is the standard graduate band. Tuition line only; excludes Stud Source

Graduate applications are submitted online through the UCI graduate application portal; the non-refundable application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents and $155 for all other applicants. Deadlines are set by each programme. GRE is required by some programmes only; TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency is required of graduate applicants unless waived.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/

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