Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but you must have already been accepted for your PhD and 1-plus-3 studentship before you make your application to the Cognitive Neuroscience MSc/MRes. Please speak to your PhD supervisor if you would like more information regarding this.

Yes. We ask that your undergraduate degree is in a relevant subject, however, including but not limited to: Linguistics, Speech Science, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Anatomy, Cognitive Science or Physiology.

We are unlikely to accept degrees in unrelated subjects such as Drama, History, Art, Religion, Geography, Archaeology, Space Sciences or Pure Mathematics.

You should be aware that cognitive neuroscience is an experimental science and without a basic scientific grounding (e.g. statistics, experimental design) you are likely to be at a disadvantage. You will need to be able to demonstrate competence in these areas (e.g. by taking a top-up course) and a clear commitment to the subject (e.g. to have already undertaken wide reading). You need to have the ability, knowledge and skills to successfully complete the MSc.

If you are unsure whether your degree is relevant then please do enquire at cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk

Yes. It is possible to enter with a professional qualification that is equivalent to an upper second-class undergraduate degree (e.g. three years relevant experience in a medical, neuroimaging, or neuropsychological profession, with the ability to demonstrate the ability, knowledge and skills to successfully complete the MSc).

Yes, we welcome overseas applicants. Please visit our International Students page to browse or search information regarding this.

Please select your country and you will find tailored advice about your qualifications.

The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience is a working research institute comprising mainly of testing rooms and offices. Regrettably we cannot provide tours. We welcome any questions you may have, however, via email (cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk) or telephone (020 7679 4754). If you would like to discuss topics such as accessibility and disability, it may be possible to arrange a meeting with the Teaching Administrator.

You can of course visit other areas of UCL, please see our page on Open Days, Visits and Tours for more information.

Once you have received an offer for a place on the MSc/MRes programme and would like to discuss whether to take up your offer, it may be possible to arrange a meeting with the Programme Director or Teaching Administrator depending on the nature of your queries. Please contact cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk to arrange this.

Please note that this will not include a tour of the Institute as the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience is a working research institute comprising mainly of testing rooms and offices.

You can of course visit other areas of UCL please see our page on Open Days, Visits and Tours for more information.

Yes. If your application is successful, you will receive a provisional offer with the condition that you achieve at least a 2.1 or equivalent degree classification. In your application, you will need to show that you are currently at a 2.1 or equivalent level (for example via your second year transcript). If you expect to get a 2.1 or equivalent degree classification, but your latest transcript does not show that you are currently at this level, you should apply after you have been awarded your final degree classification.

We are unable to check individual applications. There is a lot of information and guidance about the application process online for you to view. We are unable to comment on specific students or documents in the light of the volume of applications we receive and to ensure that no one is at a disadvantage.

The MSc and MRes Cognitive Neuroscience are competitive programmes which usually receive more applications than there are spaces, so even if you fulfil the entry requirements you are not guaranteed a place. However, this should not deter you from applying. We are always happy to receive applications from those interested in the programmes and do encourage you to apply if you meet the minimum entry criteria.

Once you have submitted your application to UCL, the UCL Admissions Department will check that you meet the minimum entry standard. Your application will then be forwarded to the Admissions Tutors at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, who will evaluate your application. Because we receive more applications than we have places on the programmes, the Admissions Tutors evaluate applications once a sufficient number has been received. This happens on a regular basis, usually starting around February of the year in which you apply to enrol.

You will be informed about the outcome of your application as soon as possible, but this may take some time depending on the strength of your application and when applications are evaluated. Applications are not evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. You may receive an automated reply from UCL Admissions indicating you will hear about the outcome of your application within six weeks, but this does not apply for the Cognitive Neuroscience programmes. If you need an urgent decision on your application (for example because of a funding application) or would like to know the status of your application, please email cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk

An MSc is a Taught Masters and an MRes is a Master of Research.

Students on the MSc study more taught modules and do a smaller research project while MRes students study fewer taught modules and do a larger project. You should decide how you want to learn about cognitive neuroscience. If you want to learn primarily via taught sessions in a classroom, the MSc may be more suitable for you. If, instead, you want to learn by being immersed in active research, the MRes may be a better choice. We expect MRes students to be able to engage in cognitive neuroscience research relatively independently and you are expected to have the relevant skills and experiences to accomplish this. Please note that the MRes programme is not designed to teach you how to do research.

In the first stage the UCL Admissions Department will reject all applications which do not meet the minimum entry criteria. Then the ICN Admissions Tutors look at all aspects of an application, including the type and quality of an applicant's degree, past research experience, performance on taught modules relevant for this programme, the quality of the Personal Statement, and the applicants' references and career plans. In combination, your application was not as strong as some of the others we received and we therefore, regrettably, could not offer you a place on the programme.

