PhD Programme

Entry requirements

We are looking for candidates with a keen interest in neuroscience, coupled with an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (for example Neuroscience, Life Sciences, Medicine, Psychology, Physics, Maths or Computer Science) at a minimum of upper second-class UK Bachelor’s level or overseas equivalent.

How to apply

Applications for 2019 are now closed; applications for 2020 open in September 2019. Please sign up for our PhD alert to receive updates.

To apply, visit UCL's applications page, select the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre as the department, and click the 'Apply now' button corresponding to the programme code RRDSWCSING01 and the upcoming academic year.

Please complete the online application form and upload:

• A current CV;
• Transcripts or qualification certificates and, if available, GRE scores;
• A 1,000 word essay focusing on what you see as a key, unanswered question in neuroscience. Please discuss why you are interested in this question, how you would approach its solution, and what impact finding a solution would have for our understanding of the brain.

Please ensure your given referees are able to provide a reference by the deadline.

We will use the email address given in your application for correspondence so make sure that you will still have access to it at the start of the next academic year.

FAQ

• Your 1000-word essay can be uploaded under ‘personal statement’.
• The 1000-word essay serves as both personal statement and research statement. It is not necessary to upload a separate research statement.
• You may include illustrations in your essay if it adds clarity.
• Literature references are not included in the 1000-word cap.
• You do not need name a supervisor on the application form - students in the Programme select a supervisor at the end of the first year.
• A degree in medicine or psychology can be a suitable background if you fulfill our other criteria.
• We accept these English language certifications as evidence of adequate English proficiency.
• Neither the GRE nor the GMAT is a prerequisite.

Contact us

For queries about the SWC PhD Programme or the application process, please contact us at SWC-PhDprogramme@ucl.ac.uk.

If you would like to be kept up to date with our application opening and closing dates please sign up to our PhD alert.

The SWC PhD is a four-year programme. Below is a short overview of each year.

Year 1

The first year is centered around courses - Boot Camp, Systems Neuroscience and Theoretical Neuroscience, Experimental Neuroscience, Neural Data Modelling - and rotations.

Year 2

During the second year, students design a PhD project, select a supervisor and a thesis committee, and begin their research. They also assist with teaching the new first-year students.

Year 3

Third year students write a report and take a viva exam to upgrade from MPhil to PhD. Apart from this, the year is centered on research.

Year 4 and beyond

The last year, students complete their research and make a detailed plan for the time remaining until graduation. They write and submit their PhD thesis and sit a viva examination.

Across years

All Centre members are invited to participate in journal clubs and learning groups organised by students, post-docs and researchers. 

We also encourage students to take advantage of the wide range of transferable skills courses available through the UCL Doctoral School.

Syllabi for the first year courses Systems Neuroscience and Theoretical Neuroscience, Experimental Neuroscience, and Neural Data Modelling are below.

Systems Neuroscience and Theoretical Neuroscience

Module 1 - Systems Basics

Module Introduction All module organisers

Introduction to Theoretical Neuroscience: from Channels to Circuits Peter Latham

Voltage-Gated Channels Tiago Branco

Dendritic Integration Tiago Branco

Plasticity Troy Margrie

Module 2 - Sensory Systems

Introduction to Sensory Systems Tom Mrsic-Flogel

Perception as Signal Processing Maneesh Sahani

Perception as Inference Maneesh Sahani

Organisation of Cortical Circuits Tom Mrsic-Flogel

Abstract Representation in Sensory Systems Neil Burgess

Influence of Behaviour and Context on Sensory Processing Sonja Hofer

Module 3 - Social and Affective Systems

Module Introduction John O’Keefe

Implementation of Innate Circuits Yoh Isogai, Christina Mazuski, Lennart Oettl

Parental/Pup-Directed Behaviour Yoh Isogai

The Amygdala John O’Keefe

Defensive Behaviour Tiago Branco

Human Emotion Quentin Huys

Module 4 - Action Systems

Module Introduction Andrew Murray

Pattern Generation Peter Latham

Computational Control Maneesh Sahani

Cerebellum Tom Otis

Basal Ganglia Marcus Stephenson-Jones

Neocortex: Circuitry and Models Andrew Murray, Maneesh Sahani

Module 4 Q&A All module organisers

Module 5 - Cognitive Systems, Decision Making, and Learning

Decision-Making I: From Sensation to Action Sonja Hofer

Decision-Making II: Evidence Integration Peter Latham

Reinforcement Learning Theory Quentin Huys

Decision-making III: Learning How to Act Marcus Stephenson-Jones

Synaptic Plasticity and BCM Theory Claudia Clopath

Neuromodulation and State Changes Marcus Stephenson-Jones

Neural Correlates of Engrams and Learning Sonja Hofer

Working Memory and Cognitive Control Athena Akrami

Intelligence and Adaptive Behaviour Adam Kampff

Module 5 Q&A All module organisers

Lecturers

Athena Akrami, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Tiago Branco, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Neil Burgess, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Space and Memory Group Leader, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL

Claudia Clopath, Reader in Computational Neuroscience, Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College

Sonja Hofer, Associate Professor in Neural Circuits and Behaviour, SWC, UCL

Quentin Huys, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, UCL

Yoh Isogai, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Adam Kampff, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Peter Latham, Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

