MSc Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

Gain specialist training and transferable research skills with our specialised MSc Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience at Aston University, Birmingham. Benefit from access to leading researchers and state-of-the-art facilities within the Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment and School of Psychology.

Course outline and modules

Cognitive and affective neuroscience studies the biological processes that underpin how human beings think, reason and process their emotional experience.

The MSc Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience at Aston, provides a unique dual emphasis, providing specialist training at the brain-behaviour interface, as well as on generic and transferable research and communication skills for augmenting your career aspirations and professional development.

This course is part of the School of Psychology which sits within the College of Health and Life Sciences.

Course outline

During your year at Aston, you will study specialist modules that combine theory and practice. You’ll complete a core curriculum of six taught modules which will provide you with a detailed and critical understanding of the contemporary research and analysis methods used in cognitive and affective neuroscience. Topics covered in this course include:

• theories and applications of neuroanatomy
• cognitive and sensory systems
• affective neuroscience
• social cognition
• neurodevelopment and disorders
• neuroanatomy.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to complete research practicals using some of the advanced technologies of cognitive neuroscience, including magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, and eye movement recording. These sessions are supported within a series of trainings in core research skills such as how to formulate a scientific research question, scoping and implementing research designs, and stimulus presentation and programming.

There is also an emphasis on generic professional development and research-related communication skills in our Key Skills for Cognitive Neuroscientists modules. Here you will develop your abilities in areas such as oral and written presentation, personal promotion and employability, intellectual property, scientific writing, systematic review and Meta-analysis, and in research ethics.

Career prospects

This course has been designed to provide postgraduate-level education and training for graduates who want to specialise in the area of cognitive and affective neuroscience, continue onto PhD level study, or enhance their CV with a research-related Masters qualification.

Previous cognitive neuroscience students at Aston have moved on to a variety of careers including:

PhD studies: destinations of recently successful PhD applicants include Aston, Cardiff, Derby, Liverpool, Sussex and Warwick.
Research-related roles: e.g. Research Assistant, Data Analyst (for example for the NHS).
Education: e.g. Science Teacher, Educational Consultant.