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Brain Sciences MRes

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Brain Sciences MRes (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

£18,400

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

£39,800

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2025

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor of Science degree from a UK university in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. neuroscience, cognitive science, biological and biomedical science, medicine, anatomy, physiology, psychology, computer science) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Preference will be given to applicants who have both core knowledge of direct relevance to the MRes programme and relevant expertise and skills in empirical research.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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.

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

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

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

You will gain an understanding of the human brain and its disorders from the molecular to systems level that will reflect the interdisciplinary breadth of cutting-edge research in brain sciences conducted at UCL. You will also gain theoretical and practical knowledge of core personal and professional skills that underpin excellence in research.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for highly motivated students who are interested in understanding the interdisciplinary scope of brain function and dysfunction from the molecular to the systems level, and are seeking a programme that will facilitate integrative, creative and critical thinking in new advances and applied research.

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

What this course will give you

This comprehensive MRes will provide core knowledge and skills, and ensure that prospective PhD candidates are thoroughly acquainted with the background as well as with the expanding scope of the field of brain sciences.

UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences is one of the most highly recognised centres of excellence in brain science in the world:

UCL biomedical and health researchers are the most influential in England including in these fields of specialism: clinical neurology, deafness and hearing problems, dementias, experimental psychology, mental health, multidisciplinary psychology, neuroimaging, psychology, psychoanalysis
According to RAND bibliometric analysis published in 2015
UCL is the most highly cited university in Europe for neuroscience and behaviour studies
According to InCites Essential Scientific Indicators 2023
UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences is the best place in the world to study ophthalmology
According to CWUR 2017 Rankings by Subject
UCL is the top-ranked university in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience according to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2021

Find out more reasons to study at UCL Brain Sciences.

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

The foundation of your career

This MRes will prepare students for research careers in academia, industry or business, nationally or internationally. Although we expect that graduates will go onto roles within the brain sciences field, the programme gives students a broad range of skills that employers across various sectors desire. In addition to taking up research assistant or PhD positions at prestigious institutions both nationally and internationally, students have taken up leadership and policy-making roles in industry, the healthcare sector and biotechnology including biotech spin outs. Previous graduates have also gone on to work in the recruitment and human resources sectors (based on the most recent Graduate Outcomes survey 2021-22).

Employability

The programme provides a broad understanding of brain sciences. The aim is to give students the best chance of obtaining a place on a relevant PhD programme. In addition, the programme includes taught elements that will enhance employability. Transferable skills include statistical training, communication skills and training in research ethics and governance.

Networking

Brain Sciences MRes students engage in networking opportunities within the Faculty of Brain Sciences, such as the Neuroscience Symposium at the Institute of Neurology.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, independent study, journal clubs, independent and collaborative problem-based tasks, computational work and a supervised empirical research project

Assessment is through online tasks, unseen written examinations, essays, oral presentations, research-based tasks and a primary research article.

In term one, full-time students can typically expect around 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Outside of these contact hours, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. In terms two and three and over the summer period, students will be completing their own full-time research project. Students are expected to spend an average of approximately 36.5 hours per week working on their research project and keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.’

Modules

The unique curriculum will develop knowledge and insight into the broad and interdisciplinary scope of brain science through practical experience and exposure to contemporary topics in brain sciences research delivered through a series of innovative masterclasses led by internationally renowned researchers at UCL.

With an empirical research project encompassing two-thirds of the programme, quantitative and qualitative tools for research will be developed including core skills in the implementation, management and dissemination of research.

Compulsory modules

Research Methods and Statistics

MRes Brain Sciences Project

Contemporary Topics in Brain Science Research

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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Brain Sciences.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£18,400
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£39,800

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

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

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

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Brain Sciences at graduate level
why you want to study Brain Sciences at UCL
what particularly attracts you to this programme
how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

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 note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.