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Brain and Mind Sciences MSc

London, Bloomsbury

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 (part of Sorbonne University), and Ecole Normale Supérieure. Students design an individualised programme of study, exploring multidisciplinary perspectives.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2022/23)
£16,500
Overseas tuition fees (2022/23)
£32,100
Duration
1 academic year
Programme starts
September 2022
Applications accepted
All applicants: 18 Oct 2021 – 31 Mar 2022

Applications closed

Notification

Application closes at 17:00 GMT.

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or related biological science (e.g. physiology, psychology, biochemistry); or a medical degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. If you have not studied basic cellular neuroscience in your undergraduate degree, you will be required to do an introductory module during the first year of studies at UCL.

Applicants must be able to follow a postgraduate curriculum in both the French and English languages as the programme involves a year of study in London and a year of study in Paris.

Please note: You must have successfully completed the UCL year (year one) in order to progress to year two in Paris.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

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.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who will benefit from a personalised programme of study and research in the neurosciences and cognitive science disciplines relevant to a career in brain and mind sciences. All students will be rigorously selected on the basis of academic excellence and academic recommendation.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Students on this programme benefit not only from the high-quality teaching and training available through the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology (QSIoN), but also through our partners in Paris, at Université Pierre et Marie Curie (part of Sorbonne University), and Ecole Normale Supérieure.

Students will undertake two distinct research projects at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and at Université Pierre et Marie Curie (part of Sorbonne University), and Ecole Normale Supérieure.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

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.

Employability

Students will graduate with a Master's from UCL (awarded at the end Year 1), and an international university diploma (Master's level) from Sorbonne/ENS (on completion of Year 2). Upon successful completion of the MSc programme, students will be able to embark upon a successful career in their chosen field of research. 100% of our students are in graduate-level work or study 15 months after completion of this programme (Source Graduate Outcomes Survey published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)).

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered (depending on the taught modules selected) 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.

For each 15 credit module students will typically have 20-30 contact hours, with approximately 120 self directed study hours.

Modules

The programme consists of up to six taught modules, a library project, and a research project. Learning outcomes are variable depending on which modules you choose to study, although any available module aligns to the overall programme learning outcomes.

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
  • Clinical Neuroscience: Neuromuscular Disease MSc
  • Cognitive and Decision Sciences MSc
  • Cognitive Neuroscience MSc
  • Clinical Neuroscience: Stroke Medicine MSc
  • Advanced Neuroimaging MSc
  • Dementia: Causes, Treatments and Research (Neuroscience) MSc
  • Translational Neuroscience MRes

Choosing a module is always dependent on its availability in the current year; other UCL departments may cap module numbers or make them available only to their own students, therefore it is not guaranteed you will be able to take modules outside QSIoN. You are invited to make enquiries with the relevant departments before the year begins. Modules at the QSIoN are not capped and are available to all but you should check for timetable/assessment clashes and discuss with the programme team.

Students must have successfully completed the UCL year in order to progress to Paris. Students will be enrolled as a UCL student for Year 1 only. They will only be enrolled at Université Pierre et Marie Curie (part of Sorbonne University), and Ecole Normale Supérieure for Year 2.

If you choose to undertake a research project that requires you to be present in a clinical setting, you will need to prove, as part of UCL occupational health checks, that you have been vaccinated against Covid-19. You will not be able to undertake a project that requires contact with patients in a clinical setting if you have not been vaccinated.

Compulsory modules




Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits in the first year of the programme at UCL and are registered UCL students only for the duration of Year 1. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Brain and Mind Sciences.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

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Graduate Open Events: Applying for Graduate Study at UCL

The Applying to UCL for graduate study session took place in December 2021. The session, covered by our Graduate Admissions and Student Recruitment teams, provides helpful information about the process of applying for graduate study, as well as offering an insight into what we consider to be a competitive application.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Funding your studies

The Funding your studies session took place in December 2021. The session, covered by our Funding and Student Recruitment teams, provides information and guidance about the various scholarships and funding opportunities for graduate study at UCL.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2022/23) £16,500
Tuition fees (2022/23) £32,100

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

International Students will bear any costs incurred in acquiring certification equivalent to DBS (Police check) in their home country. These checks are necessary for any student who undertakes a clinical project at UCLH. 

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology BAME Scholarship The scholarship programme is to support students from BAME groups. Preference will be given to people from Black British – Caribbean and Asian British – Bangladeshi background, as they are currently under-represented at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. The scholarship is offered on the basis of academic merit. The scholarships are only available to students who have applied to study one of the eligible degree programmes (MSc Clinical Neuroscience, MSc Clinical Neuroscience: Stroke Medicine, MSc Clinical Neuroscience: Neuromuscular Disease, MSc Brain and Mind Sciences). UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology International Excellence Scholarships We are delighted to announce four partial fees only scholarships worth £6000 each for overseas fee paying students. We would like to celebrate the rich history of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in welcoming students from across the globe who have contributed so much to the success of our Institute and programmes of study. In 2021/22 academic year we have students from 54 countries currently studying for a masters. The scholarship is offered on the basis of academic merit. The scholarships are only available to students who have applied to study one of the eligible degree programmes (all QSIoN programmes except MSc/Dip/Cert in Clinical Neurology).

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Queen Square IoN International Excellence Scholarship

Deadline: 4 April 2022
Value: £6,000 towards tuition fees (1yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology BAME Scholarship

Deadline: 4 April 2022
Value: £4,000 towards fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology Stroke Academic Excellence Scholarship

Deadline: 4 April 2022
Value: £4,000 towards fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding should take note of the funding application deadlines.

There is no application fee for this programme.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study a two-year, two-centre Master's programme
  • what you think the strengths of a "pick and mix" curriculum are
  • how you think your previous academic and/or research experience might help you meet the demands of the programme
  • what languages you speak, and to what level
  • whether or not you want to do a PhD, or other professional scientific or clinical training when you complete the programme

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please ensure you mention your plans for both the London and Paris years in your personal statement. Please note you will be enrolled at UCL only during Year 1 of the Programme.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology Department
UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology Department

ion.educationteam@ucl.ac.uk

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