Overview
On Brunel’s Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc, you’ll build the knowledge and research skills you need to progress to a PhD or careers in healthcare, academia (e.g. academic psychiatry), industry (e.g. pharmaceuticals, health technology) or science communication. You’ll learn from our leading cognitive and clinical neuroscientists in the Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience within the Department of Psychology.
You’ll develop an advanced understanding of how the brain works in both health and disease (e.g. psychosis, dementia). Through hands-on practice and with Brunel’s advanced research facilities in cognitive and clinical neuroscience at your fingertips (EEG, eye tracking, fNIRS, MRI, TMS), you'll build the specialised theoretical and analytical skills that'll allow you to critically assess and contribute to research evidence on the mechanisms underlying human cognition in health and disease.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc consists of a variety of compulsory modules alongside a dissertation. This course has been designed to give you up-to-date knowledge in cognitive and clinical neuroscience and its applications in the understanding of brain function in health and disease.
Compulsory
- PY56_c - Advanced Approaches to Clinical and Cognitive Research
This module aims to develop students’ advanced knowledge of research methodology in clinical psychology and cognitive neuroscience. It focuses on enabling students to critically review, synthesise, and appraise scientific literature, evaluate the methodological quality and ethical integrity of research designs, analytical methods, and data interpretation, and apply approaches including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical study designs, and secondary data analysis. Emphasis is placed on scientific and professional ethics and on the effective communication of research findings to academic, clinical, and lay audiences, in preparation for evidence-based practice and research.
- PY5616 - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Core Topics
This module provides an in-depth knowledge of the core cognitive and affective processes, and the neural networks implicated in these processes, leading to a sound understanding of specific cognitive and brain dysfunctions in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or affective disorders, and to provide an insight into the role of genetics and individual differences in cognitive and brain functions and the continuum theories of psychopathology.
- PY56XX - Neuroscience Methods: Theory and Practice
This module provides students with a detailed insight into the principles, current and possible uses, advantages and disadvantages of the classic, contemporary and new neuroscience techniques [e.g. Electroencephalography (EEG), Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES), Transcranial Magentic Stimulation (TMS), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)] for safely and ethically assessing structures and functions of the living human brain. Students also have the opportunity to develop advanced skills to use a range of neuroscience techniques to assess brain structures and functions and analyse and interpret data. Alongside this, this module builds an in-depth knowledge of human brain neuroanatomy and physiology.
- PY5635 - Cognitive Psychopharmacology and Addiction
This module provides students with an understanding of major neurotransmitter systems in the human brain, an insight into cognitive enhancement using pharmacological agents and an in-depth critical overview of the theories of addiction and the bio-behavioural effects of chronic drug abuse.
- PY5636 - Cognitive Rehabilitation and Plasticity
This module will provide students with insight into cognitive enhancement in normal and atypical populations using psychological interventions. Students will explore the environmental and lifestyle factors that may promote, or have adverse effects on, brain functions, as well as the current / potential psychological interventions to promote neuroplasticity in health and disease.
- PY5617 - Dissertation in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
The Dissertation Module provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to integrate conceptual, theoretical and practical issues within their chosen subject. It allows students to undertake an in-depth research study in an area relevant to the degree.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
This programme will equip you with the research skills and knowledge needed for progression to a PhD. It is also good preparation for careers in fields such as basic and clinical neuroscience, data science, science communication, academic psychiatry, psychology consultancy, industry (e.g. pharmaceuticals, health technology), and related health care professions.
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 also 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.
UK entry requirements
2026/7 entry
A UK (2:2) Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in the field of Psychology, Neuroscience or related subjects (Biological sciences, Computer Science, Medicine) as single honours or major components of joint honours degree.
An undergraduate degree in Nursing, Pharmacy, professions allied to Medicine or Biomedical Science (2:1 or above) is also considered.
Applicants with other degrees, and/or with relevant work experience, will be considered on an individual basis.
International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 5 (min 4.5 in all subscores)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2026/27 entry
UK
£13,280 full-time
£6,640 part-time
International
£22,320 full-time
£11,160 part-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Teaching combines structured academic input with hands-on, applied learning, using a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
The Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc is taught by a team of interdisciplinary academics including psychologists, psychophysiologists, neuroimaging researchers and clinical scientists, all of whom are heavily involved in research.
Teaching is carried out through a series of lectures, seminars, group discussions, practical workshops and lab classes, as well as guided independent study. Research skills will be developed through one-to-one supervised work on a dissertation project.
Additional practical skills in the use of neuroscience modalities and research will be developed through lab classes, web-based materials, and self-directed learning.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
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.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.