MSc in Neuroscience
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
The course takes an integrated approach to neuroscience and provides skills training in a wide range of experimental and theoretical methods intended to enable you to ask questions and tackle problems that transcend the traditional disciplines from which neuroscience has evolved.
You will undertake two extended research projects from a choice of over 100 offered each year by the extensive neuroscience research community in Oxford. You will also attend the graduate programme lecture series, which provides a broad education covering molecular, cellular, systems, computational and cognitive neuroscience.
The academic year begins in late September and is divided into three terms.
The first term provides an introduction to neuroscience and research methods through five compulsory introductory modules and associated practical classes:
- Introduction to Neuroscience
- Neuroanatomy
- Synapses and Transduction
- Neuronal Cell and Molecular Biology
- Systems Neuroscience.
During the second and third terms you will combine advanced taught courses, essay writing and two laboratory rotations (research projects).
Advanced modules offered in previous years have included:
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Neuroscience and clinical mental health
- Computational neuroscience
- Sensory systems
- CNS Development, Plasticity and Repair
- Molecular neuroscience
- Genes, circuits and behaviour.
Examples of projects that have been published from the rotations can be found on the department's website. This will give an indication of the breadth of projects available.
Each of the MSc research projects lasts for about 16 weeks and is selected from a very extensive list of approved abstracts. With over 100 abstracts submitted each year there is always plenty of choice, but if you are interested in a particular lab or research topic, you are welcome to discuss a potential project independently with an appropriate supervisor. Many of these projects lead to publications.
During the first year, lab rotations are available in at least nine University departments or research centres that contribute to the MSc in Neuroscience.
Attendance
The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.
An MSc office, within the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics in the heart of the University Science Area, provides a base for MSc in Neuroscience students. IT support is provided by an in-house team and all the MSc lectures are given in this department.
This office provision is most important: we are very conscious that people on interdisciplinary courses that span different departments are prone to suffer from a lack of identity, as compared to students who work within a designated department.
The Radcliffe Science Library is the main library facility for biomedical sciences. The Cortex Club, a student-led organisation for those studying neuroscience in Oxford, provides an extensive series of seminars and social events where students from all departments can meet to exchange ideas. This is in addition to the seminars and other events that are organised at both divisional and departmental level.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Medical Sciences Division and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Medical Sciences Division.
Students are allocated a day to day supervisor and have the opportunity to meet with this person individually when necessary, particularly at the beginning of the project.
Assessment
Each of the MSc research projects are written up as dissertations. The course concludes with an oral examination. The first term is assessed by the Qualifying Examination. In both the second and third terms there is a project that is written up as a dissertation. Students also complete 4 optional modules over the 2 terms. This may be 2 per term but this is not mandatory. Each option is written up as a practical portfolio (Computational Neuroscience) or an essay for all other options. Students are also expected to attend Journal Club in both terms.
Graduate destinations
Immediately after the MSc in Neuroscience, almost 60% of the over 300 students to graduate to date have gone on to do a PhD, either at Oxford or elsewhere. A further 17% continued into graduate medicine. Only 6% left science altogether.
Others have taken science-related jobs, including science journalism and science communication, or become management consultants in the biotechnology sector.
Changes to this course and your supervision
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
College preference
Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).
If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference .
If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide.
The department recommends that you indicate a preference for a college where a member of the Programme Organising Committee is a fellow from the list of colleges available on the Neuroscience website.
However, all of the following colleges do accept students on the MSc in Neuroscience:
- Balliol College
- Brasenose College
- Christ Church
- Corpus Christi College
- Exeter College
- Green Templeton College
- Harris Manchester College
- Hertford College
- Jesus College
- Keble College
- Lady Margaret Hall
- Linacre College
- Lincoln College
- Magdalen College
- Merton College
- New College
- Oriel College
- Pembroke College
- The Queen's College
- Reuben College
- St Anne's College
- St Catherine's College
- St Cross College
- St Edmund Hall
- St Hilda's College
- St Hugh's College
- St John's College
- St Peter's College
- Somerville College
- Trinity College
- University College
- Wadham College
- Wolfson College
- Worcester College
- Wycliffe Hall
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |