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Neuroscience MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Neuroscience MSc (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£25,300

£12,650

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£42,700

£21,350

Duration

1 calendar year

2 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences, life sciences or related subject area, or a medical degree (MBBS), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with an appropriate professional qualification and relevant work experience may also apply.

The English language level for this course 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.

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

The human nervous system is often regarded as the most complex object in the known universe. To unveil its workings, an integrated, multi-level approach is necessary. On this course you will learn that deep comprehension of nervous system function requires an understanding of how ions, atoms and molecules working together lead to the function of the cells of the nervous system. How these cells interact to build a brain from the single fertilised egg during development. How ensembles of cells, circuits and brain areas process incoming sensory information. How this information is modified by cognition and past experience resulting in perception and behaviour. You will also examine disease and damage of the nervous system and how it can be repaired.

The course is designed to equip you with the skills and experience for a successful transition into a research career, although the skills acquired will also prove highly transferable to other career paths.

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for any graduates wishing to start a research career in neuroscience, with a broad base of medical, biological and cognitive perspectives that will foster a multidisciplinary approach.

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

What this course will give you

Designed and delivered by leading academics from across UCL this course will enable you to become a well-rounded multidisciplinary neuroscientist.

What you will gain from this course:

An in-depth knowledge and understanding of neuroscience – from molecule to behaviour.
An insight into ground-breaking research through a series of interactive research lectures delivered by active neuroscientists at the forefront of their field.
A genuine research experience by being embedded for your own large project into one of more than 450 neuroscience research groups across UCL.
An enhanced ability to create and communicate succinct, evidence-based scientific arguments and an enhanced expertise in critically evaluating scientific research.

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

The foundation of your career

The majority of our students progress to a PhD. After doctoral study, you could choose to stay in academia or progress onto a senior leadership role in the biomedical industries. If you decide not to pursue a PhD, you will find yourself well positioned for a great number of exciting roles in areas like healthcare, commercial scientific research or education.

In addition to remaining in academia, graduates have gone on to work at diverse organisations, including Clinical Services International, IQVIA and the Science Museum Group.*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2021-22, 2022-23 cohorts.

Employability

As well as an entry point for a research career in neuroscience, this master’s will equip you with scientific methodologies, skills and processes that are highly valued in almost any academic or industrial environment requiring a quantitative approach.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your master’s.

Take part in the annual UCL Neuroscience Conference, and present your work in front of one of the largest neuroscience research communities in the world.
Attend the MSc Neuroscience ‘Finding A PhD’ session at the outset of the course, and absorb the perspectives of UCL PhD course directors and doctoral researchers to help you plan your route to doctoral studies.
Take part in careers events through UCL Careers, and enhance your CV writing and interview skills.
Immerse yourself in a diverse culture of neuroscience research and build professional relationships with your peers and leading senior investigators.

Teaching and learning

Knowledge in neuroscience will be facilitated through lectures, tutorial-style journal club groups, and self-directed learning using published articles, web-based information sources and databases and completion of taught module assessments. The research project and preparation of the dissertation develop writing skills, self-directed learning and critical analysis of research literature.

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and a laboratory project. Student performance is evaluated through formal written and oral examination, coursework, and the research project.

The taught modules (90 credits) typically provide 8-12 contact hours per week in lectures and small-group classes, primarily in Terms 1 and 2. The remaining self-directed study time involves preparation, revision and the production of assignments for assessment.

For the 90-credit research project, you will be engaged for two to three days (16-24 hours per week) until Easter and then almost full-time (32-40 hours per week) until the dissertation submission in late August. The projects vary greatly in their topics and approaches. Most are laboratory-based but some may be theoretical or data-based. It is therefore difficult to generalise on the level of guidance that will be provided. The overall responsibility for the project lies with the research group leader but they typically delegate the day-to-day supervision, training and guidance to one or more experienced researchers in their group.

Typically, in the beginning, there will be more direct supervisory contact and as your independence increases this will reduce. The contact is likely to take the form of research group discussions, meetings with group leaders, impromptu discussions with other experienced laboratory members, direct one-to-one training in laboratory techniques, and advice on how to prepare figures, presentations and posters. Towards the end, direct contact hours will often increase again to support you to prepare and write the dissertation. For students taking the part-time course, the total number of hours spent on the project will be similar but they can be spread more flexibly during Year 2 by mutual consent between student and supervisors.

Modules

In Terms 1 and 2 you will study and be assessed by coursework and written examination on four lecture modules. Alongside the lecture modules you will participate in regular small-group ‘Journal Clubs’ to critically analyse published research with assessment in Term 3. Your studies will additionally be supported by a series of unassessed interactive sessions.

The research project runs throughout the whole year. Initially you will be guided to join an available research group of your choice and will perform project work part-time until Easter and then almost full-time until the dissertation submission in late August. The final component of assessment is the oral examination in September.

Part-time students have all the same modules split across two years. Generally, the taught modules are taken in Year 1 with the project in Year 2. Part-time students are expected to attend 2-3 days per week although during the project this can be more flexible in negotiation with the research supervisor.

Compulsory modules

MSc Neuroscience: Journal Club

Receptors and Synaptic Signalling

Systems and Circuit Neuroscience

Developmental Neuroscience

MSc Neuroscience: Research Project

Optional modules

Neurobiology of Degeneration and Repair

Cognitive Systems Neuroscience

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 MSc in Neuroscience.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£25,300	£12,650
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£42,700	£21,350

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students will not face any course-specific additional costs.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

What particularly attracts you to study this course at UCL
How your academic, personal and professional background meets the demands of this rigorous course
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 course match what the course will deliver.

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

This course only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. 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.