MSc Translational Neuroscience
Our one-year course trains future neuroscientists to understand neurological disorders and develop better treatments.
Overview
This course is designed to provide high-quality training to tomorrow's neuroscientists, who will play a vital role in not only understanding what causes neurological and psychiatric disorders but also developing better treatments and cures. The course will be delivered by world-leading expert clinicians and neuroscientists working across the spectrum in Neuroscience.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently listed Neurological disorders as a global emergency with the numbers of people affected by such disorders predicted to markedly increase over the next 25 years as life expectancy globally increases. For the vast majority of neurological disorders, there are no effective treatments. Uniquely, this programme will provide theoretical and practical training to you in the various methodologies utilised in translational research for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat neurological conditions.
Two streams are available for study, each with its own specialism. Both share a set of core foundational modules in the first term:
- Stream 1: Psychiatry, Brain imaging and Machine Learning
- Stream 2: Neurodegeneration, Neuro-inflammation, Neuro-trauma and Neuro-regeneration
The taught component of the course will be delivered by academics/clinicians at the forefront of research and clinical practice, and will equip you with an excellent foundation in neuroscience, particularly in how the different cellular components in the central nervous system physiologically work together to control brain function, and how this malfunctions in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
The research component will allow you to explore a particular neurological or psychiatric disorder in greater depth, and apply cutting-edge research techniques to help determine the causes and assist in the development of novel therapies for such disorders.
This course will consequently provide excellent training for students, whether they wish to pursue an academic or industrial research career, in which they can play a vital role in better understanding the causes of neurological disorders, or developing better treatments or cures.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Page last reviewed on 1 June 2022.
Structure
Stream 1
Psychiatry, Brain imaging and Machine Learning
During the first term, you will complete three core modules which are foundational in nature. You will then choose three elective modules which constitute the different streams. In the second and third term, you undertake a research project.
Core modules
- Functional Neuroanatomy
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Introduction to Computational Methods for the Brain Sciences
Optional modules
- Addiction and Neuropsychopharmacology in Psychiatry
- Machine Learning in Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging and High Temporal Resolution Methods
Laboratory-based Research Project
The laboratory-based research project will be offered from the Division of Brain Sciences. Students will learn how to generate an original piece of research that shows an innovative and creative approach to a specific neuroscientific challenge. This module is strongly practical and is characterised by a notable vocational focus, and every student will be assigned to one or more research supervisors.
Stream 2
Neurodegeneration, Neuro-inflammation, Neuro-trauma and Neuro-regeneration
During the first term, you will complete three core modules which are foundational in nature. You will then choose three elective modules which constitute the different streams. In the second and third term, you undertake a research project.
Core modules
- Functional Neuroanatomy
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Introduction to Computational Methods for the Brain Sciences
Optional modules
- Neuroinflammation
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Brain Plasticity and Neuroregeneration
Laboratory-based Research Project
The laboratory-based research project will be offered from the Division of Brain Sciences. Students will learn how to generate an original piece of research that shows an innovative and creative approach to a specific neuroscientific challenge. This module is strongly practical and is characterised by a notable vocational focus, and every student will be assigned to one or more research supervisors.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
Methods might change depending on the intake year and that some of these delivery methods are stream-specific.
- Lectures
- Practical/computational sessions
- Laboratory tours/demonstrations (i.e. demonstration of a brain dissection).
- Interviews with patients
- Class tutorials and small group tutorials
- Group discussions and group workshops
Assessment
Some of these assessments are stream-specific.
- Custom anatomy assessment
- Virtual research project
- Journal Club presentation
- Analysis and write up of go/no-go task data
- Interactive grant writing workshop
- Literature review
- Hackathon
- Practical Write Up
- Code workbook for workshops
- Problem solving pipeline development examination
- Research grant concept
- Editorial Review
- Live debate workshop
- Flash presentation
- Poster presentation
- Dissertation
- Viva
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in an appropriate biological science subject.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£13,000
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£37,800
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for:
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
Claire Bennett
E: claire.bennett@imperial.ac.uk
Read more about the Department and our research in the Department of Brain Sciences.
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