This MSc in Social Neuroscience gives you the opportunity to develop an advanced knowledge of how the brain responds to, and makes sense of the social world, as well as confidence in the use of neuroscientific research skills (for instance, electrophysiology and eye-tracker experiments).

Key information

Award:

MSc

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

18 months

Location:

The University of Bolton

Start date:

25/01/2021, 20/09/2021

Course Details

Humans’ social nature is based on neural, hormonal, and molecular structures and networks that we have started to understand only relatively recently. This includes studying the processes behind the sensation and perception of social stimuli, and the behaviours associated with social interactions. This highly progressive Master’s programme is designed to give you excellent learning opportunities in Social Neuroscience – supported by our department’s enthusiastic, supportive teaching staff and a technology-enriched learning environment.

You’ll have the chance to explore issues from a variety of perspectives, underpinned by a research-informed knowledge base, as you develop an in-depth knowledge of Social Neuroscience. You’ll also be encouraged to refine and enhance your critical evaluation and reflection skills.

As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your research skills, to help you conceptualise, design and implement a substantial piece of independent research. This, in turn, offers you a unique opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of new ideas and approaches in Social Neuroscience.

Successfully completing this course will open up a wide range of opportunities for employment, or further study at doctorate level.

Highlights

We’ll support you as you develop an in-depth and advanced knowledge of Social Neuroscience, both in terms of theory and evidence.
You’ll have ongoing opportunities to develop highly sought-after skills in critical evaluation and reflection in relation to Social Neuroscience theories and research techniques.
Focused research training is designed to support and guide you in conceptualising, designing and implementing independent research in Social Neuroscience.
We work hard to create a learning environment that offers innovative methods of teaching and assessment, and access to high-specification facilities such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories, Neuroscan software and hardware, and Stim3 software.
The programme is designed to enhance your employability in the sector, or help you progress to further studies in psychology.

Key Features

Enthusiastic, dedicated and supportive teaching makes this an engaging and exciting postgraduate opportunity.
The course curriculum explores issues from a balanced range of perspectives, and is supported by a research-informed knowledge base.
This is an exciting programme of study with a strong emphasis on research and critical enquiry.
Learning and teaching is student-centred and involves small group sessions and one-to-one tutorials. This is supported and enhanced by the University’s virtual learning environment.
The programme includes a lab-based work experience module that gives you access to live research projects within the School of Education and Psychology.

Professional recognition

You should have an Upper Second Class (2.1) Honours degree (or higher) in Psychology, which is accredited by the British Psychology Society for Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
If you have a Lower Second Class (2:2) Honours degree in Psychology or a related subject (e.g. Neuroscience), then you may be accepted on to the programme following a successful interview. We may also ask you to provide a portfolio of your work, as part of the application process.
Relevant work experience can also provide an advantage.
We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
This course does not confer Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) – if you're seeking to achieve GBR, please consider applying for our MSc Psychology (Conversion) programme.
If English isn’t your first language you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Want some reassurance or advice? Speak to one of our advisors. Email us at admissions@bolton.ac.uk or call us on +44 (0)1204 903 394.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Graduates of this course will have a thorough grounding in the neural mechanisms underpinning human social perception, cognition and behaviour. On successful completion you’ll possess a range of highly transferable skills, such as oral and written communication, and the management and analysis of complex data sets.

This MSc is designed to prepare you for a potential career in research, and is also relevant to those with an interest in clinical psychology or in work in the biomedical sector.

What can I do with this qualification?

As a graduate you’ll be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills that are highly valued both in academic research and the clinical professions. Undertaking the MSc in Social Neuroscience can help you to access roles within healthcare, science, the media, business and education. Some students will be professionals in a caring/educational field already, and will be doing this course as part of their professional development.

The MSc is an ideal platform from which to progress to PhD studies, particularly in Cognitive or Social Neuroscience. You’ll also be well-placed to undertake further professional training in Clinical Psychology, or a related discipline.

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers, and for some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:

Lecturing
Research and development
Medicine
Biotechnology and contract research
Human resources
Social work
Counselling
Family mediation and support
Nursing
Child psychology
Police
Media and advertising
Communications
Sport psychology
Pharmaceuticals
Clinical sciences
Publishing

Course fees

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £3,600 for the academic year 2020/21.

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £3,600 for the academic year 2021/22.

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £12,450 for the academic year 2020/21.

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £12,450 for the academic year 2021/22.

Useful information

Please note, the total course fee for a Home student starting this course in 2020/21 will be £5,400. As this is an 18 month course, the fees are £3,600 for the first year and £1,800 for the final semester.

The fees for a student’s course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

The university is currently awaiting government guidelines as to EU fee charges for students commencing study in 2021-2022.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our 2020 Master's Bursaries.

For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:

You should have to hand:

Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference

Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.

Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Social Neuroscience - 25 January 2021
Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Social Neuroscience - 20 September 2021

The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.

How you apply is determined by your current location and what you are choosing to study:

Apply direct to the University. Links for the next available intakes of this course are shown below. Please click the link which will direct you to the online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this.
Apply via one of our approved in-country referral partners. A list of our partners may be found on the International pages of this website.
Apply via UCAS for courses starting in September only – visit www.ucas.com.

Should you have any queries please contact the International Team on +44 (0) 1204 903110 or email international@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Social Neuroscience-25 January 2021 (Course not available to international students)
Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Social Neuroscience - 20 September 2021

You’ll experience a diverse range of teaching methods, designed to complement each other and help you achieve the course’s intended learning outcomes. You’ll attend lectures, seminars, workshops and lab sessions – but we also expect you to support this with significant independent reading and investigation, as well as completing seminar-related work and preparing for workshops, presentations and group discussions. Some modules will require you to follow up taught sessions by using online resources and completing complementary tasks.

Assessment methods are also varied, allowing you to demonstrate your learning in a range of ways. For example, module assessments may require you to complete reports, essays, presentations, literature reviews, or review journal articles, write up laboratory tasks, complete short question and answer sessions relating to statistical analysis, and present reflective journals.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

Psychological and Social Research: Review, Evaluation and Design
Quantitative Inquiry 1
Quantitative Inquiry 2
Advanced Social and Cognitive Neuroscience
Social Neuroscience Techniques
Social Neuroscience Laboratory Practical
Psychology Dissertation

Assessment methods

Level	Assesment method
Level one	Coursework 100%

Learning activities

Level	Learning activity
Level one	Guided independent study 85%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 15%

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.