Course details

Summary

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) is a one-year programme which builds on an undergraduate science degree. The diploma encompasses both papers and a research topic, and can be taken full-time or part-time. It provides entry to the Master of Science (MSc) degree by thesis only.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary subject which covers the brain or 'neural' component of disciplines such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Neurology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Psychology and Zoology. It is currently one of the fastest growing areas in Biology.

Because the Otago degree programme is truly interdisciplinary, it is constructed from papers offered by a large number of different departments.

Papers

NEUR 480 Research Project

Four of ANAT 454, COSC 420, COSC 421, COSC 422, NEUR 452, NEUR 455, NEUR 457, NEUR 459, NEUR 461, NEUR 462, NEUR 463, PHAL 423, PHSL 472, PHSL 474, PSYC 469, PSYC 471, PSYC 474, PSYC 476, ZOOL 412

Or

NEUR 490 Dissertation

Three of ANAT 454, COSC 420, COSC 421, COSC 422, NEUR 452, NEUR 455, NEUR 457, NEUR 459, NEUR 461, NEUR 462, NEUR 463, PHAL 423, PHSL 472, PHSL 474, PSYC 469, PSYC 471, PSYC 474, PSYC 476, ZOOL 412

Note: With the permission of the Neuroscience Programme Director one of the following may be substituted for NEUR 480/490: ANAT 480 / ANAT 490; BIOC 480 / BIOC 490; COSC 480; PHAL 480 / PHAL 490; PHSL 480 / PHSL 490; ZOOL 480 / ZOOL 490; and

one of the following may be substituted for NEUR 462 or NEUR 463: ANAT 453, ANAT 455, ANAT 457, COSC 470, COSC 471, PHAL 430, PHAL 431, PHSE 527, PHSE 528, PHSE 529, PHSL 474, PSYC 472, ZOOL 419, ZOOL 420

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions: have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in the subject or subjects of study proposed; have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the diploma; have a qualification acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and produce evidence satisfactory to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of ability to proceed to the diploma.

English Language Requirements

IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.