Brain and Mind Sciences (MSc)

This international programme is offered by three of Europe's most prestigious centres of research and teaching in cognitive studies and neuroscience: UCL, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, and Ecole Normale Supérieure. Students design an individualised programme of study, exploring multidisciplinary perspectives.

About this degree

Students develop an understanding of the cognitive sciences and neurosciences, and how mechanisms operating at the molecular, cell, network and system level affect normal brain function. They gain a working knowledge of modern methods for scientific and clinical investigation of the human nervous system, along with exposure to leading-edge research.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits in the first year of the programme at UCL.

The programme consists of up to six taught modules (at 15- or 30-credit weighting to a total value of 90 credits) a library project (30 credits) and a research project (60 credits).

Core modules

• Library Project (30 credits)
• Research Project (60 credits)

Optional modules

Students choose up to six modules from the following degrees:

• Clinical Neuroscience MSc
• Neuroscience MSc
• Language Sciences (with specialisation in Neuroscience and Communication) MSc
• Language Sciences (with specialisation in Linguistics with Neuroscience) MSc
• Philosophy MA
• Neuromuscular Diseases MSc
• Cognitive and Decision Sciences MSc
• Cognitive Neuroscience MSc
• Stroke Medicine MSc
• Advanced Neuroimaging MSc
• Dementia: Causes, Treatments and Research (Neuroscience) MSc
• Translational Neurology MRes

Dissertation/report

All students undertake a library project which is assessed by a 5,000-word essay, and a laboratory research project which culminates in a 10,000-word dissertation and oral examination.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Lectures are supported by audio-visual aids and supplementary materials, including hand-outs, reading lists and references to original papers and/or reviews. Assessment is through coursework, examination, library project, research dissertation and oral examination.

Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Brain and Mind Sciences MSc

Careers

Students will graduate with a Master's from UCL, and an international university diploma (Master's level) from UPMC/ENS. Upon successful completion of the two-year joint MSc programme, students will be able to embark upon a successful career in their chosen field of research into the expression of human behaviour and its biological substrate.

Recent career destinations for this degree

• Research Assistant, UCL

Employability

Students will design their own curriculum in both London and Paris, tailoring their studies to their own area of interest. The individualised nature of the programme attracts intellectually mature students who are confident enough to define their own research path. The opportunity to undertake original research in two centres of excellence makes the successful student more attractive to potential PhD supervisors, as evidenced by the fact that 90% of graduating students go on to full-time doctoral studies.

Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

Why study this degree at UCL?

Students on this programme benefit not only from the high-quality teaching and training available through the UCL Institute of Neurology, but also through our partners in Paris.

The programme is two years in length, with the first year spent in London and the second in Paris. Students will undertake two distinct research projects.

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.

The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Neurology

83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)

Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.

Visit the Brain and Mind Sciences (MSc) page on the University College London website for more details!