What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of the brain and the nerves that make up the nervous system. The brain controls all bodily activities, ranging from heart rate and sexual function to emotion, learning
and memory.
Ultimately, it shapes our thoughts, hopes, dreams and imagination. In fact, the brain is what makes us human.
We will take you on an amazing journey. You will cover all major areas of neuroscience from the molecular to the clinical/pathological from an anatomical, pharmacological, physiological and molecular biological viewpoint. You will learn about the disorders of the nervous system such as: neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s), obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Neuroanatomy and physiology 
Pharmacology
Molecular neurobiology
Why study Neuroscience?
Neuroscience – the "final frontier" in biology
Neuroscience is a field which encompasses the major remaining challenges in biology. The brain is the most complex organ of the body and the organ from which we still have the most to learn. The subject area is rapidly expanding, with research into areas such as: the molecular basis of cognition and memory, development and stem cell technology, neuropathological disorders, spinal cord injuries, neural networks, artificial limbs, emotional and psychological disorders.
This course is designed to give you the best possible start into this fascinating field with its incredibly diverse opportunities, working with researchers at the fore-front of their field, and studying questions such as:
- How does our brain process and integrate information from the world around us?
- What is consciousness?
- Can we treat spinal cord injuries and so limit effects such as paralysis?
- How do we form and store memories?
- Is there a mechanism within the brain to prevent obesity?
- Can we develop more effective treatments or possibly even cures for the growing number of neurological diseases and mental disorders.
BSc Neuroscience: B140
This course offers:
exciting up-to-date topics such as: sensory and motor processing, nervous system development, current research into neuropathological disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy, and research techniques such as electrophysiology and fluorescence imaging
- wide range of options
- teaching delivered by our respected team of neuroscientists
- the chance to study in a Faculty ranked 4th in the UK for research in biological sciences by the leading scientific journal ‘Nature’ based on the numbers of staff producing research that was “world leading or internationally excellent”
- excellent career prospects
- high levels of student satisfaction
- practical sessions in first-class purpose-built teaching labs using research-grade equipment
- opportunities to work on contemporary issues with expert researchers during your final year project
- the opportunity of a career-enhancing industrial placement year
- the chance to study abroad
- all the facilities and lifestyle opportunities of a major university
Entry Requirements
Title |
BSc Neuroscience |
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UCAS code |
B140 |
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Qualification |
BSc (Hons) |
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Duration |
3 years (standard) 4 year (with placement) |
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2010 entry requirements;
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A levels: AAB-BBB including A-Level Biology or Human Biology plus another science or science-related subject. General Studies excluded.
More qualifications
We consider applications on an individual basis and an offer will depend on the information given on your UCAS form. Applications are assessed from a combination of the following; the balance, nature and quality of A2, AS and GSCE subjects (or equivalents); the referee's comments; your personal statement and academic potential. |
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Admissions enquiries |
Maureen Cummings |
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Admissions tutor |
Dr. Charlotte Haigh |
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Department |
Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate School |
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Programme Leaders |
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Course brochure |
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Course Structure
In the first and second years, lectures, practicals and tutorials are the most important forms of teaching. You will have lectures and tutorials each week, and regular laboratory sessions. In the final year, you will be able to choose your favourite topics to study under the guidance of leading experts; your research project will take up about one third of your time with the rest devoted to lectures and tutorials. Formal examinations are held twice a year, in January and May/June, to spread the assessment load.
Modules
All degree programmes are modular and offer wide choice.
Modules may be core (you have to take them), optional (you can choose from a list of alternatives) or elective (you have a free choice); the balance depends upon your year and programme of study. We offer a wide range of modules. Examples include:
Neuroscience Year 1
Foundations in Biomedical Sciences
Biology of the Mind
Neuroscience Year 2
Neurobiology
Mechanisms of Brain Function
Neuropharmacology
Neuroscience Year 3
Brain, Behaviour and Disorder
Sensory and Motor Functions of the Spinal Cord
Research Projects
Final year students choose an individual project from a wide range of topics to suit their interests and career aspirations. The project is an original study which may be laboratory-based or a critical review of the literature. Alternatively, students may develop an educational package for use in teaching or a “Science and Society” activity for communicating our science to the general public. All projects are supervised by an academic member of staff. These projects are an important way for students to learn about independent scientific research and develop important skills for future employment.
"Central satiety pathways and obesity"
"Properties of neuronal circuits underlying control of the heart rate and blood pressure"
"Recording the channel activity in Alzheimer's disease brains"
Some of our students have been fortunate enough to get their final year research project data published in a scientific journal, including:
- Mathew Lamont (BSc Neuroscience 2008): An electrophysiological analysis of deep cerebellar nuclei, with particular focus on Kv3 channels in Bioscience Horizons (an undergraduate research journal)
- Millegan, C.J., Edwards, I.E., Deuchars J.D. (2006) “HCN1 ion channel immunoreactivity in spinal cord and medulla oblongata” Brain Research, 1081 (1): 79-91.
