Overview of the Department
Our History
Psychology has a rich history at the University of Cambridge, spanning more than a century of pioneering research and teaching.
The discipline’s foundations were established in 1897, when William H. R. Rivers was appointed University Lecturer in Physiological and Experimental Psychology. Although James Ward had proposed the creation of a psychophysics laboratory as early as the 1870s, it was not until 1912 that a purpose-built Psychological Laboratory opened on the Downing Site in the heart of Cambridge. Since then, the Laboratory has remained a centre for research and teaching in experimental psychology.
A significant milestone came on 1 August 2012, when the Department of Experimental Psychology merged with the Division of Social and Developmental Psychology and the Centre for Family Research to form a unified Department of Psychology within the School of the Biological Sciences. This merger brought together expertise across a broad range of disciplines, creating new opportunities for collaboration and strengthening connections between social and developmental psychology, experimental psychology, neuroscience and biology.
Today, the Department builds on this distinguished history, bringing together diverse perspectives to advance our understanding of the mind, brain and behaviour.
About the Department
The Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge is committed to excellence in research and teaching, advancing our understanding of the mind, brain and behaviour through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
Our research is internationally recognised for its quality and impact. In the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Cambridge was placed first in the world for Psychology, and in the last REF 2021, 93% of Cambridge’s research submissions in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience were rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
Our researchers work across disciplinary boundaries, making significant contributions to psychological science and translating discoveries into practical applications that benefit society.
Study Psychology at Cambridge
Students can study psychology through two undergraduate courses:
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) Tripos or Natural Sciences Tripos. Both courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Our Location
The Department of Psychology is located on two sites in central Cambridge, Downing Site and New Museums Site. The administrative hub of the Department is housed in the Psychological Laboratory on the Downing Site.
The Head of the Department is Professor Jeff Dalley.