Overview |
The Cognitive Studies MA programme gives you the opportunity to explore cognitive science, a cutting edge research field in which philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, and anthropology come together to discover how the mind works. Our MA programme is highly interdisciplinary and flexible, allowing you to freely pursue your intellectual interests by taking modules from the following departments:
Structure of the courseThe Cognitive Studies MA consists of 180 credits, and can be undertaken full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). The programme consists of the following components: Core modules:
Other modules:
Teaching and AssessmentYou will learn through lectures, seminars and tutorials. You’ll write a long essay (4,000-6,000 words) or two short essays (2,000-3,000 words) for each Philosophy module and a dissertation (9,000-12,000 words). If you’re going on to a PhD you may choose to write a PhD proposal of 6,000-8,000 words. Assessment for modules from departments other than Philosophy will vary and you should check the individual module information. SupervisionYou will have a supervisor for your research to discuss your essays, your dissertation and PhD proposal if appropriate. If you take the Guided Reading module you will have a fortnightly supervision. Your module lecturers also help and support you through your course. ActivitiesSheffield is an exceptional place to study Cognitive Science. There are more than 20 cognitive scientists working at the University of Sheffield (find out more about their research interests). You will then have the opportunity to attend many research seminars organized by the departments affiliated to the MA program. You will also be able to benefit from the research projects and events organised by the Hang Seng Centre for Cognitive Studies. The HumLab, an interdisciplinary facility for the study of Language, Music, and Cognition is open to you. Moreover, the philosophy department has a very active graduate community and every year there are reading groups on a wide variety of topics, in which graduate students participate along with staff. You can also attend the graduate seminar in philosophy, where you will have the opportunity to engage with other students’ work. PhD StudyIf you wish to continue to the PhD at Sheffield, you can apply for a place during your Masters course. You will normally need a Distinction in your Masters. You can apply for PhD funding to support further study. PlacementThe Cognitive Studies MA has established itself as a successful and popular postgraduate programme, attracting a diverse group of accomplished students from the UK and abroad, many of whom go on to study for a PhD either at Sheffield or at other top-ranked institutions. Disabled applicantsWe welcome disabled students. We're committed to responding effectively and appropriately to individual support needs. We take all practicable steps to ensure that disabled students can participate in their studies without disadvantage, and can make full use of the University's academic and support services. Information for disabled applicants Our campus and how we use itWhile some of our teaching takes place in the department, most of it is timetabled to take place in purpose-built teaching spaces across the campus (see our campus map). The campus has many amenities, and is located at the heart of the city, giving you easy access to shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Tuition Fees and FundingScholarships are available. For information on these see our funding page. Costs of living in Sheffield are relatively low. The culturally vibrant yet low-key city, conveniently located on the edge of the Peak District just two hours by train from London, has among the most affordable rents of any urban area in the UK. |
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Content |
ContentThe Cognitive Studies MA consists of 180 credits, and can be undertaken full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). Part-Time MA students are fully integrated into the programme and the flexibility of this option allows students to fit study around their other activities and responsibilities.
ModulesOur MA students come from a range of backgrounds and can take different routes through the course. You will take the following core modules:
The Cognitive Studies Seminar, taken by all students on the programme, offers an introduction to the main theories and methods of cognitive science. Optional modules You will choose additional modules adding up to 90 credits. You will have the opportunity to discuss your other module choices with the course director and to design an individual study programme tailored to your particular interests. Theoretical and experimental module options are available: you will be free to choose any MA module you like from Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics, Human Communication Science, Archaeology, Computer Science, Music and the School of Languages and Cultures (subject to individual departmental restrictions on capacity etc). Students who plan to continue to a PhD are encouraged to take the PhD Proposal module. The list of MA modules available varies slightly from year to year. Below is a sample of some representative modules for the year 2018-19. The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. Philosophy
Psychology
Archaeology
Linguistics and Communication
Computer Science
Music
School of Languages and Cultures
The following links will guide you to the full list of modules for each department: |
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Entry |
Applying for the Cognitive Studies MAEntry RequirementsTo apply, you will need a first-class or a 2.1 honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent grade from overseas. We welcome students with any background. In the course of the years, we have had students coming from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, medicine, theology, linguistics, geography, and social sciences. Admissions decisions are based mainly on:
English language requirementsOverall IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent. How to applyYou are welcome to contact the department to discuss your application, but for formal consideration, you must complete the University's MA application form. Your application must consist of:
DeadlinesYou can apply at any time however there will be deadlines for any applications for funding you may be making. |
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International |
The Philosophy Department in Sheffield welcomes international students. Many of our graduate students and many of our staff are from other European countries, Asia and America. There is lots of information for international students on our international and EU Philosophy applicants page and our University wide EU and international students webpages. |
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People |
PeopleThere are more than 20 members of staff working in Cognitive Science at the University of Sheffield; covering a huge amount of topics and areas. Here is a partial list, indicating their main research interests. You can read more about them by clicking on their names.
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Events and Activities |
Recent Events and ActivitiesConferencesBias in Context 3 Empirical Approaches to Philosophical Aesthetics Philosophy Meets Cognitive Science - A Conference in Honour of Stephen Stich Mind Network Meeting WorkshopsReligious Experience at the Intersection of Body and Cognition Affect: Pleasure, Pain, and Emotions Cognitive Science in Sheffield TalksFabio Del Prete (CNRS Toulouse) "Gender in Conditionals", 9th November 2017 Michael Devitt (Philosophy, CUNY) "The Reference of Proper Names: Testing Usage and Intuitions", 5th May 2017 Luca Barlassina (Philosophy, Sheffield) "More of this command! Less of this command!’ 31st March 2017 Brian Epstein (Philosophy, Tufts) "Two ways of making the social world" 22nd March 2017 Luca Barlassina (Philosophy, Sheffield) discussed the function of pleasant and unpleasant experiences in our lives as part of the Festival of Arts and Humanities 2016. Rob Rupert (Philosophy at the University of Colorado, Boulder) "Cognition and the Personal Level: Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Action, and Flat Psychology", 8th July 2016. Stuart P. Wilson (Cognitive Neuroscience, Sheffield) "How self-organisation can guide evolution", 7 June 2016. Ian Phillips (Philosophy, Oxford) "Naive realism and the science of illusion", 8 March 2016. Holly Branigan (PPLS, Edinburgh) "Say as I say: How adults’ language influences children’s syntax in dialogue (and beyond)", 6 November 2015. Neil Lawrence (Neuroscience and Computer Science, Sheffield) "What kind of AI have we created?", Friday 23 October 2015. Aparna Nadig (School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University) "Mechanisms of language learning in children with autism spectrum disorders" 16 October 2015 Tom Cochrane (Philosophy, Sheffield) "Valent representations", Friday 9 October 2015. Philosophy of Cognitive Science Weekly Reading Group
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Our students say |
What our students say
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Contact |
Contact UsThe current Director of Studies for 2018-19 is Dr. Luca Barlassina. If you would like further information, please contact us:
Or you can ask a student:
Email: vkononova1@sheffield.ac.uk |