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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

The course offers both taught and research components including a research project in a laboratory of the student’s choosing from the projects offered. The write-up for the project will be formally assessed.

Supervisors will be drawn from researchers predominantly listed on the Cambridge Neuroscience website.

In addition to the research project, the students will receive more than 30 hours of lectures, seminars and workshops.

Students taking this degree will be members of the University’s Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) who offer a wide variety of core skills training. Visit the Researcher Development page on the PSLS website for more information.

One to one supervision

The pathway directors will initially be appointed as principal supervisors for all students for the duration of the master's year. In addition project supervisors will also be assigned for the duration of the research projects. The pathway directors, assisted by the MPhil in Biological Sciences course director, will provide individual guidance and general support and meet the students at least once a term (i.e. at least three times during the MPhil course).

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

Seminars & classes

Interdisciplinary seminars and journal clubs.

Lectures

More than 20 hours of neuroscience lectures during the Michaelmas and Lent terms.

Practicals

Research training modules.

Posters and Presentations

Students may participate in a symposium where they will have the opportunity to present their research. Students will be encouraged to join cognate learned societies in order to give presentations arising from their projects at relevant conferences.

Taught/Research Balance
Equal Taught/Research

Feedback

Students will receive regular oral feedback and advice from their supervisor about performance and research direction throughout the course, and students can also expect to receive termly formal feedback reports via the Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding feedback.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

A report on the research project, not exceeding 10,000 words in length, including tables, figure legends, and appendices, but excluding bibliography.

Other

Assessment will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations, posters, presentations and projects.

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Key Information


Michaelmas 2027
Applications open
Sep. 9, 2026
Application deadline
Apr. 14, 2027
Course starts
Oct. 1, 2027
Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.
Funding Deadlines
Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 8, 2026
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 14, 2026

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2027, Lent 2028 and Easter 2028.

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