Masters Degrees (Neuroimmunology)

Neuroscience is a discipline concerned with the scientific study of the nervous system in health and disease. Research in the neurosciences is of considerable clinical impact considering the debilitating and costly effects of neurological and psychiatric disease. In this regard, a major goal of modern neuroscience research is to elucidate the underlying causes (genetic or environmental) of major brain diseases, and to produce more effective treatments for major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease and epilepsy. Improved treatment strategies for brain disorders relies entirely on increased understanding gained from research which integrates molecular, cellular and clinical aspects of disease. In this regard it is clear that interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to understand the complex processes which underlie brain function in health and disease. This interdisciplinary philosophy is adopted in the delivery of our M.Sc. programme in Neuroscience, which is underpinned by the diverse research expertise available within Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN).

Course Content:

This one-year M.Sc. course aims to provide a multidisciplinary training in the neurosciences, in topics ranging from molecular to behavioural. The course is ideal for students wishing to extend their specialised knowledge, and for those wishing to convert from their original degree discipline. The programme will equip participants with the skills necessary to progress into a career in biomedical, pharmaceutical or neuropsychological research. Instruction for the course consists of approximately 200 contact hours over two academic Terms to include lectures, laboratory practical sessions, journal club workshops and student-based seminars. Modules are assessed by a mixture of in course assessment and written examinations.

Specialist modules covered include:

Form and Function of the Nervous System, Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Drug Development, Advanced Neuroimmunology, Experimental Neuroscience, Scientific Literature Skills, Neural Engineering, Neuroimaging Technology, Current Topics in Neuroscience, Cellular Neuroscience, and Research Skills.

The third Term consists of a research project on novel aspects of Neuroscience. Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience is a dynamic research environment with research spanning molecular/cellular neuroscience to clinical/translational neuroscience. Projects across these research areas may be undertaken in consultation with an expert supervisor. For students interested in a project in cellular/molecular neuroscience a range of cellular techniques such as tissue culture, immunocytochemistry, western immunobloting and immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, Immunoassays, flow cytometry, Real-time PCR, and high performance liquid chromatography are available. In addition, some projects will involve assessing behavioural, electrophysiological and neurochemical endpoints using in vivo models of neurological and psychiatric disease. For those with an interest in experimentation on human subjects, projects will be offered utilizing techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurocognitive testing. A selection of national and international projects is also available, which involve collaboration with other academic institutes and pharmaceutical companies, in Ireland, UK and across Europe.

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Students will study at the world-renowned Queen Square, and will be taught by internationally recognised experts in the field. Students have the opportunity to interact freely with our neurologists, and undertake a specialist attachment during the second six months of their programme.

Degree information

Students gain knowledge of the clinical features and scientific basis of the following neurological areas and disorders: nerve and muscle; epilepsy; pain; movement disorders and Parkinson's Disease; neuro-otology and neuro-ophthalmology; stroke; neuropsychiatry and cognition; infections of the nervous system; multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology; autonomic function and neuro-urology; neuro-oncology and ITU neurology.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of six core modules (120 credits) and a research project (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma (full-time six months is offered). There are no optional modules for this programme.

Core modules
-Diseases of the Nervous System: Epilepsy, Pain, Tumours and Infection
-Peripheral Nerve, Muscle and Special Senses
-Motor Systems and Disease
-Higher Functions of the Brain
-Practical Neurology
-Theoretical Neurology

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project, which takes the form of a scientific investigation and culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, clinical teaching (including outpatients, inpatients, workshops, training for history taking and clinical examination and case demonstrations). Assessment is through written examination, MCQ, short case clinical examination, viva voce, continuous assessment and the research dissertation.

Placement
Students are offered the opportunity to undertake a clinical attachment with one or two consultants at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery from April to September each year.

