School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
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?
The School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking a long history of excellence in psychology and related disciplines. We are proud to be part of this longstanding tradition at the University of Reading Malaysia as we continue to nurture the next generation of psychology students. To learn more about the Centenary, please visit: https://www.reading.ac.uk/pcls/centenary
Accreditation & Quality Assurance
Psychology at the University of Reading is ranked top 151-175 in the world (THE, 2025). 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) upon graduation.
The programme has also received three commendations following the recent BPS audit in 2026 for incorporating social and cultural values relevant to the Malaysian context, fostering a diverse community of students and staff, and promoting personalised feedback to support student achievement.
Our 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).
Our Academic Team
Our faculty have a wealth of international experience and all are committed to giving students the best possible learning experience.
Dr Kinjal Doshi
Professor of Psychology | Head of Section
Dr Vashnarekha Kumarasuriar
Lecturer In Psychology and Placement Lead
Dr Shumetha Sidhu
Lecturer in Psychology
Dr. Chong Kai Hao
Lecturer in Psychology | UG Programme Lead; Admission Tutor
Dr Tai Yan Shan
Lecturer in Psychology | Research Ethics Lead; Community Outreach and Professional Engagement Deputy Lead
Anasakina Ismail
Lecturer in Psychology | Outreach & Professional Engagement
Juliana Hoo Ju Yun
PhD in Psychology Student
Lua Li Fun
PhD in Psychology Student
Sandhya N. Sathesh
PhD in Psychology Student
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:
- Welcome back and year-end parties
- PsychScope: A Career Talk Series - "a career talk series aimed at connecting our psychology students with industry professionals"
- PCLS Research Coffee Session
- Student Conferences (MAPSA)
- 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:
- Distinguished Student Excellence Award / DSEA Award (This premier award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional holistic excellence and have made meaningful contributions beyond academic performance): Hoo Zi Yin
- Award for Student Career Engagement and Development / ASCEND Award (This award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional engagement in career and professional development activities): Tong Xin Hui, Esha Vernice Raja Kumar, Thomas Tan Zi Zheng
- Research Excellence and Achievement Honor / REACH Award (This award celebrates students who show outstanding commitment to research activities): Esha Vernice Raja Kumar, Thomas Tan Zi Zheng
Selected Publications
Mahirah, D., Ho, Y. C. L., Chia, Z. H., Chew, M. S. L., Koh, X. H., Lim, J. J., ... & Doshi, K. (2026, March). Archetypes of Family Health Climates for Nutrition and Physical Activity Among Families in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study. In Healthcare (Vol. 14, No. 5, p. 669). MDPI.
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
Ng, X. H., Chu, J., & Doshi, K. (2025). A PERMA-nent solution to understanding psychological wellbeing? Exploring the utility of the PERMA model in a university workplace. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1598910.
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
Kumarasuriar, V., Khor, K.L., Tan, K.W., Ooi, P.B., & Chia, Y.C. (2026). The beneficial effects of nuts on depression and anxiety: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Nutrire 51, 57 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-026-00458-3
Lua, L. F., Kong, X. N., Lee, J. K., & Sidhu, S. K. (2026). The sound of fear: how horror soundtracks shape threat perception of emotional faces. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 17470218261447279. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218261447279
Hoo, J. J. Y., Sidhu, S., & Tan, K. W. (2026). Sensing nature in the city: The role of sight and sound in restorative tropical urban green spaces. Plos one, 21(6), e0351647. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0351647
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
