Cognitive Science BSc

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

Are you curious about how the human mind functions? Fascinated by how people communicate effectively? Interested in why technologies aren’t always accessible?  

Cognitive Science, like psychology, aims to understand the mind's complexities and how the brain's mental processes influence behaviour. It emerged in the 1950s as a response to Behaviourism, which argued that behaviour is shaped by past experiences and conditioning. This theory became difficult to defend, especially for researchers studying language development, which Behaviourism couldn’t explain. 

Cognitive Science developed as an interdisciplinary field, bringing together insights from psychologists, linguists, computer scientists, and philosophers. This shift led to key breakthroughs in understanding language, perception, memory, and decision-making. 

This degree explores key cognitive functions like perception, attention, memory, and language. You’ll understand the various methods used to explore behaviour and understand the strengths and limitations of different approaches. 

By studying modules from across the University, you’ll come to understand: 

• The structure and function of the human mind and brain 
• The development and evolution of human language and communication 
• How AI impacts the way we think and communicate 

You’ll graduate with the ability to combine critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the knowledge and understanding to reshape our future.  

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

You'll be introduced to a broad base of theoretical frameworks. They will set you up with a strong foundation for the rest of your degree. You'll explore cognitive psychology, language structure, philosophy, and basic skills for dealing with quantitative and computational data.

Compulsory modules	Credits
Philosophical Approaches to the Humanities and Social Sciences	10
Cognitive Psychology	10
Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology	20
Introduction to Computing	10
Quantitative Methods for Cognitive Science 1	20
Critical Reasoning	10
Principles of Evolution, Genetics and Behavioural Development	10
Perception	10
Introduction to Language Structure 2: Syntax, semantics and pragmatics	20

You’ll delve deeper into language development, current theory and practice in psychological science, and applied data analysis.  

You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules to focus in more depth on topics that interest you. Modules will include topics such as social psychology, second language acquisition, philosophy of science, and experimental methods in behavioural science. 

 

Compulsory modules	Credits
Cognitive Neuroscience	10
Quantitative Methods for Cognitive Science 2	20
Experimental Methods in Linguistics	20

You take 70 credits of optional modules from the following list, at least 10 credits should be Psychology modules:  

Optional  modules	Credits
Philosophy and Science	10
Foundations in Developmental Psychology	10
Social Psychology	10
Psychological Enquiry 2: Principles of Psychology	10
Syntactic Theory	20
Sociolinguistics	20
Pragmatic Theory	20
CHiLD: Current Hypotheses in Language Development	20
Individual Differences	20
Biological Psychology: Sex, Drugs, Rhythms and Blues	10
Introduction to Comparative Cognition and Behaviour	10
Multilingualism	20
Introduction to Second Language Acquisition	20
Experimental Practicum [Linguistics]	20
Comparing Cultures: Big debates	20
Brain and Behaviour across the Lifespan II: Neuropsychology	10

  

You'll put the knowledge and skills from Stages 1 and 2 into practice. You'll undertake your own research in an independent project with cross-disciplinary supervision. Alongside this, you’ll take advanced modules in linguistics and psychology. You'll also have the the option of integrating modules from other disciplines. 

 

Compulsory modules	Credits
Empirical Project for Cognitive Science	40

 

Optional  modules	Credits
Developmental Psychology	10
Art, Mind and Brain	10
Clinical Sport & Exercise Psychology	20
Cultural and Technical Intelligence: Developmental and Comparative Perspectives	10
The Science behind our choices: decision-making across species and societies	10
Origins and Evolution of Language	20
The History of Linguistic Ideas	20
Advanced Second Language Acquisition	20
The Damaged Brain: Case Studies in Neuropsychology	10
Neurodiversity of Development	20
It's not what you say, it's how you say it: Prosody and intonation	20
Comparative Syntax: English in a cross-linguistic context	20
Laboratory Phonology	20
From Input to Output: The Blackbox of Child Language Acquisition	20
Career Development for final year students	20

