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NEUROSCIENCE MSci /UCAS CODE: B1412019 ENTRY

Neuroscience MSci /

The Neuroscience MSci offers an extra year on topof the Neuroscience BSc and is intended to extendyour specialised knowledge of brain function andallow you to conduct original neuroscienceresearch. Entry requirements for both programmesare the same. In this programme, you decide inyear two whether you would like to follow thethree-year BSc or the four-year MSci.

Key information

Programme startsSeptember 2019

LocationLondon, Bloomsbury

Degree benefits

// The multidisciplinary structure of the programme allows you to drawon expertise across all life sciences. As you progress, lectures willincreasingly be given by specialists who are actively involved inrelated research.

// The programme puts particular emphasis on preparing you forcareers that directly involve research or require a soundunderstanding of its methods.

// UCL and its associated institutes for neuroscience research have anoutstanding global reputation. We have one of the greatestconcentrations of neuroscience researchers in Europe.

// Co-operation with UCL's Institutes of Neurology, CognitiveNeuroscience, Ophthalmology, Child Health, and the newlyestablished Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits andBehaviour offers unrivalled opportunities to access researchlaboratories for your final-year project.

Degree structure

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individualmodules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year inwhich they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modulesvaries from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-creditmodule is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European CreditTransfer System (ECTS).

The first year consists of introductory core modules that provide asecure foundation for future work. Taking modules with other students inthe UCL Faculties of Life Sciences and Brain Sciences will give youinsight into related disciplines. Taking further core and optional modulesin your second year will prepare you for your third and fourth years, inwhich you will select specialised options to suit your interests. Examplesinclude Neural Basis of Motivation and Learning, Pain, Neurobiology ofBrain Injury and Disease and Cellular Basis of Brain Function, but thereare many more.

You will have the opportunity to transfer to the BSc programme at theend of year two, completing your degree in three years instead of four.

In the fourth year you will be able to join an existing research team in oneof UCL's departments or institutes to conduct an extended project oforiginal research, guided by a supervisor.

YEAR ONE

Core or compulsory module(s)

// Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCells and DevelopmentChemistry for Biology StudentsFoundations of NeurobiologyIntroduction to GeneticsIntroduction to NeuroscienceMammalian Physiology

Optional modules

// All first-year modules are compulsory.

YEAR TWO

Core or compulsory module(s)

// Cellular NeurophysiologyEssential Molecular BiologyHuman NeuroanatomyMolecular Biology for Neuroscientists

Optional modules

// You will select 2.0 credits from a wide range of options. Your selection must include:

// One of the following:Intermediate Pharmacology (1.0 credits)Introductory Pharmacology (0.5 credits)

// Plus at least one of the following:Developmental Neurobiology (0.5 credits)Mathematics for Science 1 (0.5 credits) / Differential and Integral Calculus (0.5 credits)Perception (0.5 credits)The Principles of Cellular Control (0.5 credits)Systems Neuroscience (0.5 credits)

// You will also select a further free option that may lie outside neuroscience.

YEAR THREE

Core or compulsory module(s)

// Individually-supervised Literature-based Project (1.0 credits)

Optional modules

// You will select 3.0 credits from a wide range of advanced-level optional modules withinneuroscience and related disciplines.

Data taken from the 'Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education' survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013-2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

FINAL YEAR

Core or compulsory module(s)

// Individually-supervised Master's-level Experimental Project (2.0 credits; 3.0 creditsoption available for selected students)

Optional modules

// Currently, students select 1.0 or 2.0 credits from a wide range of Master's-level optionalmodules within neuroscience and related disciplines.

Your learning

Your teaching and learning will include lectures, tutorials, workshopsand practical classes. Some modules in year one are taught in relativelysmall groups, while others involve large lectures shared with students onother programmes. Practical classes play an important role throughoutyour studies and help prepare you for the individual research project inyour final year.

AssessmentYou will normally take a written examination at the end of the academicyear in which you have taken each module, after obtaining up to 30% ofyour marks through coursework. Some introductory modules areexamined by invigilated online tests throughout the year. Your final-yearproject will involve a written dissertation and an oral presentation.

