phd in cognitive neuroscience uk

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PhD/MPhil Cognitive Neuroscience / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
• Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Biosciences

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You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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PhD Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology

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Entry requirements

Fees and funding.

• What's next?

An Integrated PhD provides a route into research study if you do not have a Masters degree, or have very little research training. It enables you to spend your first year completing a full-time Masters-level qualification, followed by a full-time PhD studied over 3-4 years or a part-time PhD studied over 6-7 years. We also offer a ‘standard' PhD in this subject which can be studied either full-time (3-4 years) or part-time (6-7 years).

Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. It is a branch of both psychology and neuroscience, overlapping with disciplines such as biological psychology, cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. Cognitive neuropsychology uses data from single cases of individuals with brain injury or neurological illness to refine theoretical models of cognitive processing.

In your first year on our Integrated PhD Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology, you will study both cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology which will give you a thorough grounding in the scientific investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying human behaviour and the effects of brain injury on cognitive function. You will be taught the theoretical and biological foundations of cognitive science, and undertake advanced training in statistics and neuropsychological research methods. Your first year gives you advanced research training which provides you with an excellent preparation to start the PhD element of this course.

In your second year you move into the PhD element of the course where research supervision is available in the fields of cognitive psychology, sensory and cognitive neuroscience, and social psychology. You study in a stimulating and vibrant research environment, and we provide excellent research facilities. In general, our PhD students enjoy the same access to neuroscience and other research equipment as our academic staff, and access to our research participant pool, which is essential for your experimental research. You also benefit from the supportive supervision given by our staff, and the friendly and collegiate atmosphere provided by fellow students. This ensures that we have an exemplary record in supporting our PhD students to produce a high quality thesis.

Our Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) , offer you skills training and funding for your postgraduate research. We are supported by some of the most prestigious funding bodies, including the European Commission and the Leverhulme Trust.

• We offer a range of PhD studentships and funding opportunities.
• We provide excellent state-of-the-art facilities for study, with extensive laboratory space for experimental psychology and special facilities for visual and auditory perception, developmental psychology and social psychology, with our Hearing Research Laboratory and our Visual Perception Unit.
• We also have our Centre for Brain Sciences (CBS), a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to the study of brain activity in relation to psychological processes. This provides a dynamic resource for psychology and neuroscience, with specialised laboratories for investigating brain activity.

Our expert staff

Our psychology lecturers include award-winning teachers and prize-winning researchers who are international experts in their own research areas.

Our staff carry out research into areas of psychology that fall under our three key themes: thinking about the world , interacting with the world , and experiencing the world . These three themes help tie your knowledge together as they directly feed into our modules, where you can study how we remember things, what captures out attention, how relationships work, what our emotions do with us, or the impact of culture on ourselves and others.

Our department is expanding, and has recently appointed a number of excellent researchers whose expertise increases the diversity and depth of our skills base.

After your first year, when you start your PhD, you will be allocated a supervisor whose role it is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may have joint supervision by two members of our staff.

The support provided by your supervisor is a key feature of your research student experience and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to discuss progress on your research. Initially, your supervisor will help you develop your research topic and plan.

Twice a year, you will have a supervisory panel meeting, which provides a more formal opportunity to discuss your progress and agree your plans for the next six months.

Specialist facilities

We are committed to giving you the best access to state-of-the-art facilities in higher education, housed entirely within our purpose-built psychology building on our Colchester Campus.

We provide excellent state-of-the-art facilities for your study, with extensive laboratory space for experimental psychology and special facilities for visual and auditory perception, developmental psychology and social psychology.

We also have our Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to the study of brain activity in relation to psychological processes. This provides a dynamic resource with specialised laboratories for investigating behaviour and brain activity including: two eye tracking labs for recording eye movements, four electroencephalography (EEG) labs for recording cortical oscillatory activity, event-related potentials (ERP) and functional connectivity; two near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) labs for measuring changes in blood oxygenation levels; four neuromodulation labs including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), repetitive TMS (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and neuro-navigation facilities.

Your future

With the skills and knowledge you acquire from studying within our Department of Psychology, you will find yourself in demand from a wide range of employers.

Our graduates have been employed in clinical psychology, educational psychology, criminal and forensic psychology.

We also have excellent links with the research community; we are recognised by the ESRC as providing excellent postgraduate training and are an accredited Doctoral Training Centre, offering several studentships.

Our recent PhD students have taken up post-doctoral positions in other top UK universities and international universities (in the US, Italy and Australia), as well as being appointed to lectureships.

UK entry requirements

Our four year integrated PhD, allows you to spend your first year studying at Masters level in order to develop the necessary knowledge and skills and to start your independent research in year two.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select your country page where you'll find this information.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 7.0, or equivalent, with a minimum score of 5.5 in all other components.

Course structure

Most of our taught courses combine compulsory and optional modules, giving you freedom to pursue your own interests. All of the modules listed below provide an example of what is on offer from the current academic year. Our Programme Specification provides further details of the course structure for the current academic year.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

The research element of your degree doesn't have a taught structure, giving you the chance to investigate your chosen topic in real depth and reach a profound understanding. In communicating that understanding, through a thesis or other means, you have a rare opportunity to generate knowledge. A research degree allows you to develop new high-level skills, enhance your professional development and build new networks. It can open doors to many careers.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

COMPONENT 01: CORE

In this module you complete a research dissertation with a maximum of 10,000 words, written up as a report. You have a lot of flexibility as there are a wide variety of topics that you can choose to research. You report on the results of an original psychological research study carried out under the supervision of a staff member. A good research report will look like a psychology study reported in a peer-reviewed journal (such as Cognitive Neuropsychology, or Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology).

View Research Project (MSc) on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Gain an in-depth introduction to the major topics in neurocognition of language. By critically analysing a range of research and methodologies used to study brain processes, you will acquire an advanced understanding of the brain bases of language, and of the neurocognitive processes that underlie human communication.

