At any one time, the Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute (CMBI) 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 CMBI’s research panels of typical and specialist (e.g. Cambridge Cognitive Neuroscience Research Panel) volunteers. The CMBI 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 CMBI webpages to learn more about ongoing research and opportunities. 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 CMBI 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 Cambridge Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, the CMBI has excellent access to PET and additional fMRI (3 Tesla) and high-field (7 Tesla) scanning facilities. The CMBI 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 Institute’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 CMBI 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.
The primary aim is for our students to develop the skills required to submit an excellent MPhil thesis.
To that end, our students design and conduct robust and high quality experiments and then analyse the results of these experiments. Alternatively, students may apply sophisticated analyses to existing ‘big data’ sets from large cohort studies. In both cases, an important aim is for our students to learn to communicate their findings both in writing and orally to academic or lay audiences. We also aim for our students to be fluent and practiced in open science principles and methodologies.
While there is no "standard" route or model, our experience is that an excellent MPhil results from asking a good question and the expertise of our supervisors in combination with the dedicated enthusiasm of our students.
Learning outcomes
An important outcome is that our postgraduates will develop the research and technical skills required to be able to design and conduct robust, high quality experiments, implement appropriate analyses of results, and learn to communicate findings both in writing and orally. Another important outcome is for our students to be fluent and practiced in contemporary open science principles and methods. We furthermore endeavour to train our students in a broad range of transferable skills that will help ensure rewarding and successful careers in the profession of their eventual choosing - whether this is in academia, industry, policy, or clinical practice.
Continuing
Those who wish to progress to a PhD after successfully completing an MPhil would ordinarily be required to submit an application for a PhD in Medical Sciences by the early December application deadline (or earlier October deadline for Gates US applicants). They would need to satisfy their potential supervisor, Head of Department and the Faculty Degree Committee that they have the skills and ability to achieve the higher degree.
Open Days
The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options.
Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars
Practical, step-by-step information about preparing a strong application for postgraduate study. Find out more on the Discover Cambridge webpage.
Virtual Postgraduate Open Days
The November Open Days focus on subject and course information. Webinar recordings are available until May.
Events for international students
Join us for Q&A webinars, funding webinars or get in touch with our regional managers. Find out more about events for international students.
For more information about all upcoming events visit our events pages.