Careers

This programme provides an excellent basis for a clinical or research career in clinical neurology and related disciplines.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Neurology Resident, University of Missouri
-Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHS)
-Doctor, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
-Specialist Registrar in Neurology, Tikrit Teaching Hospital
-Doctor, Government of Cameroon

Employability
For students starting out on their clinical careers the programme will give them skills and experience to move towards specialist training. For more established clinicians it is an opportunity to refresh and refine their clinical practice. All students benefit from exposure to the scientific underpinning of neurology, and the opportunity to undertake an original research project, and a specialist attachment, studying alongside the internationally renowned neurologists at Queen Square.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The mission of the UCL Institute of Neurology is to carry out high-quality research, teaching and training in basic and clinical neurosciences. Together with our associated hospital, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, we form the world-renowned Queen Square and promote the translation of research that is of direct clinical relevance to improved patient care and treatment. Students are given the opportunity to experience the full range of activities of a world-famous specialist hospital.

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Overview

Bridging the gap between medicine and psychology, the course focuses on understanding the behavioural processes around health and sickness. This programme will allow students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for research and practice as a Health Psychologist. The programme covers a wide-range of approaches, from advanced research methods, through to a working and evidence-based knowledge of theory and behaviour change interventions.

Much like our undergraduate programme, this course will adopt a personalised teaching style built on creating relationships between students and staff. All modules use a tutorial style of teaching, in which students are taught weekly in groups of 7 or fewer, allowing for regular quality contact time with your lecturer. It is through this method that students can achieve excellence in their qualification in a supportive environment. 

 Over the course of the programme, you will develop a strong knowledge base and skill-set appropriate for professional practice in Health Psychology. You’ll learn to analyse, debate, discuss and devise behaviour change interventions for use in primary, secondary and community care. We encourage autonomy in design and analysis of research, allowing you to develop your skills towards becoming an independent researcher, with an increased awareness of the practical reality of working with short- and long-term health conditions.

 This is a one year, full-time programme accepting students in both September and January. Alongside the taught modules, there will be opportunities for you to gain practical work experience from our collaborations with Milton Keynes, Stoke Mandeville and Northampton General Hospitals. Taught modules include:

• Health Communications and Context
• Health Promotion and Behaviour Change
• Managing Chronic Illness
• Professional Skills: Health Psychology in Practice
• Physiology, Epidemiology and Neuroimmunology
• Advanced Qualitative Methods
• Advanced Quantitative Methods
• Dissertation in Health Psychology 

All modules are assessed by a combination of two assignments. Assignments differ according to the module requirements, but include a variety of assessment styles over the programme including written examinations, research reports, critical reflections and role plays.

Further information can be found on the University Course Finder: http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/sciences/msc/health-psychology

Psychology at University of Buckingham

At Buckingham (http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/psychology) we pride ourselves on creating a positive learning environment based on a supportive, tutorial style of learning which is unique in the UK. All modules offer weekly, small-group learning in addition to traditional lectures and seminars, which creates unprecedented student-staff contact time and relationships (Top for Student-Staff Ratio in the UK, Top for Student Experience in the UK, Times & Sunday Times, 2017). It is this philosophy which we believe has kept the University at the top of the National Student Survey for over a decade (Top for Student Satisfaction in the UK, National Student Survey 2006-2016).

As a Department and a University we’re rapidly expanding, but strive to maintain the community feel which makes us different to other providers. We put great emphasis on individual attention to students, both academic and pastoral care. If you come to Buckingham you will certainly not get ‘lost in a crowd’, but instead get to know your lecturers and benefit from our passion for high quality teaching (Top for Teaching Quality in the UK, Times & Sunday Times, 2017; TEF Gold, 2017) and thriving research environment.

Centre for Health & Relationship Research

The MSc in Health Psychology sits within the Centre for Health and Relationship Research (CHR). The CHR is a research hub focusing upon research in five core areas: Pain, Social Support, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Spinal Cord Injury, and Health in Vulnerable Populations. The research hub aims to draw together research from clinical and non-clinical populations, based in the Department of Psychology and School of Medicine at the University of Buckingham, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and health and social care-related organisations based in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. 

Find out more here: https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/chr

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