Aston University, Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Neuroscientists study the development and function of the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerve cells throughout the body. They investigate what happens when people have disorders by focusing on the brain and its impact on behaviour and cognitive functions. This interdisciplinary science liaises closely with other disciplines such as mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology and medicine. At Aston, our course follows a practical and hands-on approach, giving you access to the most up-to-date and high-tech equipment, enabling you to engage with the newest techniques in basic and applied research. It has been designed to provide you with the perfect first step towards a future career in one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of life and medical sciences. What is studying Neuroscience at Aston really like? Our course differs from many undergraduate neuroscience courses in the UK, with a key focus on acquiring practical skills - an advantage that will set you apart from the graduate crowd. You’ll work closely with active neuroscience researchers working on ground-breaking projects and study a range of modules designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of brain function. During the course you will get the opportunity to:
- Learn pharmacology through tissue bath experiments.
- Perform EEG and EMG recordings and analyse the data with research-grade tools.
- Undertake complex brain-slice recordings to discover how drugs work and how our brains are organised and function.
- Explore how natural toxins and nerve agents are used in the research lab to discover how our brain cells talk to each other.
- Discover more about the major diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
- Hear from leading clinicians in our guest lectures.
- Understand how research conducted at Aston University into areas like Parkinson’s, autism, dyslexia, epilepsy and developmental cognitive neuroscience is impacting the wider field of study.
- Access to state-of-the-art neuroscience laboratory equipped with research-grade brain slice recording systems.
- Unlock your understanding of the brain and nervous system, from the microscope to the whole organism.
- 4th in the UK for Anatomy and Physiology (Neuroscience) (Guardian University Guide 2024).
- Excellent student experience: 91% student satisfaction, and 100% of students felt that the course
- Students have undertaken placements in companies such as Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Cerebra, Riche Pharmaceuticals, and neuroscience laboratories across the UK, and overseas in New York.
- Complete an integrated placement year, designed to set your studies in a real-world context and boost your employability, meaning you’ll not only learn a wide range of skills and knowledge, but you’ll also gain first-hand experience before you’ve even graduated.
Modules
Year 1: Experience a thorough and ‘hands-on’ grounding in the core principles and techniques used in neuroscience through a mixture of lectures and practical experience. Core modules: Research Methods and Statistics, Psychology and the Brain, Neuroscience Practicals 1, Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics for Neuroscience, Key Skills in Neurosciences 1, and Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience. ---- Year 2: Build upon the knowledge that you gained in your first year by studying the foundations of neuroscience in greater depth, along with a range of specialist subjects. Core modules: Pills and Poisons, Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Research Methods, Systems Neuroscience, Key Skills in Neurosciences 2, Receptors and Ion Channels, and Neuroscience Practicals 2. ---- Placement year: Gain valuable career boosting experience by setting your studies in a real world context of a working environment alongside professionals. Placements can be taken in the UK, EU or internationally. ---- Final year: Complete an original piece of neuroscience research, expand your knowledge through a series of core modules and focus in on areas of particular interest by selecting from a range of optional modules. Core modules: Brain Disorders and Disease, and Research Project. In addition, you complete a series of specialist optional modules. ---- For more information, please visit our website.
Assessment method
Our practical-intensive course means that you get to understand high-level concepts early in your journey and pick up laboratory skills that put you in an excellent place to secure employment. You will be taught by staff from neuroscience, pharmacy, pharmacology and psychology teaching groups, and encounter a variety of learning opportunities from lectures and practical sessions to group work and self-study. We also run a regular small-group tutorials throughout the course, this helps to cement the key learning outcomes of our teaching and makes sure that you feel happy and supported. We utilise a wide range of assessments linked to learning outcomes such as: examinations (unseen essay, short answer or multiple choice questions), essays, practical reports (group or individual), presentations, laboratory reports, project work, computer based assessment, and peer assessments.
How to apply
31Jan
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:
- B140
- Institution code:
- A80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*D* - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 31 points
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - Not accepted
Admissions Review Process Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard. The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor. Offerholders Visit Days Once you have received an offer, you will be invited to an Offerholders Visit Day to discover more about the course and Aston University.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| International | £20700 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
The placement fee is £1250 for Home/UK students and £2,500 for International students.
For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.
For International students: The International students fee is a fixed annual fee for the duration of the Programme, except whilst on placement when a placement year fee applies
**The latest information relating to EU students and tuition fees for 2024 can be found on the UCAS website at: https://www.ucas.com/finance/finance-international-and-eu-students.
***The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be eligible for home fee status.
^^Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law.
Provider information
Aston University, Birmingham
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET