Human Neuroscience BSc
London, Bloomsbury
Human Neuroscience BSc (2024)
Understand the building blocks of the human brain and nervous system and become the next generation of neuroscience experts.
Neuroscience is a broad and exciting field that is studied at many different levels. You will learn how our brains enable us to perceive the world, move, influence our mental health, and how we communicate and interact with each other. You will have the opportunity to undertake a research placement in your final year and work with large, real-world data sets.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
Programme starts
September 2025Application deadline
29 Jan 2025UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- To include Biology or Psychology, plus one other science from Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Physics or Mathematics
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
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Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects to include grade 6 in Biology or Psychology, plus one other science from Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Physics or Mathematics, with no higher level score lower than 5.
Contextual offer
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Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, to include Biology or Psychology, plus one other science from Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Physics or Mathematics
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), including Biology or Psychology, plus one other science from Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Physics or Mathematics at Advanced Higher
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAA. To include Biology or Psychology, plus one other science from Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Physics or Mathematics.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
The Human Neuroscience BSc is a three-year course that has been designed to enable students to learn about the human brain and nervous system through the prism of health and disease.
You will develop your knowledge in the exciting field of neuroscience by studying what happens when things go wrong with our nervous systems, such as with Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, aphasia, depression, and schizophrenia. Additionally, you will learn about the different research methods and techniques that have been developed to help us study the human brain; students will get first-hand experience of analysing and interpreting neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI, EEG and MEG scans. This will enable you to understand broader elements of the brain and nervous system.
You will study as part of the world-renowned Queen Square Institute of Neurology (QSIoN). In partnership with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (co-located together), QSIoN is one of the world’s leading research centres for neuroscience and neurology, and you will join a community of researchers, academics, and students who are at the very forefront of neuroscience research. Additionally, modules available on the Human Neuroscience BSc course are delivered from across the Faculty of Brain Sciences’ academic departments providing students with unparalleled opportunities to learn from our world-leading Divisions and Institutes.
In the final year of your degree, you will have the opportunity to undertake your own research project in the field of human neuroscience, alongside a research placement. You will also be able to select optional modules looking at specialised areas and applications of human neuroscience in broader aspects of human health, genes, and environment interactions. To support your future employability, all students undertake a module exploring the different careers related to neuroscience ahead of completing your course.
What this course will give you
Graduates from the Human Neuroscience BSc course will be equipped with the analytical and data science skills for a broad range of careers in neuroscience, mental health, and behavioural science.
You will gain experience of working with large datasets of real-world research thanks to the QSIoN’s partnerships and active research community. You will have exposure to some of the most cutting-edge and novel neuroscience research techniques. The strong emphasis on research skills supports future study, a career in research, and many other data-orientated roles.
The course will particularly take advantage of our hospital links, emphasising clinical and mental health research and clinical trials, as well as bridging discovery science and health interventions. Students will be well equipped to pursue further study and careers within these areas.
Additionally:
- We are top in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, with more than 90% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (UK Research Excellence Framework 2021).
- UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2024).
- UCL is 2nd in the world for Neuroscience and Behaviour in the National Taiwan University Rankings for scientific papers (2023).
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Human Neuroscience.
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. 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.
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The first year of the course is designed to provide you with a firm grounding in the basics of human neuroscience. You will be introduced to the field of human neuroscience and learn how research is conducted in this area.
You will learn about the functions of, and communications between, neurons and synapses, and the function and structure of the human brain. You will learn about our different sensors (such as our eyes and ears), how we see, hear, and feel, as well as how we move in the world.
You will also gain skills in developing a research question, designing an experiment, collecting data, and analysing and drawing conclusions from your data analysis. You will learn how to study the human brain and nervous system, as well as the history of the field of neuroscience and the links between the healthy human brain and common brain disorders (as well as other related topics such as thinking and action).
The second year of the course builds upon the knowledge you have developed in the first year. You will learn about common mental health disorders and their causes, and how humans communicate both verbally and non-verbally in social interactions.
All the information humans have about the world comes through our senses, for example our sight, hearing, and taste. Understanding how these complex sensory processes allow us to perceive the world is critical to understanding how we behave and think.
Additionally, you will learn about what happens in the human brain as we get older and what processes are involved in common disorders of older age such as dementia. A key part of your second year will be developing practical knowledge and experience of analysing human neuroimaging data and the analytical skills employed in human neuroscience research.
