Neuroscience

The Aston BSc (Hons) Neuroscience programme will give you a comprehensive understanding of neuroscience – you’ll explore the development and function of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, and ask important questions about what makes us think and feel, how our brains process information and what brain cells and synapses do.

As a neuroscientist, you’ll take an interdisciplinary approach - from mathematics to molecular biology, and AI to electrophysiology. This hands-on course gives you access to cutting-edge lab equipment, real research techniques, and follows a hands-on approach, giving you access to high-tech laboratory provision.
The programme will unlock your understanding of the brain and nervous system from the microscopic level to the whole organism. You will learn about neuropharmacology through tissue bath experiments, perform EEG and EMG recordings and analyse the data with research-grade tools, undertake complex brain-slice recordings to discover how drugs work, and how our brains are organised and function, explore how natural toxins and nerve agents are used in the research lab to discover how our brain cells talk to each other and discover more about the major diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
This programme emphasises practical skill-building which will give you an edge in the job market. It’s also self-contained, with neuroscience-specific modules. It’s an ideal first step to one of the most dynamic areas in life and medical sciences.

Year 1
Develop a thorough, ‘hands-on’ grounding in the core principles and techniques used in neuroscience through a mixture of lectures and practical experience.

Year 2
Further develop the knowledge that you gained in your first year by studying the foundations of neuroscience in greater depth, along with a range of specialist subjects.

Placement year
You can choose to complete this exciting year in a variety of settings, from research laboratories to the pharmaceutical industry, giving you a career-boosting experience by setting your studies in a real-world context.

Final Year
You’ll learn about brain disorders and diseases, select from a number of fascinating optional modules, and conduct an independent research project.

Key course benefits:
• High level on-site facilities: State-of-the-art neuroscience laboratory equipment, including research-grade brain slice recording systems
• Professional experience: Integrated placement year, designed to set your studies in a real-world context and boost your employability
• Gold standard teaching: Aston University was awarded triple Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)
• Excellent student experience: 91.4% of students felt positive about academic support on their course (NSS 2024)

Facilities
• Dedicated labs with electrophysiology, EEG, ECG & EMG, and molecular equipment
• Neuroscience analysis suite to analyse and critically evaluate data collected during laboratory classes.
• Research-grade in vitro electrophysiology setups and software for use to record electrical activity from brain slices in real-time - investigations such as neuronal circuit function, uncovering the mechanisms of action of general anaesthetics and how memories are made through changes in synaptic strength.
• Receptor pharmacology equipment, giving students the opportunity to investigate the actions and mechanisms of a variety of receptor systems and drugs in the nervous system.
• Labs for technical skills: Western blotting, PCR, protein work

Career prospects
Neuroscience graduates enjoy broad opportunities in the UK and abroad—in neurophysiology, AI, big data, medical writing, and more, supported by strong industry links.

Please note we do not offer a Foundation Programme, if you select year 0 on your application form this will be amended to year 1 at admissions review stage.

For a full list of modules and course objectives, visit the course page on Aston University's website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/neuroscience-bsc/

Our Neuroscience curriculum utilises a range of different assessment types and the assessment strategy reflects the national educational requirements in the FHEQ including examinations (unseen essay, short answer or multiple choice questions), essays, practical reports (group or individual), presentations, viva voce, laboratory reports, project work, computer-based assessment, and peer assessments.