“1+3” MSc/PhD
Programme Aims
The Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience Doctoral Training Centre is a world-class PhD programme for interdisciplinary research in neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience.
The mission of the DTC is to enable students with backgrounds in the physical, mathematical and computer sciences to obtain training in neuroscience and the cognitive sciences that will equip them to carry out original research in neuroinformatics, qualifying them for a PhD degree at the end of four years.
Programme Structure
The introductory year is a key feature of the programme. In the first four months, students take the full-time Neuroscience module from the MSc in Neuroscience, along with selected Informatics MSc courses . In the following four months (semester 2), students attend MSc modules in Informatics, chosen as appropriate combinations relevant to computational neuroscience. In the final four months, students will undertake one or two research projects, typically be based in experimental laboratories.
Successful completion of this first year leads to award of an MSc by Research.
In the second year students begin their PhD projects. In addition, during the first four months (semester 1), the student can attend further specialised courses that are particularly relevant to their research. The modules will be drawn from the broad range of MSc programmes in the relevant disciplines or may be specialist seminars.
Your progress is reviewed annually. During the third and fourth year students will be encouraged to spend a 3-6 month period in an institute outside Edinburgh that has collaborative links with their supervisor's laboratory. Submission of a thesis expected at the end of the fourth year, followed by an oral examination. You will be awarded a doctorate if your thesis is judged to represent an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area.
This article was published on Dec 12, 2012