Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology

Our BSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology course combines major topics in experimental psychology and neuroscience to offer a broad grounding in this exciting field of behavioural science.

The psychology component covers topics including:

• how humans think (cognitive processes);

• how the world is sensed (perception);

• comparative and developmental studies;

• clinical psychology.

The neuroscience component of the course examines how the brain and nervous system work to generate behaviour, perception, movement, the action of drugs on the nervous system, sleep, memory and other key functions.

The course also covers new technological advances that have been at the forefront of recent breakthroughs in the field of cognitive neuroscience and psychology, as well as advances in our understanding of the biology of higher brain function and the pathogenesis of a variety of neurological disorders, such as mental health disorders and neurodegenerative disease eg Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

You can gain valuable experience through our work placement schemes, with an opportunity to take a year-long placement in Year 3 (subject to meeting progression requirements).

We also offer opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner institutions, depending on academic performance.

Our degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which means as well as providing a solid foundation for a career in biological sciences, it constitutes your first step towards professional chartered psychologist status.

Find out more aboutthe British Psychology Society accreditation.

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2027/20942/bsc-cognitive-neuroscience-and-psychology/

Assessment methods vary widely to suit the nature of the course unit and each level of study.

• Lecture units are usually assessed by coursework, a written exam (multiple choice or essay-based, which are held at the end of an academic semester in either January or May/June), or a combination of coursework and exam.

• Practical units are usually assessed by experimental report and/or short written assignment and/or written exam.

• The proportion of independent study assignments increases during each year of study.

Year 1

Lecture units are usually assessed by e-learning activities during the unit or a coursework assignment, and a written assignment or multiple-choice exams at the end of the semester. Year 1 contributes 10% to your overall degree mark.

Year 2

Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam, and some units also include a coursework component. Year 2 contributes 30% to your overall degree mark.

Final year

Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam, and some units also include a coursework element. Students also take an honours paper: this is a degree programme-specific examination comprising data-handling and interpretation.

A significant part of the year (accounting for one-quarter of the overall degree mark) is the project, which is assessed through a presentation and a written report.

The final year contributes 60% to your overall degree mark.