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MSci Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (integrated masters) including placement year

Course details
  • MSci
  • 5 Years
  • Full-time
  • 10/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Colchester Campus

Course summary

How do we understand relationships and interpret the behaviour of others? What drives people to act, respond, remember and recognise things in the way they do? Is it possible to predict with complete certainty how someone will behave? At Essex, satisfy your curiosity about how our mind works and what drives human behaviour.

Our Integrated Masters provides one of the most immersive and exciting experiences of studying the human mind in the UK through incorporating in-depth coverage of all areas of psychology and an exceptional understanding and practical skills in advanced research methods. This will include combining modules from existing courses and building on skills learned to an advanced level of research methods.

You’ll learn from our researchers and work together in the same space via our Research Experience Scheme (RES) which gives you the opportunity to work one-on-one with a psychologist as their research assistant. Upon completion of the course you'll graduate with a Masters-level qualification, a strong theoretical background and specialist expertise through advanced independent research. This combination makes our graduates attractive candidates for many employers.

Our staff have a wide range of research interests, which means you’ll gain a critical and detailed understanding of the core areas of psychology, plus some specialisation. You’ll also learn research methods to an extent which will enable you to devise, carry out and analyse an empirical research project. Our course will equip you with a critical and detailed understanding of the core areas of psychology (development, cognitive, social, biological, personality) plus training in research methods and statistics.

Topics you’ll explore include:

  • Visual and auditory perception and cognition

  • Language, concepts, memory and attention

  • The relation between brain and behaviour

  • Developmental psychology

  • Social psychology

Our research is challenging and ground-breaking, rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014). We are supported by some of the most prestigious funding bodies, including the European Commission and the Leverhulme Trust.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
CA98
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

120 - 128 points
128 - 120 tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels

A level

ABB - BBB
ABB - BBB or 128 - 120 tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM
Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on subjects studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis. Please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice on acceptability

Access to HE Diploma

D: 15 credits M: 30 credits
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 15 level 3 credits at Distinction and 30 level 3 credits at Merit – 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, please contact ugquery@essex.ac.uk for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30 - 32 points
or three Higher Level certificates with 655-555. Either must include Standard Level Maths grade 4. Maths in the IB is not required if you have already achieved GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. We are happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information on ugquery@essex.ac.uk.

T Level

D
We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Essex we consider your whole application – not just grades. If you don’t meet the exact grade requirements, you may still be considered.
We’re dedicated to helping students from underrepresented groups to access an Essex education. We may give you a Contextual Offer up to two A-Level grades below our standard conditional offer based on where you live, your school, and other details from your application. Involvement in our on-campus events may also support eligibility for a Contextual Offer.

Learn more on the University of Essex website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9250Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250Year 1
Scotland£9250Year 1
Wales£9250Year 1
Channel Islands£9250Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9250Year 1
EU£23200Year 1
International£23200Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for the 2025-26 academic year. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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