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“At the University of Bolton, we take great pride in providing a quality, supportive learning environment for our students.” Professor George E Holmes DL | President & Vice Chancellor
“...tutors are very supportive and you’re not just a student ID number, at this university you are an individual with a name.” Ellisse Vernon | BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
The University of Bolton's MSc in Social Neuroscience supports you to develop an advanced knowledge of how the brain responds to and makes sense of the social world. Our expert team will also help build your confidence in using neuroscientific research skills (for instance, electrophysiology and eye-tracker experiments).
Key information
Award:
MSc
Mode of Study:
Full-time
Duration:
18 months
Location:
University of Bolton
Start date:
To be confirmed
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.
Studying at the University of Bolton's town centre campus, you'll explore issues from a variety of perspectives, underpinned by a research-informed knowledge base, as you develop an in-depth knowledge of social neuroscience. Our expert team will also encourage and support you to refine and enhance your critical evaluation and reflection skills.
As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to build your research skills, helping 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 our MSc in Social Neuroscience will open up a wide range of opportunities for employment or further study at the doctoral 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 relating to social neuroscience theories and research techniques.
Our focused research training will 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 teaching and assessment methods and access to high-specification facilities such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories, Neuroscan software and hardware, and Stim3 software.
This postgraduate course 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, supported by a research-informed knowledge base.
With a strong emphasis on research and critical enquiry, we aim to build your ability to contribute to the ongoing development of new knowledge in social neuroscience.
Learning and teaching are student-centred and involve small group sessions and one-to-one tutorials. Your studies will be 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.
By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
You should have an upper second class (2.1) honours degree (or above) 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, you may be accepted 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.
We'll also be happy to consider your application if you're a graduate of an alternative but related degree (for instance, neuroscience or biology). We'll require you to attend an interview, and we may ask you to provide a portfolio of your work to help determine your suitability for the course.
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.
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 our MSc Social Neuroscience degree will have a thorough grounding in the neural mechanisms underpinning human social perception, cognition and behaviour. Upon 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. It's also relevant if you have an interest in clinical psychology or wish to work in the biomedical sector.
What can I do with this qualification?
As a graduate of this forward-thinking postgraduate degree, you'll possess knowledge and skills that are highly valued in academic research and the clinical professions. Undertaking the MSc in Social Neuroscience can help you to access roles in healthcare, science, the media, business and education. If you're already a professional in a caring/educational field, completing this course will contribute to your professional development.
This MSc is an ideal springboard for PhD studies, particularly research in cognitive or social neuroscience. It's also an excellent preparation for further professional training in clinical psychology or a related discipline.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use this qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers, bearing in mind that some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities 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 £4,680 for the academic year 2022/23.
Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £12,950 for the academic year 2022/23.
Useful information
Please note the total course fee for a Home student starting this course in 2022/23 will be £7,020. As this is an 18-month course, the fees are £4,680 for the first year and £2,340 for the final semester.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2021-2022 academic year:
EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status.
If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Please read the
student finance eligibility 2021-2022 policy on www.gov.uk for information.
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.
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
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.
This course is not currently accepting online applications
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
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. We'll also expect you to undertake significant independent reading and investigation, complete seminar-related work and prepare 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 various 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.
