Brain Sciences

This MRes is an innovative research-led programme which brings together expertise from across the Faculty of Brain Sciences and offers you the opportunity to work and train with leading researchers at one of the most highly regarded centres of excellence in brain science in the world.

Students 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. Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of core personal and professional skills that underpin excellence in research.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits), one optional module (15 credits) and an extensive empirical research project (120 credits).

Core modules

• Research Methods I
• Research Methods II
• Contemporary Topics in Brain Sciences Research

Optional modules

Students choose one of the following 15-credit optional modules:

• Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
• Introduction to the Brain and Imaging the Brain
• Structure and Measurement of the Human Brain
• Introduction to Cognitive Science
• Principles of Cognition
• Molecular Pharmacology
• Developmental Neurobiology
• Receptors and Synaptic Signalling

Dissertation/research project

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation in the form of a journal article and an oral examination.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, independent study, journal clubs, independent and collaborative problem-based tasks, practical demonstrations and classes, 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.

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.