The Master’s program "Cognitive neuroscience" (37.04.01)

• Duration of study: 2 years
• Area of Studies: Psychological Sciences
• Subject: Psychology
• Credits: 120 ECTS
• Language of instruction: English
• Entry requirements: 4-year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Exam: Сomputer psychology test

Head of the program:

Marina Klimenskikh, PhD, Ural Institute of Humanities, marina.klimenskikh@urfu.ru

Scientific Advisor of the program:

Sergey Kiselev, PhD, Ural Institute of Humanities, eskisa@rambler.ru

About the Master’s program "Cognitive neuroscience"

The Master’s program "Cognitive neuroscience" aims to prepare highly qualified specialists in the field of studying the brain and cognitive processes. The program comprises fundamental theoretical training in the field of brain research and neurocognitive processes: neurology, neuropsychology, principles of neuroscience, neurocognitive development of children, methods of brain research and approaches to neurorehabilitation.

The program’s structure is a set of interdisciplinary and applied subjects, which describe the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of neurocogniitive science.

Program advantages

Cognitive neuroscience is the combined study of the mind and the brain. Cognitive neuroscience explores how the neurological organization of the brain influences the way people think, feel, and act.

The Master’s program employs the scientific-practical facilities of the Laboratory of Brain and Neurocognitive Development and Lab of Neurotechnologies with the most advanced equipment: 128-channels Geodesic EEG System 300 with Geodesic Photogrammetry System (GPS) 3.0, SMI RED 500 Eye-tracker, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - 3rd Edition (BSID III).

Students can participate in various research projects, including:

• Investigation of the effects of early parental-based interventions on of infants at high risk for autism
• and ADHD;
• Investigation and detection of EEG markers of high productivity of working memory, the using of transcranial electrical stimulation of the brain in order to improve the performance of working memory;
• Investigation of limits of human cognitive abilities within a study of the phenomenon of cognitive
• overload and the individual features of its manifestation;
• Research of the processes of implicit learning in patients with chronic impairments of consciousness
• and healthy adults;
• Study of the influence of sleep and wakefulness desynchronosis on cognitive abilities in late adulthood
• and on aspects of psychological aging;
• Longitudinal studies of neurocognitive development in preterm infants and infants with perinatal injuries.
• Study of the possibilities of using the VR methods in the learning process.

Career opportunities

The Master Program in Cognitive Neuroscience was developed for students who are interested in mastering practical and fundamental knowledge and skills in the field of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychological assessment and neuropsychological rehabilitation, mastering state of the airt methods in brain and- cognitive research.

Successful mastering of the master’s program will allow graduates to perform professional activities as researchers in research centers, as teachers in educational institutions, as practitioners in neuro rehabilitation and correctional-educational centers.

Successful mastering of this program will allow graduates to work at research centers (as researchers), and at neurorehabilitation and correctional-educational centers – as practitioners.

Partners

• the Center for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London
• the Laboratory for Early Development (University of Uppsala, Sweden)
• the International Laboratory for Cognitive Investigations and Behavioral Genetics (Tomsk, Russia)
• the International Centre for Research in Human Development
• (University of California, San Diego, US A)
• Bavarian University (Ulm, Germany)
• the Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning at Beijing Normal University, Institute for  Brain Research (Beijing, China)
• the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of (Yerevan, Armenia)
• the University of Tubingen (Germany)

Key disciplines

• Experimental Methods in Neuroscience
• Research in Neuromarketing
• Fundamentals of Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Neuropsychology of Childhood
• Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Correction of Children
• Neurorehabilitation
• Brain Development and Neurocognitive Functions
• Applied Aspects of Psychophysics
• Differential Psychophysiology
• Functional Asymmetry of the Brain

Student s testimonial

• Majdoleen Azaim (Palestine)

I think our master program is perfect. The courses that we have are useful and helpful. The program covers such topics like memory, motivation and decision-making, how people are influenced by the attitudes and actions of others, the origins and treatment of mental human development from birth to death. We also have amazing professional lecturers with high degrees.

Thank you for this amazing program. I'm so glad that I chose it!

• Ammar Basheer (Sri Lanka)

Continuing my education as part of the Masters in Cognitive Neuroscience group has been an immensely eye-opening experience. The course encompasses both practical and theoretical aspects of the field, making you step out of your comfort zone and forcing you to think outside the box. The course tries to push the envelope and makes the students explore newer boundaries.

The course is presented by experts in their respective fields and the lab is equipped with cutting edge technology for students to use for their research.The course provides an opportunity for students to put theory into practice by testing ideas, visiting state hospitals and conducting lessons.

• Li Zijun (Сhina)

It is amusing try for me to learn about the brain deeply, in such a multicultural and warm group. There are magnificent lessons about neuroscience, cognitive development, communication, emotion, as well as decision-making in our program. And to crown it all, the experience to share ideas in labrotary and to study in hospital really rise me up. It is also the great opportunity for me to know about developmental psychology deeper and to work with Infants. I really appreciate the wonderful memories with my group mates here. I feel so warm in cold winter thanks to all kindness I received from this great country.

• Mohammed Ahsan Khodami (Iran)

I chose neuroscience not as a degree but as part of my life. I can say that my life is completed with neuroscience. Well, understanding the brain as the most complex entity in the world is fantastic by itself. I entered the program under the OpenDoor international Olympiad, and I am so happy to choose UrFU as my destination. As a student and researcher in the field of neuroscience at Ural Federal University, it has given me the chance to step in the direction of my dreams. Of course, every step requires compassion and encouragement. Fortunately, from the very beginning, I chose this university, I felt this companionship — full accountability before entering college and after. As for studying in English, this is the best opportunity anyone can get to find out more and direct his life through the advanced level of knowledge. At a glance, the university has a coherent plan, and all members strive to help to advance the goals. It is crucial for the intimacy of the professors, the grants, the timing for reviewing the applications, and many more. One of the essential features of the university is its student-centeredness. The Neuroscience team and all the faculty and colleagues on the team are always ready to hear comments and even criticism. Undoubtedly, this process and the free choice of proposals for further research and full collaboration by the university can create a bright future for students.

I hope that the future will be a great time to have more advanced publishing, more digging in neuroscience, and also will be a chance to create a bright future.

• Sura Alsaykal (Iraq)

I chose to specialize in Neuroscience because it is one of the most important specializations and we need it a lot in his daily life, It is also related and complementary to a bachelor's specialization, it is very important to understand the composition of nerves and the brain so that we can understand the extent of its impact on the psychological state of an individual, because  my main specialization is psychology, which is concerned primarily with the psychological state of an individual Fortunately, I chose Ural Federal university Everything is in a high level of arrangement and organization, the information through lectures and lab visits is great and I have been benefited a lot from it and it had enhanced my experience and information, as well as the teachers deal more than wonderful .In addition to the fact that everyone is cooperating and striving to provide their best, I am really happy with the experience of studying here, we will make the utmost effort to develop more in this field and obtain success and build a good future.

The field of neuroscience is wide and includes many information, some of which may be difficult or mysterious, but what I have noticed is that all professors seek to communicate information in the simplest way through which the student can understand, and this is wonderful.