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Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence

MA, MSc

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • One year full-time, on campus

  • Two years part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

This postgraduate cognitive science and artificial intelligence course gives you the opportunity to focus on understanding intelligence across humans, machines and other agents. You will grapple with compelling questions such as, what is intelligence? How important is having a brain for having intelligence? What are the limits, dangers and values of artificial intelligence?

  • Why choose this course?
    • This course is designed for graduates of computational sciences, engineering, philosophy or behavioural and psychological sciences, and is an ideal foundation if you are interested in a research career in the cognitive sciences.
    • Depending on your interests and career aspirations, you can choose to study this course as either an MA or an MSc.
    • It is a core initiative of Birkbeck’s Centre for Cognition, Computation and Modelling and you will be taught by world-leading researchers in the field. 
    • Our School of Psychological Sciences contributes to this interdisciplinary course which also benefits from co-teaching with the computer science and philosophy teams to help ensure you receive the highest levels of expertise.

  • What will I learn?

    This course allows you to study the cognitive processes and representations underlying human thought, knowledge and behaviour. It integrates a wide range of disciplines and methodologies with the core assumption that human cognition is a computational process, implemented in neural hardware.

    Key topics include: the nature of computational explanation; general principles of cognition; methodology of computational modelling; theories of the cognitive architecture; symbol systems; AI; neural computation; Bayesian approaches; case studies in computational cognitive modelling; ethics of AI.

    You will be able to follow your interests with option modules emphasising cognitive neuroscience, AI and data science, or philosophy and ethics. You will gain from intensive training in experimental design and methodology and will build computational models and carry out a substantial piece of original research.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full- or part-time. It is taught through lectures and seminars with classes taking place mostly during the daytime, which may help you organise this as a day study release from work. Please note, however, that three of the compulsory modules are taught only in the evening.

    You will complete the MA by undertaking a dissertation based on a critical scholarship of existing published works. The MSc requires you to write a dissertation report on an experimental or computational project that has generated new data.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: Three days a week, during the daytime and evening, October to July

    Part-time: Two days a week, plus some evenings, October to July

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • This course is designed to be flexible in its structure, while also remaining rigorous and as up-to-date and cutting edge as possible.
  • We have an outstanding research tradition in psychological sciences, with an international reputation in all aspects of cognitive neuroscience, especially developmental cognitive neuroscience.
  • You will have the opportunity to attend research seminars and meet and network with world-class researchers at leading research centres and institutes at Birkbeck and in the Bloomsbury area. 
  • In the 2023 National Student Survey, Birkbeck's School of Psychological Sciences ranked 5th in the UK for teaching.
  • We are consistently regarded as one of the top instititutions teaching psychological sciences in the UK. In the most recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and for the third time, we were ranked in the top ten universities in the UK.
  • ESRC funding may be available in conjunction with PhD study. 

Modules and Teaching

School of Psychological Sciences

One of the oldest academic schools of psychology in the UK, and a world-leading centre of innovative psychological research and training.

Visit the school

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, engineering, mathematics or a related discipline.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,375 per year
Full-time home students: £12,750 per year
Part-time international students: £10,425 per year
Full-time international students: £20,850 per year

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,555 per year
Full-time home students: £13,110 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this cognitive science and artificial intelligence course, you'll have developed an array of important transferable skills, including in:

  • critical reading
  • writing argument-based pieces
  • the ability to critically evaluate AI and other computational systems
  • understanding the history of intelligence research
  • coding/programming skills in a common language, such as Python, with specific relevance to AI and machine learning.

Graduates can pursue career paths in behavioural and psychological sciences and other disciplines in which computer simulation is used, such as in data science and social policy. Possible professions include:

  • scientific researcher
  • data scientist
  • AI scientist
  • policy adviser
  • higher education lecturer.

Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to employment at Nesta, ITV, Google DeepMind, Cambridge University and the University of Westminster.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

Related courses

Study routes for Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (MA, MSc)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time