Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Neuroimaging for Research (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Awards: MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study

Online learning

Funding opportunities

Before the programme I was very confused about research; I did not quite understand what steps it took to select project material, carry out your research, and present it scientifically. But, after this programme, I feel very confident that I can independently carry out research in Neuroimaging.

Victoria Oriuwa MSc Neuroimaging for Research, 2016/7

To disseminate neuroimaging knowledge, skills and understanding, in order to enable effective and efficient use of neuroimaging in research.

Aims of our flexible, intermittent, part-time, online learning (OL) programme:

  • to provide an understanding of research, which uses neuroimaging techniques
  • to develop research planning & designing skills, incorporating neuroimaging
  • to enable interpretation & analysis of relevant neuroimaging data
  • to relate neuroimaging research to clinical applications

Access world class teaching at the University of Edinburgh, while maintaining your local professional and personal commitments where you live, thereby keeping down costs by not being resident in Edinburgh.

Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

Studying online at Edinburgh

Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:

You may choose to study to Certificate, Diploma or Masters level.

You may take up to 30 credits per semester, 60 credits per year.

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD)

Aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. We offer online credit-bearing courses which run for 11 weeks at a time. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

Please note that individual elective courses will only run if there is a minimum of 3 students taking the course.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScNeuroimaging for ResearchUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgDip (ICL)Neuroimaging for ResearchUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgCert (ICL)Neuroimaging for ResearchUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
  • Describe imaging theory, techniques, analysis and applications.
  • Discuss how imaging is used to investigate both normal and abnormal processes and functions (clinically and in research).
  • Design methodologically sound and practical research that uses neuroimaging.
  • Analyse results and use statistics relevant to and derived from neuroimaging.
  • Integrate health and safety regulations, and legislation, into the planning and execution of research which uses neuroimaging.
  • Envision the translation from basic neuroimaging research to the clinical arena.
  • Critically appraise existing research that uses neuroimaging, demonstrating awareness of reproducibility, reliability of techniques, and sources of bias, both in research and clinically.
  • Be innovative in the discussion and presentation of work to peers.
  • Formulate suitable grant and research proposals which incorporate neuroimaging.
  • Initiate and execute research autonomously.
  • Produce publishable research summaries.
  • Demonstrate good practice in research communication and collaboration, including modern online methods.
  • Engage with new developments building upon your neuroimaging knowledge.

This programme is an ideal programme to help you in your neuroimaging research-based career, giving you advanced and well recognised expertise in the field.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025..

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Radiology, Radiography, Radiotherapy, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Image Analysis, Image Processing, Computer Science, Informatics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Psychology, Stroke Medicine, Geriatrics / Medicine of the Elderly or Neurosciences.

We may also consider your application if you have a minimum of 3 years' work experience in a related scientific area, e.g. in hospital or research laboratories. Please contact the programme team to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScNeuroimaging for ResearchUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgDip (ICL)Neuroimaging for ResearchUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgCert (ICL)Neuroimaging for ResearchUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgProfDevNeuroimaging for ResearchUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Edinburgh Imaging Academy
  • Chancellor’s Building
  • 49 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SB
Programme start date Application deadline
8 September 2025 22 August 2025

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Edinburgh Imaging Academy
  • Chancellor’s Building
  • 49 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SB