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MSc in Neuroscience or Master of Science in Neuroscience is a 2-years postgraduate level Neurology program. It is a popular course especially among the students who wish to learn and research more about the intricacies of the brain.
The primary MSc Neuroscience subjects are Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, etc. The duration of the course is of 2 academic years/ four semesters, but it varies among the colleges.
The eligibility to apply for the course is a minimum of 50% aggregate in a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college/university. The entrance exam is conducted to check the abilities of students. The minimum age limit is 20 years.
* Selection process is done based on video responses to the questions for the time being. The questions can be found via the video link that is available on the College’s Admission Microsite.
The students who completed a Bachelor’s degree of 3 years in Neuroscience/ biological science stream or any core science stream bachelor degree students can apply to this course. Many institutes provide admission to the students based on their performance in the entrance exam conducted by them.
The Master of Science in Neuroscience course offered by every educational institute is not the same, it varies from institute to institute. The difference in academic fees will vary as per the location, course procedure, and type of college. The average tuition fee for Master of Science in Neuroscience ranges between INR 6,000 to 1,50,000 annually for 2 years.
MSc Neuroscience postgraduates are hired as Neurobiologists, Psychophysicist, Educational Psychologist, Database and Databank Manager, Neurophysiologist, Neuropathologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Neural Engineer, Professors, etc.
The salary for Master of Science in Neuroscience degree holders will differ with their field and position. The average salary of MSc Neuroscience candidates will range between INR 3L to 5L per annum which increases with experience and expertise.
MSc Neuroscience: Course Highlights
The table below shows the details of the MSc Neuroscience program followed by the duration, course fee, admission process, job profiles, areas of employment, etc.
| Course Level | Post-graduation |
| Full-Form | Master of Science Neuroscience |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-based |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in biology/ biotechnology/ biochemistry/ neurobiology/ neuroscience or zoology with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | Merit-based/ Entrance Examination |
| Average Course Fee | INR 6,000-1,50,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3-5 lakh |
| Top Recruiters | Educational institutes like NITs, IITs, IISCs, Pharmaceutical Companies like Cipla Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Ltd, etc. |
| Job Profiles | Neurobiologists, Psychophysicist, Educational Psychologist, Database and Databank Manager, Neurophysiologist, Neuropathologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Neural Engineer, Professors, etc. |
| Areas of Employment | Forensic Science Labs, Colleges & Universities, Genetic Counselling Enters, Public Health Centers, Mental Health Centers, Psychology Centers, Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Companies, etc. |
MSc Neuroscience: What is it About?
- Neuroscience is one of the courses offered under the Master of Science. It deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue along with their working mechanisms behavior.
- MSc Neuroscience is a course that combines most of the branches of biology that relate to the neural system of human beings. The course immensely helps the candidates who are willing to research further on the nervous system of our body and understand its intricacies in greater detail.
- Master of Science in Neuroscience explains about Neuron, nerves, glial cells, Neurotransmitters, Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin, central nervous system, neural networks, peripheral nervous system, Automatic nervous system, endocrine system, Hormones, etc.
- The course takes an integrated approach towards neuroscience and builds a student’s acumen via experimental skill training as well as theoretical learning. It gives a clear outline of how neuroscience evolved and the future that it holds for the upcoming generations.
- One of the primary goals of this course is to provide both practical and theoretical training of the field to the students and enriching their experience through laboratory training and research. For the ones seeking to learn cellular, molecular, computational, and cognitive aspects of neuroscience, an MSc neuroscience course is a right choice.
Why Study MSc Neuroscience?
Neuroscience explains different types of neurons and their function in our body, that includes molecular neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, etc.
- Neuroscience students who have good publication records are able to analyze data, the experience of MRI and spectroscopy techniques, and analysis of experimental designs.
- Once after completing a Master of Science in Neuroscience, they choose the career to become a lecturer along with the NET exam at the college/university level.
- They can apply for the post of a medical doctor in government sectors on various designations.
- They can also run their own private hospitals/clinics that are a form of self-employment.
- They also have the option of pursuing further higher studies like a Ph.D. or M.Phil. in the form of research work.
- They can also become scientists in their subject of interest.
What is the MSc Neuroscience Admission Process?
The admission application form can be collected from the college or you can apply online by going through the respective university’s official website.
- College application forms for admission are available both offline and online, which depends on the college.
- The admissions into the MSc Neuroscience in India is conducted through both entrance tests and merit basis.