View Neurocognition of Human Interaction on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

This module provides you with a detailed overview of the most common statistical tests used by postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in psychology.

View Fundamental Statistics for Research on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Research in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychology employs a diverse range of analytical tools and procedures. This module provides specialist Masters students with the training necessary to critically evaluate the analyses presented in published research. Additionally, you will be trained to apply numerical techniques to neuropsychological and psychophysiological data and to interpret the output of popular analysis software.

View Numerical Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

This module covers the main research areas and methods used in investigating the workings of the brain. The module will provide you with a solid background in brain structure and function both at the cellular level and the systems level. It will consider neuroscience as it relates to behaviour by asking how mental processes such as perception, attention, movement, emotion, higher cognitive functions and sexual orientation are implemented within the brain and body. This module also seeks to familiarise you with most of the present-day methods used in cognitive neuroscience and to provide practical experience of some of these methodologies: EEG, ERPs, TMS, tDCS, eye-tracking, pupilometry, NIRS and other psychophysiological measures (skin conductance, heart rate, respiration rate, plethysmography etc) and their combination.

View Theory and Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: OPTIONAL

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

This module is for PhD students who are completing the research portions of their theses.

View Psychology - Research on our Module Directory

Our modules are taught through lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars, independent reading and research projects and we host a very active programme of research seminars.

Full-year modules are most often examined using a three-hour examination, and half-year modules by a combination of two-hour examination and coursework (e.g., essays, oral presentations).

The award of a PhD signifies an original and substantial contribution to knowledge that means you can be considered an expert in your field. The majority of your learning during the PhD element of this course comes from ‘hands on' experience of designing, conducting and analysing your original research, as well as from the demanding process of writing and submitting a PhD. To help in this process, you attend several taught courses in the first year of the PhD element of this course and all our research students are required to undertake postgraduate research training modules as part of their studies.

At the end of your first and second years of the PhD element of this course you will prepare a 10,000 word document that contains a review of relevant literature and summarises findings from your empirical work conducted in that year. You will also take part in a Postgraduate Research conference in which you make an oral presentation of this work to the Department of Psychology. The submission of the 10,000 word document in particular helps you prepare for the writing of your thesis.

Dissertation

Students within our Department of Psychology submit a dissertation of up to 80,000 words for their PhD. We take pride in our completion record with our PhD students. We achieve this, in part, by ensuring from the outset that you follow a clear path to ensure completion across the three years of the PhD element of this course – with specific appropriate milestones at the end of your first and second years.

Home/UK fee

£4,786 per year

International fee

£21,500 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

• tour our campus and accommodation
• find out answers to your questions about our courses, graduate employability, student support and more
• talk to our Fees and Funding team about scholarship opportunities
• meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing [email protected] and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

2024 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

• Saturday 15 June 2024 - June Open Day
• Saturday 21 September 2024 - September Open Day
• Saturday 26 October 2024 - October Open Day

You can apply for this postgraduate course online . Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We encourage you to make a preliminary enquiry directly to a potential supervisor or the Graduate Administrator within your chosen Department or School. We encourage the consideration of a brief research proposal prior to the submission of a full application.

We aim to respond to applications within four weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘ how to apply ' information.

Visit Colchester Campus

Set within 200 acres of  award-winning  parkland - Wivenhoe Park  and located two miles from the  historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

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If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications . The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

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What do you want to do?

Find out about the research we do in cognitive and clinical neuroscience.

• Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience PhD

Find a supervisor

Mode of study

3 years full-time

6 years part-time

International   £23,615

UK   £4,786

Entry requirements

Research profile.

Our research focuses on fundamental and applied research into brain function using techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), eye-tracking, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), infrared thermography together with psychophysics and cognitive behavioural paradigms in health and disease.

Researchers in Psychology also have access to:

• 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner
• Electroencephalography (EEG) laboratory
• Mobile EEG system
• Eye-tracker (MRI compatible)
• Mobile eye-tracking glasses enabling real-world eye-tracking
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
• 3D body scanner
• Thermal imaging camera
• Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.  

Learn more about research in this area .

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour .

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team .

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

• Ageing-related pre-mRNA splicing of LMNA gene, supervised by Evgeny Makarov
• Antimicrobial resistance in marine mammals (seals) from polluted waters, supervised by Gera Troisi and Ashley Houlden
• Budding yeast as a model for sudden cardiac death, supervised by Thomas Hofken
• Central Nervous system Gene therapy to treat obesity Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS). Analysis of the BBS brain development, supervised by Victor Hernandez
• Constructing a stable world: how the brain uses gaze direction to disambiguate sensory information, supervised by Adrian Williams
• Genetic and non-genetic factors involved in risk of cardiovascular diseases, supervised by Raha Pazoki
• Investigating the function of common genetic variants that increase colorectal cancer risk., supervised by Annabelle Lewis
• Investigating Therapeutic Effect of Different Antioxidants in Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA), supervised by Sara Anjomani Virmouni
• Machine learning approaches in health data science for risk prediction of cardiovascular diseases, supervised by Raha Pazoki
• Naturalness of autonomous vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
• Sustainable products & processes - help industry ditch the plastic and toxic chemicals!, supervised by Gera Troisi
• Telomere length elongation following treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs., supervised by Terry Roberts
• The role of PE/PPE proteins in tuberculosis, supervised by Anthony Tsolaki
• Trust In Autonomous Vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin

Research journey

This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.

Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here:  Research degree progress structure.

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme . The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

Careers and your future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

Following the completion of the course students may follow several career paths, for instance:

• Career path within academia starting as a University Lecturer/Assistant Professor
• Career progression within research institutes commencing as a post-doc researcher and progressing to senior researcher
• Career path within government agencies (e.g., Sport England, UK Sport, English Institute of Sport, Department of Health, etc)
• Career path within Sport organisations and charities
• Career path in Health and Social Care
• Career path in Professional Education and Training

UK entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). 

An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.

Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement  and a research statement. Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement  here .   

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by  UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list . This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT : 68% (58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 98 overall (min 20) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our  English Language Requirements  page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our  Brunel Language Centre .

Please check our Admissions  pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2024/5 entry, international.

£23,615 full-time

£11,805 part-time

£4,786 full-time

£2,393 part-time

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.

Some courses incur  additional course related costs . You can also check our  on-campus accommodation costs  for more information on living expenses.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. Recently the UK Government made available the Doctoral Student Loans of up to £25,000 for UK and EU students and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

PhD studentships

• Funding for the Executive Dean’s PhD Studentship. A Comprehensive Characterisation of Mentally-Disordered Offenders and Prediction of Treatment Outcomes
• Mechanisms of Interoception and Stress in Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Scholarships and bursaries

• Dean’s International PhD Scholarship for Doctoral Researchers in Health and Life Sciences Terms and Conditions 2024

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• What is neuroscience?
• Departments
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research Themes

Study a Neuroscience PhD programme at King's:

• Research project topics span from molecules to mind, including clinical and translational aspects to make a meaningful differences in people's health
• Be part of an international and diverse student body, studying at one of three central London campuses, with an active student Neuroscience Society ( Neurosoc ) 
• Extensive programmes of seminars by our faculty and international neuroscience research stars
• Opportunities to present research findings at national and international neuroscience conferences and publish in leading journals
• Teaching opportunities for PhD students via  King's Talent Bank

What you will study

King's PhD students can complete three-year projects focusing on a specific research project or a four-year studentship through a MRes/PhD programmes. These studentships follow a '1+3' model, in which students undertake lab rotations and transferable skills training in the first year, then perform their extended lab project over years 2-4. 

PhD students gain:

• Independent project and team-working skills
• Acuity in analytical skills and critique of the literature
• Ability to communicate findings to a wide range of audiences

Read our guide on how to apply for a PhD .

Explore King's Neuroscience

Our research

Leading the world in understanding brain function and finding new treatments for patients

Facilities & Resources

World-class neuroscience facilities & resources, including MRI, neuroimaging equipment, and King's…

Find out more about Neuroscience PhDs at King’s

MRC Doctoral Training Partnership in Biomedical Sciences

Neuroscience Doctoral Training Partnerships at King's College London.

Wellcome Trust PhD Training Programme in Neuro-Immune Interactions in Health and Disease

The Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine (CSCRM) in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine…

News and events

10 April 2024

Researchers identify neurons responsible for key activity transition in brain development

SST+ and PV+ interneurons are responsible for the transition between early and adult patterns of…

3 April 2024

Professor Thomas Sears (1928-2024)

Tribute to Thomas Sears, Honorary Visiting Professor of Neurophysiology at IoPPN, who died on 19…

28 March 2024

Professor Esther Bell delivers IoPPN inaugural lecture

"Hopping into Education: from Frogs to Pedagogues" was delivered by the Professor of Bioscience…

Professor Matthew Grubb - Inaugural Lecture

09 May 2024

Join us in celebrating Professor Grubb's inaugural lecture on 'Nosing around in the changing…

Postgraduate

Application for PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging

When would you like to start this programme.

• 2024 April, full-time
• 2024 April, part-time
• 2024 July, full-time
• 2024 July, part-time
• 2024 September, full-time
• 2024 September, part-time
• 2025 January, full-time
• 2025 January, part-time
• 2025 April, full-time
• 2025 April, part-time
• 2025 July, full-time
• 2025 July, part-time

Have the following documents ready

You will need to upload the following documents when you apply:

• Academic transcript
• Your CV (curriculum vitae)
• Research proposal or outline of academic interests

You can also choose to upload:

• Copy of a language certificate
• Personal statement
• Specified written work

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Cognitive Psychology / Neuropsychology

Study psychology at postgraduate level and you become part of a diverse, dynamic and supportive community in which to research and learn. Cognition and neuroscience research at Kent focuses on visual cognition, attention and memory, and language and communication.

Key information

• Duration 3 to 4 years full-time
• Start date September, January, May
• Location Canterbury

A PhD is a doctorate of philosophy based on mostly independent study. It is assessed formally on the basis of one piece of work, a dissertation (or thesis), that reports your original thought and research. You must also successfully complete all required training.

Choosing a topic

Although sometimes we have specific PhD research projects related to funding awards, most of our research students choose their own research topics. Once you have decided on the nature of your project, it is important to contact a staff member whose expertise matches your area of interest with a CV and research proposal to discuss your proposed project and potential supervisory arrangements.

You then work with your proposed supervisor on refining your research proposal which provides the starting point for your subsequent research.

Supervision

During your research, you are supported by your supervisory team, normally comprising one main supervisor and a secondary supervisor. Your will have agreed your main supervisor, based on their compatibility with your research interests, prior to registration. Typically, you have one formal meeting per month with your main supervisor to discuss your work and progress (bi-monthly for part-time students).

Through the Graduate School, you have access to training in research-specific and broader transferable skills, including academic writing, career management and presentation skills.

PhD students in receipt of a teaching studentship (GTA), must also complete the Associate Fellowship Scheme (AFS). The AFS registration period is one year.

The Statistics and Methodology module from our taught MSc programme is available for doctoral students who have not already completed an advanced statistics and methods course.

The School of Psychology

Kent's School of Psychology conducts both basic and applied research in several areas, and we are highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research. We have a strong international reputation in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, forensic psychology and social psychology. This is complemented by our strengths in organisational psychology and political psychology.

PhD funding

Some of our PhD students are self-funded, and others are funded by grants or awards either from the School, the University, UK research councils or their countries of origin. The School has a strong track record of attracting ESRC research studentship funding, which involves partnerships with external organisations such as the Anne Frank Trust.