We cannot offer any specific feedback but you are of course welcome to reapply for the next year when you may be able to improve on some of the above criteria.

Yes, the minimum entry requirement is a 2.1 degree or equivalent.

Yes, we encourage you to apply to the MSc. Applicants to the MRes programme are expected to have some prior research experience and clear research interests. 

Brexit is the name coined for the UK leaving the European Union. The European Union is a large multinational organisation which operates a single market which allows free movement of goods, capital, services and people between member states as well as creating laws for the member states.

UCL is strongly committed to supporting students from all over the world, including the European Union. If you would like to view the most up-to-date information about Brexit and UCL, please see the relevant UCL statement (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/eu-referendum). 

No. Unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. you have a studentship with date restrictions), we do not allow deferrals for the MSc and MRes Cognitive Neuroscience. You must apply for the intake you wish to join.

Please see the UCL postgraduate funding page as well as the UKCISA page. Unfortunately the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience does not have any funding to help you with the education fees. 

Please email cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk with your request.

The programme follow the UCL academic year.

The application deadline for the 2022/23 cohort is 31 March 2022. It is possible all places on the programme will have been allocated before then, however, and you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as you can. You are not more or less likely to get a place on the programme depending on when you submit your application, however (see “When will I know if I have been accepted?” question above). 

You need to be sufficiently proficient in the English language to complete the MSc, please refer to the UCL English language requirements.

MSc applicants do not need to enclose a specific project proposal with their application. On the application form, you need to describe your academic and research interests and reasons for applying. In addition, we require the completion of a personal statement. See the how to apply section for details.

You can follow the MSc programme as a part-time student over two years. We regret that the MRes programme is only available in full-time mode of study. It normally takes one year to complete the programme.

Interviews are not part of the usual selection process but we may occasionally contact an applicant for further information.

The programme is generally suitable for students with disabilities. Some of the teaching will be done in laboratories that contain neuroimaging equipment (e.g. MRI scanner, EEG/MEG recording facilities). Depending on the nature of the disability, access to this equipment may not be possible due to space constraints, presence of strong magnetic fields, or the location of the laboratories. Every effort will be made to enable access and reasonable adjustments will be made if possible. If you are interested in the programme, feel free to contact us or the UCL Student Disability Services.

The programme is taught in central London, at UCL. Most of the teaching takes place at the ICN. The taught modules will be taught during UCL term times. Some of the work, especially the research project, will have to be completed outside of term times.

The taught modules and research project are mandatory. The taught modules take place during regular term times in central London, at UCL. In addition, you will need to be able to spend considerable time in London to meet with the supervisor of your research project and fulfil other aspects of the project (e.g. data collection).

Full-time students take eight taught modules over one year. Four of these run in the first, and four in the second, term. Any examinations will be held during and/or at the end of each term. The rest of the academic year will be spent on the research project. Students should decide on a project during the first term, set up the experiment in the second term, and conduct the research during the third term, in which there is no time-tabled teaching. Students submit their dissertation at the end of the academic year.

The taught modules will be assessed with a combination of written reports, essays, and an unseen written exam. See the overview of the taught modules for details. The project will be assessed with a written dissertation. Informally, you will be given the opportunity to develop your presentation and other general skills.

The programme is not a clinically accredited programme. However, if you plan to go on to a clinical psychology training programme, completing the MSc may help your application as you will be able to demonstrate that you can engage in scientific research. You can also endeavour to find a clinically-oriented research project.

You will get experience with fMRI. We will try to organize practical demonstrations to see neuroimaging equipment in action and you will learn how to analyze and interpret neuroimaging data. Your research project may also involve fMRI.

You will be given an introduction into Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) and will receive demonstrations of analyzing neuroimaging data with SPM.

No. The nature of the projects varies widely. Students will be given a description of the research interests of lecturers who are willing to supervise projects and an outline of possible projects. Students are also encouraged to generate their own ideas and approach lecturers to find a supervisor. Which project you will do depends on a number of factors, such as your own efforts, the timing of your project, availability of supervisors and equipment, and so on. 

No. We will help you with this process. MSc students will be given a description of the research interests of lecturers who are willing to supervise projects and an outline of possible projects. Students are also encouraged to generate their own ideas and approach lecturers to find a supervisor.

Many students on the programme will go on to pursue PhDs and research careers in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychology. The programme also provides a basis for the application of this research in applied settings in a range of areas including marketing, teaching, and consultancy. Other students have been successful in obtaining Assistant Psychologist positions, with a view to gaining entry onto a clinical training programme.

Please email cogneuro_admin@ucl.ac.uk if you are unsure of who to email or have questions not covered on the website. If we cannot answer your query we will find out who can.