- The admission to the course is through an entrance exam which is conducted by different universities and colleges across the country. It’s a test to evaluate the student’s basic knowledge about related science streams.
- Students who are intending to do MSc Neuroscience shall be admitted only at the beginning of the academic year. There are colleges that conduct online entrance exams like Jiwaji University, University of Madras, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, and among others.
- Candidates ought to appear for the entrance exam and those qualify the written test, will be called for a personal interview followed by a group discussion.
What is the Required MSc Neuroscience Eligibility?
MSc Neuroscience eligibility criteria varies from one college to another. The minimum eligibility criteria in average are:
- Candidates must complete a B.Sc. or a Bachelor’s degree in biology/ biotechnology/ biochemistry/ neurobiology/ neuroscience/ zoology or MBBS with minimum 50% marks from a recognized university.
- If applicable, apply for the entrance exam that is conducted to check the abilities of students.
- The minimum age of the applicant should be 20 years.
- In few colleges, selection for this degree course is based on marks secured in the final merit i.e. aggregated total score in the final exams of graduation and the entrance exam.
Are There Any MSc Neuroscience Entrance Exams?
No such national-level or state-level MSc Neuroscience exams are there that are conducted for admission to the course.
Universities like Jiwaji University selects candidates through JNU entrance test, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research selects candidates through NEET PG exam, and the University of Madras conduct their own entrance tests for the selection of students. The details regarding their intake and entrance examination will be released through their respective sites at the time of admission.
Listed below are some of the popular MSc Neuroscience entrance exams.
- NEET PG: NEET-PG is the entrance examination for the selection of PG students. The exam is conducted for admission into multiple programs, including MSc Neuroscience.
- JNU Entrance Exam: Jawaharlal Nehru University conducts its entrance exam for admission into the MSc Neuroscience program annually.
- University of Madras Entrance Exam: The University of Madras also conducts entrance exams to provide admissions to the deserving candidate into their MSc Neuroscience program.
| Entrance Exams | Registration | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CUET PG | April 2023 | June 1 – 10, 2023 |
| BITSAT | February 2023 | June 2023 |
| NEST | February 2023 | June 2023 |
| IIT JAM | September 07 – October 11, 2023 | February 12, 2023 |
| DUET | April 2023 | July 2023 |
| TISS NET | December 14 – January 15, 2023 | January 28 – February 28, 2023 |
How to Prepare for an MSc Neuroscience Entrance Exams?
The syllabus for MSc Neuroscience entrance exams will vary from college to college. However, most exams concentrate on areas of general knowledge, critical reasoning, English, etc.
Some helpful preparation tips for MSc Neuroscience entrance exams are:
- Students should know the entire syllabus of the entrance exam which they are going to give because some of these exams are purely based on neuroscience knowledge and some exams may be general and have few sections of biology and core sciences related questions.
- Students should consider buying study material or previous year question paper and practice them for MSc Neuroscience entrance exams so that they prepare well for the same. B.Sc. Neuroscience course books also constitute a good study material for these exams.
- The subjects that need to be focused on are Biology, Physics, Chemistry, General Aptitude, Reasoning, Current Affairs, etc.
How to get Admission in a Good MSc Neuroscience College?
To get admission in the top MSc Neuroscience College, the following points must be kept in mind:
- The candidate should start working on a personal interview round after checking that they are eligible to apply for the MSc Neuroscience program.
- The performance in the qualifying entrance exams is the basic selection procedure followed by a personal interview in which the panel will judge your interests and skills.
- For the entrance exams, go through the sample papers to learn more about the structure and pattern of the exams and solve them to improve your time management skills.
- Having a good score in the previous qualifying exam is an advantage for the candidates to take admission into any good college.
What is the MSc Neuroscience Syllabus?
MSc in Neuroscience syllabus is almost the same in all the colleges. The table below shows common subjects that are included in the structured MSc Neuroscience syllabus.
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
|---|---|
| Cell biology and neuron organization | Neuroanatomy |
| Biochemistry | Immunology |
| Genetics and Molecular Biology | Developmental Neurobiology |
| Laboratory tools and techniques | Cellular Neurophysiology and biophysics |
| Lab Course 1: Cell Biology | Lab Course 3: Neuroanatomy |
| Lab Course 2: Genetics biochemistry and molecular biology | Lab Course 4: Neurophysiology |
| 3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
| Neurochemistry | Clinical Neurochemistry |
| Regulatory system | Nanotechnology and bioinformatics for neuroscience |
| Sensory and motor systems | Lab Course 7: Research methods, biostatistics, and computer applications |
| Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience | Dissertation |
| Lab Course 5: Neuropathology | Viva-voce related to the dissertation |
| Lab Course 6: Behavior biology | - |
Best MSc Neuroscience Books to Follow
Tabulated below are some of the Neuroscience subject books that can help students to have a broader and better understanding of the course. The books mentioned below will also help the students in cracking various Neuroscience exams.
