Course summary

The Human Neuroscience BSc is a three year course which introduces students to the emerging discipline of neuroscience. We are at the beginning of what has been called ‘The New Century of the Brain’. New technologies and new understanding of biology and behaviour are driving development in this vibrant and expanding field. The Human Neuroscience BSc places special emphasis on human aspects of the field: cognitive neuroscience, diseases and disorders of the nervous system and clinical and psychological topics. Whilst it has a human focus it has a broad multidisciplinary scope, with modules drawn from Biosciences, Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Computer Science, Psychology, Philosophy and Medicine. The Human Neuroscience BSC is a specialised degree course for highly qualified students that will provide instruction in cutting-edge neuroscience. The field is rapidly expanding under the influence of new technologies and collaboration across traditional disciplines. It addresses a number of social challenges including brain disease, mental health problems and maintaining health in an aging population. In the first year, there is a range of core modules that provide the biological and behavioural basis for more in-depth analysis in subsequent years. Topics covered include the physiology of nerve cells, pharmacology, evolution, genetics, perception and memory. In the second year, there are a number of options available for selection. These include cognitive neuroscience topics (eg, perception and movement), sport and exercise science topics (the control of human movements), computational approaches to data analysis, and even the philosophy of the mind-body problem. Additional options allow further in-depth study of neurophysiology and pharmacology, evolution and human behaviour. In the final year, students undertake an extended research project, under the supervision of internationally recognised experts with access to state-of-the-art laboratories for MRI, EEG, TMS, tDCS, eye-tracking, visual attention, psycholinguistics, motion tracking, posture and balance, food and nutrition, social cognition, neuropsychology, and child development. Graduates will be prepared for further advanced studies in neuroscience or careers in industry or healthcare settings.