Everything you need to know.

Entry requirements, study support.

Before making your application, you are required to contact and confirm supervision with a staff member within the School of Psychology . Please note, if this is not completed and noted on your application, our admissions team will not be able to process your application until supervision is confirmed. 

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with:

A. adequate level of academic achievement.

A final degree classification (grade average) of at least a 2.1 or Merit in the UK system (the second highest classification after First/Distinction). Results from institutions in other countries will be assessed individually according to this standard.

Your existing degree does not have to be in psychology as long as the statistics training requirement is met (please see below) and your proposed supervisor and the Director of Graduate Studies (Research) are satisfied with the suitability of your academic background. If it is in a different subject, or if it is not accredited by the British Psychological Society, please ask your academic referee to complete our  Pro-forma for graduate research programmes  and email it to  [email protected] .

b. Statistics and research methods training in the social sciences

This programme includes a one-year statistics sequence which you must normally pass in order to receive your award. The teaching assumes that you are familiar with the following topics:

• Means and standard deviations
• Distributions, hypothesis testing and statistical significance
• Correlation coefficients
• Variables and measurement

Therefore, your existing degree transcript should note that you have taken and passed a minimum of one term each in statistics and social science research methods courses (or two terms of a joint statistics and research methods course).

It is possible to be exempted from the statistics training at Kent if there is sufficient evidence that you have already completed equivalent training in a previous qualification.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications. 

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country  and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.

English language entry requirements

This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.  

Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage . 

Examples:  

IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component 

PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test 

A degree from a UK university 

A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country 

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways .

Postgraduate research is a fantastic opportunity and significant investment in your future, enabling you to expand your knowledge, skills and career options – all while making a meaningful impact and contribution to an area you are passionate about.

At Kent, we also recognise the significant financial investment that comes with postgraduate study, and we offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate researchers, to help keep your mind on your studies, and off your finances.

Scholarships can be broad, or specific to your situation, background or even country – so please do use our scholarships finder to discover the options available to you.

We also have research partnership funding with research councils and government schemes in specific areas of interest that can help you take your research to the next level with additional financial support.

Find out more on our fees and funding page and discover what option is right for you.

Postgraduate resources

The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:

• three fully equipped colour video laboratories for face-to-face group research, together with ten satellite laboratories connected via remote-control CCTV and two-way audio links
• 58 research laboratories, all containing networked computers
• a further 80 PCs available exclusively to Psychology students, including a designated MSc computer-networked room providing full email and internet access
• shared offices and a personal, networked computer for research students
• a full range of computer-based experiment generators and productivity software installed on all the School’s systems
• an upgraded laboratory suite with equipment for digital sound and vision recording
• four Brain Vision EEG labs (including one for simultaneous TMS & EEG, and one portable EEG system)
• twp Trans-cranial direct current electrical stimulators (GVS, Magstim)
• Neuroconn tDCS/tACS electrical stimulator with facilities for simultaneous EEG
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) PowerMAG Research 100 High Frequency Stimulator
• two Tobii eye-trackers (Tobii X120 & Tobii T60 XL portable)
• one Arrington eye-tracker
• a suite equipped with Bio-Pac recorders to allow for a range of physiological measures to be taken during stressful and other tasks
• specialist laboratories equipped for face processing and vision research
• CRS ColorCal II Colorimeter/Photometer
• CRS Audiofile for synchronized audio-visual presentation
• numerous PC and Mac labs to run behavioural experiments
• Mirror Stereoscopes for dichoptic presentation and stereo vision research
• immersive virtual reality lab (including integrated eye-tracker)
• a social cognition laboratory
• creation in 2010 of the Kent Child Development Unit and research team focusing on how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology ; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ; Child Development ; Clinical Psychology Review . Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests .

Researcher Development Programme

Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subject-specific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Research themes

The School of Psychology is highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research, with an international reputation for excellence in social psychology (including group processes and intergroup relations); cognition and neuroscience; developmental psychology; and forensic psychology. We have staff who can supervise research degrees in all of these areas plus organisational psychology and political psychology. The research environment is designed to sustain a strong, vibrant research culture, encourage collaboration, and unite staff and students with shared research interests. Our themes ensure critical mass and create a highly energetic and stimulating intellectual climate.

Research activity is supported by:

• centrally coordinated provision and use of laboratories and technical support
• selection of speakers for our weekly departmental research colloquia
• weekly research meetings within each theme
• developing, reporting and analysing research, and hosting our many visiting scholars
• several monthly small meeting series on specific areas of cross-cutting research (such as forensic, social development, emotion, social cognition and health).

Social Psychology

Our academics have received prestigious editorial appointments and both national and international awards. Many leading international social psychologists are affiliated with the group, reflecting the strong reputation of social psychology at Kent.

Our work is funded by a variety of British and international sources including the European Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, National Science Foundation, European Commission, Home Office, Department of Trade and Industry, Nuffield Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Our researchers also engage in consultancy work for businesses and the government.

Our research covers all areas of social psychology, including:

• prejudice and discrimination
• equality, identity, diversity and change
• justice and morality
• attitudes and decision making
• status, leadership and power
• conspiracies and social movements
• security and risk
• social influence
• personality
• culture and social interaction

Much of our research is coordinated through the  Centre for the Study of Group Processes .

Cognition and Neuroscience

Visual cognition, attention and memory.

Research on this topic focuses primarily on the role of vision and visual perception in human performance. The aim of this work is to identify the cognitive processes and neurological mechanisms that underlie various visual tasks. Studies with neurologically healthy volunteers examine issues such as:

• face recognition and identification
• eyewitness testimony
• person detection
• emotion processing
• episodic memory
• pattern and motion recognition.

Our research also examines a range of psychological disorders, including unilateral visual neglect, addiction, dementia and persistent vegetative state. We are interested in examining the cognitive nature of these disorders, which includes assessing attentional biases, visual experiences and neurological activity. Much of our work also has an applied motivation, for example helping to develop better therapies for people with brain injury.

