MSc Cognitive Science

MSc in Cognitive Science

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of minds, brains and behaviour. Many disciplines contribute to this overarching goal, including, but not restricted to, philosophy, psychology, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology, with each discipline making its own distinctive contribution.

The MSc in Cognitive Science is ideal for students interested in issues relating to the understanding of the human mind from philosophical, psychological, and computational perspectives. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the problems arising in the description of minds, brains, and behaviour, and the theoretical approaches to them, learn the principal 20^th-Century philosophical approaches to mind, brain and body, understand the concepts employed in cognitive psychology, along with their limitations, and develop an interdisciplinary perspective that links and integrates insights from multiple specialised domains.

Please note: Cognitive Science should not be confused with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Our degree programme are not a preparation for a counselling qualification, and are not part of any accredited psychological career pathway.

Programme Content and Structure (2025/26)

The programme may be taken in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time), during which time students take six or more taught modules (up to a minimum of 60 credits), selected as follows.

(A)  Core Module (1)

One core module, compulsory for all students on the programme, in the Autumn trimester. Note: part-time students must take this module in their first year.

• COMP47230 Introduction to Cognitive Science (7·5 credits)

(B)  Option Modules (6–8)

Students must select at least 52·5 credits from the following list. Further details about current Computer Science modules may be found here; details about current Philosophy modules may be found here.

Autumn Trimester

• COMP40250 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (7·5 credits)
• PHIL40970 Topics in Philosophy of Mind & Cognition (10 credits)
• PHIL40250 Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception (10 credits)
• PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philosophy (10 credits)
• PHIL41510 Ethics in Public Life (10 credits)
• PHIL41890 Authenticity & Implicit Attitudes (10 credits)
• PHIL31030 Philosophy of Perception & the Senses (10 credits)
• PSY40020 Fundamentals of Cognitive Neuropsychology (7·5 credits)

Spring Trimester

• COMP20330 Functional Programming II (5 credits)
• COMP40260 Connectionism & Dynamical Systems (7·5 credits)
• COMP40280 Embodied & Enactive Approaches to Cognitive Science (7·5 credits)
• COMP47980 Generative AI: Language Models (5 credits)
• PHIL40960 The Cultural Mind (10 credits)
• PHIL31110 Applied Epistemology (10 credits)
• PHIL31120 Wittgenstein (10 credits)
• PHIL31170 Philosophy of Language (10 credits)
• SOC41130 AI & Society (10 credits)

Please note that the list of available modules and programme structure change from year to year. Some of the above modules may not run in 2026/27, but additional options will be made available.

Consult with the programme directors if you are unsure how many modules or credits to take, or if you are unsure whether a particular module may be suitable for you.

(C)  Research Project

In addition, all students must complete an independent research project, including a literature review (6 to 10 pages), a short presentation, and final paper (10–20 pages) by mid-August. Students are encouraged to discuss possible topics with their lecturers as early as possible.

Part-time students must complete the research project in their second year.

For academic enquiries, please contact one of the programme directors, (opens in a new window)Dr Leda Berio and (opens in a new window)Dr Keith Wilson.

For further information about eligibility and admissions, see the (opens in a new window)programme website.

All administrative enquiries should be sent to the School Manager.