Cognitive Science (Humanities) MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Cognitive Science (Humanities) Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code C851 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Central Area Start date September 2026 School School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Placement No Open days and events Overview About the degree programme Philosophers and scientists have speculated about the nature of the human mind and how language affects it.Recent developments offer new ways to understand the human mind, across fields such as:roboticsbrain imagingspeech technologyCognitive science is the interdisciplinary attempt to understand the human mind. It focuses on abilities such as:reasoningperceptionmemoryawarenessemotionattentionjudgementmotor controllanguage useCognitive science brings together and forms connections between these abilities, through methods such as:computer modellinglinguistic analysisphilosophical reasoningroboticsneuroimagingpsychological experimentsIt brings together scholars from:linguisticspsychologyphilosophyneurosciencecomputer scienceCognitive Science at the University of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh played a key role in founding this discipline by forming connections between the disciplines that contribute to the study of human cognition. You will learn from researchers who both laid the foundations, and are still making key advances in the field. The programme content is regularly reviewed to make sure you learn about current developments. Our Cognitive Science (Humanities) programme offers an opportunity to complete a selection of basic courses covering material in:linguisticsphilosophypsychologycomputer scienceOur goal is to help you achieve a broad understanding of issues, such as the:relationship between language and thoughtrelationship between mind and brainphilosophical implications of our ability to look inside the brain and to model its activities in computers and robots How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is studied over 4 years.A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.How long it takes to complete our degree programmes Programme benefits The University of Edinburgh helped to create the field of cognitive science and is still at the forefront of it.You will learn not only from researchers who laid the foundations of the subject,but also from researchers who are still making key advances.Edinburgh is one of the largest centres in Europe for the study of human cognition and the only university in Scotland to offer Cognitive Science at undergraduate degree level. The MA Cognitive Science degree at Edinburgh is one of a kind. Attempting to understand things like cognition, the relation between mind and body, how language works and just generally, what it means to be human, are the things I want to know more about. Taking courses in Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology and Informatics and seeing how they intertwine and link is what I’ve enjoyed the most while studying Cognitive Science. This interdisciplinary approach has helped me explore my interests and helped me develop a better sense of what specific career I would like to pursue in the future. Ané van der Merwe MA (Hons) Cognitive Science, graduated 2023. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Cognitive Science (Humanities) View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Cognitive Science (Humanities). Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study Year 1 Two cognitive science coursesYou will take at least one general cognitive science course that gives an overview of: perceptionmemorymotor controllanguagereasoningYou will also explore methods that include experimental, neural and computational approaches. Courses will cover logic to help understand the role of reasoning and deduction in the mind. You will also cover the structure of language to help understand its complexity.Overall, you will get a background in philosophy including topics such as its history and central concepts of morality and value.Extra courseLastly, you will choose another course from across the interconnected disciplines of: psychologyphilosophylinguisticsinformatics Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 You will choose more specific courses in the sub-disciplines such as:Knowledge and Reality (Philosophy)Cross-linguistic Variation: Limits and Theories (Linguistics)You will also take Year 2 courses from Psychology and Language Sciences. Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 In Year 3, you can choose from informatics topics, including:language processingneural computationrobotics and visioncomputational modellingYou can also choose linguistics courses, including:language evolutionlanguage acquisitionspeech processingYou have the option to take philosophy courses, such as:ontology of mindtheories of mindtheories of truthethicsYou can also choose psychology courses, such as:memory and perceptionattentiondevelopment Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 You will continue to choose from a variety of more advanced courses, as in Year 3. You will also complete an individual research project. Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3 of this degree at one of our partner universities.If international travel restrictions allow, you may be able to choose where you study from our selection of international partners.A study abroad experience will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, enrich your learning and enhance your future job opportunities.Your study abroad options Teaching and assessment Teaching Courses are taught through a combination of:lecturestutorialslaboratory classessmall-group project workIn Year 4, you will complete individual project work. Assessment You will be assessed by exams and coursework. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.Support for your studies Where you will study Study location You will be taught in the University's Central Area. Academic facilities In our Psychology and Linguistics departments, you will have full access to the:librariescomputer facilitiesspecialised laboratoriesYou will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities including:electroencephalogram (EEG)non-invasive brain stimulationeye and motion tracking equipmentYou will also have access to a dedicated psychology and philosophy library and other facilities available across our campuses. Virtual tour You can take a closer look at the University’s Central Area and explore our facilities on the Virtual Visit site. Take a virtual tour of the Central Area Career paths and further study Career paths On graduating, you will have excellent employment prospects in fields that will shape our society, such as:economicsentertainmenttechnologymobile systemsmanufacturing and healthGraduates also have the skills needed for humanities-related areas, such as:the civil servicemarketing and communicationsmanagementfinancejournalismsocial workteaching Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
