UCL BRAIN SCIENCES Join our online community: @UCLBrainScience www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences Postgraduate Study in the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences: Invest in your future at London s Global University Cover image: Anai Gonzalez Cordero, Retinal kaleidoscope
UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience and UCL Clinical Medicine are rated first in the UK for research power. (www.ucl.ac.uk/ref2014) The Faculty of Brain Sciences has a vision to solve the greatest health and wellbeing problems in the brain sciences, in order to transform society and reduce the global burden of disease. The Faculty provides a stimulating and enriching environment for education, research and enterprise. We offer an unparalleled range of researchembedded educational programmes, designed and taught by leaders in their fields, in the areas of: Audiology and Hearing Research Cognitive Neuroscience Linguistics and Language Sciences Neurology and Neuroscience Ophthalmology and Vision Research Psychiatry and Mental Health Psychology and Psychotherapy Our educational programmes build upon our research expertise and applied clinical knowledge, and offer both applied and clinical pathways. www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences Image: UCL Portico
UCL: London s Global University At UCL we are proud of our pioneering history, our distinguished present and our exciting future. Academic excellence and conducting research that addresses real-world problems inform our ethos to this day and our plans for the future. With our academic reputation, excellent facilities and central London location, UCL is a great place to be a student. Worldwide reputation UCL is ranked joint 5 th with Oxford in the QS 2014 World University Rankings and UCL is ranked second worldwide (behind Harvard) in the field of neuroscience and behaviour. Our expertise allows us to design and deliver a first-class education in a global environment. The London advantage One of the many advantages of being in the centre of London is our collaboration with a number of world famous hospitals and research centres. We work with leading specialist hospitals, such as the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital. Our Clinical and Educational Psychology and Speech and Language Therapy programmes have a large network of placements across London and the South East in hospitals, primary care trusts and educational facilities. We are aligned to the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour and the Francis Crick Institute, and work closely with our National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres, UCL Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology and UCL Partners. The neurology cluster at Queen Square means you can bump into world leaders in your field just by crossing the road. Tara Noone, Advanced Neuroimaging MSc I am very proud to be Dean of a Faculty which offers such a rich portfolio of educational programmes. It is a privilege to be able to train the next generation of leaders who will become UCL ambassadors in their careers as researchers, clinicians, educators, professionals and entrepreneurs. Professor Alan Thompson MD FRCP, FRCPI, FAAN, FANA Dean, Faculty of Brain Sciences www.ucl.ac.uk/about-ucl Image: Mirror neurons
The Student Experience The student experience is at the heart of our educational vision. UCL provides the resources associated with a world-leading university, and our institutes and divisions have excellent disciplinespecific facilities. We also provide students with a wealth of services to meet their cultural, social, and leisure interests and their practical needs. In the latest National Student Survey (2014), 97% of respondents in the Faculty expressed satisfaction with their course, the highest overall rate at UCL. Our student community In a recent survey of undergraduate students the Faculty was given a 97% overall satisfaction rating by our final year students (NSS 2014). We organise large-scale events to showcase student research, provide opportunities to be involved in enterprise and ensure that the student voice is represented at all levels. Employability Our graduate programmes provide you with excellent discipline knowledge and applied, clinical and research skills for careers in specific areas such as psychiatry, speech and language therapy, psychology, ENT, audiology, neurology, ophthalmology, and further research. In addition, you will acquire a range of transferable skills, such as scientific writing, data analysis and entrepreneurship that make our graduates highly employable. Six months after graduation, 89% of our masters students and 96% of our PhD students are in graduate employment (Data taken from the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey, of the 2013 graduating cohort). One of the most appealing and invaluable aspects of the UCL community is that it encourages intellectual curiosity right from your first day as an undergraduate student Dr Sylvia Vitello, BSc Psychology 2010, PhD 2014 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/students Image: Students
Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychiatry We offer an unrivalled portfolio of taught postgraduate opportunities in the fields of psychology, mental health and cognition. Whether you want to join the next generation of academic researchers or healthcare professionals, or build a successful career in a wide variety of other fields, our outstanding academic staff and facilities will support your ambitions. Our range of clinically-oriented masters programmes in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy covers therapeutic modalities from psychoanalysis to cognitive behavioural therapy, systemic family practice and interpersonal psychotherapy. The Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc caters both for psychology graduates and for clinicians wishing to undertake a broad-based and highly flexible higher degree with options to enhance clinical practice, management skills and research knowledge. We also offer a wide range of cognitive programmes with a particular emphasis on the investigative methodologies underlying them; likewise our Mental Health Sciences Research MSc provides stimulating and www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry www.ucl.ac.uk/pals practical training in mental health research. Unique programmes such as the MSc in Industrial-Organisational and Business Psychology provide students with a solid grounding in talent management, the psychology of human capital and organisations, and the MSc in Human-Computer Interaction and Ergonomics aims to teach students, through information, demonstration, exploration and application, a scientific humancentred approach to the design and evaluation of a wide range of interactive systems and products. The MSc and MRes in Cognitive Neuroscience bring together leading researchers at the interface between psychology and neuroscience to understand mental processes in health and disease. Image: Predicting Language Outcome and Recovery After Stroke (Lim & Guerin - IoN) Around 43% of our students are international, coming from 155 countries, and thrive in UCL s friendly and cosmopolitan atmosphere. We work hard to embed a global perspective in all our teaching.
Neuroscience, Language Sciences and Translational Programmes Our research-led programmes bring together expertise from across the Faculty of Brain Sciences and offer the opportunity to work and train with leading researchers at one of the most highly regarded centres of excellence in brain science in the world. Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 29 people who are or have been students or academics at UCL, including two currently within UCL Neuroscience. Programmes in neuroscience UCL is Europe s research powerhouse in neuroscience, ranked second in the world, and first in Europe, in neuroscience and behaviour by Thomson ISI Essential Science Indicators. The Faculty provides an outstanding environment for training future generations of interdisciplinary researchers in basic and clinical neuroscience. Our scientific excellence attracts many of the best students from around the world to work with leading experts who are engaged in frontline research and translational application. Programmes in language sciences and linguistics UCL is virtually unmatched in terms of the breadth of expertise in teaching and www.ucl.ac.uk/ion www.ucl.ac.uk/pals research across many subdisciplines of the language sciences. The MA Linguistics is a conversion programme for students who have had little exposure to the subject in their undergraduate studies and there are also a number of nonclinical programmes for students interested in furthering their knowledge with a view to a career in research, education or related disciplines. Applied and translational programmes Translation of discoveries into applications is essential for scientific progress, and has its own academic discipline. In these programmes world-leading researchers teach the complete process of translating discoveries into clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Image: Layer 5 pyramidal neurons (Alex Moreau)
Clinical Programmes Our clinical programmes provide you with excellent discipline-specific knowledge and clinical skills for careers in specific areas such as psychiatry, speech and language therapy, ophthalmology, neurology and ENT. Many of our academics hold joint posts with pioneering hospitals providing strong clinical links and the possibility of offering advanced training. With its concentration of clinical and applied scientific activity, the Institute of Neurology is a unique national centre for postgraduate training and research in neurology and its related disciplines. Together with its associated specialist hospital, the Institute promotes the translation of research that is of direct clinical relevance into improved patient care and treatment. Our programmes at the Institute of Ophthalmology build on its outstanding clinical and industrial links, helping our students to build their careers. The MSc Ophthalmology with Clinical Practice is specifically oriented towards clinicians outside the UK and provides the opportunity to train a generation of students at two world leading institutions. Training the next generation of auditory scientists is also the priority at the Ear Institute, which hosts a range of programmes in audiology, each of which includes a research element. Its programmes are designed not only for practising audiologists looking to enhance their clinical skills, but also to train students from other disciplines as audiologists. Focusing on speech and language pathology and therapy, the Speech and Language Sciences MSc considers approaches to the investigation and management of clients with communication and swallowing problems. Our Careers Service offers professional help and advice to students seeking employment, work experience placements or further study, and our Alumni Relations office facilitates networking to help UCL graduates in their chosen careers. www.ucl.ac.uk/ear www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo Image: Ophthalmologist operating
Research Degrees and Professional Doctorates Supervised by our internationally respected body of academic staff, we offer a variety of programmes that enable you to undertake substantial, in-depth research and make an original contribution to your chosen field. Six months after graduation, 96% of our PhD students are in graduate employment. UCL Advances, our centre for entrepreneurship, offers training, networking and business support, as well as the opportunity to win startup funding, for UCL students seeking to start their own business. PhD opportunities We seek to attract outstanding students from across the globe. Our research training is often cross-disciplinary to address critical research challenges such as dementia, and to allow students to take full advantage of the range of expertise distributed within and beyond the Faculty. We train our students to apply relevant research outcomes to maximise the impact of their research on policy and practice and ensure they understand the importance of research integrity and ethics. The Faculty s five key research themes are designed to have a transformational impact on the greatest health and wellbeing problems in the brain sciences: Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection; Mental Health; Sensory Systems; Lifelong Cognition and Behaviour Change; and Stroke. Professional doctorates Our range of professional doctorates combines an applied focus with academic and research excellence. The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is the UK s largest professional training course for Clinical Psychologists, welcoming highcalibre candidates from the UK and abroad. UCL also has a longstanding reputation for innovation and excellence in training in Educational Psychology and offers a Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology and a CPD Doctorate in Educational Psychology which is available to practising Educational Psychologists. www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/ students/postgraduateresearch Image: Blood vessels & glia in human retina (Marcus Fruttiger - IoO)
Key A LL Audiology and Hearing Research Linguistics, Language Sciences and Speech Therapy NN Neurology and Neuroscience O P PP CL TR Ophthalmology and Vision Research Psychiatry and Mental Health Psychology and Psychotherapy Clinical Translational Programmes Advanced Audiology MSc (A, CL) Advanced Neuroimaging MSc (NN, TR) Applied Research in Human Communication Disorders MRes (LL) Audiological Science MSc (A, CL) Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc (A, CL) Brain Science MRes (NN, TR) Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc (P, CL) Clinical Ophthalmic Practice PGCert (O, CL) Clinical Ophthalmology MSc (O, CL) Clinical Neurology MSc (NN, CL) Clinical Neurology via Distance Learning PGDip (NN, CL) Clinical Neuroscience MSc (NN, PP) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Young People MSc (PP, CL) Cognitive and Decision Sciences MSc (PP) Cognitive Neuroscience MSc / MRes (NN, PP) Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology MSc (PP) Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice MSc (PP, CL) Dual Masters in Brain and Mind Science (NN) Human-Computer Interaction with Ergonomics MSc (PP) Industrial/Organisational and Business Psychology MSc (PP) Language Sciences with specialisation in Language Development MSc (LL) Language Sciences with Specialisation in Linguistics with Neuroscience MSc (LL) Language Sciences with Specialisation in Neuroscience and Communication MSc (LL) Language Sciences with specialisation in Sign Language Studies MSc (LL) Language Sciences with specialisation in Speech and Hearing Sciences MSc (LL) Linguistics MA (LL) Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions PGDip (PP, CL) Mental Health Sciences Research MSc (P, TR) Medical Otology and Audiology MSc (A, CL) Neurology for Clinical Trainees MSc (NN, CL) Neuromuscular Disease MSc (NN, TR) Ophthalmology with Clinical Practice MSc (O, CL) Professional Doctorates in Clinical Psychology and Educational and Child Psychology (PP, CL) Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology MSc (PP) Research Methods in Psychology MSc (PP) Social Cognition MSc (PP) Speech and Language Sciences MSc (PP, CL) Speech, Language and Cognition MRes (LL) Stroke Medicine MSc (NN, TR) Theoretical Psychoanalytical Studies MSc (PP) Translational Immunobiology MSc (O, TR, NN) Translational and Regenerative Neuroscience MSc (O, TR, NN) Translational Neurology MRes (NN, TR) Vision Research MRes (O) www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/students/postgraduate-taught
PhD opportunities MB PhD programme in the Institute of Neurology Professional doctorates Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Applying for a research degree Before applying, you should: There are two main types of research degree opportunity: PhD studentships PhD in Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology PhD in Developmental Science PhD in the Division of Psychiatry PhD in the Ear Institute PhD in Experimental Psychology PhD in the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience PhD in the Institute of Ophthalmology PhD in Language and Communication PhD in Linguistics PhD in the Institute of Neurology PhD in Neurology - Leonard Wolfson Programme (4 yrs) PhD in Neuroscience (4 years) PhD in Psychoanalytic Studies PhD in Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences PhD in the UCL Interaction Centre Wellcome Trust Clinical Programme Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology Doctorate in Educational Psychology Doctorate in Psychotherapy (Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy) Have or expect to have a relevant first degree or Master s degree of 1 st class or 2.1 standard in UK system, or equivalent for overseas degrees. Have a commitment to and demonstrated ability in research. Often your previous experience and performance, such as in an undergraduate or a Master s research project, will show whether research is right for you and you are right for research. Overseas applicants also need to satisfy the English Language requirement. If you meet the above criteria, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take MPhil/PhD students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. Therefore, your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff. Studentships provide funding that covers tuition fees, student living expenses and often some research expenses. Usually they are awarded to specific supervisors or programmes. They are advertised throughout the year so you will need to regularly check relevant websites (see link below). Speculative opportunities If you can t find a studentship in a research project that interests you or you have your own funding, the best way to find a PhD project is to approach a potential supervisor directly. Exceptional students, who meet the entrance requirements, are encouraged to be proactive to identify opportunities with UCL academics whose recent research closely matches their interests. A summary of the research interests of potential supervisors can be found on the webpage of each of our academics. www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/ degrees/research/studentships