Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience

Cognitive and clinical neuroscience is an interdisciplinary degree that examines how the structure and function of the brain give rise to mental processes, and how those processes interact with the physical, social, and cultural environments in which we live. Cognitive neuroscience asks how the brain supports perception, attention, memory, language, decision-making, and consciousness, drawing on experimental psychology, neuroimaging, and computational modelling to map the neural basis of mind. Clinical neuroscience applies this understanding to the study and treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions, examining what goes wrong in the brain in disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, dementia, and traumatic brain injury, and what those conditions reveal about the neural basis of normal function.

At the University of Westminster, this three-year programme takes an interdisciplinary approach, integrating cognitive and clinical perspectives across the curriculum. You will study the neurological and psychological underpinnings of cognition and behaviour, engaging with both the science of the brain and its clinical applications. The programme draws on neuroscience, psychology, and clinical disciplines, developing your ability to evaluate research evidence critically and to think across the boundaries between basic and applied science.

The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience that connects your academic learning to clinical, research, and applied psychology contexts.

Graduates from cognitive and clinical neuroscience degrees pursue careers in clinical and research settings, including roles in mental health services, neuropsychological assessment, neuroscience research, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and science communication. Many go on to postgraduate training in clinical psychology, neuropsychology, or neuroscience, or to doctoral research in cognitive or clinical neuroscience. The combination of neuroscientific knowledge and clinical awareness is increasingly valued across the health, research, and technology sectors.