Psychology Undergraduate Summer Research Project

In this six-week course you will work with University academics to complete an independent research project in Psychology. Guided by your supervisor, you will be carrying out studies and running statistical analyses to support your research. You will learn new practical skills and techniques, and gain experience of analysing data. You will also attend weekly research seminars, developing your research skills and knowledge, and immersing yourself in the International Summer School research community. 

Your project will see you using University’s outstanding facilities, as well as working with our world-class academic staff. You will work closely with your supervisor to produce a scientific report and give an oral presentation of your work to your peers. 

To begin with, you will prepare a summary of the known literature around your project in collaboration with your supervisor. You will get to know, analyse and evaluate the literature related to your project, and develop the skills required to carry out research in your specialist area.    

Please note: Places on this course are limited and applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis. If demand dictates, we will open a waiting list for this course. You will be required to indicate your top research project choice on your application. For more information, please contact us: internationalsummerschools@glasgow.ac.uk. 


If you are a student from our one of our partner institutions, please do not apply via this webpage. 

2024 Research Projects

Project 1: Enhancing Learning and Memory using Virtual Reality

Supervisors: Dr. Jamie Murray & Dr. Judith Jackson

Project Summary: Although Virtual Reality (VR) is a promising tool for the investigation of memory, to date there has been relatively little examination of how learning mechanisms operate in VR and how these processes might compare (contrast) with learning that occurs in real life. Existing literature on this topic is spread across multiple disciplines and uses various distinct apparatuses, potentially obscuring differences that may exist between studies that could be caused by genuine theoretical discrepancies or could be simply explained by accounting for methodological variation. In this project, we will look at how VR teaching lessons influences memory via manipulation of social agency and social presence. The results will shed light on the most effective use of VR to enhance memory with a particular focus on learning in an educational setting.


Project 2: NEURO-EDU: Exploring Neurodiversity and Perceptual Differences: A Holistic Approach to Immersive Education

Supervisor: Dr. Sarune Savickaite

Project Summary: The research projects available will explore intricate intersections of neurodiversity, perceptual differences, and cutting-edge educational methodologies. There is scope to focus on different neuropsychological conditions including autism, ADHD, synaesthesia, aphantasia, or alexythimia. Our aim will be to understand how individual minds uniquely perceive and process information with the potential to integrate cutting-edge technologies including EEG, ECG, robotics, and eye tracking. The goal is to use mixed methods approaches to uncover innovative strategies and technologies that will advance teaching methods and support neurodiverse learners in their educational journey.

What you will learn

This course aims to provide an opportunity to undertake a research project and present the results both in the form of a research article and as an oral presentation.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Prepare a preliminary list of goals to be achieved during the project in collaboration with the project supervisor
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the literature related to the research project
  • Demonstrate research skills appropriate to the area of specialisation
  • Deliver a short talk, giving the background to the project and summarising its key outcomes
  • Write a cogent, clear and concise written report summarising your findings and/or the state of research in your chosen field.

Teaching pattern

Project supervision meetings, practical workshops, and weekly seminars as part of the wider Summer School research community. This course is full time for 6 weeks.

Entry requirements

  • GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent). 
  • You should be currently enrolled at an international higher education institution.
  • You should be a Psychology or Science major or minor and have completed level 1 statistics.
  • Experience of working with statistics is essential and of using R Studio is desirable.

​Students should ideally have completed second year of their Undergraduate Degree. Students having completed their first year may be considered for entry, this will be at the course convenors discretion. 

These projects will utilise data analysis using R Studio programming. Previous experience of R Studio is desirable but not necessary and the practical classes component of the method will introduce students to data wrangling and analysis using this software.

If your first language is not English, you must meet our minimum proficiency level:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) overall score of 6.0, with no sub test less than 5.5  (if English is not an applicant’s first language) and a GPA of not less than 3.0
  • We also accept equivalent scores in other recognised qualifications such as ibTOEFL, CAE, CPE and more.