Your career

This programme will develop your literacy, numeracy, and criticalthinking skills, all of which can help you gain success in fields that do notrequire your specific subject knowledge. Careers in neuroscience willalso be open to you.

Around half of our graduates choose to pursue further studies inneuroscience or a related life science. Some join one of UCL’s own MScor PhD programmes, while others obtain PhD scholarships at majorresearch centres worldwide. Among other advantages, the MSciprogramme is intended to make it easier for graduates to enter futurePhD programmes at European centres of research excellence.

First destinations of recent graduates (2013-2015) of this programme atUCL include:

// Research Assistant, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging

// Full-time student, PhD in Neuroscience at McGill University

// Full-time student, PhD in Neuroscience at Newcastle University

// Full-time student, PhD in Neuroscience, at the University of Sussex

// Full-time student, Research Degree: Division of Biosciences at UCL

Your application

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently atschool or college will be provided with advice on the process; however,applicants who have left school or who are based outside the UnitedKingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

The entry requirements and selection process for the Neuroscience BScand MSci are the same. In addition to meeting the listed entryrequirements, you must demonstrate in your application anunderstanding of what studying neuroscience entails and why you aremotivated to pursue it, as well as scientific curiosity and independentreading in the field. Additional desirable skills include time-managementabilities (perhaps shown by combining academic success withextracurricular activities), self-discipline (through involvement in sportsor music, for instance) and experience of working in a team environment.

If you apply by the main UCAS deadline and meet or are predicted tomeet all of our academic and individual requirements (including beingable to demonstrate a good understanding of what this specialisedsubject entails) you will receive an offer of a place (either conditional orunconditional).

Entry requirements

A LEVELSStandard Offer: AAA. Chemistry required plus one from Biology,Mathematics or Physics.

Contextual Offer: AAB. AA must be in Chemistry and other science(Biology, Mathematics or Physics)

GCSEEnglish Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-basedstudents, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other thanAncient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL providesopportunities to meet the foreign language requirement followingenrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB DIPLOMAStandard Offer: 38. A total of 18 points in three higher level subjectsincluding Chemistry and one subject from Biology, Mathematics orPhysics, with no score below 5.

Contextual Offer: 36. A total of 17 points in three higher level subjectsincluding Chemistry and one subject from Biology, Mathematics orPhysics (both at grade 6), with no score below 5.

CONTEXTUAL OFFERS – ACCESS UCL SCHEMEAs part of our commitment to increasing participation fromunderrepresented groups, students may be eligible for a contextual offeras part of the Access UCL scheme. For more information seewww.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus

OTHER QUALIFICATIONSUCL considers a wide range of UK and international qualifications forentry into its undergraduate programmes. Full details are given at:www.ucl.ac.uk/otherquals

UNDERGRADUATE PREPARATORY CERTIFICATES(International foundation courses)UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are intensiveone-year foundation courses for international students of high academicpotential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degreeprogrammes at UCL and other top UK universities.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school systemwhich does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc.

TUITION FEES

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2018/19academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of theprogramme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to aninflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that willbe charged to 2018/19 entrants for each year of study on theprogramme, unless otherwise indicated below.

// UK & EU: £9,250 (2018/19)

// Overseas: £24,040 (2018/19)

Overseas fees for the 2019/20 academic year are expected to beavailable in July 2018. Undergraduate UK/EU fees are capped by theUK Government and are expected to be available in October 2018.Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potentialincreases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costsIf you are concerned by potential additional costs for books,equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with therelevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

FUNDING

Various funding options are available, including student loans,scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household incomefalls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayablebursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and fundingpages for more details.

CONTACT

Ms Kim Mulhall

Email: biosciences-admissions@ucl.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7679 7169

Department: Division of Biosciences

EU referendumFor up-to-date information relating to specific key questions followingthe UK's decision to leave the EU, please refer to:www.ucl.ac.uk/ucl-and-europe

DisclaimerThis information is for guidance only. It should not be construed asadvice nor relied upon and does not form part of any contract. Formore information on UCL's degree programmes please see the UCLUndergraduate Prospectus at www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus

PDF updated: 17 April 2018 © UCL 2018