Language and communication

Research in this group examines various aspects of semantic, pragmatic, morphological and syntactic understanding.

Research questions on adult populations include:

• the role of executive functions in successful language use and communication
• how language influences attentional processes and perspective taking
• anomaly detection in reading
• brain structural and functional correlates of grammatical processing.

Our work on developmental populations examines issues such as:

• how children learn to understand and produce sentences in their own language
• how children learn conversational conventions and self-repair
• developmental disorders of communication, including autism spectrum disorders and dyslexia
• bilingual language acquisition and processing.

This research group has links with researchers in the School of European Culture and Languages, as part of the  Centre for Language and Linguistics .

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology research at Kent and all forensic-related teaching operates through our Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP).

Forensic psychology seeks to understand:

• the psychological processes underlying offending behaviour (including group processes)
• the reduction and supervision of offending behaviour (i.e. rehabilitation, treatment and management of community risk)
• victim responses to offending
• the mechanisms underlying the criminal justice system more generally (i.e. jury decision making and the courts)
• attitudes to offenders and offender reintegration in society.

Our academics are represented in editorships and editorial boards of many major journals in forensic and applied psychology. Many are Chartered Forensic Psychologists who assess and treat offenders and evaluate offender rehabilitation programmes. Thus we have strong links with the UK Prison Service, the NHS, the Police, and other bodies involved in forensic related services and activities.

Our research is funded by various national and international sources, which include the British Academy, Economic and Social Research Council, the Home Office, Leverhulme, the Ministry of Justice and the Nuffield Foundation.

Areas of forensic psychology research that we are currently working on include:

• bullying in prisons
• prison gang behaviour
• jury decision-making
• child sexual offending
• rape proclivity
• female sexual offending
• theories of offender rehabilitation
• firesetting
• sexual harassment
• violence, aggression and alcohol
• infra-humanisation of offenders.

Other areas of research include social cognition, social and moral emotion, and group process theory, all of which are applied to the study of offending behaviour or court process issues.

Developmental Psychology

Our research interests include:

• how children learn to communicate
• social cognition (eg Theory of Mind)
• peer interactions
• understanding prejudice
• infant cognitive development
• developmental psychopathology (eg Autism)
• conversation analysis

We have excellent links with the wider community. Members of the Developmental Psychology group are committed to sharing their research findings and methodologies with the public. We hold highly successful large-scale events that bring together practitioners, policy makers, and academics to share knowledge and develop collaborations. Our outreach events are typically interactive, fun, and informative. They range from ‘Play and Learn’ days for young families, to workshops for school children on topical issues such as cyberbullying and happiness.

A central hub for our research and outreach activity is the  Kent Child Development Unit .

The School of Psychology currently includes two formally constituted research centres, representing areas of concentration and excellence in research.

Centre for the Study of Group Processes

The Centre includes a thriving international research community, involving twelve tenured academic staff, as well as its research fellows and PhD students. The Centre attracts visits and research collaborations from major international researchers, many of whom have formal affiliations with the Centre.

Over the years, CSGP has attracted substantial externally funded research on a wide range of topics. It has also recruited excellent MSc and PhD students and its members teach for the School’s MSc degrees in Social and Applied Psychology, Political Psychology and Organisational and Business Psychology. The Centre also edits an international journal,  Group Processes and Intergroup Relations  (Sage Publications).

Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology

The Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology strives to be the leader in research that informs practice and policy. The vast range of topics covered by the centre staff is indicative of the centre’s facilitative research culture. As a result, members of the centre team have been the beneficiaries of research funding for new and innovative research.

Staff research interests

Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘ find a supervisor ’ search to search by staff member or keyword.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website .

Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued academic careers.

The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.

The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide .

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact [email protected] .

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from  UKCISA  before applying.

General information

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

Additional costs

General additional costs.

Find out more about  general additional costs  that you may pay when studying at Kent. 

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

• University and external funds
• Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this programme.

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the  application process  or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

Need help deciding?

Our friendly team is on hand to help you with any queries you have.

Find the right supervisor for your and your research project.

Experience our stunning campuses.

Everything you need to know about applying to Kent from abroad.

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We are here to support your postgraduate journey.

Kent ranked top 50 in The Complete University Guide 2024 .

Support for funding so you can focus on your studies.

Research excellence.

Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.

It’s easy to study on or off campus at Kent – discover what is right for you.

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PhD in Computation, Cognition and Language

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Linguistics at Cambridge is unique in the UK in that study and research in theoretical and applied linguistics are integrated within in a single academic unit. We provide great variety and flexibility in course contents as well as subject-specific training and diversity of intellectual interactions.

The PhD in Computation, Cognition and Language is a PhD track for students who conduct basic and applied research in the computational study of language, communication, and cognition, in humans and machines. This research is interdisciplinary in nature and draws on methodology and insights from a range of disciplines that are now critical for the further development of language sciences, including (but not limited to) Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology and Neuroscience. A variety of PhD topics that fall within this remit are accepted. Our current primary areas of research are:

• natural language processing

• computational and corpus linguistics

• computational models of human language acquisition and processing

• information extraction, mining, and presentation

• multilingual technology

• educational and assistive technology

• text data technology for health

• computational digital humanities

• computational approaches to the analysis of speech

• digital forensic speech analysis

In British universities, the PhD is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years, and most funding is based on this assumption.  It is also possible to take a part-time route, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.

