Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, seeking to understand how the brain and its networks of billions of neurons give rise to perception, thought, emotion, memory, and action. It is one of the most exciting and fast-moving areas of contemporary science, combining the methods of biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and increasingly computer science to address questions that range from the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission to the large-scale organisation of brain circuits that support behaviour. Understanding the brain is also one of the most urgent practical challenges in medicine, given the enormous burden of neurological and psychiatric disease.
At the University of Edinburgh, which has one of the leading neuroscience programmes in Europe, this four-year full-time degree develops your understanding of the nervous system at multiple levels of analysis. You will study cellular and molecular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and the neuroscience of disease, developing laboratory skills alongside a thorough theoretical grounding. A year abroad is available within the programme, allowing you to study neuroscience in a different institutional context, which can open access to research environments and perspectives that complement what Edinburgh offers.
The typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects both the competitive nature of Edinburgh admissions and the scientific demands of the programme.
Neuroscience graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Many pursue doctoral research in neuroscience, with a PhD in the field opening doors in academic research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D, and brain-computer interface technologies. Others move into clinical professions such as medicine, clinical psychology, or speech and language therapy, typically requiring additional training.
Science communication, healthcare, scientific consulting, and technology sectors also employ neuroscience graduates, valuing their combination of quantitative skills and biological understanding.