Program Overview
Skip to content Accessibility statement Home Study at York Postgraduate taught Courses 2026/27 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (MSc) MSc Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Explore the relationship between the development of the mind and the brain Year of entry: 2026 (September) Overview Course content Fees and funding Teaching and assessment Careers Entry requirements Start date September 2026 View semester dates Length 1 year full-time School/department Department of Psychology Apply for this course Sign up for event invites Sign up for our postgraduate emails to get event invites straight to your inbox. Find out more Developmental cognitive neuroscience explores how the mind changes as children grow up, examining the environmental and biological influences on the developing brain. You'll be provided with perspectives from developmental cognitive neuroscience and developmental and cognitive psychology, and receive hands-on training in brain imaging methods. You'll explore topical issues such as the neural bases of perceiving, acting in the physical and social world, the development of emotion regulation and pro-social behaviour, and neuroeducation. =65th in the world for psychology Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject, 2025 Committed to gender equality We hold a Gold Athena SWAN Award for our commitment to improving gender equality in the Department Research excellence Ranked 8th in the UK for research and 2nd for research output quality in the Times Higher Educationâs ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at University of York.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Natural Sciences.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 12 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Careers and skills
This MSc will enhance your transferable skills as well as the skills required for careers in a range of industries. For example, you’ll learn a variety of research and clinical methods that can be applied to childhood development and its disorders; as well as carrying out extensive independent research. Many of our graduates go on to complete PhDs, typically in psychology. Others go on to pursue careers in clinical psychology, educational psychology, or find work as children’s wellbeing practitioners, assistant psychologists and research assistants.
The Department's Employability Coordinator works closely with the University Careers Service , which offers our students an additional range of career and recruitment events, skills sessions and one-to-one advice.
This MSc does not confer Graduate Basis for Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduate Basis for Membership is required for entry to doctoral training in clinical and educational psychology in the UK, as well as some professional psychological careers. You may already hold Graduate Basis for Membership (for example, from a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree), in which case this MSc could enhance your applications to jobs or doctoral courses that require it. If you don't have Graduate Basis for Membership then you may be interested in our MSc Psychology in Education conversion course.
See the BPS website for more information about professional pathways in psychology (bps.org.uk) .
Career opportunities
- Cognitive trainer
- Rehabilitation support worker
- Forensic Psychologist
- Educational Psychologist
- PhD student and researcher
- Social worker
Transferable skills
- Critical thinking
- Critical evaluation
- Time management
- Reasoning
- Analysis
- Problem-solving
- Pragmatism
- Teamwork
Program Curriculum
Course content
This course is made up of 180 credits, consisting of taught modules and a substantial independent research project.
Your empirical research project enables you to participate in the design and implementation of a theoretically-motivated piece of pure or applied research in cognitive neuroscience, providing hands-on training in advanced brain imaging methods, some of which are being developed at York.
Modules Dissertation Modules Core modules Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience Data Analysis in Neuroimaging Neurodevelopmental Conditions Research Design and Statistics Option modules You will study two option module. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. Assessment and Interventions for Developmental Disorders Child and Adolescent Mental Health Introduction to Programming Social Cognitive Development Transition to Parenthood Perception of Actions and Human Behaviour Face Perception Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning. Dissertation Empirical Project As part of this MSc you will be given the opportunity to undertake a novel piece of empirical work on a topic at the cutting edge of research in developmental psychology and/or cognitive neuroscience. You will be supervised by faculty members who have relevant expertise in fields such as: language and literacy development numerical cognition social and emotional development perception learning and memory. The Empirical Project aims to enhance your understanding of statistical and analytic techniques, and the ethical issues involved in carrying out research around developmental cognitive neuroscience.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology or a relevant discipline. We will be looking for evidence of strong marks in relevant modules including: biological psychology, neuroanatomy, developmental psychology, neuroscience related modules, and research methods and statistics. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
If you haven't met our English language requirements You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements. After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 20,300/year (international)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £13,900 | £32,900 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Additional costs
Most of your reading will be available from the University Library and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), however you may need to purchase some textbooks.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £13,900 | £32,900 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Additional costs
Most of your reading will be available from the University Library and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), however you may need to purchase some textbooks.
About University of York
University of York
Heslington, United Kingdom
University of York is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-06-15
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)