Choosing the right place to build a career is the best decision one could ever make. This is because such an informed decision sets students in the right direction to fulfil their career dreams. To help you do that successfully, we’ll reveal the Best Psychology Universities globally. This is strictly according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ 2019. These universities are your sure bet for building capacity in psychology for international students.
1. Stanford University- United States
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University was founded in 1885 by Jane and Leland Stanford. The aim was “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization.” The Department of Psychology has a tradition of ground-breaking theoretical research that has a powerful impact in the real world. The department is ranked as one of the top psychology programs in the nation and has been a leading department. This extraordinary achievement was honoured by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. in 2003. The Psychology Department is located in Jordan Hall, in the Main Quad of the Stanford campus. Jordan Hall is named after the first president of Stanford, David Starr Jordan.
2. UCL- United Kingdom
UCL is London’s leading multidisciplinary university. It has more than 13,000 staff and 38,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and women on equal terms with men. The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences is the largest such department in the country. It has over 120 academic staff and 1500 students studying at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It was formed in 2008 to bring together in a single organization UCL’s research and teaching in the psychological and language sciences. The Division is part of UCL’s Faculty of Brain Sciences, one of the largest and strongest concentrations of biomedical research globally. Its alumni include Patricia Scotland, UK’s first female Attorney and Marie Stopes, founder of Britain’s first family planning clinic
3. Princeton University- United States
Princeton is one of the oldest universities in the US. It is regarded as one of the world’s most illustrious higher education institutions and was founded in 1746. Its psychology department has produced one Nobel prizewinner, six Distinguished Contributions awards from the American Psychological Association. It has also produced three William James Fellow Awards from the Association for Psychological Science. Graduate study is focused on systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, perception and cognition, personality and social psychology, and physiological psychology. The department is closely affiliated with the Center for the Study of Brain, Mind, and Behaviour, which fosters research on neuroscience and psychological function.
4. University of Chicago- United States
Since its founding in 1893, the Department of Psychology has been renowned for scientific research and scholarship. This cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Its broad and integrative vision is reflected in the diversity of laboratories and collaborations within the department. It is also reflected through research initiatives that connect psychology to other areas of the University and beyond. This vision is also reflected in the department’s teaching. The PhD program encourages students to take advantage of the many research opportunities, indeed Psychology is one of its most popular majors. It is one of the best psychology universities.
5. University of Pennsylvania- United States
The Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously functioning psychology department in North America. Academic excellence is the heart of the Cal U experience. Its academic programs are challenging, its facilities are exceptional and its faculty are committed to student success. At the California University of Pennsylvania, all classes are taught by professors, not graduate students or teaching assistants. Under their expert guidance, you’ll master the skills you need to launch or advance your career in psychology.
Psychology Department operates a clinic that offers psychological testing services to evaluate behavioural or learning issues. It also assists with career exploration, assesses kindergarten readiness and more. This program accommodates full- and part-time students, students with or without professional experience, incoming freshmen and transfer students.
6. Duke University- United States
Located in North Carolina, it is one of the wealthiest private universities in America and a top producer of international scholars. The university has an extensive private research library network. The most notable alumnus is Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States. He graduated with a law degree in 1937. Duke alumni also head many Fortune 500 companies including Apple, Cisco Systems, JPMorgan Chase and PepsiCo. It also has a partnership with the National University of Singapore to collaborate on a joint medical programme. It is the 6th of the best psychology universities.
7. Harvard University- United States
Psychology is one of the most popular courses of study among undergraduates at Harvard. It is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000-degree candidates. Harvard has over 360,000 alumni around the world including former US vice-president Al Gore, who won the Peace Prize in 2007. For students who are excited to investigate the biggest issues of the 21st century, Harvard offers an unparalleled student experience. It offers generous financial aid programs, with over $160 million awarded to more than 60% of its undergraduate students.
8. The University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA offers opportunities for inquiry, discovery, and education – and yet is a close community that provides a sense of belonging. The campus is home to world-renowned faculty who teach in 230 undergraduate and graduate majors. The faculty provides more than 5,000 courses annually, with two-thirds of undergraduate classes having fewer than 30 students. Community service is also a cornerstone of undergraduate education at UCLA. Students can participate through programmes at the Volunteer Center. It has more than 220 student groups engaged in community service as well as on Volunteer Day. This brings together 8,000 UCLA volunteers annually. It is the 8th of the best psychology universities.
9. London School of Economics and Political Science- United Kingdom
LSE is one of the foremost social science universities in the world. It specialises in a wide range of social science disciplines, including economics, politics, sociology, law and anthropology. It is one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK. It has over 120,000 students in London, and 50,000 studying across 180 countries for an LSE degree. It boasts of associations with 16 Nobel Prize winners and counts 37 past or present world leaders among its alumni. Bertrand Russell received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950, recognising his writing on ‘humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.’
10. Yale University- United States
Yale is a private Ivy League research university which is the third-oldest higher education institution in the US. The primary goal of graduate education in psychology at Yale is the training of researchers, for academic and applied settings. They will broaden and deepen the knowledge base on which the science of psychology rests. The graduate program in the Department of Psychology annually enrols about 15 new PhD students. When applying to the department, each potential graduate student indicates one of five areas of concentration. Each one usually has a “home” in a particular lab. However, it’s possible to collaborate with faculty and students in other labs and participate in programs across traditional areas. Areas such as cognitive, affective and social neuroscience and health sciences. It is the 9th of the best psychology universities.