MSc in Cognitive and Decision Sciences

Course Tutor: Dr. Richard Cooper (Birkbeck) & Dr. David Lagnado (UCL)

This programe is run jointly by the Department of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, and the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL. It studies the cognitive processes and representations underlying human thought, knowledge and decision-making. The programme integrates a wide range of disciplines and methodologies, with the core assumption that human cognition and choice are computational processes, implemented in neural hardware. Key topics include: the nature of computational explanation; the general principles of cognition; the scope of rational choice explanation; probabilistic models of the mind; learning and memory; applications to economics and business. The program involves intensive training in experimental design and methodology, building computational models, and carrying out a substantial piece of original research.

Why CoDeS?

The program draws on an outstanding faculty, ranging across many disciplines, including internationally renowned researchers in psychology, computational modelling, neuroscience and economics. London is one of the global “hot-spots” for research in cognition, decision-making, and neuroscience; and it is an intellectual “hub”, with a high density of research seminars and scientific meetings that attract leading international researchers. London is also one of the world’s foremost commercial and political centres, with consequent opportunities for high-level applied research; and it is a vibrant, culturally diverse and international city, with world-class music, theatre and galleries.

Who should apply?

This program will appeal to outstanding students interested in pursuing a research career in the cognitive and decision sciences, as well as to students wishing to develop an understanding of core theoretical principles of human thought to tackle applied problems, e.g., in business or public policy. The programme will involve challenging formal, conceptual, and empirical work, and hence outstanding talent and motivation, including the ability to think clearly and creativity, and rapidly acquire and integrate new knowledge, is more important than specific disciplinary background. Relevant undergraduate backgrounds include psychology, economics, neuroscience, philosophy, computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics and engineering.

Course Outline

The course is made up of eight taught modules and a research project. There are six core modules, which will provide students with a firm basis in both the theory and practice of cognition science and decision-making, and two specialist modules, selected by students from a wide list of options. The options and research project will allow students to pursue their own specific interests, and complete a significant piece of research work.

Core Modules:

The core modules are taught during the day on Mondays and Wednesdays of each term. 

For more information on the content of these modules Click Here.

Key Staff

Key Teaching Staff

• Dr. Richard Cooper (Admissions Tutor; Birkbeck)
• Prof. Mike Oaksford (Birkbeck)
• Prof. Murius Usher (Birkbeck / Tel Aviv)
• Dr. David Lagnado (Admissions Tutor; UCL)
• Prof. Nick Chater (UCL)
• Prof. David Shanks (UCL)

Other Relevant Birkbeck Staff

• Dr. Eddy Davelaar (Control of memory and attention)
• Prof. Denis Mareschal (Cognitive development)
• Prof. Anne Richards (Cognitive and affective neuroscience)
• Prof. Michael Thomas (Language development; Genetics and cognition)

Note: The non ELQ fee rate applies to EU students who do not hold, at the time of beginning of the course, another MSc or equivalent level qualification. The ELQ rate applies to EU applicants who already hold an equivalent level qualification. The overseas rate applies to non-EU students.