 

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll be taught through a combination of: 

• lectures 
• seminars 
• workshops 
• computer-based lab sessions 
• practical sessions 
• field work 

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

You'll learn to integrate and apply theoretical perspectives from core disciples of cognitive science including:

• psychology
• linguistics
• philosophy
• computer science

You’ll hone skills in:

• persuasive and scientific writing
• effective presentation of cross-disciplinary research
• quantitative analysis and data visualisation
• basic computer programming

Research skills

In Stage 3 you'll undertake an independent research project. This will be a cross-disciplinary collaborative supervision from at least two core cognitive science disciplines. It will give you the chance to integrate critical and technical skills to address open questions in cognitive science. This will allow you to produce new and innovative interdisciplinary research. This independent, research project also allows you to show your learned knowledge. It'll also allow you to develop your skills, techniques and understanding. 

Our staff have world-leading expertise in:

• comparative approaches to human cognition and behaviour 
• machine learning and analysis of large-scale behavioural/language datasets 
• evolutionary and developmental approaches to human language 
• intimacy, sexuality, family, childhood, and education 
• digital labour, platform economies and neoliberalism 
• media ethics 

Opportunities

Professional Placements 

You can apply for a professional placement between Stage 2 and Stage 3. This is Subject to eligibility. The School of Psychology placement team secure and advertise a wide range of placements. Examples of previous placements have been in the NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Police, University research institutes and local mental health support charities. National placement opportunities are also advertised, for example, at Great Ormond Street Hospital. If successful in securing a placement, you will be supported by the placement team. They will support you whilst preparing for and undertaking your placement. Placements are an excellent opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills you have learned in a practical context. They are an opportunity to gain an important advantage in a competitive job market. 

Study Abroad 

You can study abroad for a year at a university in a different country. Currently, we have partnership agreements with universities in the US, Canada, and Sweden. We continually expand our global study opportunities. The international study year takes place between Stages 2 and 3. To join the international study you need to apply for a place and numbers are limited. 

Find out more information on studying abroad. We will provide further information during your course. 

Careers Placements 

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world. You'll receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3. 

You'll gain first-hand experience working in the sector, putting your learning into practice, and developing your professional expertise. 

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability. 

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a psychology student at Newcastle University, you'll be based in the School of Psychology's Dame Margaret Barbour Building. This is located on the University's city-centre campus.

The School of Psychology is around a ten minute walk from Newcastle city centre. It also has great access to libraries, the student union and sports centre facilities.

You'll also have access to our excellent practical facilities in the School, such as:

• a forensic interviewing suite
• a media and behaviour lab
• medical consultation rooms
• psychological testing cubicles

You'll also have access to the linguistics lab in the School of English Literature, Languages and Linguistics. The linguistics lab includes:

• a sociolinguistic interview suite
• a child language acquisition lab
• ultrasound tongue imaging
• state of the art recording equipment

Support

You will have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.

All first-year psychology students join a study group of approximately 10 students, led by an experienced and trained final-year student who will also act as your mentor for your first year.

Your future

Opportunities for diverse career paths

The multidisciplinary nature of this degree will result in a broad and versatile set of skills. The critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills you’ll develop will make you an attractive hire in almost any graduate job in the contemporary job market. Cognitive Sciences graduates will be well suited to work in a variety of sectors including:

• artificial Intelligence
• data science
• user experience testing or human computer interaction
• technical and educational consulting
• assistive technology
• healthcare roles in technology, mental health services or administration.
• government policy
• behavioural science or research

Many of our graduates embark on further study, including master's degrees and PhDs. Some go on to pursue careers in academia and research.

Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BSc
Home students full time 3-4 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 3-4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 30000

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry

In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. It is expected that Parliament will approve the Government’s proposed increase in January and we intend to confirm our Home fees at this higher level following this.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

 

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages