Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience MSc

This module aims to provide your with core skills and knowledge in quantitative research methods in Psychology. The focus is on understanding how research questions relate to design and appropriate analyses. Across the suite of MSc programmes in Psychology, it provides you with advanced skills in a variety of statistical analyses and enables you to conduct psychological research at master’s level. The module enables you to understand and critically evaluate published quantitative psychological research. It prepares you for your dissertation and enables you to choose appropriate methodologies and analyses for research.

The “reproducibility crisis” in Psychology (and in science more generally) has been vigorously debated in recent years in terms of its existence, nature, causes and possible solutions.  Many changes to research practice have as a result been introduced and proposed, commonly referred to collectively as “Open Science”. In broad terms these changes aim to promote and support greater openness and transparency at all stages of the research process. These changes are also evolving and contested as new concerns are identified.

This module aims to familiarise you with these debates so that you can navigate your way through these rapidly developing changes. The module will also introduce you to current tools that support Open Science.

This module will introduce the advanced level study of topics in neuropsychology, with a particular focus on cognitive neuropsychology. The foundations of the approach will be outlined, followed by examination of neuropsychological case studies and related research in several areas of cognition, including memory, language processing, and visual and perceptual disorders. You'll also be encouraged to develop a critical awareness of the controversies that exist within this field and how these link to controversies in neuroscience.

The module reviews your current understanding of the epidemiology, aetiology, pathology, diagnostic investigations and treatment interventions of a range of neurological conditions that are of great public interest today. You'll develop your ability to interpret clinical and neuropathological data for the purpose of either research or clinical diagnosis.

This module will give you a specialised body of current knowledge in the field of clinical neurophysiology. The emphasis will be on acquiring familiarity with the practical skills involved with specialist technologies and investigations. Investigative procedures include evoked potentials, nerve conduction and EMG, with emphasis on interpreting diagnostic information acquired in surgical and ITU environments.

This module will give you an understanding of the developing relationship between human brain and behaviour. It will draw on evidence from physiological, cognitive and neuroscientific research to examine the development of key cognitive processes including sensory processing, learning and memory, language, action perception and production, and emotion processing at different stages of life.

Cognitive neuroscience is the study of brain states and how such brain states are related to behaviour and cognition. Many of the recent advances in the field are due to the rapid development and use of technology that allows us to infer what the brain is doing during different psychological states. This module aims to provide you with an introduction to the theory that underpins cognitive neuroscience techniques such as EEG, TMS, fMRI, TES and a critical understanding of experimental design. Moreover, and importantly, the module aims to provide an experienced based approach to learning how to use some of these techniques. This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to learn how to use advanced equipment through practice and demonstrations. The overall aim is to teach you how the equipment works, how to analyse the data resulting from use, what questions different methods can answer and what are the limitations of them.

This module aim to provide you with an opportunity for an in-depth, advanced study in a specific area of applied psychology, pertinent to the degree for which you are registered, guided by, but largely independent of, tutor support. You will apply appropriate principles of empirical research, and present your research study in the form of a written journal article, using appropriate styles and conventions.

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. The course is delivered by our academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms.

Our learning activities include lab practicals, lectures, seminars, webinars, one-to-one and tutorials. Importantly, you'll attend laboratory sessions and take part in class discussions and work on research projects, group assignments and critical analyses.

Our Hendon campus, north London. Some modules are taught at the West Stand, StoneX Stadium.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly timetable

On campus - approximately 8 hours a week.

Approximately 30 hours of independent study a week.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time over two years.

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

There are no exams but your coursework including tests, projects, statistical assignments, essays, reports, logbooks and case study analyses will be assessed.

A major part of your assessment will be your 10,000 to 15,000-word dissertation, which will be accompanied by a 1,500-word research proposal and a 10-minute presentation, on which you will receive feedback from fellow students as well as your tutor.

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress. Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.