While the PhD is not a taught course, students will benefit from the availability of courses and seminars offered both within the MMLL Faculty and by other departments concerned with language science in Cambridge (e.g. Computer Science and Technology, Education, Engineering, Psychology, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit). All research students also benefit from a programme of professional training run at various levels within the University and enabling cross-disciplinary interactions. The programme includes seminars and workshops on e.g. giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, and specialist linguistic training. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching for colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in teaching in the Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to PhD, the minimum academic requirement is an overall distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to PhD, the usual academic requirement is a pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their own merits and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral level research.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

• Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics
• Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of theoretical and applied linguistics this course is advertised in multiple departments. please see the overview tab for more details., course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence MPhil
• Advanced Computer Science MPhil
• Computer Science PhD
• Linguistics: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics PhD

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Cognitive Neuroscience

Research in cognitive neuroscience is devoted to understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying cognitive processes and skills using multiple levels of analysis and a battery of research methods and techniques. Thus, we are investigating a range of topics in cognitive neuroscience, including speech comprehension; language; object recognition; memory; cognition in the ageing brain; the cognitive skills fundamental to education, including the development of numeracy and reading; agency; decision making and adaptive behaviour; the construction of values used to guide decision making, reinforcement learning and fronto-executive control.

Techniques employed include magnetic neuroimaging at 3T and 7T, PET, EEG, MEG, TMS, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology and analysis of genetic polymorphisms. We are studying healthy volunteers across the lifespan as well as specific patient groups.

Dr Lee de Wit

Dr Kanad Mandke

Jeffery Robert Lee Pendleton

Professor Jon Simons

Downing Street, Cambridge

webmaster[at]psychol.cam.ac.uk

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd neuroscience in england.

31 degrees at 21 universities in England.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Neuroscience
• PhD Applied Life Sciences
• PhD Biochemistry
• PhD Bioengineering
• PhD Biology
• PhD Biology and Life Sciences
• PhD Biomedical Sciences
• PhD Biomedical Technology
• PhD Biometry
• PhD Biotechnology
• PhD Cell Biology
• PhD Ecology
• PhD Evolutionary Biology
• PhD Genetics
• PhD Human Biology
• PhD Human Biology and Biomedicine
• PhD Human Physiology
• PhD Hydrobiology
• PhD Marine Biology
• PhD Medical Biochemistry
• PhD Medical Microbiology
• PhD Microbiology
• PhD Molecular Biology
• PhD Mycology
• PhD Natural History
• PhD Parasitology
• PhD Plant Genetics
• PhD Toxicology
• PhD Virology
• PhD Zoology

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

PhD/MPhil Psychology and Social Neuroscience

City, university of london.

• 1 year Full time degree
• 4 years Part time degree

Neuroscience PhD

University of brighton.

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology

University of essex.

• 5 years Full time degree
• Fundamental Statistics for Research (15 Credits) - Core
• Research Project (MSc) (60 Credits) - Core
• Neurocognition of Human Interaction (15 Credits) - Core
• Numerical Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience (15 Credits) - Core
• Theory and Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology (30 Credits) - Core
• View all modules

Psychology and Vision Sciences - Systems neuroscience PhD, Mphil

University of leicester.

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Newcastle University

• 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Neuroscience and Neuropathology PhD

University of nottingham.

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

Cognitive Psychology / Neuropsychology - PhD

University of kent.

• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience PhD

Brunel university london.

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,355 per year (UK)

Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

• 4 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)

Cognitive Science (Computer Science) PhD

University of birmingham.

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,778 per year (UK)

Clinical Neuroscience PhD

• 6 years Part time degree

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience MPhil/PhD

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD

• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration PhD

University of liverpool.

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Manchester

Dphil in neuroscience (1+3), university of oxford.

• 4 years Full time degree: £12,540 per year (UK)

Brain Sciences PhD

Imperial college london.

• 24 months Full time degree: £7,030 per year (UK)
• 48 months Full time degree: £3,515 per year (UK)

Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience PhD

University of bristol.

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,758 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,379 per year (UK)

Basic & Clinical Neuroscience MD(Res)/MPhil/PhD

King's college london, university of london.

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,950 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,975 per year (UK)

Cognitive Science PhD

University of sussex.

• 4 years Full time degree

1-20 of 31 courses

Course type:

• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• University of Reading
• Keele University
• University of Cambridge
• St. George’s University, Grenada (with partner campus in Newcastle, UK)

Related Subjects:

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Cognitive Neuroscience MSc

Key information.

• =10th   in the UK for Psychology   (ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023)
• =17th  in the UK for Psychology   (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)
• Top 20  in the UK for our research overall   in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience   in  REF 2021   (Times Higher Education)

Gain the expert knowledge and skills for studying the biology of the mind. On this Masters, you’ll develop the skills needed for a career in cognitive neuroscience and related fields.

At Sussex, you’ll:

• learn from our experts in cognitive neuroscience about the activities and structures of our brains, and how they’re linked to concepts such as memory, attention, social interaction and consciousness
• gain hands-on experience with advanced research techniques, including neuroimaging (fMRI), programming for experiments (Python), eye tracking and EEG
• develop your statistics skills using R
• have one-to-one supervision of your personal research project
• be a part of our cognitive neuroscience community with access to research seminars and workshops.

When you graduate, you’ll have the research skills in cognitive neuroscience needed for progression to a PhD. These skills also come in useful in other exciting careers including:

• data science
• science writing
• neuroscience.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Masters Week

Join us online to find out about Masters study, 10–14 June 2024

Book your place

Entry requirements

• UK requirements
• International requirements

Please select your country from the list.

Philippines

Saudi arabia, south africa, south korea, switzerland, united arab emirates, my country is not listed.

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

English language requirements

Ielts (academic).

High level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.  Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests, cambridge advanced certificate in english (cae).

176 overall, including at least 169 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

International ESOL SELT B2 with a minimum of 39 in each component.

LanguageCert International ESOL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres. We do not accept the online version.

Pearson (PTE Academic)

62 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills. 

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

88 overall, including at least 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, 23 in Writing. 

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

As/a-level (gce).

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only:  70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English:  70% 

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

Select to see the list of exempt english-speaking countries.

