Neuroscience
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Neuroscience Summer Courses
Explore the brain, nervous system and science behind human behaviour with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week Neuroscience summer courses, available for students aged 13–15, 16–17 and 18–24, introduce you to a rapidly developing field that brings together ideas from biology, psychology, chemistry and medicine.
Through academic teaching and independent study, you'll investigate how the brain and nervous system work while developing the skills to question evidence, analyse complex ideas and think more deeply about the science behind human thought and behaviour.
What's Included?
Your residential Neuroscience summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
What Is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and networks of nerve cells that carry information throughout the body.
It draws on several scientific disciplines to investigate questions ranging from how neurons communicate to how the brain enables us to learn, remember, make decisions and experience emotions.
Studying neuroscience means exploring the relationship between biological processes and complex behaviour. It can involve examining what happens at the level of individual cells as well as considering how different regions and systems of the brain work together.
A Neuroscience summer course gives you the opportunity to explore this interdisciplinary subject beyond your usual studies and discover the science behind some of the most complex features of the human body.
What Will You Study on a Neuroscience Summer Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests, abilities and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course and age group, you could explore areas such as brain structure and function, neurons and communication, memory, learning, perception, behaviour or neurological disorders.
You might consider questions such as:
- How do neurons communicate with one another?
- How does the brain create and store memories?
- What happens in the brain when we learn?
- How do different parts of the brain influence behaviour?
- How does the nervous system process information from our senses?
- What can neurological disorders teach us about how the brain works?
The depth and approach will reflect the age group you're studying with. This allows tutors to provide an appropriate level of academic challenge while responding to the interests and progress of their students.
Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on a Neuroscience Summer Course
How you'll study neuroscience depends on your age group, with each programme designed to provide an appropriate level of academic challenge and independence.
Ages 13–15
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore neuroscience through interactive discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to ask questions, examine evidence and develop your own explanations for the ideas you encounter.
12 hours of private study
Between seminars, you'll complete independent work that could include reading, researching a scientific question, working through problems or preparing a presentation.
Ages 16–17 and 18–24
18 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in six three-hour seminars, exploring core ideas through discussion, case studies and activities.
2 hours of tutorials
You'll have one tutorial each week, providing a focused environment in which to discuss an essay or problem sheet you've been working on and receive detailed feedback.
Around 20 hours of private study
You'll complete reading in preparation for seminars and work independently on an essay or problem sheet for each tutorial.
Across all age groups, the emphasis is on active participation, independent thinking and developing the confidence to engage with challenging academic ideas.
Who Are Our Neuroscience Summer Courses For?
Our Neuroscience summer courses are designed for students who are curious about the brain and want to understand more about the biological processes behind thought, behaviour and the nervous system.
You don't need to have studied neuroscience before. The subject may particularly appeal to you if you enjoy biology, psychology or chemistry, are fascinated by how the human body works, or are considering neuroscience, medicine, psychology or another related subject in the future.
As you progress through the course, you'll develop skills including scientific reasoning, critical thinking, analysing evidence, independent study and communicating complex ideas clearly.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, industry and education.
They bring their own academic expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This means each Neuroscience summer course can explore different areas of the subject while maintaining an appropriate level of academic challenge.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can Neuroscience Take You?
Neuroscience connects with a wide range of subjects across the biological, medical and behavioural sciences.
Students interested in the field may go on to study neuroscience itself or related subjects such as medicine, psychology, biomedical sciences, biology, biochemistry or pharmacology.
The scientific and analytical skills associated with neuroscience can lead towards fields including scientific and medical research, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and psychology.
A Neuroscience summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the field before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which aspects of brain science interest you most.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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Choose from over 40 subjects taught through flexible, age-appropriate programmes. Our tutors adapt their teaching methodologies to different age groups and shape course content around students’ interests, rather than following a fixed curriculum.
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