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MSc Computational Cognitive Neuroscience

  • DeadlineStudy Details:

    MSc 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course Description

Understanding the relationship between brain, cognition and behaviour is one of the biggest challenges the scientific community is currently working on. Computational cognitive neuroscience is a young and exciting discipline that tackles these long-standing research questions by integrating computer modelling with experimental research. This Masters programme will foster a new generation of scientists who will be trained in both neuro-computational modelling as well as cognitive neuroscience. Its core topics include:

  • Creating computational/mathematical models of neurons, circuits and cognitive functions
  • The fundamentals of cognitive neuroscience (brain mechanisms and structures underlying cognition and behaviour)
  • Advanced data analysis and neuroimaging techniques

The programme is suitable for students from a variety of disciplines including – but not limited to – psychology, computing, neuroscience, engineering, biology, maths and physics. Students with no prior programming experience are welcome. Graduates of this Masters will acquire a unique set of complementary skills that will make them extremely competitive in securing research or analyst positions in both academia and industry.

Entry Requirements

First or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent undergraduate degree) in a relevant discipline. Applicants might also be considered if they aren’t a graduate or their degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can demonstrate the ability to work at postgraduate level.

A-levels in Science, Computer Science or Mathematics

Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Depending on previous background and experience, applicants may be required to take one or more pre-sessional courses (for example in programming, statistics, or maths) prior to the start of the programme. These courses will be free to MSc offer holders.

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Fees

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more

Programme Funding

Goldsmiths offers a range of financial support including postgraduate scholarships, bursaries and fee waivers. These are awarded based on a variety of criteria, for example academic achievements or personal circumstances.

Student Destinations

When researching career opportunities, you may find it useful to visit the websites of professional bodies such as the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience Society Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB) and the Organisation for Computational Neurosciences.

Computational cognitive neuroscience graduates have a range of career options including:

  • Academic – take part in teaching and academic research in the field
  • Artificial intelligence – in a range of roles such as machine learning engineer or data scientist
  • Clinical engineer – designing, developing and maintaining equipment for diagnosing illnesses and treating patients
  • Communications – developing communications technologies as a communications engineer
  • Data analyst – providing insight and analysis of data in a range of sectors
  • Linguistics analysis – in areas such as speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, natural language processing, user research and computer-mediated language learning
  • Programming, Systems Analysis and Software – in areas such as games design, Human-Computer Interface (HCI) design and Software design and development
  • Scientific research – in a variety of fields such as health and pharmaceutical research, and neural network applications
  • Various roles in the IT sector

Module Details

Core modules

  • Foundations of Neuroscience 15 credits
  • Statistical Methods 15 credits
  • Cortical Modelling 15 credits
  • Cognitive Neuroscience 15 credits
  • Modelling Cognitive Functions 15 credits
  • Advanced Quantitative Methods 15 credits
  • You will undertake a 60 credit research project investigating an aspect of cognitive neuroscience using computational modelling, advanced data analysis methods, or a combination of these techniques. Culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation, the project will be carried out by combining the computational, experimental and data analysis skills that students will acquire over Term 1 and 2.

Option modules
You will choose one option from the following two modules:

  • Data Programming 15 credits
  • Introduction to coding with MATLAB 15 credits

You will also choose one of the following options:

  • Neural Networks 15 credits
  • Machine Learning 15 credits
  • Natural Computing 15 credits
  • Research Design and Analysis 15 credits
  • Critical Analysis 15 credits
  • Physical Computing 1 15 credits
  • Behavioural Genetics 15 credits
  • Artificial Intelligence 15 credits

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