PhD Social-Personality Psychology at University of Rochester

Programme overview

The Social-Personality Psychology PhD prepares graduate students as researchers with the theoretical and methodological tools for advanced scholarly work. Faculty research covers emotion and emotion regulation, achievement motivation, social interaction and close relationships, social cognition, health psychology and psychology of religion.

Faculty: School of Arts and Sciences | Department: Department of Psychology | Intake: Fall | Study mode: full-time | Location: Rochester, NY, United States

What you will study

Year 1 covers general social-personality psychology, research methods and quantitative methods; later years add advanced seminars and methodological training, with a master's thesis completed by the end of year two and a comprehensive exam in year three before dissertation research. Students contribute to faculty research throughout.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

PhD programs in the Department of Psychology (fall 2027): three letters of recommendation, transcripts (unofficial accepted at application), CV/resume and a Statement of Purpose; writing sample optional. GRE required for the 2027-2028 cycle (scores under five years old). International applicants: IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo (scores no more than two years old at the deadline), waivable for citizens of listed English-speaking countries or with three years of full-time in-person study in those countries or the US; three-year foreign degrees need a WES equivalence evaluation. Deadline December 1, 2026; application fee $70. Social-Personality program: highly competitive, typically admits two to four students per year; no specific GPA or GRE cut-offs; applications are reviewed on fit with faculty interests, prior research experience, personal statement, letters, writing sample, GPA and GRE; a small number of applicants are interviewed in January.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intake: Fall

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