MSc Cognitive Neuroscience

Mode of delivery: Full time or part time, on campus, (distance learning not available)

Teaching days: Usually Mondays and Wednesdays

Duration: 1 year full time or 2 years part time

Intake: Approximately 15 students per year

Entry requirements:

• We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications, experience, references and motivation.
  
• Applicants should hold a good honours degree (usually 2:1 or above) from a recognised university in psychology or a related field such as biology.
• Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. English language test requirements may be waived where students’ undergraduate degree was studied in an English speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements.
• The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.
  

Start dates: September (September 2018 for international, EU students and for UK students).

How to apply:

• Apply here
  
• The application deadline for UK / EU students is 31st August 2018.
• The application deadline for international students is 1st August 2018.
• If you are applying close to the deadline, please ensure you have all supporting documentation ready for the application. If the deadline has passed, we may still be able to consider you, so please contact us.

For 2017 entry:

• UK/EU students: £7,500
• International students: £17,200

• This course is unique through its dual emphasis on specialist training in the area Cognitive Neuroscience, as well as on generic, transferable research skills for career and professional development.

  Hear from Dr Nathan Ridout as he explains some of the main features of the course.

  You will study specialist modules in Cognitive Neuroscience that combine theory and practice in paired sessions consisting of a lecture and an associated research practical.

  The course is based on a core curriculum of six taught modules and a research dissertation. The taught modules provide a detailed and critical understanding of contemporary research and analysis methods used in Cognitive Neuroscience, as well as generic professional development and research-related communication skills.

  You will acquire comprehensive research experience from working with researchers of international standing. The course is especially recommended to graduates who want to:

  • Specialise in the area of Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Continue to do a PhD, or get a feel for research before embarking on a PhD
  • Enhance their CV by a research-related Masters qualification

  Modules and content:

  • Introduction into Cognitive Neuroscience: Neuroanatomy; inferring mental states from physiological signals; classical paradigms of cognitive psychology; methods in ageing research; organisational cognitive neuroscience; visual processing; attention; the neuropsychology of memory and visual cognition; the biology of mood disorders; auditory grouping; Autism Spectrum Disorder and the brain; the embodied brain; genes, brains and cognition.
  • Mini-project in Cognitive Neuroscience: Literature review and critical reading; developing a research question; designing an appropriate experimental protocol; E-Prime programming; data collection and analysis; report writing.
  • Advanced Statistical Analysis: Use of SPSS; choosing the correct statistical test; data screening; non-parametric statistics; ANOVA; ANCOVA; multiple regression; factor analysis; structural equation modelling.
  • Advanced Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience: Principles of Neuropsychological assessment; principles and analysis of TMS; fMRI: basic physics and physiology, acquisition & safety, data analysis; principles of psychophysics; eye tracking.
  • Advanced EEG and MEG Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience: Physics and Physiology of EEG/MEG; EEG/ERP data collection and analysis; EEG/MEG time frequency analysis.
  • Communication skills in Research / Professional Development: Navigation and management of the scientific literature; research ethics and risk assessment; communication of research findings, with particular emphasis on conference submissions and report writing.
  • Research Dissertation: The dissertation project forms the major practical component of the course and provides further experience and training in academic research. This is an opportunity to work with internationally renowned academics and it is possible to choose your own project from a wide range of exciting topics in this area. You will work under supervision of an experienced member of staff. As much as possible we will attempt to match students to supervisors with whom they share research interests.