2026-27 entry

Cognitive Studies MA

School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Explore the cutting edge of research into the nature of the mind and behaviour on this highly flexible course, in which philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, anthropology and artificial intelligence come together to discover how the mind works.
  • Start date
    September 2026
  • Duration
    1 year 2 years
  • Attendance
    Full-time
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Explore this course:

    Apply now for 2026 entry or register your interest to find out about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.

    Cognitive Studies students in a seminar

    Course description

    We're currently reviewing the title and structure of this course and there may be changes to core and/or optional modules. If you apply and are made an offer for this course we will be in touch once any changes are approved.

    This programme provides you with an opportunity to explore the cutting-edge field of cognitive science, where philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, anthropology and artificial intelligence come together to discover how biological and artificial minds work. The programme also allows you to investigate how advances in artificial intelligence and advances in cognitive science can mutually inform our understanding of biological and artificial minds.

    Whether you want to broaden or deepen your understanding of the subject, or are transitioning from another discipline, this degree will help you develop a deeper understanding of the mind, while enhancing your career prospects or preparing you for further study.

    Our extensive range of optional modules will allow you to specialise in a particular area of cognitive science that interests you, or explore the discipline more broadly.

    You’ll be based in the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, but are free to take relevant modules in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, archaeology and music.

    With an extensive programme of events and research seminars, excellent facilities and a large community of expert cognitive scientists working across the University, Sheffield is an exceptional place to study this exciting field.

    Our MA is designed both to prepare students who wish to continue to a PhD (as many do), while also equipping you with the relevant skills and knowledge in cognitive science, philosophy and AI, to enhance your career prospects outside of academia.

    Intercalation

    We accept medical students who wish to intercalate their studies. Find out more about intercalated degrees at the School of Medicine and Population Health.

    Modules

    We're revising the curriculum of this course for this year of entry and are in the process of confirming the modules. The information on this page gives you an idea of the areas we expect the course to cover. There may be changes before you start. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    We're committed to making our philosophy modules conceptually and demographically decolonised.

    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 will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    Interested in postgraduate taught study? Register your interest in studying at Sheffield or attend an event throughout the year to find out what makes studying at here special.

    Duration

    1 year full time

    Teaching

    We'll support you in thinking carefully, analytically and creatively about core and contemporary debates in a range of philosophical traditions, key debates in cognitive science, and emerging advances in artificial intelligence.

    You'll learn through small group discussions in research seminars and tutorials, which accompany the lecture-led modules. These discussions give you the opportunity to explore module reading materials as well as your own theoretical interests.

    We provide one-to-one supervision for your dissertation and your essays, to help you develop as an independent researcher.

    Assessment

    Assessment varies depending on modules. For philosophy modules, you’ll write a long essay for each module. You will also write a final dissertation. If you’re going on to a PhD, you may choose to write a PhD proposal.

    Your career

    Our MA is designed equally to prepare students who wish to continue to a PhD in Philosophy of Cognitive Science or Mind (as many do), to help transition to or between disciplines in cognitive science, or to enhance career prospects outside of academia.

    We offer support and advice for students who decide to apply for a PhD and our postgraduate training seminars include sessions on PhD funding and on non-academic jobs for philosophers. 

    For those interested in non-academic career routes, this degree will help you develop and enhance a range of crucial transferable skills (for example research writing, project organisation, critical thinking and an understanding of emerging AI technologies) while developing a deeper understanding of any of a wide range of aspects of minds and cognition.

    These skills will put you in a strong position when it comes to finding employment. Our graduates work in teaching, law, social work, computing, the civil service, journalism, paid charity work, business, insurance and accountancy.

    I could not have achieved my successful career progression without my postgraduate degree and the support I received from the University of Sheffield. My degree has enabled me to develop my confidence about my own abilities, and enhance my writing and qualitative data analysis skills. It taught me how to think and write in a way which I had never done before, with such precision, determination and belief in my own research and scrutiny of such.

    Katie Griffin-Pearce

    Policy Officer, Durham County Council. Postgraduate philosophy student.

    School

    School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities

    In the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, we interrogate some of the most significant and pressing aspects of human life, offering new perspectives and tackling globally significant issues.

    As a postgraduate student, you’ll be taught by academics who engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of philosophical disciplines, including epistemology, ethics, social, political and environmental philosophy, metaphysics and philosophy of the mind and various areas of cognitive science, among others.

    The diversity of our research expertise allows us to offer programmes which are truly interdisciplinary and flexible - and create a thriving research community where students and staff come together to discuss topics, explore new ideas and expand their knowledge in a supportive environment.

    We’ll also provide you with opportunities to use your knowledge to engage with real world problems and make a difference in the community, through projects like our award-winning Philosophy in the City programme, which enables students to teach philosophy in the local community to audiences of all ages.

    Our Centre for Engaged Philosophy pursues research into questions of fundamental political and social importance, from criminal justice and social inclusion to climate ethics, all topics that are covered in our teaching. Their events are open to all students and there are opportunities to get involved in event planning and delivery.  

    Our highly interdisciplinary Hang Seng Centre for Cognitive Studies supports collaborative research on fundamental issues concerning the nature of cognition. With established collaborative links with many universities in the UK, Europe, and the United States, the Centre organises seminars, workshops, and conferences to address core questions in cognitive science. Events are open to all students and there are opportunities to get involved in event planning and delivery.

    Facilities

    Our students get to make the most of the University's facilities across campus. Explore some of the teaching, library and social spaces you'll be able to visit as an arts and humanities student.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

    Subject requirements

    Your degree should be in an Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences subject.

    View an indicative list of degree titles we would consider

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

    The lists of required degree subjects and modules are indicative only.  Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

    English language requirements

    IELTS 7 (with 6.5 in each component) or University equivalent

    Other English language qualifications we accept

    Other requirements

    We will not ask you to provide references or referee details as part of your application.

    We do not require a supporting statement for this programme.

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school.

    Fees and funding

    If you qualify, you may be able to get financial support through the University's studentships and fee waivers, and the AHRC Block Grant Partnership.

    Department's Postgraduate funding opportunities page

    Funding for postgraduate taught courses

    Alumni discount

    Save up to £2,500 on your course fees

    Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.

    Contacts for prospective students

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.