Neuroscience

Course overview Neuroscientists study 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. They investigate brain disorders and disease to uncover the processes that occur in both neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.”

This interdisciplinary science liaises closely with other disciplines such as mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology and medicine.

At Aston University, our BSc (Hons) Neuroscience course follows a practical and hands-on approach, giving you access to the most up-to-date and high-tech equipment, enabling you to engage with the newest techniques in basic and applied research. It has been designed to provide you with the perfect first step towards a future career in one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of life and medical sciences.

What is studying Neuroscience at Aston University really like? Our course differs from many undergraduate neuroscience courses in the UK, with a key focus on acquiring practical skills - an advantage that will set you apart from the graduate crowd.

You’ll work closely with active neuroscience researchers working on ground-breaking projects and study a range of modules designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of brain function.

During the course you will get the opportunity to:

Learn pharmacology 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.

Discover more about the major diseases and disorders of the nervous system.

Hear from leading clinicians in our guest lectures.

Understand how research conducted at Aston University into areas like Parkinson’s, autism, dyslexia, epilepsy and developmental cognitive neuroscience is impacting the wider field of study.

Key course benefits:

Access to state-of-the-art neuroscience laboratory equipped with research-grade brain slice recording systems.

Unlock your understanding of the brain and nervous system, from the microscope to the whole organism.

4th in the UK for Anatomy and Physiology (Neuroscience) (Guardian University Guide 2025).

91% of students felt positive about academic support on their course (NSS 2024)

Complete an integrated placement year, designed to set your studies in a real-world context and boost your employability, meaning you’ll not only learn a wide range of skills and knowledge, but you’ll also gain first-hand experience before you’ve even graduated.

Students have undertaken placements in companies such as Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Cerebra, Riche Pharmaceuticals, and neuroscience laboratories across the UK.

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.