Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience

Entry requirements

This course is open to graduates with a first or 2:1 degree in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics (or a cognate discipline with some psychology study) or equivalent.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Please note, all course information including entry requirements relates to the 2022/23 academic year.

The study of cognition and its neural mechanisms is a fascinating area of psychology and neuroscience with relevance to a range of problems in the modern world. What are the genetic contributions to brain disorders? Can we predict consumer preferences from brain activity? What are the effects of brain injury on cognitive abilities and behaviour? Drawing staff from Psychology and Life Sciences, this course will engage you with contemporary research on cognition, brain and behaviour from both behavioural and neuroscience perspectives. The course will develop your practical skills with cognitive neuroscience techniques such as EEG, eyetracking, and brain stimulation as well as develop your quantitative and broader research skills.

Studying our MSc in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience will expose you to advanced topics in the study of cognition and behaviour including attention, perception, memory, decision-making, and emotion. Furthermore, the course will explore how these cognitive processes link to brain mechanisms by exploring neuroscience approaches and methods. In addition to developing general advanced research design and statistics skills, students will receive advanced training in specialist cognitive neuroscience methods such as EEG, eye-tracking, and brain stimulation with data collection and analysis practicals using our specialist facilities.

The programme involves staff from both Psychology and Life Science (neuroscience), to cover a wide range of topics and approaches. Working closely with our expert staff during your dissertation and research apprenticeship projects, you will be directly involved with cutting-edge research that is geared towards your interests and personal skills development.

Key Features Of Your MSc Programme In Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience Will Include:

• Two-semester Advanced Study module focused on exploring a range of different topics in cognition and cognitive neuroscience
• Developing practical skills and theoretical understanding related to Cognitive Neuroscience research methods such as EEG, eyetracking, MRI, and brain stimulation.
• Opportunities to work directly with expert academics on two contemporary research projects focused on cognition and/or cognitive neuroscience
• Strong focus on your personal skills development throughout the course to help you pursue your career goals
• A broad range of research methods training to maximise your employability skills
• Small group specialist teaching in your chosen field from research-active tutors
• A large cohort of MSc Psychology students sharing the core modules and the Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA) provides a friendly, lively, and supportive peer community

The overall aims of all our MSc Psychology programmes are as follows:

• To equip you to formulate and conduct research projects within psychology and cognitive neuroscience;
• To develop your knowledge of different theoretical perspectives, philosophical traditions and methodological approaches to psychology and cognitive neuroscience;
• To enable you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods and different forms of data, and to evaluate their appropriateness for different research problems;
• To enable you to define and formulate research questions and testable hypotheses, and to design appropriate research to answer these questions using relevant methods of data collection, consistent with British Psychological Society principles of ethics and research governance;
• To provide you with knowledge of quantitative approaches to research and data analysis techniques for the study of brain and behaviour;
• To provide you with a range of opportunities to engage with advanced research in substantive areas relevant to their own research topic and to the discipline of psychology;
• To provide you with opportunities to enhance and develop your written and communication skills, independent learning skills, and critical reflection and evaluation skills.

You will develop these skills in the context of your chosen specialism.

Other related courses you may be interested in:

• MSc in Applied Social & Political Psychology
• MSc in Applied Child Psychology

Information for international students

English language entry requirement for International students is IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each subtest.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

Fees and funding

For information related to fees and funding, please visit the individual course page on the Keele University website.