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Cognitive Science (Humanities)

  • MA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Central area campus
More about The University of Edinburgh

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Philosophers and scientists have speculated about the nature of the human mind and how language affects it.

Recent developments offer new ways to understand the human mind, across fields such as:

  • robotics

  • brain imaging

  • speech technology

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary attempt to understand the human mind. It focuses on abilities such as:

  • reasoning

  • perception

  • memory

  • awareness

  • emotion

  • attention

  • judgement

  • motor control

  • language use

Cognitive science brings together and forms connections between these abilities, through methods such as:

  • computer modelling

  • linguistic analysis

  • philosophical reasoning

  • robotics

  • neuroimaging

  • psychological experiments

It brings together scholars from:

  • linguistics

  • psychology

  • philosophy

  • neuroscience

  • computer science

Cognitive Science at the University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh played a key role in founding this discipline by forming connections between the disciplines that contribute to the study of human cognition.

You will learn from researchers who both laid the foundations, and are still making key advances in the field. The programme content is regularly reviewed to make sure you learn about current developments.

Our Cognitive Science (Humanities) programme offers an opportunity to complete a selection of basic courses covering material in:

  • linguistics

  • philosophy

  • psychology

  • computer science

Our goal is to help you achieve a broad understanding of issues, such as the:

  • relationship between language and thought

  • relationship between mind and brain

  • philosophical implications of our ability to look inside the brain and to model its activities in computers and robots

Programme benefits

  • The University of Edinburgh helped to create the field of cognitive science and is still at the forefront of it.

  • You will learn not only from researchers who laid the foundations of the subject,but also from researchers who are still making key advances.

  • Edinburgh is one of the largest centres in Europe for the study of human cognition and the only university in Scotland to offer Cognitive Science at undergraduate degree level.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Central area campus

Study options

  • MA (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C851
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C851
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - ABB

ABB. Required subjects: A levels: one from Biology or Human Biology at B; Chemistry at B; Computer Science or equivalent at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics at B; Physics at B; Psychology at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4; Mathematics at A or 7, or Mathematics and Physics both at B or 6, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (or science double award) at B or 6.

Scottish Higher - ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: one from Biology or Human Biology at B; Chemistry at B; Computing Science or equivalent at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics at B; Applications of Mathematics at B; Physics at B; Psychology at B. National 5s: English at C; Mathematics at A or Mathematics and Physics both at B. We will also accept Higher Mathematics at C to meet the National 5 Mathematics requirement if you have a B in another required Highers subject.. National 5 Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of National 5 Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: one from Biology or Human Biology at 5; Chemistry at 5; Computer Science or equivalent at 5; Geography at 5; Mathematics at 5; Physics at 5; Psychology at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL).

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

-

A level - ABB

ABB. Required subjects: A levels: one from Biology or Human Biology at B; Chemistry at B; Computer Science or equivalent at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics at B; Physics at B; Psychology at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4; Mathematics at A or 7, or Mathematics and Physics both at B or 6, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (or science double award) at B or 6.

Scottish Higher - ABBB

ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: one from Biology or Human Biology at B; Chemistry at B; Computing Science or equivalent at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics at B; Applications of Mathematics at B; Physics at B; Psychology at B. National 5s: English at C; Mathematics at A or Mathematics and Physics both at B. We will also accept Higher Mathematics at C to meet the National 5 Mathematics requirement if you have a B in another required Highers subject.. National 5 Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of National 5 Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: one from Biology or Human Biology at 5; Chemistry at 5; Computer Science or equivalent at 5; Geography at 5; Mathematics at 5; Physics at 5; Psychology at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL).

Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)92total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English Advancedtotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English Proficiencytotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.
You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: SQA National 5: English at C; GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. We also accept other qualifications from around the world. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.

Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820Year 1
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
EU£38900Year 1
International£38900Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2026, the tuition fees will be £9,790. This is subject to Parliamentary approval and is an increase of £255 on the fee rate for academic year 2025-2026.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

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