MSc by Research and DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences
The MSc by Research and DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences offer excellent opportunities for high quality research training, for both clinical and non-clinical graduates, in wide-ranging leading areas of clinical neuroscience.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for all our courses are made online. There is an application fee of £75, for which fee waivers may be available under certain circumstances.
Applicants are expected to follow the standard process as outlined in the University guide to applications. Read the University’s guide to making an application for graduate study. Please see Funded Opportunities that may currently be available to apply for.
Please be aware that you need to complete the following steps before applying online:
STEP ONE: FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR CHOSEN COURSE IS OPEN TO APPLICATONS
STEP TWO: GET A SUPERVISOR TO AGREE TO SUPERVISE YOU
If you are interested in applying then you must have the support of a potential supervisor within the department before you submit an application. However, please note that the support of a supervisor at this stage does not imply that you will be admitted to study in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. You must email your intended supervisor and explain clearly:
- what your academic background is
- what kind of research you are interested in
They will then confirm whether or not they are happy to be listed as the proposed supervisor on the application form.
Find information on the research carried out in NDCN or browse research staff.
Some general advice on how to pick a graduate advisor (supervisor) and how to choose a scientific problem can be found in these two articles:
- Ben Barres, 2013, How to pick a graduate advisor, Neuron.
- Uri Alon, 2009, How to choose a good scientific problem, Mol Cell.
STEP THREE: DISCUSS A SPECIFIC PROJECT WITH THEM
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be asked about the specific project you propose to conduct with the supervisor who is supporting your application. You must have a clear sense, therefore, of what you would like to achieve and how you will go about achieving it.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews following the December application deadline are expected to take place in the first half of January each year.
For October 2025 entry, they will be held during the week Monday 20 to Friday 24 January 2024 inclusive. Applicants are asked to keep as much of that week free as possible, as there will only be limited opportunity to reschedule interview slots and for exceptional reasons only. Applicants will be informed of invitations to interview no earlier than Monday 13 January and no later than Friday 17 January.
COVID-19
Read the University's guidance for applicants and offer-holders.
FEE INFORMATION FOR EU STUDENTS
Read the University's information on fee status and funding arrangements for EU students.
ADMISSIONS POLICIES
The department abides by the University's policy on admissions appeals and complaints. Read the policy here.
We are unable to provide feedback on individual applications. Admission to our courses is extremely competitive. Applications are assessed based on academic merit and potential, as well as indicators of suitability for high-level research in the topic. Applicants who are not shortlisted, or are shortlisted but not offered a place, must not assume that this implies a negative judgment of their capabilities, but simply that we receive more high-quality applications each year than we are able to accept.
FURTHER INFORMATION
We are proud that our programmes are participating in ‘Black Academic Futures’ via the Medical Sciences Division's guarantee of at least 10 places per year across its doctoral programmes for the next four years' intakes of DPhil students. Read about Black Academic Futures.
If you would like further information after having consulted the online information resources, please contact the course administration team.