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https://www.neuroscience.ox.ac.uk/
A1 and A2: Cognitive Neuroscience 6 mini-modules on a variety of themes ( students take 3 themes
for one module and all 6 for 2 modules)
Prof Nick Yeung – Executive control and attention
Prof Masud Husain – Working memory and visual cognition
Dr Mark Walton – Motivation and reward
Prof David Bannerman – Learning and memory
Dr Molly Crocket – Social cognition
Prof Matthew Rushworth – Decision making
A3: Neuroscience and Clinical Mental Prof. Catherine Harmer and Dr. Phil Burnet
Health
A4: Developmental Cognitive Prof Dorothy Bishop and Prof Kate Watkins
Neuroscience
B2: Computational Neuroscience Prof. Tim Behrens and Dr. Ben Willmore
C1: CNS Development, Plasticity and Prof Zoltan Molnar and Prof Colin Akerman
Repair
C2: Molecular Neuroscience Prof. Richard Wade-Martins and Dr. Peter Oliver
C3: Genes, Circuits and Behaviour Dr. Stephen Goodwin and Dr Vladyslav Vyazovskiy
These modules have been designed to embrace the considerable range of expertise available in Oxford
and each has two organisers to ensure continuity in content. They are updated each year to include new
personnel as well as to reflect the rapid changes taking place in neuroscience and feedback from current
students. Each selected advanced module is written up as an extended essay (3,000 words). For the
Computational Neuroscience module, a series of MATLAB exercises are set, which involve the analysis of
real data.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Students also undertake two 16-week research projects (lab rotations), selected from over 100
submitted, approved abstracts. These are written up as 10,000 word dissertations. Students are
encouraged to talk to as many potential supervisors as time permits, and will then meet with the
Director and members of the Organising Committee to discuss lab rotation choices. With over 100
abstracts submitted each year, there is always plenty of choice, but if students are interested in a
particular lab or research topic, they are welcome to discuss a potential project independently with an
appropriate supervisor. Details of potential MSc project supervisors can be found under the Themes
section of this website.
Results of the first project are presented as a poster at the annual Oxford Neuroscience Day, which is
attended by approximately 350 people. For the second dissertation, students give a short oral
presentation to their peers and mentors. Over 70 full papers have been published from previous MSc
lab rotation projects. Please see Research Highlights for further details.
The MSc concludes in mid-September of the following year with a compulsory oral examination (viva
voce), during which students discuss their work with a panel of examiners, after which a prizes may be
awarded for the best overall student.
1. Who is the Course Director with overall responsibility for students on this course?
Professor Andrew King
2. What induction arrangements will be made?
At the start of the first term, students are provided with a comprehensive programme which includes
familiarisation with the Department’s Library and a separate talk about the University’s Library facilities;
setting up computer accounts and familiarisation with the practical facilities; meetings with the Course
Lecturer, Dr Deborah Clarke, Course Director and Course Secretary.
3. What is the overall length of the course, and for how many weeks are students expected to work
in Oxford?
This is a full-time one-year course. The course starts in late September and finishes the following mid-
September. There is a break of 3 weeks at Christmas and of 1 week at the end of April, however, many
students choose to stay in Oxford during these breaks.
4. What is the pattern of lectures, classes, seminars, tutorials and self-directed work for this course?
Each lecture course comprises of between 12 and 15 hours of lectures. In Michaelmas term there are 5-
7 practical courses and a series of Introductory lectures. From January until the end of August students
will be working on their projects and dissertations, together with attendance at Advanced option
lectures. Students are expected to read widely around their chosen topics in order to produce scholarly
extended essays and extensive literature reviews for their dissertations.
5. What one-to-one or small group teaching will students on this course receive?
On the taught part of the course, students will have small group teaching for classes (usually no more
than 14 in a group) and for practicals (usually no more than 10 students to each
demonstrator). Supervision of projects will be on a one-to-one basis.
6. Who will take overall responsibility for an individual student’s progress and for completing the
joint progress report form in each term of the course?
Responsibility for an individual student’s progress is usually taken by the Course Lecturer in conjunction
with the Course Director who will also monitor progress of all students on the course. The progress
report form each term will be completed by the Course Lecturer in Michaelmas term and by the project
supervisors in Hilary and Trinity terms.
8. What opportunities are provided for students to take part in research seminars or groups? What
formal graduate skills training will be provided?
Timetables for weekly Departmental Seminars given within all of the pre-clinical and some clinical
departments are circulated. Students are encouraged by their supervisors to attend these talks and also
to attend talks organised by some of the research groups that may be of particular interest. Each year
there is a 2 day seminar on presentation skills and an opportunity to attend a writing skills course
specifically for MSc students. Students are also expected to give a short oral presentation on their Trinity
term project and are provided with feedback, and a poster presentation of their Hilary term project at
the Oxford Neuroscience Day.
9. What are the arrangements for student feedback and for responding to student concerns?
There is an MSc representative on the GJCC for the Department of Experimental Psychology and at the
Divisional level. In addition, students are asked to complete a questionnaire for each lecture course; this
covers lectures, classes and practicals. There is also an annual meeting of students with members of the
Organising Committee to discuss all aspects of the course from admissions through to examinations.
10. What arrangements for accommodation, meals and social facilities will be made for students on
a graduate taught course?
Obviously, this question relates mostly to colleges, but the department does provide a cafeteria and a
common room that can be used by graduate students.
