Program Requirements

The Master of Neuroscience requires the completion of 96 units, of which:

A minimum of 24 units must come from 8000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

NEUR6101 Cellular Neuroscience

NEUR6102 Systems Neuroscience

A minimum of 6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

BIOL6174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease

PSYC6010 Biological Basis of Behaviour

A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL8291 Research Presentation Skills

NEUR8700 Neuroscience Research proposal

NEUR8701 Readings in Neuroscience

NEUR8704 Neuroscience Essay

NEUR8010 Neuroscience Research Project

A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

MEDN6001 Medical Physiology and Pharmacology

MEDN6002 Pathogenesis of Human Disease

BIOL6161 Genes: Replication and Expression

BIOL6171 Biochemistry and Nutrition

BIOL6191 Biology, Society and Ethics

BIOL6201 Big Questions in Biology

BIOL6202 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology

BIOL8021 Health and Disease in a Changing World

BIOL8702 Advanced Research Techniques

POPM8001 Research, Treatment, Policy: Current Issues in Mental Health

PSYC6016 Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

SCOM6031 Science, Risk and Ethics

VCPG6002 Mobilising Research

A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:

ENVS6013 Society and Environmental Change

ENVS6020 Human Ecology

ENVS6025 Complex Environmental Problems in Action

ENVS6103 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research

ENVS6306 Human Futures

SCOM6012 Science Communication and the Web

SCOM6015 Speaking of Science

SCOM6016 Science in the Media

SCOM6027 Science and Public Policy

SCOM6501 Strategies in Science Communication

SCOM8014 Communicating Science with the Public

Study Options

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry. 

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0, with at least 8 courses in a cognate area.

Cognate Disciplines

Cellular and molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, medicine, anatomy and physiology, biological psychology

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors. 

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0. 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. 

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of: 

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency. 

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission 

Diversity factors

As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

Assessment of qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

 Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

Applications for course credit

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit. 

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate Disciplines

Cellular and molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, medicine, anatomy and physiology, biological psychology

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

Our postgraduate neuroscience programs pave the way for further studies in neuroscience and related fields, such as a PhD.

A Master of Neuroscience will also provide you with the skills to find employment in the biomedical sciences sector, including in clinical research, with pharmaceutical companies and in policy development.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate high level knowledge in neuroscience;
2. apply their knowledge in neuroscience to new problems;
3. interpret, synthesize and critically analyse published literature of relevance to neuroscience;
4. demonstrate a theoretical understanding of current neuroscience techniques
5. demonstrate the ability to interpret and analyse results and write scientific reports;
6. clearly communicate theory and results in both written and oral formats.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this program.

Further Information

Students have the option of applying to transfer to the Master of Neuroscience (Adv) and undertaking a 48 unit research project if they satisfy the following requirements:

• achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the initial 48 units of coursework

• have the approval of an identified supervisor, and 

• have completed compulsory courses in the Master Neuroscience (Advanced) 

Students who have completed 48 units and wish to exit the program have the option of transferring to graduate from a Graduate Diploma of Science.

Students who have completed 24 units and wish to exit the program have the option of transferring to graduate from a Graduate Certificate of Science.

Alternative courses can be substituted for elective courses with the approval of the program convener

An indicative list of courses offered by Science can be found here