STUDY PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF READING MALAYSIA
With over 100 years of teaching and research, we’re at the forefront of psychology education. Psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviour—from how the brain works to how groups shape our actions. Explore how you can make a real difference with a degree in psychology.
Ready to explore the human mind with us?
GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Top 151–175 in the world for Psychology (THE 2025, by subject).
ACCREDITATION & QUALITY ASSURANCE
Our degrees in Malaysia mirror the UK campus and follow the same curriculum and standards, taught by highly qualified faculty.
The BSc Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) on graduation.
Programmes are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Teaching and learning are aligned with the UK quality framework overseen by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
- BSc Psychology(R/0313/6/0011)(07/2025)(MQA/FA6235)
- BSc Psychology with Professional Placement(N/0313/6/0025)(03/2028)(MQA/PA14287)
- PhD in Psychology(R/311/8/0080)(02/2028)(MQA/FA8065)
OUR ACADEMIC TEAM
Our faculty have a wealth of international experience and all are committed to giving students the best possible learning experience.
Prof. Dr Kinjal Doshi | Head of Psychology
Professor Dr. Kinjal Doshi joined us in September 2024 as the Head of Section for the School of Psychology, University of Reading Malaysia. She can be reached as
Dr Tan Kok Wei | Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Tan Kok Wei obtained his PhD in Psychology from the University of Nottingham in 2016, where he studied how supplementation of fruit and vegetables influences skin colour and texture – which subsequently has an impact on apparent health judgment in Asian facesRead More...
Vashnarekha Kumarasuriar | Lecturer In Psychology and Psychology Programme Lead
Vashnarekha Kumarasuriar graduated with an Honours degree in Psychology from University of Queensland, Australia, and obtained her Masters in Counselling from the University of South Australia in 2005. Rekha has more than 15 years of experience teaching Psychology Read More...
Dr Shumetha Kaur Sidhu | Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Shumetha Sidhu received her PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2020. Her thesis was in the field of human visual perception, specifically investigating the mechanisms of figure-ground segregation of orientation-based texture stimuli. She uses psychophysical paradigms, Read More...
Dr Jasmine Lee Kar Wye | Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Jasmine Lee received her PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2023. Her thesis was in the field of face recognition, specifically exploring the cognitive mechanisms (i.e., perception & attention) involved in self-face recognition. She used eye-tracking techniques and behavioral experimental paradigms Read More...
Dr Chong Kai Hao | Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Chong Kai Hao did his PhD studies at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, specialising in language sciences, social, and educational psychology. His work focuses on examining the sociolinguistic aspects of learning a second language and applying these in a classroom context. Read More...
Wong Yi Shan | PhD in Psychology Student
Yishan graduated with BSc (Hons) Psychology from the University of Nottingham and obtained her MSc in Psychological Medicine from University Putra Malaysia in 2020. Read More...
Juliana Hoo Ju Yun | PhD in Psychology Student
Juliana graduated with an Honours Degree in Psychology from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in 2023. Her current research interests are in cognition and perception, specifically exploring how nature exposure has an impact on cognition and affect.Read More...FACILITIES & RESOURCES
Psychology students at the University of Reading Malaysia have access to advanced research equipment on a modern, IT-enabled campus in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri. Teaching and student spaces—classrooms, lecture theatre, Learning Resource Centre, and social areas—sit conveniently under one roof. We also provide access to a range of widely used psychological assessment tools, such as the NEO PI-R and Wechsler scales.
Brain Behaviour Research Unit (BBRU) – Equipped with EEG, eye-tracking, and specialist labs for cutting-edge student projects:
• ActiCHamp EEG system
• Two Tobii eye-trackers
• Observational facilities
• Photographic studio
• Testing booths for computer-based experiments
RESEARCH EXPERTISE
Our staff are active researchers across multiple areas of psychology, collaborating with colleagues in the UK and across Malaysia, and supervising PhD students in their expertise.
Undergraduates engage with real research through:
• Study participation and research placements
• A supervised final-year research project
Areas of expertise include:
• Clinical Psychology (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
• Digital Technology and Psychological Science
• Cognition and nutrition
• Applied educational psychology
• Visual and face perception
EVENTS
Our staff and students are active both academically and socially. See yearly events within the School and beyond:
1. Welcome back and year-end parties
2. PsychScope: A Career Talk Series - "a career talk series aimed at connecting our psychology students with industry professionals"
3. PCLS Research Coffee Session
4. Student Conferences (MAPSA)
5. Psychiatric Hospital Visit
Upcoming Events (in collaboration with Psychology Student Society):
• ACE Volunteering Project – Collaboration with university students to educate and empower refugee learners
• Mental Health Awareness Week
AWARDS
Each year, our students and staff receive recognition from the School, the University, and the wider community. The recent award recipients in 2025 are as follows:
• Philip Smith Award (for best dissertation): Kong Xuan Nee
• Distinguished Student Excellence Award / DSEA Award (This premier award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional holistic excellence and have made meaningful contributions beyond academic performance): Wong Weng Xuan
• Award for Student Career Engagement and Development / ASCEND Award (This award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional engagement in career and
professional development activities): Fatima Noor
• Research Excellence and Achievement Honor / REACH Award (This award celebrates students who show outstanding commitment to research activities): Chang Ying Xuan
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
Chew, M. S. L., Mahirah, D., Ho, Y. C. L., & Doshi, K. (2025). Family resilience influences on individual physical activity, diet and sleep quality: Family health climate and biobehavioural reactivity as driving mediators. PLoS One, 20(5), e0322612. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322612
Chong, K. H., Price, J., Irwin, D., Dowens, M. G., & Leong, C. X. R. (2025). Language anxiety in EFL and ESL academic environments. Asian Englishes, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13488678.2025.2548997
Khor, K.L., Kumarasuriar, V., Tan, K.W., Ooi, P.B., & Chia, Y.C. (2024). Effects of fruit and vegetable intake on memory and attention: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Systematic Reviews, 13, 151. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02547-8
Lee, J. K., Janssen, S. M., & Estudillo, A. J. (2024). No modulation effects of depressive traits on the self-face advantage. Personality and Individual Differences, 220, 112524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112524
Sidhu, S. K., Allen, H. A., & Keeble, D. R. (2023). Eye movements are made to the centre of gravity of texture-defined targets. Vision Research, 210, 108264.
RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS
We offer internship opportunities to registered psychology students, with priority to students from partner institutions like James Cook University Singapore (JCU).
Typical period: June–September (applications for other times may be considered).
Applicants are encouraged to review staff profiles before applying. Please email to your interested supervisors with:
• A one-page CV
• A brief note on areas of interest and availability
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