Research experience

If you are interested in advancing your research capability, the School of Psychology offers a number of great opportunities.

UQ Summer and Winter Research Programs

Coordinated by the UQ Student Employability Centre, these programs provide an opportunity for scholars to work with a researcher in a formal research environment in their area of interest.

person participating in research By participating in a program students will gain valuable academic and professional opportunities, develop analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, and have an opportunity to cultivate links with industry and academic contacts.

It is also a chance to ‘test drive’ research before embarking on further research studies or higher degree research projects.

Participation is open to undergraduate students (BPsySc, BA, BSc), including honours and Masters by coursework students.

Successful applicants are likely to have studied psychology for at least two years, or can demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skills in the discipline.

All students participating in the summer and winter programs will receive a scholarship.

Please note that no course credit is offered in the summer and winter research programs.

Summer Research Program

View the list of Summer Research Program projects and supervisors.

Research projects are available for between 6-10 weeks over the summer vacation period (from mid-November to mid-February).

Apply for the Summer Research Program

Winter Research Program

View the list of Winter Research Program projects and supervisors.

Research projects are available for 4 weeks over the winter vacation period (from mid-June to mid-July).

Apply for the Winter Research Program

Please direct all other queries to psyresearch@psy.uq.edu.au.

School of Psychology research experience courses

The School of Psychology offers two one-unit research experience courses as second-year electives: PSYC2991 and PSYC2992.

The goal of these courses is to provide a structured opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience working on a research project.

Eligibility criteria

Please carefully read the information relating to your program.

Students in all programs are strongly encouraged to complete all first-year core courses (NEUR1020, PSYC1030, and PSYC1040) and second-year statistics (PSYC2010) before seeking to enrol in the research experience courses.

Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) (BPsySc(Hons))

Students can undertake both research experience courses and count this as one of their two-unit 2^nd year electives.
If students have already completed all the second-year elective courses needed to meet program requirements, they are not eligible to enrol in PSYC2991 or PSYC2992.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

PSYC2991 and PSYC2992 can only be taken as general electives within the single degree.
Students must be enrolled in the extended major in Psychology.
Students must confirm with the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences that they have room in their program to complete these courses, prior to enrolling.

Bachelor of Science (BSc)

PSYC2991 and PSYC2992 can be taken as general electives.
Students must be enrolled in the extended major in Psychology as part of the BSc.
Students must confirm with the Faculty of Science that they have room in their program to complete these courses, prior to enrolling.

Obtaining permission to enrol

In order to be permitted to enrol, you need to complete the following steps:

Make sure that you are eligible to enrol in these courses (see eligibility criteria above)
Obtain agreement from a supervisor for each course.
Send an email to Psychology Student Administration via py-undergrad@psy.uq.edu.au with the following information:

Full name
Student number
Program you are enrolled in:
- Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) (BPsySc(Hons))
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) Extended Major in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) Extended Major in Psychology
Semester you wish to enrol in PSYC2991 and/or PSYC2992
Supervisor for PSYC2991 and/or PSYC2992
If in an Arts or Science degree please also provide the confirmation from the Faculty that you have space for these courses (see eligibility criteria above)

Supervisors & projects

Units of credit & workload

Each course (PSYC2991, PSYC2992) counts as one unit of credit. Students must complete both courses if they wish to have the research experience count as a two-unit elective in their program.
Students can enrol in both courses with the same supervisor, or can do each with a different supervisor.
Students can enrol in both courses in the same semester, or in different semesters.
Each course carries a workload of 65 hours for the semester (5 hours a week for 13 weeks of classes). This includes all research activities and assessment tasks. Enrolling in both courses in one semester carries a total workload of 130 hours (10 hours a week for 13 weeks of classes).

Activities & assessment

Students may participate in a range of research activities, such as attending lab group meetings, conducting literature reviews, developing study materials, data collection, data analysis, and preparing written reports.
Assessment tasks will vary, depending on the specific research activities. Example assessment tasks include written reports, oral presentations, and reflective diaries.
Students must meet with their supervisor at the commencement of the semester and agree to research activities to be undertaken and written assessment to be submitted. Students MUST complete the required activities and submit written assessment to be awarded a passing grade.
Each course is graded pass/fail.