Neuroscience with Foundation Year

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, from the molecules and cells of individual neurons to the complex circuits that generate thought, memory, emotion, movement, and consciousness. It is one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding areas of biological and medical science, with profound implications for the understanding and treatment of conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease to depression, epilepsy, and stroke. Studying neuroscience means engaging with questions that are simultaneously among the most fundamental in biology and the most important for human health.

At Keele University, this four-year full-time programme begins with a foundation year that builds the scientific knowledge and academic skills needed to engage successfully with the main degree. The programme is multidisciplinary in character, developing your understanding of genetics, human physiology, and the nervous system alongside the neuroscience-specific content of the degree. You will develop practical laboratory skills alongside theoretical understanding, learning to apply your knowledge to real-world questions in health, disease, and research.

The typical entry tariff of 72 points reflects the genuinely inclusive access philosophy of the foundation year route.

You will develop scientific rigour, laboratory competence, and the ability to engage with the complex interactions between brain, body, and behaviour that make neuroscience both challenging and fascinating.

Graduates pursue careers in research, clinical science, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, healthcare, science communication, and education. Many continue to postgraduate study in neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, psychology, or medicine, which opens pathways to specialist research and clinical careers. The analytical and laboratory skills developed are also valued in the broader life sciences sector.