University College London (UCL)
Dementia: from Neuroscience to Clinical Practice MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
This MSc program is designed for those interested in understanding dementia from both a neuroscience and clinical perspective. It covers the latest research on how neurodegenerative diseases develop and progress, and explores practical ways to assess and manage dementia in real-world settings. The course combines scientific knowledge with clinical skills, helping students understand the biological basis of dementia while learning how to support individuals living with these conditions.
Students will gain hands-on experience in neuroimaging techniques, cognitive assessments, and care planning. The program also emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary approaches, encouraging collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers, and caregivers. By the end, students are equipped with a strong foundation to contribute effectively to research, clinical practice, or policy related to dementia. This course is especially suited for those aiming to deepen their understanding of dementia and improve the quality of care for affected individuals.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
This programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, journal clubs, and patient-based teaching sessions supplemented by self-directed learning. Students are encouraged to actively contribute to teaching sessions and learn through enquiry. The research project provides students with an authentic research experience to develop their scientific planning, reporting and critical analysis skills as well as project-specific practical skills. This programme uniquely provides extracurricular opportunities for students to develop a range of communication skills during journal club discussions, project symposium oral presentations and discussions with people with lived experience of a rare dementia.
Assessment is through ongoing formative assessments (for example, interactive discussions and presentations), timetabled summative assessments (including unseen short-answer examinations, multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations, essays, and presentations) as well as a 10,000-word written research project dissertation.
For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week in terms one and two. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.
In term three and the summer period, students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.
Modules
Full-time
The programme consists of five compulsory modules (75 credits), two or three optional modules (total value of 45 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
Part-time
Students must complete four of the compulsory modules (60 credits) and up to 30 credits of optional modules in Year One. In Year Two, students are required to complete the remaining optional modules (total 45 credits across both years), the final core module Research Methods and Introduction to Statistics (15 credits), and the research project (60 credits).
Compulsory modules
- Research Project: MSc Dementia (Neuroscience)
- Current Research in Dementia
- Higher Functions of the Brain
- Research Methods and Introduction to Statistics
- Clinical Neuroscience of Dementia
- Practical Neuroscience of Dementia
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a in Dementia: from Neuroscience to Clinical Practice.
What this course will give you
This programme is unique in linking neuroscientific foundations with specialist clinical skills and knowledge in dementia.
The programme integrates the expertise of UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology with affiliated departments at the forefront of the global mission to defeat dementia, and is taught by international leaders working closely together to link bench and bedside as part of UCL's Dementia Strategy.
The programme builds on UCL's global perspective, targeting students in developing as well as developed countries to drive future training opportunities. The programme emphasises active student participation and enquiry, develops practical skills, and offers unparalleled exposure to laboratories and patient-based teaching.
The foundation of your career
This unique programme will equip graduates with in-depth knowledge of dementia diseases and their treatments; strong, practical research skills that could facilitate doctoral or postdoctoral research in the field; and transferable scientific communication skills. This experience could support further doctoral studies and applications for fellowships.
100% of our students are either in work or undertaking further study 15 months after graduating from this programme (based on the latest Graduate Outcomes survey 2021-22).
Employability
For scientists and psychologists, the programme can lead to future placements in clinically oriented research environments or clinical training. For clinicians, this is an excellent opportunity to gain a higher qualification at a world-leading centre of excellence in neurodegeneration research, which could be tailored to a variety of future roles in clinical, research and management fields. Many students have gone on to pursue PhDs and research careers in the fields of dementia and neurodegeneration.
Networking
The Queen Square Institute of Neurology is home to some of the world's most influential academics. By studying with us, students will have the opportunity to be part of the next generation of experts in neuroscience. We are home to some of the world's most influential researchers and offer a wealth of scientific and clinical expertise, from laboratory benches through to patient care.
Many of our lecturers are also NHS consultants working at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery which is a leading centre for the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with a wide range of neurological conditions.
Alumni networking events are provided for current and former students to discuss their experiences and career options after completing their degree. Students also take part in a research project symposium to share their work with peers and early career researchers from UCL, and some students may be able to present their work at local or international conferences depending upon the research project chosen.