Recognition & Honours
Achievements & Awards
A record of international recognition spanning psychology, political science, diplomacy, and public service — awarded by leading institutions across the United Kingdom and the world.
International Excellence Award in Cross-Cultural Psychology
British Psychological Society — International Division
Awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of cross-cultural psychological assessment and its application in diplomatic and governmental contexts.
Distinguished Scholar Award — Political Psychology
International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP)
Recognised for pioneering interdisciplinary research bridging political science and clinical psychology, with particular focus on governance, trust, and institutional legitimacy.
UN Migration Agency Recognition Certificate
International Organization for Migration (IOM) — Geneva
Formal recognition for exceptional contributions to the psychological welfare of migrant and refugee populations, and for advancing evidence-based immigration policy reform.
Foreign Ministry Commendation for Meritorious Service
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Awarded for exemplary professional conduct, psychological expertise, and dedication to upholding the highest standards of fairness and integrity in visa and immigration assessment.
Best Research Paper — Immigration & Mental Health
European Congress of Psychology, Vienna
First prize for the paper "Depression After Immigration: Psychological Trauma, Identity Loss, and the Path to Recovery" presented at the 17th European Congress of Psychology.
Outstanding Contribution to Multilingual Mental Health Services
Royal College of Psychiatrists — UK
Recognised for developing and delivering culturally adapted psychological services in English, Persian, Turkish, and Armenian, significantly expanding access to mental health support for underserved communities.
International Keynote Speaker of the Year
World Congress of Political Science — Brisbane, Australia
Awarded following a landmark keynote address on the psychological dimensions of political legitimacy and institutional trust, delivered to an audience of over 2,000 scholars from 80 countries.
Academic Excellence Award — Dual Doctorate
University of London — Senate House
Awarded upon the successful completion of two doctoral degrees simultaneously — PhD in Psychology and PhD in Political Science — with distinction in both, an achievement recognised as exceptional by the university senate.
Career in Pictures
A Life Across Disciplines
UK Foreign Ministry · FCDO
Netflix UK · 2009–2013
International Research Conference
University of London · Doctoral Studies
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz · Official Portrait
Official Documentation
Licences & Official Credentials
Licence Holder
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Official Visa Officer · Psychologist
Issuing Authority
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Issued: March 2021
Expires: March 2027
Clearance Level
SC ENHANCED
Registered Practitioner
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Licensed Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Issuing Authority
Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), United Kingdom
Licence No.: 7691
Expires: December 2026
Registration
ACTIVE
Accredited Officer
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Visa Officer Assistant — Multi-Post
Postings
British Consulate Istanbul · British Embassy Tbilisi · British Embassy Yerevan
First Posting: 2018
Promoted to VO: 2021
Authority
FCDO
Fellow
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
FBPsS · International Division
Issuing Authority
British Psychological Society — London
Elected: November 2022
Status
FELLOW
Principal Investigator
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Political Behaviour & Governance Research
Issuing Authority
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), United Kingdom
Issued: June 2020
Expires: June 2027
Status
ACTIVE
Accredited Advisor
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Migration Psychology & Policy Advisory
Issuing Authority
International Organization for Migration — Geneva
Issued: March 2022
Status
RECOGNISED
Psychologist Observer
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Licensed Psychologist · Reg. No. 7691
Role
Psychologist Observer — Community of Embassies, United Kingdom
Capacity: Past & Present
Status
ACTIVE
Psychology Observer
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Content Psychology & Audience Behaviour
Organisation
Netflix UK — London, United Kingdom
Period: 2011 — 2013
Concurrent with
MSc, KCL
Translator & Localisation Specialist
Ayhan Kimsesiz
Persian · Turkish · Armenian
Organisation
Netflix UK — London, United Kingdom
Period: 2009 — 2011
Concurrent with
BA, Edinburgh
Award Recipient
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Excellence in University Teaching — Psychology
Issuing Authority
University of London — Senate House, United Kingdom
Awarded: June 2019
Category
DISTINGUISHED
Senior Fellow
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
SFHEA · Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Issuing Authority
Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy), United Kingdom
Awarded: September 2020
Status
SENIOR FELLOW
Accredited Sexologist
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Clinical Sexology & Human Sexuality Research
Issuing Authority
World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) — Geneva
Issued: April 2021
Expires: April 2027
Status
ACTIVE
Trophy Recipient
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Best Research in Clinical Sexology — 2023
Issuing Authority
European Federation of Sexology (EFS) — Paris Congress
Awarded: October 2023
Category
GOLD TROPHY
Outstanding Educator
Dr. Ayhan Kimsesiz
Department of Psychology — Graduate Teaching
Issuing Authority
King's College London — Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
Awarded: May 2017
Voted by
STUDENTS