Many colleges will be able to provide at least one year’s accommodation. Generally speaking the college
will provide meals throughout the year, but provision will vary from college to college, especially during
vacations. In addition there are usually self-catering facilities available in graduate accommodation.
Students are members of the Middle Common Room of the college which is the main social centre for
graduates. The MCR provides a common room and usually organises a programme of social events
throughout the year. The college will also provide a bar, some computing facilities and a library, and may
often have dedicated funds for research (conference and field grants). Graduates are also welcome to
participate in all social and sporting activities of the college.
11. What arrangements are in place for pastoral and welfare support?
There are many people within the Department to provide pastoral and welfare support, i.e. the
Supervisor, the Academic Advisor, the Course Director, Mentor and the Course Lecturer. The Course
Lecturer has primary responsibility for pastoral and welfare support. If a student does need such
support, then we ensure that we communicate with the college so that this can be co-ordinated.
There is an extensive framework of support for graduates within each college, including a College
Advisor, usually in a cognate subject, a Tutor for Graduates and/or the Senior Tutor. The Tutor for
Graduates is a fellow of the college with particular responsibility for the interests and welfare of
graduate students. The University also has a professionally staffed confidential Student Counselling
Service, which offers assistance with personal, emotional, social, and academic problems.
Programme Specification:
MSc in Neuroscience
1. Awarding institution/Body University of Oxford
2. Teaching institution University of Oxford
3. Programme accredited by n/a
4. Final award Master of Science (M.Sc.)
5. Programme name Neuroscience
6. UCAS code n/a
7. Relevant subject benchmark statement n/a
8. Date of programme specification January 2015
9. Educational aims of the programme
To expose students to a broad range of topics within neuroscience and add both breadth and
strength to the traditional '3-year PhD' training model.
To provide formal training in the theory and practical technology of neuroscience from the most
basic molecular mechanisms through to clinical neurobiological issues.
To offer research projects in a very wide range of well-established laboratories.
To offer a flexible response to evolving research areas and methods.
To bring students from a variety of scientific backgrounds into the field of neuroscience.
Advanced courses
Cognitive neuroscience
Learning and memory
Neuroscience and clinical mental health
Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience
Motor systems
Computational neuroscience
Sensory systems
CNS development and plasticity
Molecular neuroscience
Genes, circuits and behaviour
Professional development
Communication and presentation skills
Commercial exploitation of science
Experimental design and statistics
Careers
Two independent 3-month research projects.
Assessment
All students are required to pass the Qualifying Exam, which covers the introductory material, at the end
of the first term. Students will write either a 3,000-word essay or an equivalent practical write-up (as
appropriate) on completing each of their specialist modules. They will write up a 10,000-word research
report on each of their two research projects. The award of Distinctions is made on the basis of
submitted written work and performance in the final oral examination.
COSTS
Your main costs will be your living expenses and your University & College fees
Living expenses, which include rent, food etc., are ~£12,900 per annum for a single person,
depending on your lifestyle. You will find it useful to read the information provided at How
much will it cost to live in Oxford?
The University tuition fees vary substantially, depending on your chosen course and your fee
status. Your fee status is determined by your nationality and country of residence. Most
students will be charged either at the standard (Home/EU) rate or the overseas rate. For most
programmes of study, the Home/EU rate will be c£4,200 and the overseas rate will be £18,770,
for 2016/17. Please check the course's website for confirmation of the fee rates. (Fee rate
information will be updated shortly for 2017/18.
EU students who start on a course in 2017-18 will be charged the Home rate for tuition fees for
all subsequent years of their course
The College fee for the academic year 2017/8 will be £3,021.
You can use the Fees, Funding & Scholarship search tool to help you work out the precise annual cost of
any course.
STUDENTSHIPS
FOR WELLCOME TRUST 1+3 PROGRAMME
The Wellcome Trust fund FIVE Studentships per year for the 4 year doctoral programme. Students must
have, or expect to obtain, at least an upper second class degree. Overseas applicants are also eligible for
these awards, and must obtain a degree equivalent to at least that of an upper second class honours
degree from a British university. The bursary associated with each Studentship will start at
approximately £19,500 per annum (increasing incrementally each year to over £21,000 p.a. in the final
year), plus payment of University, College and research expenses. However, for overseas students (from
non European Union countries), University fees will only be paid at the home student rate i.e. students
will have to pay the difference between home student and overseas fees (approximately £10,000 per
annum). However, there are a limited number of awards available separately from the University which
may cover this shortfall.
MSC IN NEUROSCIENCE
Studentships may be obtained in open competition from the Medical Sciences Division for the one year
MSc in Neuroscience. These are open to all applicants. Students must have, or expect to obtain, at least
an upper second class degree. Please check the latest bursary details.
DIRECT ENTRY TO DPHIL (PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY TO YOUR DEPARTMENT OF INTEREST)
Medical Research Council studentships may be obtained in open competition in all departments for
DPhil study. These are open to UK citizens and citizens of countries in the European Union. Students
must have, or expect to obtain, at least an upper second class degree. Please check the latest bursary
details.
Other studentships may also be available and you are advised to check the departmental websites for
further details. Supervisors may also hold personal sources of funding for DPhil study. It may also be
possible to fund yourself for a DPhil.
Further details of University and College scholarships can be found in the University of Oxford Graduate
Studies Prospectus