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Neuroscience | Nicole Flori |
| Textbook of Neurology | Navneet Kumar |
| Neuroscience | Alan Longstaff |
| Neurology and Neurosurgery Illustrated | Kenneth W Lindsay |
| Neurology | Mark Manford, Geraint Fuller |
Which Are the Top MSc Neuroscience Colleges?
The tabulation below shows the best MSc Neuroscience colleges and universities that offer this course.
| Name of College | Location | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Calcutta | Kolkata | INR 6.314 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai | Chennai | INR 1,25,000 |
| Amity University | Noida | INR 1,40,000 |
| University of Madras | Chennai | INR 54,270 |
| JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research | Mysuru | INR 43,550 |
| Jiwaji University | Gwalior | INR 15,320 |
| NBRC | Gurgaon | INR 11,000 |
| Gurugram University | Gurgaon | INR 50,000 |
| Pacific Medical University | Udaipur | INR 1,65,000 |
| National Brain Research Centre | Gurgaon | INR 13,000 |
MSc Neuroscience College Comparison
The tabulation below shows the comparison made among the three top MSc Neuroscience colleges in India.
| Parameter | Jiwaji University | University of Madras | Amity University |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | It is a public affiliated university, established in 1964, providing several disciplines. MSc Neuroscience is one of the programs offered by this university. | The University of Madras is a public state university from Chennai. One of the oldest and most popular institutes, MSc Neuroscience is one of the degrees that attracts many candidates each year. | Amity University, Noida is a private research institute established in 2005, it has students from around the country. Their MSc neuroscience program is highly ranked among other research programs. |
| Average Fees | INR 13,760 | INR 54,270 | INR 1,40,000 |
| Average Placement Offered | INR 3LPA | INR 4LPA | INR 5LPA |
| Top Companies Visited | Sesa Sterlite' (Vedanta Group), Axis Bank, Money capital Height research Investment Advisors Pvt. Ltd, Nestle, Reliance Communication, etc, | Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, HCL, Hospira, Audi, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, etc. | Microsoft, IBM, Wipro, Smart Prix, Sapient, NTT Data, Accenture, Capgemini, etc. |
MSc Neuroscience vs MSc Psychology
Even though both the courses are a study of the human mind and how it functions, there is a subtle line of difference between the two that sets them apart.
MSc in Neuroscience is a degree based on the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue and their behavior of working mechanisms, whereas MSc in Psychology degree deals with the normal and abnormal functioning and treats individuals having mental and emotional disorders.
Both these postgraduate degrees have the following differences between them:
| Parameters | MSc Neuroscience | MSc Psychology |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Form | Master of Science in Neuroscience | Master of Science in Psychology |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Overview | Behavioral study of neurons and tissues by including certain factors such as molecular biology, physiology, development biology, etc. | Study of behavioral changes of human mind while reacting to different states |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in biology/ biotechnology/ biochemistry/ neurobiology/ neuroscience or zoology with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | Merit-based / Entrance Exam | Entrance Exam followed by counseling |
| Exam Type | Semester | Semester |
| Average Fees | INR 6000- 1.5 Lakhs | INR 3000 – 2 Lakhs |
| Average Salary | INR 3 – 5LPA | INR 3 – 12LPA |
| Top Recruiters | Educational institutes like NITs, IITs, IISCs, Pharmaceutical Companies like Cipla Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Ltd, etc. | Vesa Health & Technology, Haven Psychological Associates, Centurion, Axis Community Health, Professional Renewal Center, Exodus Recovery Inc., Columbia Valley Community Health, etc. |
| Job Profiles | Neurobiologists, Psychophysicist, Educational Psychologist, Database and Databank Manager, Neurophysiologist, Neuropathologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Neural Engineer, Professors, etc. | Urban Planning Officer, Social Psychologist, Human Resources Assistant, Counselling Psychologist, Child Support Specialist, Career Counsellor, Psychotherapist/Psychologist, Psychology Consultant, Educational Psychologist, Research Specialist |
| Areas of Employment | Forensic Science Labs, Colleges & Universities, Genetic Counselling Enters, Public Health Centers, Mental Health Centers, Psychology Centers, Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Companies, etc. | Commercial and Industrial Companies, Financial Organizations, Marketing Companies, HR Departments, Govt. Social Services, Defense Forces, Colleges & Universities |
MSc Neuroscience Job Prospects and Career Options
- The graduates of MSc in Neuroscience can pursue job profiles like Project Assistant or Junior Research Fellow in reputed institutes like National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).
