Psychology - Behavioural Neuroscience

MSc Behavioural Neuroscience
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90))

The MSc. in Behavioural Neuroscience offers advanced education and training in topics concerning human behaviour and its relation to the brain. The programme provides an excellent preparation for students who wish to pursue doctoral research in psychology, neuroscience or neuropsychology and equips students for work in research, medical and health settings. Students will gain key skills in research methods, experimental design, programming & data analysis. This is achieved through lab rotation and by pairing students with academic supervisors based on their research interests to complete a 30-credit research project.

Behavioural Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field which combines expertise from a range of disciplines, including Psychology, Neuroscience, Engineering and Economics. Teaching on the MSc will be provided by UCD faculty with backgrounds in wide-ranging but complementary fields, cutting across boundaries to provide students with new insights into this exciting topic. The programme also offers students the opportunity to get involved in staff research and to work together to produce a successful research thesis. The School of Psychology has laboratories dedicated to the study of Attention & Memory, Perception, Neuropsychology, Eye Tracking, EEG, and Media & Entertainment Psychology, and the School has research links with Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and St Vincent's Hospital.

Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Programme Outcomes
Students should achieve the following learning outcomes over the course of the programme:

Knowledge and understanding:
- Understand both theoretical and applied issues in behavioural neuroscience

- Demonstrate advanced conceptual knowledge of how human behaviour relates to brain function

- Understand the contribution of the disciplines of experimental psychology, neuropsychology and neuroscience to understanding key aspects of human behaviour and cognition

- Understand and appraise the methodologies used in behavioural neuroscience

Applying knowledge and understanding:
- Critically appraise evidence from research papers concerning topics in behavioural neuroscience

- Reflect on how a behavioural neuroscientific approach contributes to understanding applied issues in neuropsychiatry or neuropsychology or neuroeconomics

Making judgements:
- Systematically analyse the research literature in a key area of behavioural neuroscience as part of their research project

- Decide, under guidance, on appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis as part of their research project

Communications and working skills:
- Articulate theoretical concepts, current debates and research findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences from a behavioural neuroscience perspective

- Work effectively with peers in learning, research, and presentation

Learning skills:
- Collect or source data using research methodologies taught on the programme

- Engage in independent research and analysis under supervision

- Write to a high academic standard

Subjects taught

Students will take modules in Psychology (perception & cognition, language, decision making, neuropsychology, memory & emotion, neuro-disability and rehabilitation) and Neuroscience (principals of neuroscience, higher cortical function, sensory neuroscience, neuropharmacology) with further options in Behavioural Economics, allowing students to customise their postgraduate education to complement their undergraduate training.

Modules will include:
PSY40820 Fundamentals of Neuropsychology
PSY40790 Clinical Cases in Neuropsychology
PSY40830 Advanced Cognitive Psychology
PSY40770 Knowledge Transfer
PSY40810 Recent Papers in Behavioural Neuroscience
PSY40800 Readings in Visual and Social Cognition
PSY40760 Advanced Research Methods and Stats
PSY40840 Behavioural Neuroscience Labs 1
PSY40850 Behavioural Neuroscience Labs 2
PSY40780 Behavioural Neuroscience Research Project
NEUR40110 Sensory Neuroscience
NEUR40120 Principles of Neuroscience

Entry requirements

Candidates may apply for admission to the MSc. in Behavioural Neuroscience if they have the following:

- A primary degree that is at least upper second class honours or international equivalent in Psychology or in Neuroscience.

- Or a Higher Diploma in Psychology with at least upper second class honours

- We will also consider applicants with at least an upper second class honours degree in a cognate area that provides appropriate background to the programme.

- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.

Application dates

The following entry routes are available:

MSc Behavioural Neuroscience FT (W461)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time

Deadline 18-MAR-2022

Applicants should contact the programme administrator, Ms Mary Boyle, at mary.boyle@ucd.ie, phone: +353 (0)1 716 8369

Credits

150

Duration

1 year full-time.

Fees

MSc Behavioural Neuroscience (W461) Full Time
EU Year 1 - € 9770
nonEU Year 1 - € 21900

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

Enrolment dates

Next Intake: 2020/2021 September

More details
  • Qualification letters

    MSc

  • Qualifications

    Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ)

  • Attendance type

    Full time,Daytime

  • Apply to

    Course provider