Visit the Studying with us pages to find out more about studying in the Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate School.
Please be aware that course details do change from time to time. ...
Careers
Neuroscience graduates enjoy excellent career prospects as their training opens up opportunities in scientific and non-scientific careers alike. BSc Neuroscience fosters the development of transferable "graduate skills" which are highly valued by employers throughout the world.
"I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after the degree finished, but doing a placement at the research labs within the University of Leeds has helped me to decide that I would like to pursue a career in neuroscience research."
Rachel Powis, BSc Neuroscience student
Scientific careers: Many graduates go on to medicine and healthcare professions or into careers in research in the pharmaceutical and related industries or academia.
Non-scientific professions: Our graduates acquire skills of numeracy, analytical thinking, data handling, and creativity in problem solving, all of which equip them for jobs in non-scientific careers such as sales and marketing, accountancy, finance, patent work and journalism.
Further study: Some go on to further study e.g. PhD, MSc, medicine, dentistry.
Recent graduate jobs include:
- Postgraduate medical student
- PhD student, University of Leeds
- Auxillary Nurse (Neurosciences), NHS
- Officer, British Army
- Technician, University of Birmingham
- Quality Control Analyst, Avecia
Read about more BSc Neuroscience graduates...
Industrial Placements Scheme
Our industrial placement scheme can help give you the edge over other candidates. Find out more...
Biological Sciences Careers Support
We work closely with the University Careers Centre to support our students with information and opportunities. The University’s recent “employer review” score was a magnificent 98 out of 100. (World University League Tables November 2008).
We have launched a new series of weekly careers workshops designed especially for biological sciences students to help develop their career opportunities and find out about possible career avenues. We also organise an annual Bioscience Careers Fair, offering a chance to meet bioscience employers, speak to alumni, attend workshops and get masses of information.
Careers resources
News
New hope for Huntington's sufferers
A major breakthrough in the understanding and potential treatment of Huntington's disease has been made by scientists at the University of Leeds .
Researchers in the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences have discovered that one of the body's naturally occurring proteins is preventing 57 genes from operating normally in the brains of Huntington's sufferers. In addition, the destructive nature of this protein could potentially be halted using drugs that are already being used to help cancer patients.
"This is a really exciting breakthrough," says researcher Dr Lezanne Ooi. "It's early days, but we believe our research could lead to radical changes in treatment for Huntington's sufferers. The fact that these cancer drugs have already been through the clinical trials process should speed up the time it takes for this research to impact directly on patients."
Huntington's is an inherited degenerative neurological disease that affects between 6500 and 8000 people in the UK and up to 8 people out of every 100,000 in Western countries. Any person whose parent has Huntington's has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes it and everyone with the defective gene will, at some point, develop the disease.
It is characterised by a loss of neurons in certain regions of the brain and progressively affects a sufferer's cognition, personality and motor skills. In its later stages, sufferers almost certainly require continual nursing care. Secondary diseases, such as pneumonia are the actual cause of death, rather than the disease itself.
Dr Ooi's research has identified the effects of one of the body's proteins on the neurons of Huntington 's sufferers. Neurons are usually protected by the protein BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor), whose many functions also include encouraging the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. However, in Huntington 's sufferers, the repressor protein known as REST - which is usually found only in certain regions of the brain - enters the nucleus of the neuron and decreases the expression of BDNF.
She has also been studying some of the enzymes which assist the function of this protein. It is these enzymes that provide the mechanism for the protein to wreak havoc in the brains of Huntington's sufferers, and that are already being targeted in certain cancer drugs.
Currently, the symptoms of Huntington's can be managed through medication to help with loss of motor control and speech therapy but there is no definitive treatment. This research provides a first step in developing a treatment regime that may halt the onset of the disease.
"Huntington's is a devastating illness that affects whole families. Those who know they've inherited the faulty gene live in a shadow of uncertainty over how long their symptoms start to develop. It can also be particularly cruel since every child born to a parent that has the HD gene is at 50% risk of having inherited the gene," says Cath Stanley, Head of Care Services at the Huntington's Disease Association.
"As such, any developments in the understanding of this disease are welcome, but this breakthrough is particularly exciting as it opens up an avenue for researching a possible treatment using drugs that are already available, rather than starting from scratch."
Dr Ooi's research was funded by The Wellcome Trust and carried out in collaboration with the University of Milan and King's College London. The paper has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
22nd August 2007