Key facts

• An interdisciplinary course that uniquely combines aspects of psychology, mathematics and computer science
• Computational Neuroscience aims to better understand brain function, develop better analysis tools for neural data and inspire artificial intelligence algorithms

Recent developments

A number of developments make this course particularly relevant:

• Recent successes in machine learning are based on analogies with animal brains, i.e. artificial neural networks; these successes have put the analysis of brain computation at the forefront once more
• In particular study of the biological brain is being considered as a way to resolve some outstanding issues in AI, such as learning with a limited number of samples, generalisation, and the development of explainable AI
• The study of the brain is currently undergoing a revolution as computational models are becoming powerful and accurate enough to complement experimental approaches
• Revolutions in experimental recording methods necessitate the use of advanced analysis methods to deal with the enormous volume of data that these methods can produce

How you’ll be taught

Gain a hands-on experience in computational neuroscience research through a blend of traditional courses, individual and group projects.

Emphasis will be on the direct application of the theoretical foundations. You will learn the relevant neuroscience and computer knowledge as the course progresses.

What you’ll learn

• How the brain is believed to work on the cellular, network and systems level
• How to develop mathematical models of brain function and how to implement them in simulations
• How cognitive phenomena are related to brain activity
• Current AI algorithms and how they are based on neuroscience findings
• An inventory of experimental approaches to measure and analyse brain function

Some topics that will receive particular attention are how:

• memories are stored and organized in the brain
• networks of neurons perform computations
• visual illusions find their origins in neural circuits

Assessment

You will be assessed using exams, coursework, and project reports.

Facilities

Study in a state-of-the-art computing lab.

Modules are mainly delivered via lectures and/or problem classes. They take place at University Park throughout the Autumn and Spring semesters. During the Summer semester students undertake an individual research project.

Most module content directly combines insights in brain function with relevant computational approaches. Many modules are supplemented with coursework and tutorials.

Core modules

The course consists of the following modules:

• Neural Computation
• Machine Learning
• Cognitive Science
• Brain Simulation
• Biological Maths
• Research Topics in Computational Neuroscience

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result may change for reasons of, for example, research developments or legislation changes. This list is an example of typical modules we offer, not a definitive list.

See information on how to fund your masters, including our step-by-step guide.

UK/EU Students

The Graduate School website provides more information on internal and external sources of postgraduate funding.

As a student on this course, we do not anticipate any extra significant costs, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies which you would need to factor into your budget.

Government loans for masters courses

The Government offers postgraduate student loans for students studying a taught or research masters course. Applicants must ordinarily live in England or the EU. Student loans are also available for students from Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

International and EU students

Masters scholarships are available for international students from a wide variety of countries and areas of study. You must already have an offer to study at Nottingham to apply. Please note closing dates to ensure your course application is submitted in good time.

Information and advice on funding your degree, living costs and working while you study is available on our website, as well as country-specific resources.

This course will provide an ideal preparation for a PhD in computational neuroscience, psychology or artificial intelligence.

Other careers include:

• biomedical modelling
• artificial intelligence
• data science
• brain imaging

Average starting salary and career progression

In 2017, 94.7% of postgraduates in the school who were available for employment had secured work or further study within six months of graduation. The average starting salary was £28,000 with the highest being £40,000.*

* Known destinations of full-time home postgraduates 2016/17. Salaries are calculated based on the median of those in full-time paid employment within the UK.

Career prospects and employability

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers.

Ranked in the top 10 in The Graduate Market 2013-2017 – High Fliers Research

Those who take up a postgraduate research opportunity with us will not only receive support in terms of close contact with supervisors and specific training related to your area of research, you will also benefit from dedicated careers advice from our Careers and Employability Service.

Our Careers and Employability Service offers a range of services including advice sessions, employer events, recruitment fairs and skills workshops – and once you have graduated, you will have access to the service for life.