PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Clinical Neuroscience
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2012-13 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Brain Sciences
Parent Department:
Institute of Neurology
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
www.ion.ucl.ac.uk
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
First or second class Honours degree in neuroscience or related
biological science (e.g. physiology, psychology, pharmacology,
biochemistry); or a medical degree from a UK University, or an
overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
1 calendar year
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Masters Level (Level 7)
At date of production only the general Masters benchmark descriptor
is available
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Lecture course (September to March) – 6 modules; Two further selfdirected modules are described similarly in this document. These are the
Library Project (30 credits) and the Research Project (60 credits) and their
content will vary according to the choices made by the student.
1. Cellular and Molecular mechanisms of disease (15 credits) CLNEG021
2. Epilepsy, Pain, Tumours & Infections of the Central Nervous
System (15 credits) - CLNEG020
3. Peripheral Nerve, Muscle and Special Senses (15 credits) CLNEG019
4. Motor Systems & Disease (15 credits) - CLNEG018
5. Higher Functions of the Brain (15 credits) - CLNEG017
6. Research Methods, including Critical Appraisal, and
Introduction to Statistics (15 credits) - CLNEG023
7. Library Project (30 credits) - CLNEG022
8. Research Project (60 credits) - CLNEG098
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Clinical Neuroscience MSc
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
None
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The course is aimed at those pursuing a professional career in neuroscience, which includes any or all of the
sciences dealing with the structure and function of the nervous system and brain. It provides training in basic
scientific principles of modern neuroscience as well as the application of those principles to a wide range of
neurological disorders.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Understanding of the contribution of basic
neuroscientific mechanisms to clinical
disorders of the central and peripheral
nervous system
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The main teaching method consists of lectures delivered
by about 125 individual experts in various fields of
neuroscience (basic science and clinical research).
Lectures are supported by audio-visual aids and
supplementary materials e.g. hand-outs, reading-lists
and references to original papers and/or reviews. All
individual topics within a module include a combination
of basic and clinical lectures. As a general teaching
strategy we are moving towards facilitating learning by
e.g. making the lectures more interactive. Methods for
encouraging more student participation include (1)
experimenting with different questioning techniques (2)
the class working in buzz-groups (and reporting back to
plenary) and (3) e-mailing students a question/vignette
so they can prepare in advance of a lecture.
Each student is assigned an individual Personal Tutor (a
member of the MSc Committee) who monitors the
student’s academic achievement and attends to their
welfare.
There are a number of workshops where students gain
both knowledge and some understanding of practical
skills related to a range of aspects of Neuroscience
research (both clinical and basic science).
Students gain further understanding of basic
neuroscience and its clinical applications in the
independent learning situation of their library and
research projects.
Assessment:
Cellular and Molecular
mechanisms of disease:
CLNEG021
Unseen examination
Epilepsy, Pain, Tumours &
Infections of the Central
3000 word essay
Nervous System: CLNEG020
Peripheral Nerve, Muscle and
3000 word essay
Special Senses: CLNEG019
Motor Systems & Disease:
CLNEG018
Unseen examination
Higher Functions of the Brain:
3000 word essay
CLNEG017
Research Methods, including
Critical Appraisal, and
Introduction to Statistics:
CLNEG023
(i) Tutor’s assessment:
attendance,
participation, in seminar
discussions
(ii) MCQ stats quiz
Library Project: CLNEG022
5000 word library
project
Research Project:
CLNEG098
10,000 word dissertation
and oral examination
Students will have to obtain
180 M Level credits to be
awarded the MSc degree.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
In all components students are encouraged to apply a
critical examination of evidence, firstly of the
experiments which support scientific findings and,
secondly, the application of scientific evidence to the
understanding of clinical conditions and their treatment.
A specific module on critical appraisal skills is run to
develop this particular aspect of thinking skills. This
module consists of a number of small group seminars.
After a taught component, the students participate in
practical workshops where journal papers are critically
appraised by the group. The module also covers
presentation skills and the skills of giving constructive
feedback, culminating with each student critically
appraising a paper as a presentation to their peer-group
and the course tutors, all of whom are involved in
assessing and giving feedback on each presentation.
Students developed self direction, originality and critical
thinking via consultation with their supervisors in the
early stages of the library project and throughout the
research project.
Assessment:
Thinking skills are assessed in the marking of essays
and unseen exams, the library project and the research
project dissertation, and oral; and when presentations
are assessed.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
(1) Neuroscience techniques – basic
science and clinical
There are a number of workshops where
students gain both knowledge and some
understanding of practical skills.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
These are interactive workshops
(2) Neuroscience research:
Students undertake a main research project. The project
is intended as an exercise in scientific investigation that
is written up and presented as a dissertation. The
students have experience of all major components of
research i.e.: searching the literature; formulating an
hypothesis; principles of research design; developing
good working relationships and integrating with multidisciplinary teams; laboratory, measurement and/or
interviewing techniques; data collection, coding and
analysis; statistical techniques, discussion and
interpretation of results and the writing of a dissertation.
Specific practical skills vary but could include cell culture
techniques, histological procedures, DNA analysis,
electrophysiology, image analysis, patient
questionnaires etc.
(3) Literature searching:
Literature searching, systematic reviews, meta-analysis
and the principles of evidence-based medicine are
taught in research training seminars. Aspects of
literature searching and handling data-bases also
covered during induction session by Institute library staff.
Practical experience gained when students carry out
their library project and research project.
(4) Managing references:
Reference Manager + Introduction to E-Resources
training given by Institute library staff.
(5) Poster-making:
Students are strongly encouraged to make and present
a poster at the annual Queen Square Student
Symposium.
(6) Data-analysis and statistics:
(7) How to handle your viva:
All students complete a 4 module online statistics
course. The Institute statistician runs a number of
statistics workshops, covering a range of topics, which
are time-tabled into the MSc lecture programme. Also,
the students are encouraged to consult the statistician
individually at the design stage of their research
projects.
Seminar/interactive workshop. Discussion of what to
expect - including sharing experiences/suggestions from
students in previous years.
Assessment:
Library Project.
Research project dissertation + Oral exam
Stats module
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
(1) Presentation skills:
2) Time-management skills:
3) Writing Skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The students are taught presentation skills (in research
training seminars) and have opportunities to present and
receive critical feedback on two occassions: (1) critical
appraisal of a paper and (2) research project
presentations.
Two 1 hour workshops several weeks apart.
Brainstorming in group, sharing of tips and experiences,
then a follow-up session to see what worked.
The students are taught writing skills in two, 1 hr
research training seminars where different aspects of
writing are covered : (1) writing essays (2) preparing
time-limited examination answers
(4) Applying for jobs:
Three, 1 hr seminars on (1) discussion of one real life
job specification (real-life example of recently advertised
posts in neuroscience), decoding the language of job
adverts, how to write a personal statement; (2) preparing
for tough interview questions - working through
examples in a group.
(5) Asking and refining the research
question:
Taught during the weekly research training seminars in
various contexts e.g. searching the literature, systematic
reviews, meta-analysis and evidence-based medicine.
Assessment:
Presentations to peers, written work submitted for
assessment.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Professor Matthew Walker & Dr Caroline Selai
Name(s):
Date of Production:
20 April 2010
Date of Review:
October 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
October 2014
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
October 2014
November 2014