MSc/Dip in Cognitive Science
Cognitive science studies how the mind works: it investigates human
cognitive functions such as perception and action, memory and learning,
language and communication, reasoning and problem solving. It is a
highly interdisciplinary field of study which also draws on methods and
insights from artificial intelligence, linguistics, neuroscience,
Psychology and philosophy. This makes it a versatile and intellectually
stimulating subject to study.
Our researchers are building a neural-network model that simulates the eye-movements that people make during reading.
Why Study Cognitive Science in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh
has internationally recognised strengths in all the component
disciplines of cognitive science, with research focusing on language
and communication, robotics and learning, neural computation, and
philosophy of mind. Development of speech technologies is a particular
Edinburgh strength. Our Centre for Speech Technology Research has
produced the famous
Festival Speech Synthesis System. A £6m research, training and commercialisation
link with Stanford has secured Edinburgh's place as a leader in the development of speech technologies.
Programme Content and Structure
The course spans a full 12-month period from September to August the following year and consists of two parts: taught and research. During the taught part of the course, September to April, you will attend lectures, tutorials and group practicals and acquire the theoretical foundation to enable you to engage in independent research.
Between May and August, you will get the opportunity to make a practical application of your knowledge by undertaking a major individual research project on which you will write a dissertation. The project is normally isupervised by a member of academic staff as one of his/her research interests, with assistance from his/her research team. To give you an idea of the kinds of projects our students undertake, please see our recent MSc Thesis List.
Cognitive Science courses are grouped in two major areas of specialisation:
There are a vast number of courses available within each specialist
area and you can also choose courses from any other areas that interest
you. In fact, you will be very much encouraged to take advantage of
this diversity and forge your own way in the field. For example,
Edinburgh is leading the way in pulling together researchers from
various backgrounds in the new field of Neuroinformatics to tackle one
of the greatest challenges of 21st century science: understanding the
human nervous system. Its functioning spans many scientific disciplines
- from molecular biology to anthropology. At Edinburgh, we integrate
these endeavours through the study of computational methods and ideas
in modelling and analysis.
You might also be interested in some of our other Masters degrees in Informatics, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science.
Entry Requirements
You should have a first or upper second class honours degree or its equivalent, and in an area of Informatics, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science or Computer Science. You should also have experience in computer programming.
Applicants with degrees in these disciplines will also be considered: Education, Electrical Engineering, Psychology, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Physics.
Course Costs
Costs include a tuition fee, research costs fee and living expenses.
| Fee type |
Home/EU |
Overseas |
| Tuition Fee |
£4,600 |
£14,000 |
| Additional Programme Costs |
£200 for Diploma
£600 for MSc |
Fees are subject to annual revision. For the latest information on fees, please visit Registry Office web site.
Living expenses are estimated at around £190 per week. More...
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) offers sponsorship to students from the UK/EU via the Collaborative Training Accounts (CTAs) scheme, which links postgraduate training with the workplace. CTAs are available to those UK/EU students whose primary specialism is Bioinformatics, Computational Systems Biology, Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, Learning from Data, and Natural Language and Language Engineering. These studentships cover tuition fee, research costs and subsistence for UK students, and tuition fee and research costs for EU students. Please indicate when you apply that you wish to be considered for one of these studentships.
A variety of funding schemes are available for overseas students. For example, the Scottish Executive is currently offering 22 scholarships to overseas students intending to study in the UK. Scholarships are available, it is just a matter of finding them. Our Financial Aid page will provide you with useful pointers.
Careers
Almost a third of the UK's IT industry and research activity in Informatics is concentrated in the area around Edinburgh. In addition, Scotland is actively encouraging talented graduates to settle and work within its borders. Our reputation means that our graduates are well regarded by potential employers, both at home and abroad. Our students make direct vocational use of their degree and are employed as researchers, software developers and engineers, in academia and in industry. See our
careers page for possible career routes and alumni destinations.
