What does it take to be a master of neuroscience? What education, skills and practices do you need to be great at this? Well, first and foremost: Neuroscience is a very broad field and getting to know all the nuances and details would take a long time. Not only that, but biomedical engineering will always change; new technologies and ideas will develop as we discover more.

The Neuroscience program at Monash University provides you with the skills to formulate a research question and conduct research on the relationships between brain processes and behaviour, in health and/or disease, with emphasis on changes in brain and behaviour when there is brain injury and/or neurodegeneration.

About Monash University

Monash University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a number of campuses, four of which are in Victoria, and one in Malaysia. Monash also has a research and teaching centre in Prato, Italy, a graduate research school in Mumbai, India and a graduate school in Suzhou, China. Monash University courses are also delivered at other locations, including South Africa. The university is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight, an alliance of elite Australian universities recognised for their excellence in teaching and research. It is ranked in the top one per cent of world universities. Globally connected, its alumni network is at the forefront of social and technological progress at many of the worlds best companies. The faculties of the university include Art, Design and Architecture, Arts, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Information Technology, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Science. The campuses at Monash have student-run clubs that organize fun activities, such as trips and social events. It has clubs for everybody, from anime and chess fanatics to lovers of performing arts and the outdoors, medieval enthusiasts and volunteer groups. The library at Monash offers a great range of resources for extra support, which includes study guides, online tutorials, library guides and more. A wide range of student services is also offered at the university to make sure that the students get the most out of their time at Monash. Its Career Connect Services helps students prepare for the world of work with a range of career guidance services, including job application and interview skills, career coaching, leadership development programs and volunteering experiences. Monash also has student associations, which are made up of representatives elected by students and whose role is to liaise with the university to provide services, facilities and amenities around the campus. It gives students the chance to influence campus life and get involved in a number of ways, such as writing for the student newspaper, joining a special interest club, and organising events like orientation week. From a sports perspective, more than 600 Monash students compete at the Australian University Games every year. The students can also join a sports team to get involved in the social competitions or take classes in aerobics, martial arts, yoga, aquatics and cycling at the university gymnasium. With campuses and centres across four continents, Monash is able to offer exceptional global opportunities to staff and students alike. There are three campuses in Melbourne. Equipped with facilities like convertible classrooms and modern study areas, it helps to learn in exciting new ways. Whichever campus students study at, they will be part of a dynamic Monash community. The city campus is in the heart of Melbourne. University’s second-largest campus is the Caulfield and is just a short train ride from Melbourne’s city centre.

Master of Neuroscience

Study Neuroscience at ANU

Can you imagine building a career in research by studying how cells and the nervous system work in the brain and body?

The Master of Neuroscience is your opportunity to learn more about biology, biotechnology and policy roles in clinical medicine, biomedical science and education.

Work with some of the Australia’s leading scientists in the field to develop the theoretical and practical skills for conducting research into modern concepts and methodologies in neuroscience.

This highly interactive, research-based neuroscience program provides opportunities to work closely with staff on a range of neuroscience projects. Current research staff are focused on modern aspects of neuroscience, including optogenetics, a way of studying brain cell sensitivity to light, measuring nerve activity and how chemicals are released, and the degradation of the eye’s retina.

Master of Neuroscience (Advanced)

A single two year graduate degree offered by the ANU College of Health and Medicine

How does our brain impact our behaviour and cognitive functions? How does our nervous system work?

The ANU Master of Neuroscience will give you both theoretical and practical knowledge of the modern concepts in neuroscience and methodologies employed to answer these questions and more.

Based in the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australia’s national medical research institute, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art, modern facilities, and some of the country’s leading scientists in the field.

This Advanced program incorporates a research project and thesis.

Find out more about neuroscience, the degree structure, the university experience, career opportunities and student stories on our website.

Get the inside story on what it’s like to be an ANU student by visiting our student blog.

Career Options

ANU ranks among the world’s very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.

We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.

Employment Opportunities

Our postgraduate neuroscience programs pave the way for further studies in neuroscience and related fields, such as a PhD.

A Master of Neuroscience will also provide you with the skills to find employment in the biomedical sciences sector, including in clinical research, with pharmaceutical companies and in policy development.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate high level knowledge in neuroscience;
2. apply their knowledge in neuroscience to new problems;
3. interpret, synthesise and critically analyse published literature of relevance to neuroscience;
4. demonstrate basic and complex laboratory skills that are commonly used in an area of neuroscience research;
5. perform experimental work, interpret and analyse results, write reports and collate data into a thesis;
6. clearly communicate theory and results in both written and oral formats.

Research Strengths

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this program.

Further Information

Progression hurdle:

This program has a progression hurdle that must be satisfied in order to progress to the research project: Students must achieve a minimum 70% average mark in the first 48 units of coursework and have the approval of the supervisor for the research project. A condition of supervisor approval is that the research project is feasible and it should be noted that the majority of research projects will require on campus attendance.

Course offered by the College of Science and College of Health and Medicine:

An indicative list of courses offered by the College of Science and the College of Health and Medicine can be found under current students page on the College website via this link.