Investigate the intricacies of the nervous system and the cognitive processes that power our minds.
Year of entry: 2019
CFG0
Y50
3 years full-time
£9,250 per year (2019/20)
£21,330 per year (2019/20)
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Meet usAt the intersection of psychology, chemistry, biology and philosophy, neuroscience is the study of the neurons and neuromechanisms that structure our brains and allow us to sense and respond to the world.
By studying Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience at York you'll benefit from two internationally renowned centres of excellence: the Centre for Hyperpolarization of Magnetic Resonance and the York Neuroimaging Centre. These centres offer some of the world's most advanced imaging technology.
You will be taught by researchers who are pushing back the boundaries of what is possible and will benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the structural, chemical, functional and theoretical aspects of the nervous system.
All our Natural Sciences BSc degrees have the same course code for your UCAS application. To select the Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience pathway, enter the subject option code "Neuro". We will ask you to confirm your pathway if you are invited to interview.
The Neuroscience course covers the fundamentals of neuroscience, with modules totalling 360 credits from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Philosophy, and Psychology, as well as the Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Project.
You will study the molecular and cellular bases of neural function, the principles of neurotransmission and low-level sensory transduction. You'll explore the relationship between neuroscience and experimental psychology, especially human neurophysiology, perception and cognition. At the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience you'll delve into the issues surrounding artificial intelligence, reasoning and consciousness.
As a natural scientist, you will develop your critical faculties, assessing experimental and theoretical evidence and learning how to use quantitative statistical methods to evaluate and present data.
Year 1 draws on course material from all four departments, preparing you for more advanced study. You will take the following core modules totalling 120 credits:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In your second year you will take a total of 120 credits, building on the foundations established in your first year.
You will take the following modules:
You will also choose one of the following option modules:
In your third year you will take 120 credits, including the Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Project (40 credits) and 80 credits of option modules.
You will choose two modules from the following:
You will also choose 40 credits from the following:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Natural Sciences offers a range of well-structured pathways built upon the natural synergies that exist across scientific disciplines.
Our weekly Natural Sciences Hour brings students together to hear from researchers and employers and to build transferable skills.
Study in world-leading research institutes and hi-tech learning spaces dedicated to interdisciplinary science.
"I have really enjoyed my first year studying Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience. The programme allows for study of a niche subject while providing a wide range of information from different sciences. Information from the topics overlaps allowing us to look at scenarios from multiple disciplines."Molly, Neuroscience (Year 1)
The fees and funding figures below are for 2019 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £21,330 |
Text books and course books are all available in the library or online. We do recommend books you might find useful, but it is not compulsory for you to buy them. Your first year textbooks for Biology and Chemistry will be provided to you at no additional cost and Chemistry will provide you with a lab coat.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The interdisciplinary nature of the Natural Sciences programme means that you will experience a wide variety of approaches to teaching, from formal lectures and practical experiments in the lab, to small group tutorials and close, supportive mentoring, as well as Virtual Learning Environments.
As a neuroscience student you will benefit from specialised neuroscience tutorials and lab work. You will be taught by leading researchers whose passion and first hand knowledge will enthuse and inspire you, stretching and supporting you on your educational journey.
You’ll hear about the latest developments and learn through demonstrations, practicals, and projects. You will learn how to carry out your own experiments in our state-of-the-art facilities. Just as importantly, you’ll learn how to evaluate evidence, analyse your results and present your ideas clearly.
You will share lectures and seminars with students from other departments, but your tutorials and some smaller seminar groups will be with other Natural Sciences students only, and these will help you understand the material in an interdisciplinary context.
For the natural scientist, conducting rigorous experiments and understanding the experimental method underpins the very nature of scientific inquiry and discovery.
Experimental work may be done in groups or pairs, or sometimes individually, but always with the support of experienced mentors. Sometimes laboratory work will be interwoven with lectures and tutorials, sometimes it may be a stand-alone module. The importance of experimentation to the learning process is recognised by the fact that projects form the pinnacle of every natural scientist’s time at York: every Natural Sciences programme includes a major project during the final year.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1,200 hours a year learning.
The University of York is home to world-leading interdisciplinary research centres, such as the York Neuroimaging Centre, where a multidisciplinary team of scientists have been using some of the world’s most sophisticated imaging technologies to probe the inner workings of the brain. Depending on the options you choose, you may have access to these facilities and the academics working in them, for instance, during your final year project.
You will be based in the Natural Sciences Learning Studio on Campus West, but your teaching will be spread across our departments and locations will vary depending on your specialisation. Teaching locations for this course include: Alcuin, Vanburgh and Wentworth Colleges; the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology; and the Physics and Electronic Engineering and Spring Lane buildings.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Typically, you will be assessed mostly by written exam in Years 1 and 2, with some coursework and a small amount of practical examination, followed by a roughly even split between written exams and coursework in Year 3.
Assessment of your final year project includes a short viva examination, in which you will talk about your project with a panel of examiners.
A Natural Sciences degree is a versatile course that will provide you with the skills and experience to succeed in a wide range of careers. With the Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience course, you will also be equipped with the skills and profile to work in specialised neuroscience careers.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | A*AA, including A or above in Chemistry and Mathematics |
| International Baccalaureate | 37 points, including Higher-level Chemistry at grade 6 or above and Higher-level Mathematics at grade 6 or above. 38 points, including Higher-level Chemistry at grade 6 or above and Standard-level Mathematics at grade 6 or above. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | AAAAA at Higher level and AA at Advanced Higher level in Chemistry and Mathematics |
| EPQ | If you achieve an A or higher at EPQ, you will be eligible for a reduced offer, one grade below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current IELTS scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
Applications from mature students are welcomed.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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