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries: 

• Antigua and Barbuda
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• The British Overseas Territories
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

• Visas and immigration

Admissions information for applicants

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Application deadlines

1 August 2024 (international), 1 September 2024 (UK)

We strongly recommend an earlier application where possible, as some courses are in high demand and may close before the above dates. Find out more at How to apply for a Masters course

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to study this course full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. Modules for the full-time course are listed below.  For details  about the part-time course,  contact us .

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• An Adventure in Statistics
• Research Reform and Open Science
• Social Neuroscience
• Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience

Spring teaching

• Brain Imaging Methods
• Neuroscience of Consciousness
• Programming for Experiments
• The Brain Across The Life Span

Spring and summer teaching

• Research Dissertation

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Our experts

The School of Psychology is one of the UK’s largest and most academically diverse communities of psychology staff and students. You’ll be taught and supervised by experts who create positive impact through research. This includes our Cognitive Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience researchers.

Dr Sam Berens

Lecturer in Psychology

View profile of Sam Berens

Prof Chris Bird

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience

View profile of Chris Bird

Dr Jenny Bosten

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

View profile of Jenny Bosten

Dr Daniel Campbell-Meiklejohn

View profile of Daniel Campbell-Meiklejohn

Prof Hugo Critchley

Chair in Psychiatry (Honorary Consultant)

View profile of Hugo Critchley

Prof Hans Crombag

Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience

View profile of Hans Crombag

Prof Zoltan Dienes

Professor in Experimental Psychology

View profile of Zoltan Dienes

Prof Gillian Forrester

Professor of Comparative Cognition

View profile of Gillian Forrester

Dr Sophie Forster

Reader in Psychology and Cognitive Neuro

View profile of Sophie Forster

Prof Anna Franklin

Professor of Visual Perception and Cognition

View profile of Anna Franklin

Prof Alan Garnham

Professor of Experimental Psychology

View profile of Alan Garnham

Dr Theodoros Karapanagiotidis

View profile of Theodoros Karapanagiotidis

Dr Sarah King

Reader in Behavioural Neuroscience

View profile of Sarah King

Dr Eisuke Koya

Reader in Psychology

View profile of Eisuke Koya

Dr David Leavens

Reader in Comparative Psychology

View profile of David Leavens

Dr Liat Levita

Reader in Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience

View profile of Liat Levita

Dr Dominique Makowski

View profile of Dominique Makowski

Dr John Maule

View profile of John Maule

Dr Emiliano Merlo

View profile of Emiliano Merlo

Dr Alexa Morcom

Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience

View profile of Alexa Morcom

Dr Giulia Poerio

View profile of Giulia Poerio

Dr Charlotte Rae

View profile of Charlotte Rae

Dr Warrick Roseboom

Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Inform

View profile of Warrick Roseboom

Dr David Schwartzman

Research Fellow

View profile of David Schwartzman

Dr Ryan Scott

View profile of Ryan Scott

Prof Anil Seth

Professor of Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience

View profile of Anil Seth

Dr Maxine Sherman

Lecturer in Computer Science & AI

View profile of Maxine Sherman

Prof Julia Simner

Professor of Psychology

View profile of Julia Simner

Dr Bryan Singer

View profile of Bryan Singer

Dr Ediz Sohoglu

View profile of Ediz Sohoglu

Prof Jamie Ward

View profile of Jamie Ward

Prof Martin Yeomans

View profile of Martin Yeomans

Fees and scholarships

How much does it cost.

If you study part time over two years, you’ll be charged 50% of the equivalent full-time fee in each year of study. Your second-year fee – if you continue your studies without a break – will be subject to a 3% increase (subject to rounding).

If you’re a self-funded international student, you’re required to pay a tuition fee deposit. Find out more about Masters tuition fee deposits

• Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

How can I fund my course?

Scholarships.

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

A full fee waiver for British Muslim Masters applicants

Find out more

Scholarships worth £5,000 available to international applicants

100 scholarships worth up to £5,000 are available for First Class graduates from UK or Irish universities

£3,000 scholarships available to environmental influencers bringing about real-world behaviour change

£800 scholarship available to reward talented organ player studying on any course at Sussex.

5 scholarships of £800 are available to reward talented musicians studying on any course at Sussex

$10,000 USD scholarship for a national or citizen of the USA

One full tuition fee waiver in conjunction with maintenance support from the British Council are available to a resident of Palestinian Territories

Full fee waiver and maintenance award for an applicant from South Africa

5 full scholarships available for Masters students from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria

Fully funded scholarships available to support a forced migrant seeking to study a Masters at Sussex

Cash scholarships available for students who have demonstrated sporting excellence

£2,000 award for previous Sussex graduates returning to study a Masters degree

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Bangladesh

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Egypt

Scholarships up to £4,000 for 2024 Sussex graduates progressing directly to a Masters at Sussex

£10,000 scholarship for an applicant from China

£10,000 scholarship for an applicant from Indonesia

£10,000 scholarship for an applicant from Mexico

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of India

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Nigeria

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Pakistan

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Turkey

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for applicants who are nationals of Vietnam

Working while you study

Our Careers and Employability Centre can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

This MSc prepares you for a potential career in research and enhances your work-related skills such as critical insight and data analysis. 

This course is also relevant if you are interested in clinical psychology or in work in the biomedical sector by providing, for example, an understanding of how brain damage affects cognition.

Our graduates have gone on to pursue PhDs and to careers in industry and medicine.

Explore our campus

Experience Sussex life in our virtual tour.

Start your virtual tour

Masters Open Day

Saturday 9 March 2019 Book your place

Masters Information Sessions

Visit campus and chat to staff and students. Book your place

Online Masters Sessions

Join a live webchat. Book your place

International

Meet us in your country

+44 (0)1273 876787 Ask us a question

Find out how to apply

Find out about the School of Psychology

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• How to apply
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• Guide to study
• Open Days and events
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• Order a printed prospectus

What do you want to do next?

