Neuroscience (MRes) 2017 entry
The MRes in Neuroscience is designed to provide advanced training in neuroscience research. Students conduct a year-long research project and learn relevant techniques and skills through course work. The overall aim is to give students the necessary skill set to succeed as independent research scientists.
Course type
Postgraduate; leading to a Master of Research (MRes)
Course duration
One year full time
Entry requirements
Undergraduate degree (typically 2.1 or higher) in a science-related subject (e.g. neuroscience, physics, biology, psychology, computer science). Candidates with other suitable and equivalent qualifications such as relevant work experience or research accomplishments will also be considered.
If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
UK and EU: £8,400
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement, including rationale for working with particular advisor(s) (500 words maximum)
- two letters of recommendation
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a potential advisor within the School before applying, and to provide a letter of support from this person (see contact information for all participating faculty).
- English language requirements certificate (if applicable).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
Course information
The MRes in Neuroscience is a full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Highlights
- Intensive week-long introductory module prepares students for the course before the start of Semester 1.
- The course includes a streamlined taught component.
- Students have the opportunity to conduct a year-long project in a single laboratory.
Teaching format
The course begins with a week-long intensive module which continues during Semester 1 with a weekly seminar series. Over two semesters, students will also complete two additional Honours-level modules.
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, practicals and guided independent study. The modules are assessed principally by written work and oral presentations.
During Semester 1 and 2, and during the summer months, students will conduct an original research project culminating in a written thesis, which forms the main component of assessed work.
Further particulars regarding curriculum development.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2016–2017 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2017 entry.
Compulsory modules
- Research Design in Neuroscience: intensive week-long module provides an introduction to designing and carrying out neuroscience research at the postgraduate level.
- Techniques and Skills in Neuroscience Research: examines state-of-the-art neuroscience techniques through critical analysis of primary literature.
Optional modules
Students choose two optional modules (optional modules may vary from year to year; see the University’s position on curriculum development). Examples of optional modules include:
- Introduction to Neuroscience: primarily for students who have not studied neuroscience previously, this module covers basic biochemical, cellular and behavioural aspects of the nervous system in health and disease.
- Neurodegeneration and Aging: develops a detailed understanding of molecular neuroscience at the biochemical and molecular level.
- Motoneurons: From Physiology to Pathology: provides an in-depth knowledge of key aspects of neuronal function and potential dysfunction by focusing on motoneurons.
- Behavioural Neuroscience: allows students to access current research in the area of behavioural neuroscience. Possible topics include motivation, learning and attention.
- Vision: from Neurons to Awareness: develops an advanced understanding of the psychological processes involved in visual perception.
- Neural Basis of Episodic Memory: examines how the brain enables us to remember information from our personal experience.
- Neuromodulation: explores the diverse range of neuromodulatory mechanisms and outlines their importance in information processing in the nervous system.
- Synaptic Transmission: covers recent progress in understanding the morphology and ultrastructure of synapses, neurotransmitter corelease and recycling mechanisms, retrograde signalling, synaptic plasticity, the role of glial cells and the development of neurotransmission.
- Mechanisms of Behaviour: Integrating Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives: explores some of the many physiological and neural systems that modulate patterns of behaviour in a range of species, including humans.
- Neuroethology: studies the neural control of natural animal behaviour from a biological comparative perspective.
- Advanced Microscopy and Image Analysis: introduction to advanced imaging techniques, such as Confocal, Super-resolution, TIRF and Electron Microscopy.
Students on this course will have the opportunity to take new modules in the academic year 2017-2018. The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2017 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue .
Research project and thesis
Students will spend one year conducting an original research project culminating in a data-based thesis of not more than 15,000 words. The thesis will describe the research results obtained from the year-long research project and must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the thesis requirement for the MRes, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Certificate. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PG Cert instead of an MRes.
Conferences and events
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience hosts a weekly seminar programme at 3.30pm on Fridays in the Old Library of the Psychology Building. These seminars include public lectures, open school discussions and papers presented by a variety of guest lecturers from the UK and abroad. Following the seminar, a wine reception is held in the staff common room.
The School also hosts an annual Jeeves Lecture as part of its seminar programme. The lectures are given by eminent psychologists and neuroscientists. Staff, students and members of the public are welcome at this lecture.
Funding
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% reduction in tuition fees for students who have graduated during the last three years and are now starting a postgraduate programme.
After the MRes
Research degrees
Many of our graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The PhD comprises three years of full-time study and the submission of an 80,000-word thesis.
The Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council offers studentships for PhD research in health, biological and related sciences covering up to four years of funding and, in some cases, accommodation fees.
Careers
A large number of Psychology and Neuroscience postgraduates have gained postdoctoral and lecturing positions in universities across the world. The School provides opportunities for students to gain academic experience by being involved in tutorials, laboratory classes and through conducting independent research.
In addition to pursuing careers in academia, postgraduates within the School have gone on to pursue careers in a variety of fields including industry, education and medicine.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course.
Contact
School of Psychology and Neuroscience
St Mary's Quad
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JP
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2157
Email: pgsecpsych@st-andrews.ac.uk
Neuroscience faculty
Listed below is a selection of staff members working in neuroscience.
Dr James Ainge
Dr Ainge's research interests include examining learning and memory in rodents with a view to furthering our understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms of spatial and episodic memory.
Dr Daniella Balslev
Dr Balslev works in the area of cognitive neuroscience using transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy humans as well as behavioral testing of neurological patients with a brain lesion.
Dr Eric Bowman
Dr Bowman is interested in how the dopamine system and related structures in the forebrain and basal enable animals and people to adapt their behaviour to obtain reward.
Dr Gilian Brown
Dr Brown studies sex differences in behaviour from neuroendocrine, developmental and evolutionary perspectives.
Dr Gayle Doherty
Dr Doherty's research focuses on the signalling pathways that determine whether a neuron lives or dies, both during development and as part of the ageing process.
Professor Julie Harris
Professor Harris explores the basic processes underlying human visual perception and its links to motor action using psychophysical, behavioural and computational techniques.
Dr Wenchang Li
Dr Li's research uses young Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a simple model system to study the basic neuronal mechanisms controlling animal locomotion, in this case, swimming.
Dr Gareth Miles
Dr Miles' research centres on providing a better understanding of the neural control of movement with a focus on motor systems of the brainstem and spinal cord.
Dr Stefan Pulver
Dr Pulver studies the neural control of locomotion in Drosophila larvae, and work in his lab involves everything from genetics to anatomy to electrophyisology and live imaging to animal behaviour.
Professor Keith Sillar
Professor Sillar's research interests include biological sciences, neurology and neuroscience, neuropharmacology and more.
Dr Karen Spencer
Dr Spencer's research interests include using multi-disciplinary approaches to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie complex patterns of animal behaviour.
Participating staff may vary from year to year. If you are interested in working with staff not listed here please contact the programme administrator at pgsecpsych@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).