Cognitive Science

Students study topics in a very wide variety of professional disciplines. The breadth of topics covered is challenging, but encourages students to think beyond the narrow confines of a single speciality. The research project is structured to allow greater depth in the pursuit of a single topic, and results in professionally meaningful deliverables. Lecturers are highly qualified, research active cognitive scientists with a range of specialities.



- Unique taught offering providing advanced material in psychology, philosophy of mind, computational modelling, neuropsychology, and more



- Ideal preparation for future PhD studies tackling interdisciplinary topics



- Includes a substantial research project, conducted largely during the Summer months



(i) Purpose:

This programme assumes the incoming student has a particular specialisation in one or more fields. To this initial specialisation, the programme seeks to add interdisciplinary breadth, providing insights and concepts from many different fields. This sensitivity to interdisciplinary concerns is suitable as preparation for critical engagement with research at a postgraduate level. It is thus intended to be an ideal preparation for those who wish to progress to PhD studies or to a career in research. It will also suit those who harbour a personal interest in critical approaches to human experience and behaviour. It is not a vocational programme, in that it is not tailored for any specific employment target.



(ii) Education and subject description, professional values:

We encourage students to adopt rich, pluralist views of the topics covered, which combine insights and expertise from several disciplines, including philosophy, computer science, psychology and more.



(iii) Learning outcomes:

Taught modules cover a broad range of disciplines, which will challenge and encourage students to develop critical skills that transcend discipline boundaries.



(iv) Approaches to teaching learning and assessment: Students will thus encounter many different ways of understanding and investigating focussed topics, and will be encouraged to learn to synthesise and integrate insights form disparate fields. Because of the breadth of subject matter, students will encounter evaluation in many forms, including continuous assessment by exercises, essays, reports, portfolio assembly, and end of module examination.

Module Trimester Credits

Stage 1 Core Modules

COMP47230 Introduction to Cognitive Scie Autumn 7.5

COMP40290 Research Project in Cognitive Science Summer 30



Stage 1 Options - C) Min 52CR:

Students should select a minimum of 52.5 credits across 6 or more modules.

COMP40250 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Autumn 7.5

PHIL31030 Philosophy of Perception and the Senses Autumn 10

PHIL40250 Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception Autumn 10

PHIL40970 Topics in Philosophy of Mind and Cognition Autumn 10

PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philos Autumn 10

PHIL41510 Ethics in Public Life Autumn 10

PHIL41890 Authenticity and Implicit Attitudes Autumn 10

PSY40020 Fundamentals of Cognitive Neuropsychology Autumn 7.5

COMP20330 Functional Programming II Spring 5

COMP40260 Connectionism and Dynamical Systems Spring 7.5

COMP40280 Embodiment and Enactive approaches to Cognitive Science Spring 7.5

COMP47980 Generative AI: Language Models Spring 5

PHIL31110 Applied Epistemology Spring 10

PHIL31120 Wittgenstein Spring 10

PHIL31170 Philosophy of Language Spring 10

PHIL40960 The Cultural Mind Spring 10

SOC41130 AI and Society Spring 10

Applicants must demonstrate an adequate foundation in themes of relevance to Cognitive Science. This usually takes the form of



A BA/BSc degree in one or more of the main contributing disciplines (Philosophy, Psychology, Neuroscience, Linguistics, Computer Science) with a final award of 2:1 or better (GPA of approx. 3·2), or international equivalent.



Applicants must display familiarity and critical engagement with some aspect of Cognitive Science. A degree in Computer Science that is focused on software engineering alone, for example, would not be considered adequate preparation, whereas the same degree with evidence of theoretical proficiency in robotics or human-computer interaction would be appropriate. Similarly, applicants with a background in Psychology would be expected to demonstrate critical engagement with the theoretical aspects of cognitive science, and not only clinical practice.



All applications are assessed on a case by case basis, however, so students with a non-standard background may also wish to consider applying. Advanced computational skills are not a prerequisite for this programme.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:



Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

W358: 1 year full-time,

W359: 2 years part-time.

W358 MSc Cognitive Science

Master of Science Full-Time

Commencing September 2026



W359 MSc Cognitive Science

Master of Science Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

This is not a vocational course. In the course of one year we cover a very broad range of material, thus greatly increasing the breadth of academic exposure of our students. Historically, about half of the students go on to do PhD studies, and many others look for work in research. This course will not make a psychologist out of a non-psychologist, or an IT specialist out of someone who is not an IT specialist upon entry. It will enable students to tackle research issues they might not have been able for before, and to do PhDs in areas that would not have been possible before. It also has the potential to enrich one’s engagement with a very broad range of challenging material. Many students pursue this course because of a passionate interest in our scientific understanding of what it is to be human.



Please note that a cognitive science degree is not part of an accredited programme towards a clinical degree.