MA Cognitive Science (Humanities)
UCAS code: C851
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introducing MA Cognitive Science (Humanities)
Philosophers and scientists have speculated about the nature of the human mind and how language affects it.
Recent developments, across fields such as robotics, brain imaging and speech technology, offer new ways to understand our inner workings.
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary attempt to understand the human mind. It focuses on abilities such as:
- reasoning
- perception
- memory
- awareness
- emotion
- attention
- judgement
- motor control
- language use
Cognitive science brings together and forms connections between these abilities, through methods such as:
- computer modelling
- linguistic analysis
- philosophical reasoning
- robotics
- neuroimaging
- psychological experiments
It brings together scholars from:
- linguistics
- psychology
- philosophy
- neuroscience
- computer science
Cognitive Science at the University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh played a key role in founding this discipline, by forming connections between the disciplines that contribute to the study of human cognition.
You will learn from researchers who both laid the foundations, and are still making key advances in the field. The programme content is regularly reviewed to make sure you learn about current developments.
Our Cognitive Science (Humanities) programme requires you to complete a selection of basic courses covering material in:
- linguistics
- philosophy
- psychology
- computer science
Our goal is to help you come to a broad understanding of issues, such as the:
- relationship between language and thought
- relationship between mind and brain
- philosophical implications of our ability to look inside the brain and to model its activities in computers and robots
Year 1
Two cognitive science courses
You will take two general cognitive science courses that give an overview of:
- perception
- memory
- motor control
- language
- reasoning
You will also explore experimental, neural and computational methods.
Courses will cover logic to help understand the role of reasoning and deduction in the mind.
You will also cover the structure of language to help understand its complexity.
Overall, you will get a background in philosophy including its history and central concepts of morality and value.
Extra course
Lastly, you will choose another course from across the interconnected disciplines of:
- psychology
- philosophy
- linguistics
- informatics
Year 2
You will choose more specific courses in the sub-disciplines such as:
- Processing Formal and Natural Languages (Informatics)
- Knowledge and Reality (Philosophy)
You will also take Year 2 courses from Psychology and Language Sciences.
Year 3
You can choose from informatics courses on topics ranging from:
- language processing
- neural computation
- robotics and vision
- machine learning
You can also choose linguistics courses including:
- language evolution
- language acquisition
- speech processing
You have the option of philosophy courses such as:
- ontology of mind
- theories of mind
- theories of truth
- ethics
You can also choose psychology courses such as:
- memory and perception
- attention
- development
Year 4
You will continue to choose from a variety of more advanced courses, as in Year 3.
You will also complete an individual research project.
Our facilities
You will be taught in the University's Central Area.
In our Psychology and Linguistics departments, you will have full access to the:
- libraries
- computer facilities
- specialised laboratories
You will also have access to other facilities available across our campuses.
Take a virtual tour
You can take a closer look at the University’s Central Area and explore our facilities on the Virtual Visit site.
Take a virtual tour of the Central Area
Study abroad
Opportunities to study abroad are available in this subject area.
How will I learn?
Courses are taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- laboratory classes
- small-group project work
In Year 4, you will complete individual project work.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed by exams and coursework.
Cognitive science graduates have excellent employment prospects in fields that will shape our society such as:
- economics
- entertainment
- technology
- mobile systems
- manufacturing and health
Graduates also have the skills needed for humanities-related areas, such as:
- the civil service
- marketing and communications
- management
- finance
- journalism
- social work
- teaching
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: AAB. (Revised 18/04/2024 to lower entry requirements from AAA.)
- IB: 36 points with 665 at HL. (Revised 18/04/2024 to lower entry requirements from 37 (666).)
Minimum entry requirement
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.
More information for widening access applicants
Required subjects
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
- SQA: Highers: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: English at C. Mathematics at A or Mathematics and Physics both at B or Higher Mathematics at C.
- A Levels: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4 and Mathematics at A or 7, or Mathematics and Physics both at B or 6, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (or science double award) at BB or 66.
- IB: HL: one of Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL).
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.
International Foundation Programme
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.
SQA, GCSE and IB
For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
- SQA National 5 at C
- GCSE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate at C
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
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Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for MA Cognitive Science (Humanities)
Additional costs
None.
Funding
For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.
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