- NBRC (National Brain Research Centre) also offers the job of Junior Research Fellow for NET/GATE qualified MSc graduates in Neuroscience.
- MSc Neuroscience postgraduates are hired as Neurobiologists, Psychophysicist, Educational Psychologist, Database and Databank Manager, Neurophysiologist, Neuropathologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Neural Engineer, Professors, etc.
- The students who are interested to pursue higher studies can apply to M.Phil. in neuroscience and thereafter Ph.D. in neuroscience to get specialized in any field.
The following table shows some of the major areas where you can find employment after pursuing an MSc Neuroscience degree:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroeconomist Consultant | The job of a Neuroeconomist is to bridge the gap between psychology, neuroscience, and economics. It helps in better economic predictions as humans don’t always function as theorized. | INR 8LPA |
| Pharmacological/Healthcare Consultant | They work as a management analyst of a healthcare organization by examining the structure, profit and efficiency of the organization. | INR 7.5LPA |
| Scientific Journal Editor | Based on their knowledge, they will edit scientific papers/articles, reevaluate facts and decide which paper is eligible to be published as a scientific journal. | INR 5.7LPA |
| Neurobiologist | Diagnose the diseases in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, and examine the reasons behind its occurrence with full proof research. | INR 5LPA |
| Professor | Work in a neuroscience institution and educate the students about the various researches and studies in the field. | INR 4.5LPA |
| Biochemist | Develops new medicines for the cure of deadly diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, etc. | INR 4 LPA |
MSc Neuroscience Future Scope
After completing their courses, students have a lot of opportunities lying ahead of them in different sectors, such as:
- Candidates can choose a Ph.D. in Neuroscience / M.Phil. in Neuroscience as their higher studies, if they want to study further.
- If MSc Neuroscience graduates prefer research experience, then they can apply for the Senior Research Fellow post available in this institute.
- This imparted knowledge will help them to enter into professional areas pertaining to research, teaching in various educational and pharmaceutical organizations.
- One can go for teaching positions in leading schools and universities as a Junior Faculty, professor, or as a Research Associate.
- Thus, there are a lot of opportunities open for students after they complete this course. Some of the major profiles are Neurobiologists, Psychophysicist, Neurophysiologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Professors, etc.
Some of the popular employment areas for MSc in Neuroscience postgraduates are:
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Public Health Centers
- Forensic Science Labs
- Genetic Counselling Enters
- Mental Health Centers
- Psychology Centers
- Health Sciences
MSc Neuroscience FAQs
Ques. Can I pursue MSc Neuroscience right after BTech in biotechnology?
Ans. Yes, you can pursue MSc Neuroscience after completing your graduation in any core science stream.
Ques. Is the MSc neuroscience entrance exam too tough for an MBBS graduate?
Ans. Since the MSc neuroscience entrance exam consists of UG level physics, chemistry, and Biology, it might be a little tough for MBBS candidates.
Ques. Will I be a neurologist if I complete my MSc neuroscience course?
Ans. No. There is a huge difference between the two. Neurologists diagnose and treat disorders related to the CNS, whereas, a neuroscientist will study the functioning of the CNS.
Ques. What is the duration of the MSc neuroscience program?
Ans. The MSc neuroscience program duration is 2 years (or four semesters).
Ques. Is there any entrance exam for MSc neuroscience?
Ans. Admission and Selection in the MSc Neuroscience courses occur through either Merit or Entrance Exams. There are colleges that conduct entrance tests, followed by a Personal Interview.
Ques. How much is the salary after the MSc neuroscience course?
Ans. The average starting salary ranges from INR 3 - 5 LPA.
Ques. What are the top colleges for MSc neuroscience?
Ans. The top institutes and colleges for MSc Neuroscience are the University of Madras, Jiwaji University, Amity University Noida, University of Calcutta, among others.
Ques. What is the annual average fee charged for the MSc neuroscience program?
Ans. The annual average fee at the top MSc Neuroscience colleges are between INR 6000 to INR 1.5 Lakhs for 2 years.