In the third and final year, you will learn about the connections between business and science as this is important for understanding how basic human science is translated into treatments and medical/clinical interventions for patients – the ‘bench to bedside’ perspective (of turning science discoveries into real world benefits). The Business of Science Innovation module will bring to life related career destinations.
You will also gain first-hand experience of research by undertaking your own research project and through placements in a research group at UCL. The final year allows you to further develop your own specialised interests in the broad field of human neuroscience by choosing four optional modules.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Your learning
This course aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills in the study of the human brain and nervous system, how different disorders are diagnosed, and how researchers are working to develop new treatments and medical/clinical interventions.
We will use a mix of face-to-face teaching and online resources on the degree. Most teaching will be face-to-face through live lectures, workshops, seminars, discussion groups, group work and practical sessions.
A 15-credit module will typically involve 1-2 hours of contact time and 10-12 hours of independent individual study or group work per week. You will take part in small (4-8 students) or large (the whole cohort) group activities which take place face-to-face on a regular basis. This is supported by use of the virtual learning environment (VLE) at UCL that provides a range of learning resources, such as video lectures, structured learning activities (e.g., quizzes, online discussion boards, webinars) and directed reading.
Additionally, alongside the module teaching will be a weekly compulsory Human Neuroscience seminar series that will run throughout the three years of the course. This will be carefully designed to dovetail with the content and teaching in each term and year and will provide additional opportunities for formative assessments and learning within a group setting.
Your assessments will help you learn how to communicate effectively. You will write essays, scientific reports, and short interview style answers. You will also learn to create videos and give oral presentations (either live or recorded), as well as designing and presenting your own research posters. Assessments will also include presentations, multiple choice questionnaires, written exams, a reflective portfolio, and your final year research project (similar to dissertations on other courses).
In the third year, students take the Research in Practice placement module. You will spend four hours each week for the first term embedded in a research group that is related to your research project. You will join weekly research group/lab meetings enabling you to develop your understanding of research progress, critical evaluation, the journey from research questions to published articles, the development of knowledge and expertise within the research group, and the different roles within a research group from Principal Investigator to postdoctoral researcher, research assistants, PhD students, and project students.
The placement will require you to research the broader topic of your own research project and will also develop your knowledge of the career structure of academic research.
You will typically have between 8-12 contact hours per week during term time depending on year of study and module choices. You will be expected to undertake additional hours of self-directed learning which will include reading research articles and preparing for lectures/assessments.
Assessment
Assessment is primarily by end-of-year examinations, but other methods may include multiple choice, computational tests, oral presentations, and written coursework.
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 team.
The foundation of your career
Your knowledge of human neuroscience and the variety of transferable skills you will gain will support you pursuing a variety of career destinations. This is a new course but it is anticipated graduates will enter into careers in neuroscience academia and research, mental health services, and behavioural sciences.
It is also anticipated that the heavy emphasis on research skills on the course will prepare students for related careers in the fields of data science and analytics.
Central to the Faculty of Brain Sciences' strategy is our focus on translational research (turning scientific discoveries into new clinical treatments and interventions). As such, graduates will also be well placed to pursue careers in translational research and bioscience/biomedical innovation.
Employability
This course has been designed to enable you to develop high-level skills in gathering, analysing, and interpreting scientific data and evidence.
You will develop the skills to critically evaluate the validity of research literature and undertake your own independent research. You will be able to understand and explain complex information and appreciate how such data can be analysed to test different hypotheses.
The course will also develop your own personal confidence to enable you to communicate effectively with the general public, your peers, and other professionals. You will develop skills in teamwork, managing your own workload, and critically reflecting on the quality of your own work.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £37,500 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
This programme has no additional costs.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
Aside from meeting the entry requirements for this course, we particularly welcome applications from students who are passionate about understanding human behaviour and the neuroscience behind this.
If you have work experience that you want to include in your personal statement, we recommend that you include this but it is important that you make this relevant to the field of (human) neuroscience.
We also understand that some students may be applying for this course alongside applications to study Medicine. We still welcome these applications and understand that these personal statements will be submitted with Medicine as the primary subject focus.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Applicants who are offered a place will be invited to attend an offer holder open day (in-person or virtual). This is intended to allow candidates to make an informed decision about whether the degree programme is right for them.
Got questions? Get in touch
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