Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc

Data capture and analysis techniques to understand brain-behaviour relationships are continually emerging, creating a need for in-depth knowledge of neuroscience methods and their applications to understand brain function when healthy through cognitive neuroscience, and when disease strikes through clinical neuroscience.

The development of new strategies combined with the availability of large cognitve, neuroimaging and genetic data sets from healthy and clinical populations from different parts of the world have created a need for trained individuals to use these resources for scientific advancement and to improve human health. The Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc has been designed to address this need.

On this course, you will develop a detailed understanding of the historical and contemporary concepts and theories underpinning our current understanding of human brain-behaviour, innovative neuroscience methods and their application to understand brain function, and the core cognitive and affective processes and associated neurology. You will also be equipped with specialised analytical skills that will allow you to assess and interpret neuropsychological function in healthy and clinical populations, and will be able to report research evidence as a result.

Whilst studying either one year full-time or two years part-time, you will be taught by a multidisciplinary team of experts including psychologists, psychophysiologists, neuroimaging researchers and clinical scientists. The academics teaching the course are making advances in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, and will lead with their research so you will receive the most up-to-date knowledge in this field.

You will learn innovative neuroscience methods and gain hands-on experience with our fMRI and MRI scanners to study brain function in health and disease. You will also have opportunities to interact with renowned local, national and international experts in the field through Brunel's research centre, the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN).

Dean’s International Scholarship: This course is eligible for a £2,000 fee waiver, per academic year, subject to availability. This Scholarship is for full-time international students only. Find out more.

The Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc consists of a variety of optional modules alongside a compulsory dissertation. This course has been designed to give the most up-to-date knowledge in neuroscience methods and their applications in the understanding of brain function in health and disease.

This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

Completing this exciting programme will equip you with skills and knowledge that prepare you for a range of PhD opportunities in cognitive and clinical areas of psychology, neuropsychology and neuroscience. It is also good preparation for some other forms of postgraduate training, and students seeking careers in data analysis and certain allied health care professions.

Moreover, the programme equips students with a range of transferable critical thinking, communication and analytic skills relevant to a wide range of employment contexts.

If you have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (e.g. by having completed a BPS accredited undergraduate degree) then this MSc programme could help strengthen an application for further study on BPS accredited practitioner psychologist training programmes.

However, please note that completion of this MSc does not confer GBC. If you are interested in obtaining GBC please consider our accredited MSc Psychological Science (Conversion) programme.

During the MSc you will have access to Brunel's Personal Development Centre where personalised careers advice and practical guidance, e.g. interview skills, can be obtained.

A UK (2:2) Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in the field of Psychology, Neuroscience or related subjects (Biological sciences, Computer Science) as single honours or major components of joint honours degree.

An undergraduate degree in Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, professions allied to Medicine or Biomedical Science (upper second class honours or above) is also considered.

Applicants with other degrees, and/or with relevant work experience, will be considered on an individual basis.

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You will be assessed through coursework essays, written examinations including essays and multiple choice questions, laboratory practical reports, oral and poster presentations, and a research dissertation.