NEUROSCIENCE
PROGRAMME

Who is this programme for?

Undergraduate students interested in studying the structure and organization of the brain and nervous system, and their relationship to behaviour.

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Why is it important to draw attention to neuroscience research?

Throughout the world, neuroscience research is on the rise. Tech companies invested in artificial intelligence are developing research programs on how the brain works. Some are led by neuroscientists (Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has his PhD in Neuroscience). Capitalizing on the research strengths of HKU, which hosts the prestigious State Key Laboratory for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, we have been offering an undergraduate major/minor option in Neuroscience since the academic year of 2017/2018.

 

What should I consider when deciding between the major and minor options?

As in most degree programmes, academic interests and future career aspirations should be your primary considerations. This programme is well suited for people who are interested in the nervous system while working at the interface between between multiple disciplines (e.g. biology, computer science, psychology, etc). A major concentration in neuroscience may be suited to those who wish to pursue further graduate training or a career in neuroscience-related work.  A minor concentration may be suitable for those who want a flavour of neuroscience, while maintaining their study flexibility to pursue other primary programmes.

 

What are the career opportunities for a Neuroscience graduate?

Our graduates go on to take a wide variety of careers paths, from further education (e.g. professional training in clinical psychology), government, and the private sector. We anticipate there may be particularly attractive opportunities for further research training (e.g. graduate programmes overseas), as neuroscience interest is rapidly expanding in most countries, with ample scientific funding support.

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Will I succeed in this programme if I do not have a background in the basic sciences?

Although some courses within the programme do require a fundamental background in the basic sciences (e.g. chemistry and biology), many don’t. As such we impose a relatively minimal set of requirements for entering the programme (for details please see the Structure & Requirements page). For those with a strong background in the sciences, you may find some courses to be easier to adapt to. But we note that many successful researchers do not come from strictly from a traditional science background (!). At the very least, you should be curious, not aversive to refreshing yourself about basic science concepts, and most importantly, not afraid to learn!