The 20th century saw a revolution in neuroscience, illuminating how the function of the brain underlies our experience of the world. Now, advances in brain imaging, computational modelling, brain stimulation, informatics, and more are bringing us closer to unravelling the links between neural function and mental experience. This endeavour is ever-more critical as societies grapples with the pressing health challenges of our era, including ageing populations, neurodegenerative disorders, and mental ill-health. 

Cognitive neuroscience is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field. Its very nature is interdisciplinary: the boundaries between psychology, neuroscience, and computer science (among others) blur. It is at this intersection that scientists make ground-breaking discoveries into how the brain gives rise to cognition, perception, language, emotion, and decision-making.

This new MPhil in Cognitive Neuroscience is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of these complex processes, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to contribute to cutting-edge research and real-world applications.

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At any one time, the CBU hosts up to 60 postgraduate students from the UK, EU, and Overseas. While these are primarily PhD students, we welcome applications from prospective MPhil students wishing to pursue full-time or part-time research in areas covered by any of our research programmes. Our approaches span experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, computational modelling and neuroimaging using MRI, MEG, and EEG, and our postgraduates benefit from the CBU’s research panels of typical and specialist (e.g. Cambridge Cognitive Neuroscience Research Panel) volunteers. The CBU also has superb computing facilities as well as committed professional and technical staff that that offer IT, graphics and multimedia support.

We encourage interested, prospective applicants to visit the CBU Research and People webpages to learn more about ongoing research and opportunities. You can also find a list of specific projects and supervisors on our Studentships webpage: https://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/studentships/. Once you have identified a project or research area, we encourage you to reach out to a potential supervisor who does research in your area of interest.

The CBU has excellent state-of-the-art facilities for experimental behavioural studies, as well as institutional links with Addenbrooke’s Hospital which enables access to patient populations that include stroke and progressive neural degenerative diseases. Several research programmes have strong interests and expertise in mental health, and in recent years students have worked alongside clinicians to explore mechanisms and novel treatments in individuals with ongoing mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression.

There is a 3 Tesla MRI scanner on the premises, as well as MEG and EEG facilities. Through its partnership with the University of Cambridge Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, the CBU has excellent access to PET and additional fMRI (3 Tesla) and high-field (7 Tesla) scanning facilities. The CBU also offers state-of-the-art computing facilities, supporting Unix, PC, and Mac platforms, and handling of large volumes of neuroimaging data as well as extensive computational modelling. All students have their own networked desktop computer with internet access.

The Unit’s close links with the University Department of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry are strengthened through the Cambridge Postgraduate Programme in Cognitive and Brain Sciences – a joint programme of termly seminars for all first year postgraduate students, given by members of each department.

The CBU also benefits from membership of the Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine as well as wider neuroscience community in Cambridge, supported by the Cambridge Neuroscience network. 

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At any one time, the CBU hosts up to 60 postgraduate students from the UK, EU, and Overseas. We warmly welcome applications from prospective PhD students wishing to pursue full-time or part-time research in areas covered by any of our research programmes. Our approaches span experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, computational modelling and neuroimaging using MRI, MEG, and EEG, and our postgraduates benefit from the CBU's research panels of typical and specialist (e.g., Cambridge Cognitive Neuroscience Research Panel) volunteers. The CBU also has superb computing facilities as well as committed professional and technical staff that that offer IT, graphics, and multimedia support.

We encourage interested prospective applicants to visit the CBU Research and People webpages to learn more about ongoing research and opportunities. You can also find a list of specific projects and supervisors on our Studentships webpage. Once you have identified a project or research area, we encourage you to reach out to a potential Supervisor who does research in your area of interest.

The CBU has excellent state-of-the-art facilities for experimental behavioural studies, as well as institutional links with Addenbrooke's Hospital, which enables access to patient populations that include stroke and progressive neural degenerative diseases. Several research programmes have strong interests and expertise in mental health, and in recent years students have worked alongside clinicians to explore mechanisms and novel treatments in individuals with ongoing mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression.

There is a 3 Tesla MRI scanner on the premises, as well as MEG and EEG facilities. Through its partnership with the University of Cambridge Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, the CBU has excellent access to PET and additional fMRI (3 Tesla) and high-field (7 Tesla) scanning facilities. The CBU also offers state-of-the-art computing facilities, supporting Unix, PC, and Mac platforms and handling large volumes of neuroimaging data, as well as extensive computational modelling. All students have their own networked desktop computer with internet access.

The Unit's close links with the University Department of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry are strengthened through the Cambridge Postgraduate Programme in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, a joint programme of termly seminars for all first-year postgraduate students, given by members of each department.

The CBU also benefits from membership in the Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine as well as the wider neuroscience community in Cambridge, supported by the Cambridge Neuroscience network. 

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From the School of the Biological Sciences

The Cambridge Biosciences DTP is a four year fully-funded PhD programme that aims to create highly skilled and employable people. The programme offers training across 23 University Departments/Institutes and 3 Partner Institutes providing access to a wide range of research areas related to the strategic themes of the BBSRC. We offer three types of DTP studentships:

• DTP Standard
• Targeted
• iCase

During the programme, DTP Standard and Targeted students will undertake two ten-week rotations in different labs before commencing their PhD. They will receive training in a variety of areas including but not limited to statistics, programming, ethics, data analysis, scientific writing and public engagement. Students will also undertake a 12-week internship (PIPS).

iCase students are not required to undertake rotations but may do so if they feel that this training would be useful. They must undertake a placement with their Industrial Partner for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 18 months.

Students will be expected to submit their thesis at the end of the fourth year.

Part-time study, whilst not the norm, may be viable, depending on the project, and will be considered on a case by case basis so please discuss this option with your proposed supervisor before making an application for this mode of study.

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