Neuroscience in Relation to Medicine BSc

Course overview

From single neurones to complex networks, the intercalated BSc in Neuroscience will help you discover how the brain functions. You'll have the opportunity to study the brain in both health and disease, and the drugs used to treat disorders. Whatever branch of medicine you choose to specialise in, this course is an excellent first step in your career.

You'll be taught by active researchers with world-class expertise. Be at the cutting edge of scientific investigation and the treatment of a variety of disease states that affect the nervous system.

We received an excellent review in the last Periodic Review exercise, with the external examiner complimenting our "dedication to students", the “breadth of our programme” and “our assessment methods”. Former intercalating students have rated the course extremely highly, and had their laboratory research included in scientific publications or represented at national meetings.

Course details

Topics covered include Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, neuronal networks, psychopharmacology, and many more. You'll gain an understanding of these topics from a pharmacological, neuroanatomical, physiological and molecular viewpoint.

The course will:

• provide you with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the major areas of neuroscience, with a detailed appreciation of some specialist areas
• develop your knowledge of current neuroscience techniques and methodologies
• enable you to undertake an individual research project
• provide opportunities to develop competency in transferable skills, including the ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate data; acquire and integrate information, and use information to solve problems
• offer appropriate support and guidance
• provide high-quality learning resources to support the objectives of the course.

Research Project

Students can apply for one of our neuroscience focused projects. Titles of projects recently offered by members of the Neuroscience programme team undertaken by neuroscience students (intercalating or otherwise) include:

• Mechanisms of respiratory rhythm generation
• Mechanisms of acute/chronic pain and analgesia
• Trigeminal system and chronic oro-facial pain
• The genetic basis of neurological disorders
• Does diet during early life influence brain development?
• Properties of neuronal circuits underlying control of heart rate and blood pressure
• Regulation of ion channels by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in sensory neurons
• Recording ion channel activity in Alzheimer’s disease brains
• Stem cell differentiation and development

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Compulsory modules

Advanced Topics in Neuroscience I (20 credits) – In this module, you'll cover a number of specialised research topics, each containing a series of lectures and other teaching sessions relating to a topic within the field of Neuroscience.

Advanced Skills (20 credits) – This module will develop the competencies – knowledge, skills, and behaviours – needed to succeed beyond your undergraduate degree. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your professional development, allowing you to tailor your learning to support your capstone experience and address your specific professional developmental needs. It will facilitate your transition into the workplace, career or further study, thereby setting you up for success in your lifelong learning journey.

Capstone Research Project (40 credits) – You'll undertake a research, workplace, or social justice capstone experience, collaborating on a project to co-create a solution or output to a problem relevant to the Biomedical Sciences. Project-based experiential learning is a key feature of the module, as you'll “learn by doing”. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your education, developing new experiences and competencies that will be highly beneficial to your future career.

Optional modules

Inherited Disorders (20 credits) – You'll cover a general introduction to the study of inherited disorders and the general principles involved in the study of inherited disorders. Highlights on this module include the exploratory approach to learning about different intertied disorders in team presentations.

Advanced Topics in Neuroscience II (20 credits) – In this module, you'll cover a number of specialised research topics, each containing a series of lectures and other teaching sessions relating to a topic within the field of Neuroscience.

Neurophysiology (20 credits) – This module examines the complexity of neural circuits controlling physiological systems, exploring how the integration of sensory information from the body controls homeostatic functions. You'll also investigate how activity in these networks may contribute to disease states, and potential treatments for some diseases, based on manipulations of these networks and/or their targets.

Discovery (20 credits)

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Teaching will be through workshops, seminars, tutorials and a research project. Assessment is similarly varied, including in-course assessment (formative and summative) and written examinations. Depending on the optional modules chosen, the in-course assessment exercises can include essay writing, data analysis and problem solving. The research project will be assessed throughout the project and on the final written report. Degree classification will be based upon the marks obtained in each of the component modules, with the appropriate credit weighting applied.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £32,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Read about applying for intercalation on the School of Medicine website.

This course is taught by

Faculty of Biological Sciences

Contact us

Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office

Email: fbsadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

The course is designed to give you a challenging, enjoyable and rewarding year which will add significantly to your skills, knowledge, and enhance your career opportunities on graduation.

The course allows full integration with existing science-based BSc courses and the chance of a substantive research project.

In addition to providing subject-specific knowledge, we equip you with the best possible skills for future careers. There is a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, small group teaching, online learning and problem solving. You will gain a wide range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. You will be ideally placed to focus on your personal development and make the most of your intercalating year.