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• Neuroscience Institute

World Parkinson's Day 2024 - Our research

On 11 April, we are recognising World Parkinson's Day awareness day and the impact that this disease has on people all over the world. Discover our pioneering research transforming the understanding of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition and the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Each day, 80 people in the UK are newly diagnosed with the disease, which affects over six million people globally. There is currently no cure or disease-modifying therapy.

The University of Sheffield’s Neuroscience Institute is an international centre of excellence that attracts considerable support from research councils, charities and industry partners. Close collaboration between scientists and doctors is a key strength. This bench-to-bedside approach is unique. 

Facilities such as the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), the Sheffield NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and advanced MRI-PET imaging technology (Sheffield Scanner) on campus also give the University the edge in developing new treatments, more quickly. 

Our pioneering Parkinson's research has succeeded in establishing new disease models, uncovering disease mechanisms, identifying drug targets and promising candidates for a neuroprotective therapy to slow down or stop Parkinson's disease.

From trialling new treatments for Parkinson’s disease  to launching a clinical support study group to support Parkinson's research across the UK , our researchers are studying Parkinson’s disease to gain a better understanding of what causes them and how to address them, while also working with patients to help assess and diagnose their condition then assemble a treatment plan.

The originality of our research

Professor Oliver Bandmann, Professor of Movement Disorders Neurology and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Institute said: “We were the first institution worldwide to undertake a drug screen in Parkinson’s disease patient tissue: Rather than using artificial model systems, we took a skin biopsy from people with Parkinson’s, grew the cells in a dish and then assessed 2,000 compounds for their rescue effect on the cell batteries (the mitochondria). This helped us to identify a drug called ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as a very promising drug for Parkinson’s. Our hope is that treatment with UDCA will slow down the worsening of Parkinson’s by rescuing the mitochondria which are often faulty in Parkinson’s.” 

“We have now taken UDCA into a clinical trial called the UP study. Unique features of this trial includes state-of-the-art functional imaging (31P MR Spectroscopy) and the use of motion sensors to objectively quantify disease progression and how the disease responded to the drug. Some of the Parkinson’s patients included in the UP study are my own patients from Sheffield. Despite Covid, we completed the trial in November last year. We hope to have the study results soon!” 

“In the future, it will be very important to have the right tools to choose the most promising drug for each individual patient. This is called ‘Personalized Medicine’ or ‘Precision Medicine’, or known technically as ‘disease stratification’. We completed the most extensive tissue-based disease stratification project in Parkinson’s disease. This approach has allowed us to classify’ individual PwP according to the mechanism which caused ‘their’ Parkinson’s disease. This will make it easier to put these patients on the right neuroprotective drug in the future! Many Parkinson’s patients from Sheffield and South Yorkshire have helped with these important biomarker studies - and so many of their spouses volunteered as healthy controls!”

Co-owning a technology company, I was myself diagnosed with Parkinson’s over 5 years ago, and life has taken a very different path since then. Following involvement as a participant in the UP Study (UDCA in Parkinson’s) at Sheffield, my ongoing curiosity (and clearly some self-interest!) regarding the wider field of related research led me to join the other Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) members within the growing UK Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Studies Group. Having a Parkinson’s diagnosis has resulted in many lifestyle changes with a focus on activities promoting physical and mental health playing a key role, even resulting in a competitive (if somewhat less competitive) return to sport. Richard Walker Postgraduate student undertaking a MSc in Neuroscience & Neurodegeneration at SITraN

I have worked in Parkinson's research for the last 23 years. I first became interested in Parkinson's research after one lecture I had as an undergraduate on Parkinson's which made clear all the advances which had been made in our understanding however this had not been translated to the clinic, I hence set out on a mission to research in this area at the forefront of translate laboratory research to the clinic and ultimately patient benefit. Now, my team works to understand the mechanism leading to cell death in Parkinson's focusing on mitochondria, how these become dysfunctional and how we can target them with small molecules and other therapeutic approaches. I am actively involved with several Parkinson's charities, Parkinson's UK, Cure Parkinson's and MJFF as well as being a major proponent of Patient Public Involvement in all research including laboratory-based research which can seem far away from the clinic. Heather Mortiboys Professor of Cellular Neuroscience and Metabolism

If you are interested in our Parkinson's research, get in touch at  [email protected]

Related information

Andrew Myers on living with Parkinson's

Pam Irvine on living with Parkinson's

Tackling Parkinson's in Sheffield

Fundraising for Parkinson's research

The Neuroscience Institute

Partner with us

We're proud to work with local and global organisations to further enhance our translational research.

The University's cross-faculty research centres harness our interdisciplinary expertise to solve the world's most pressing challenges.

Department of Psychology

3/7/24 – cognition and cognitive neuroscience brown bag: david coggan, phd.

Posted by larsonj on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Events: Past .

Modelling human visual perception of occluded objects: insights from training 150 convolutional neural networks.

Date : Thursday, March 7 Time : 12:20 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Location : Wilson Hall 115

Human observers can readily perceive and recognize visual objects, even when occluding stimuli obscure much of the object from view. By contrast, state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks (CNNs) perform poorly at classifying occluded objects. In recent work, we have collected three datasets of human responses to occluded object images using behavioral, neuroimaging, and eye-tracking techniques, through which humans and computer-vision models can be compared. In this talk, I will present the key insights from evaluating a large number of CNNs that vary in their architecture, learning objectives, and visual diet. For instance, one theme that has emerged across these models is that naturalistic learning objectives (e.g. self-supervised rather than supervised) and training dataset augmentations (e.g. occlusion by real objects rather than artificial shapes) lead to more human-like patterns of performance. This suggests that human occlusion-robustness emerges in part from unsupervised engagement with the specific forms of occlusion that occur in nature.

Questions? Contact Isabel Gauthier.

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