Our Neuroscience MSci will provide you with a deep understanding of the nervous system.

You will study its role in human behaviour and brain disorders including schizophrenia, autism, mood disorders and dementia.

Discover the mysteries of the brain

Our brains and nervous systems work together to enable us to make sense of the world around us. They coordinate our body, create emotions and sensations and ultimately determine our behaviour.

Our four-year Neuroscience degree with an integrated master’s (MSci) will give you the biological and psychological grounding to explore the brain, nervous system and how the body works.

You will explore how this insight, and recent scientific advances in these areas, provide a gateway to life-changing treatments and interventions for common conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, mood disorders and dementia.

This research-led integrated master’s degree (MSci) in neuroscience will be an ideal basis for a host of exciting careers across the academic, pharmaceutical, health and biotechnology sectors. Your advanced skills and research experience will help to give you an edge in a competitive job market, both within the field of neuroscience and beyond.

And, because you will build your skills and competence in experimental design, data recording, analysis, presentations, effective project management, teamwork and communication, you will have the highly-transferable skills valued by employers both within the sciences and in broader fields such as marketing, finance and management.

Your journey through neuroscience

• You will begin, in Year 1, by studying the core principles of neuroscience, pharmacology, genetics and psychology. This will provide you with a firm foundation for the future years of your degree.
• In Years 2 and 3 you will develop a deeper insight into the subject by studying themes such as fundamental neuroscience, translational neuroscience and cognitive psychology. You will explore molecules and cells in more depth, get to grips with circuits and systems and build an understanding of drug development.
• In Year 3, you will also put your learning into practice with an independent research project, working alongside our research-active academics to tackle global healthcare challenges through neuroscience. This means that you will graduate equipped with a professional profile ready to embark on a successful career or further study.
• As an MSci student, Year 4 will elevate your learning even further with master’s-level study, covering a range of topics and the most recent advances in neuroscience. You will also gain advanced research skills by undertaking an extended independent research project, working alongside our world-class researchers to tackle global healthcare challenges through neuroscience.

This additional experience will be invaluable in a future career, particularly if you go on to a research-based role in the health, pharmaceutical or biotechnology sectors, or further study.

You will also join the broader UK neuroscience community by becoming a member of the British Neuroscience Association (BNA), offering additional career development opportunities.

A hands-on degree

As a neuroscience student at Lancaster, you will get a practical education - putting your learning into practice and becoming skilled in using equipment and techniques to understand the brain from a biological and psychological perspective.

You will benefit from the outstanding practical facilities across both biomedical and life sciences, and psychology, with access to our state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities. Depending on your choice of modules and dissertation topic, you could gain hands-on experience in using equipment and facilities such as:

• Fluorescent imaging
• Confocal microscopes
• Flow cytometers
• Spectrophotometric technologies
• Plate readers
• Thermocyclers
• Microscopes
• Babylab
• Eyetracking technology
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Neuronavigation (TMS)
• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

In taught practical sessions and workshops, you will hone your skills in working as a team, planning and running experiments. Lab work is also a great way to make lasting friendships with your course-mates.

You will also undertake an independent research project on a subject that fascinates you, with the support of our academics.

In addition to laboratory practical classes and workshops, you will learn through lectures, workshops, tutorials, laboratory reports, essays and case studies, presentations, tests and exams. You will also benefit from digital resources through our online learning environment which will support your independent learning.

Altogether, your classroom learning and practical experience mean you will graduate well-prepared for a successful career in neuroscience or other scientific and non-scientific fields.