Program Overview

Cognitive Science BSc Honours

Overview

Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field that combines insights from psychology, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy to understand the complexities of the human mind and brain. This degree explores key cognitive functions like perception, attention, memory, and language, and provides students with a broad and versatile set of skills.

Quality and Ranking

• 16th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2026 (Linguistics category)
• Top 95 for Life Sciences and Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 200 for Psychology - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 200 for Linguistics - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 9th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 (Linguistics category)
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
• Top 150 for Psychology – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

Modules and Learning

The degree is divided into stages, with each stage lasting one academic year. Students complete modules totaling 120 credits by the end of each stage. The teaching is informed by research, and course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.

Stage 1

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Quantitative Methods for Cognitive Science 1 (20 credits)
  • Philosophical Approaches to the Humanities and Social Sciences and Critical Reasoning (20 credits)
  • Cognitive Psychology (10 credits)
  • Principles of Evolution, Genetics and Behavioural Development (10 credits)
  • Perception (10 credits)
  • Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Language Structure 2: Syntax, semantics and pragmatics (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Computing (10 credits)

Stage 2

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Cognitive Neuroscience (10 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Philosophy and Science (10 credits)
  • Foundations in Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
  • Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
  • Social Psychology (10 credits)
  • Individual Differences (10 credits)
  • Biological Psychology: Sex, Drugs, Rhythms and Blues (10 credits)
  • Psychological Enquiry 2: Principles of Psychology (10 credits)
  • Introduction to Comparative Cognition and Behaviour (10 credits)
  • Syntactic Theory (20 credits)
  • Sociolinguistics (20 credits)
  • Pragmatic Theory (20 credits)
  • CHiLD: Current Hypotheses in Language Development (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Second Language Learning and Teaching (20 credits)
  • Experimental Practicum (20 credits)
  • Being Human: debates, questions and conversations in anthropology (20 credits)
  • Brain and Behaviour across the Lifespan II: Neuropsychology (10 credits)

Stage 3

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Empirical Project for Cognitive Science (40 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Career Development for final year students (20 credits)
  • Clinical Sport & Exercise Psychology (20 credits)
  • Neurodiversity of Development (20 credits)
  • The Damaged Brain: Case Studies in Neuropsychology (20 credits)
  • Decision Making and Cooperation: Understanding Our Choices (20 credits)
  • Art, Mind and Brain (20 credits)
  • Shared Minds: Culture, collaboration, and creativity in humans and other animals (20 credits)
  • Advanced Second Language Acquisition (20 credits)
  • Laboratory Phonology (20 credits)

Opportunities

• Professional Placements: Students can apply for a professional placement between Stage 2 and Stage 3, subject to eligibility.
• Study Abroad: Students can study abroad for a year at a university in a different country, currently with partnership agreements in the US, Canada, and Sweden.
• Careers Placements: Students can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, receiving University support to secure their dream placement.

Facilities and Environment

• The School of Psychology's Dame Margaret Barbour Building is located on the University's city-centre campus, with access to excellent practical facilities, including a forensic interviewing suite, media and behaviour lab, medical consultation rooms, and psychological testing cubicles.
• The linguistics lab in the School of English Literature, Languages and Linguistics includes a sociolinguistic interview suite, child language acquisition lab, ultrasound tongue imaging, and state-of-the-art recording equipment.

Your Future

• The multidisciplinary nature of this degree results in a broad and versatile set of skills, making graduates attractive hires in almost any graduate job in the contemporary job market.
• Career paths may include artificial intelligence, data science, user experience testing, technical and educational consulting, assistive technology, healthcare roles, government policy, and behavioural science or research.
• Many graduates embark on further study, including master's degrees and PhDs, with some pursuing careers in academia and research.

Entry Requirements

• A-Level: ABB excluding General Studies, with GCSE Mathematics minimum Grade B or 6 required.
• International Baccalaureate: 32 Points, with Mathematics or Mathematical Studies offered at Standard Level grade 5 if not offered at Higher Level.
• Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications, as well as qualifications from outside the UK, are considered on an individual basis.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

• Home students: Tuition fees for the academic year 2026 have not yet been confirmed.
• International students: £30,900 for the academic year 2026.
• Scholarships are available, including Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships for EU and international students.