Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience BSc Honours

This exciting interdisciplinary degree considers how the structure and function of the brain give rise to mental processes while it interacts with its physical, social, and cultural environment.

Cognitive and clinical neuroscience blends theoretical, experimental and applied aspects of psychology with neuroscience, and overlaps with other psychological disciplines including physiological, cognitive and clinical psychology, developmental science, psychopharmacology and neuroanthropology.

Our unique course places a particular focus on brain-behaviour relationships, by bringing together evidence from molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain injury studies, and neurological illness, and also looks at developmental and cognitive aspects. It explores a wide range of research-based and clinically relevant methodologies including brain imaging, computational modelling and comparative cognition (considering evolutionary and developmental approaches).

During your degree, you’ll consider all aspects of cognitive functioning, from learning, memory and language through to concepts such as intelligence, decision-making, creativity and consciousness.

Our course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to develop a career across a vast range of highly sought-after employment areas, including academic research, clinical psychology, experimental research, IT and neuropsychology. You’ll also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

In your first year of credit Level 4, you’ll gain core skills in psychology, as identified by the British Psychological Association for chartered membership. In your second and third years credit Levels 5 and 6, you’ll enrol on core and option modules from a range of cognitive and clinical disciplines.

Top reasons to study with us

• Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience BSc has a 91% student satisfaction rate and 90% of students are in work and/or further study 15 months after the course. (Source: Discover Uni, accessed in December 2020)
• Our course provides a unique blend of psychology and neuroscience in a suite of tailored modules exploring the mind-body link
• Assessments are designed to be rich, varied and authentic to real-world research and practice
• The breadth of this degree allows students to pursue careers in a wide range of jobs in a variety of sectors

Why study this course?

• Fantastic central London location
  Based on our Cavendish Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major global city.
• Student satisfaction
  91% of our students agreed that they were satisfied with the course.
  (Source: Discover Uni, accessed in December 2020)
• A supportive environment
  We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, provided the minimum standard of Lower Second Class Honours is achieved and the empirical project has been passed. This is the first step toward becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.

• Transferable skills
  You'll gain the knowledge and experience to work in a wide range of areas including clinical psychology, counselling, forensic psychology, human resources, teaching and speech therapy.
• Get ahead before you graduate
  You’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable experience during an optional work placement year.
• Graduates in work or further study
  90% of students are in work and/or further study 15 months after the course. (Source: Discover Uni, accessed in December 2020)

Career development

Our Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience BSc Honours course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the professional body that oversees psychology in the United Kingdom.

Providing you meet the minimum standard of a Lower Second Class Honours level and pass the empirical project, you are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) membership of the BPS. GBC is the first stage necessary for becoming a chartered practitioner in the areas of clinical, counselling, forensic, sport and exercise, education, health and occupational psychology.

Some of our graduates also go on to pursue a career in research (via an MSc/PhD) and teaching, as well as working in clinical institutions, human resources, law, marketing and business.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles and areas such as:

Academia (e.g. anorexia, dyslexia, face perception, neuroscience of hearing, rehabilitation in dementia, robotics and more)

• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling
• Forensic psychology
• Human resources
• School/further education teacher
• Speech therapist

Graduate employment

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• Market research companies
• NHS
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Police Service
• Prison Service

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, practical classes and laboratory work, supported by online material and periods of independent study.

Assessment methods may include exams, in-class tests, essays, oral and poster presentations, debates, case studies, and laboratory, practical and technical reports.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study in this course.

Year 1

Subjects of study include:

• Biological Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Individual Differences
• Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
• Social Psychology

Credit Level 4

Year 2

Subjects of study include:

• Brain and Cognition
• Cognitive and Clinical Research Methods
• Systems Neuroscience
• Work-Based Learning and Employability
• Mechanisms of Mind-Body Therapies
• Medical Physiology
• Societal Responses to Climate Change

Credit Level 5

Placement Year

Professional experience or study abroad year

If you wish to further enhance your employability, you may choose to take your degree as a 4-year sandwich degree, graduating with a BSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience with Professional Experience. This sandwich year is taken at the end of your second year of studies. This option will give you the opportunity to develop your employability skills over a prolonged period and develop connections with other professionals.

If you wish to gain experience in studying abroad over an extended period, you may choose to take the BSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience with International Experience, studying at partner universities across the globe for a whole academic year.

Year 3

Subjects of study include:

• Advanced Research Techniques (ART) in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Disorders
• Neuropharmacology
• Project in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
• Consciousness
• Data Science Applications in Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Music and the Mind
• Occupational and Work Psychology
• Political Psychology
• Psychology of Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Psychology of Education
• Sexology

Credit Level 6

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

• Taking part in a semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
• Attending an international summer school or field trip
• Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.