Why study Neuroscience at University College London?

Outstanding research opportunities
University College London (UCL) offers unrivalled opportunities for PhD research in all aspects of neuroscience. Specimen PhD projects are given below: the subjects studied range from the molecular biology of neuronal proteins, through cellular neuroscience, to the behaviour of sensory and motor systems and brain imaging. Neuroscience research is carried out in all of the College's biomedical departments, by researchers who are among the leaders of their fields, using the most modern techniques to address important problems of basic and clinical neuroscience. Research labs are well funded, so that PhD students have the best chance of getting off to a productive start in their research. UCL produces the highest quality neuroscience research of any university in the country. For the field neuroscience it generates 30% of England’s contribution to the world’s most highly cited publications (source: WORKING PAPER - BACKGROUND PAPER FOR NIHR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTRE APPLICATIONS(pdf file) from the Dept of Health), more than twice as much as either Cambridge or Oxford, and in the sub-field of neuroimaging UCL and its hospitals produce 65% of England’s contribution to the world’s highly cited papers which is more than 4-fold larger than either of the runners up (Oxford and Kings College London). Accordingly it is an outstanding place to train the next generation of neuroscience researchers.

Cultural and social opportunities provided by London
UCL is located in Bloomsbury, close to the entertainment areas of the West End and South Bank which offer an enormous range of music, art, theatre and film, and a vast number of restaurants and bars. London is extremely socially diverse: most PhD students rapidly establish a thriving social life.

Why choose to study Neuroscience in the 4 year Programme?

Because the 4 year Programme provides a better training, equipping students with the experimental and theoretical techniques needed to do outstanding research in their future career (see link below to How well do the students in the programme do scientifically?).

Deficiencies of 3 year PhDs
Conventional 3 year PhDs involve a student working with a supervisor who they often have little knowledge of before they start, on a project which they have little prior understanding of. The resulting training can be rather narrow (limited to learning the techniques offered by that one lab), and students sometimes select supervisors or projects which are not best suited to them.

Structure of the 4 year programme

Value of the first year
The four year programme provides a broader and deeper research training in neuroscience, and allows students to make a more informed choice of supervisor and project. This is achieved by having an initial training year in which the students attend some specialized courses, and do three brief (3 month) research projects in different labs. Out of the three broad subject areas of Molecular Neuroscience, Cellular Neuroscience and Systems Neuroscience & Imaging, students will choose laboratories from at least two areas, in order to maintain a broad expertise across neuroscience in the first year. By working in different labs, the students will have the opportunity to acquire a broader range of experimental and theoretical techniques, and to try out supervisors with whom they may wish to do research for the PhD.

The 3 PhD years
After their first year, students will work in one lab doing research for the PhD (this might be one of the labs they worked in during the first year, or a different lab). During the PhD students will be encouraged to attend advanced training courses in the USA and Europe.

Pastoral care
Throughout the 4 years, the student's progress will be monitored and assessed by a committee responsible for the training provided. Students will be integrated into the community of neuroscience researchers at UCL by participation in journal clubs and social events. Career advice will be given in the last year to prepare the student for their post doctoral career.

The 4 year PhD Committee
The committee currently comprises David Attwell, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Patricia Salinas and Alasdair Gibb, and students can approach any of the committee members for advice and guidance when needed.

Want to read about students' experiences on the 4 year programme? - they are described in Trends in Neurosciences (July 2000) Vol 23, pages 280-283

Structure of the 1st year

Frequently Asked Questions

How to apply and what studentships are available?

How well do the students in the programme do scientifically?

The pictures at the top of this page

How to apply and what studentships are available?

The next intake of students will be in September 2010. Students will spend the first year learning a wide range of neuroscience techniques by doing 3 month projects in different laboratories, before choosing a full research project and supervisor for the subsequent 3 years. Projects available cover the whole range of neuroscience, from molecular biology through cellular mechanisms to systems neuroscience and imaging.

Up to five PhD studentships, with a stipend starting at £20,897, will be available. These also pay fees at the EC rate, research costs to the laboratory and provide funds for travel to conferences or courses. Applicants should have, or expect to get, at least an upper 2nd class degree in any area of Biological or Physical Sciences (the course allows conversion to neuroscience from a physical sciences background). Non-UK applicants may apply, and receive the normal stipend etc., except that fees will only be paid at the EC rate (see FAQ for more details)

Further information is available from the list of Frequently Asked Questions or (only after looking there) from Prof. David Attwell, Dept. Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower St., London, WC1E 6BT. Tel: (020) 7679 7342; Fax: (020) 7916 7968; E-mail D.Attwell@ucl.ac.uk. To apply, send a CV and statement of why you are interested, and in addition arrange for two referees to send references on you, to: Prof David Attwell, Dept. Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, Gower St., London, WC1E 6BT, England. Applications can also be sent by e-mail to D.Attwell@ucl.ac.uk 

The deadline for receiving applications and references is January 14th, 2010.

Please note that you must activate your referees to send their references; we don't do that for you.