Troy Margrie, Professor of Systems Neuroscience, Associate Director, SWC, UCL

Christina Mazuski, Research Fellow, SWC, UCL

Tom Mrsic-Flogel, Professor in Neural Circuits and Behaviour, Director, SWC, UCL

Andrew Murray, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Lennart Oettl, Research Fellow, SWC, UCL

John O’Keefe, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, SWC, UCL

Tom Otis, Professor of Neuroscience, Chief Scientific Officer, SWC, UCL

Maneesh Sahani, Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience and Machine Learning, Director, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL

Marcus Stephenson-Jones, Group Leader, SWC, UCL

Experimental Neuroscience

Module 1 - Electrophysiology Fundamentals

Organisers: Tiago Branco, Troy Margrie

Teaching assistants: Oriol Pavon Arocas, Charly Rousseau, Vanessa Stempel, Chryssanthi Tsitoura, Mateo Velez-Fort

Module 2 - Optics and Imaging

Organisers: Sonja Hofer, Tom Mrsic-Flogel

Teaching assistants: Rob Campbell, Alex Fratzl, Francesca Greenstreet, Petr Znamenskii

Module 3 - Molecular Biology and Behaviour

Organisers: Yoh Isogai, John O’Keefe

Teaching assistants: Marius Bauza, Mathew Edwards, Christina Mazuski, Daniel Regester, Spencer Wilson

Module 4 - Optogenetics and Photometry

Organisers: Andrew Murray, Tom Otis

Teaching assistants: Emily Reader-Harris, Victoria Tung, Egzona Morina

Module 5 - From Computer Vision to Closed Loop Reinforcement

Organisers: Athena Akrami, Adam Kampff, Marcus Stephenson-Jones

 

Neural Data Analysis

The SWC hosts a large number of events, some open to the larger community and some specific to Centre members. 

Open events

• SWC Special Lectures
• SWC Annual Symposium
• SWC Seminar Series
• SWC Emerging Neuroscientists Seminar Series

Internal events

• Speed Science
• Data Club
• Journal Club
• Tea Hour
• Lunch with Seminar Speakers
• PyClub
• PyStarters
• Data Analysis for the Rest of Us

SWC Special Lectures

The Centre annually invites a high profile speaker to hold a special lecture. Past invitees include Sir David Attenborough, Professor Frans de Waal, and Professor Daniel Dennett.

SWC Annual Student-Sponsored Symposium

At the beginning of each academic year, SWC and Gatsby students organize the SWC Annual Symposium. This consists of an afternoon of talks by invited speakers, followed by an evening dinner.

SWC Seminar Series

Each week sees an interesting seminar given by an internationally renowned speaker. Students have the opportunity to have lunch together with invited speakers in conjunction with the seminar.

Emerging Neuroscientists Seminar Series

This seminar series is an open competition for postdocs around the world to apply to present their work at the SWC. The aim of the series is to give exceptional early career neuroscientists an opportunity to visit London, present as part of the regular SWC seminar series and discuss their science with SWC faculty, postdocs and students. 

Speed Science

In this summer networking event, students or postdocs from each group in the building give a brief presentation on the work of their lab. Each presentation is followed by a Q&A and then further discussion over a barbeque on our rooftop terrace.

Data Club

Data Club takes place bi-weekly at lunch time and involves a member of one of our labs presenting experimental results and questions from an ongoing project.

Journal Club

Students at the Centre meet regularly to discuss important scientific papers.

Tea Hour

Taking place each Friday afternoon, the content of Tea Hour is varied and ranges from broad research talks to game nights and quizzes. Students determine the topic for at least every second Tea Hour.

PyClub and PyStarters

Initiated by post-docs and students, these learning forums are aimed at learning and sharing best practices in Python Programming between Centre members. PyClub caters to more experienced programmers and PyStarters to beginners.

Data Analysis for the Rest of Us

Like PyClub and PyStarters, the initiative for this learning group came from post-docs and students who wanted to deepen their proficiency in data analysis methods relevant to modern neuroscience. And like the former, it is also open to anyone in the building with a commitment to learn.

Doing a PhD is both exciting and challenging. To help students navigate through it all, the structure of the programme is designed to provide several sources of support, both informal and formal.

Fellow students form an inner circle for support and advice. The structure of the first year encourages students to make close connections with in-year peers from both the GCNU and the SWC programme. Together with GCNU students, SWC students have formed a PhD Student Association, which organises regular social events and meetings.

The first year, through courses and events, also brings students into contact with a large majority of the Centre community. In addition to introducing students to the research going on in all the groups, this makes students feel at home and helps them start to build a network.

More formal sources of support include the PhD Programme Committee, the PhD Programme Coordinator, and our Human Resources staff. In the first year, students are encouraged to consult any of these support networks for questions related to career, academics, or pastoral care.

At the beginning of the second year, students assemble a thesis committee, which in addition to the main supervisor will have at least two more members. The thesis committee becomes an additional avenue for guidance and help.

For students wishing to discuss with someone outside of the institute, the UCL Doctoral School has a range of resources that can provide advice in many areas, from academic progress to mental health and wellbeing. To explore these services, this page is a good starting point.

 

In London

• UCL Neuroscience Domain
• Imperial College
• Francis Crick Institute
• King’s College

In the UK

• British Neuroscience Association
• Cambridge Neuroscience
• Oxford Neuroscience