PH.D IN COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE Admission Registration, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Syllabus 2022 2023

                                    PH.D IN COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE Course

Ph. D. in Cognitive Science is a doctoral level course focused on the study of cognitive psychology and related subject fields like philosophy, anthropology, computer science, artificial intelligence, neuroscience and linguistics. The course is usually completed in 3 to 6 years. 

Candidates who have completed a 2-year Master’s degree in fields like psychology, biosciences, philosophy, literature, engineering or any other relevant disciplines, are eligible to apply for the course.

Ph. D. Cognitive Science consists of interdisciplinary subject matter like cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, anthropology, biosciences and research methodology.

The course is concerned with study and research in areas like sensation, mind perception, learning processes, memory and forgetting, cognitive structuring, cognitive biases, cognitive deficits, attention and neuroinformatics.

Students also learn about the associated technology, computer applications, research techniques, data interpretation and artificial intelligence.

The average fee charged for Ph. D. Cognitive Science in Indian institutes ranges from Rs. 29,000 to 4.5 Lakhs. After completing the course, students can find jobs in areas like research and development, education, mental health therapy, private clinics, government organisations and social work. The job roles include scientific researcher, professor, lecturer, cognitive psychologist, cognitive behavioural therapist and more. 

Syllabus

Ph. D. in cognitive science covers various aspects of cognitive psychology like cognitive structuring, cognitive biases and cognitive deficits. It includes the study of research methodology and analysis techniques. The subject matter also includes concepts from other related disciplines like neuroscience, anthropology, artificial intelligence, information technology, linguistics, philosophy and other sciences.

The exact syllabus may vary from institute to institute but the basic curriculum followed has been tabulated below:

Admission Process

The admission criteria for the course is merit-based as well as entrance-based. Eligible candidates are required to fill out the application form of the institute and submit it, along with the necessary documents. 

• Merit-based: Some institutes judge only the merit of the candidates in their previous academic qualifications. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a personal interview to make the final selection.
• Entrance-based: Institutes require the candidates to appear in entrance examinations like UGC NET or the entrance exams conducted by the respective institutes. Then they have to appear in personal interviews in order to make it to the final lists of admitted candidates.

Entrance Exams

Institutes may conduct their own entrance tests for admissions to the course or accept the entrance exams like UGC NET, CSIR JRF and COGJET. After clearing the entrance tests, the candidates are required to appear in personal interviews to make it to the final lists.

• UGC NET and JRF: If the students seeking admissions to Phd Programs have qualified NET, then they don’t have to appear in the entrance exams conducted by the institute. They are automatically shortlisted for the next step in the admission process.

Candidates who clear the JRF exam, become eligible to avail the fellowship for their Ph. D. course.

See Also: IGNOU PhD

• COGJET: The Cognitive Sciences Joint Entrance Test is conducted by IIT Kanpur for students seeking admissions to the Ph. D. programmes at the institute itself or MS/M. Sc. in Cognitive Science at CBCS, Allahabad, Chandigarh University, IIIT HYderabad, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur and Panjab University. The test is MCQ based and contains questions regarding general aptitude and conceptual understanding of subjects like mathematics, statistics and algorithms concepts, foundational principles of psychology, neuroscience, linguistics and philosophy at the undergraduate level.

FAQ

Ques: Is there an age limit for appearing in the UGC NET examination?

Ans: No, there is no age limit for appearing in the UGC NET examination.

Ques: Do institutes provide scholarships for Ph. D. Cognitive Science?

Ans: Yes, institutes provide scholarships based on merit or reservations. 

Ques: Is it compulsory to have an MA in Psychology to pursue Ph. D. in Cognitive Science?

Ans: No, students with a master’s degree in any of the relevant disciplines like linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience, biosciences and engineering are eligible to apply for the course.

Ques: What is the time frame within which the JRF fellowship must be activated?

Ans: The JRF fellowship for the candidates who clear the exam can be activated within 3 years.

Ques: How does cognitive science differ from cognitive psychology?

Ans: Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science do intersect at some points but the former is about the study of cognitive brain processes while cognitive science is concerned with the study of changes occurring in the nervous system during high level cognitive processes.

Ques: Does work experience matter in the selection of candidates for Ph. D.?

Ans: Work experience is not a necessary condition however work experience in relevant fields like research and development might prove beneficial to candidates.

Ques: Can students with a background in engineering pursue Ph. D. Cognitive Science?

Ans: Yes, institutes like IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur and IIT Gandhinagar admit students with a background in engineering to Ph. D. Cognitive Science.

Ques: Can a person with Ph. D. in Cognitive Science become a psychiatrist?

Ans: If the candidate has a background with a medical degree such as MBBS, then they can pursue a career in psychiatry after completing Ph. D. in Cognitive Science.

Ques: Which is the best institute for studying Cognitive Science in India?

Ans: IIT Kanpur, University of Allahabad and University of Hyderabad are among the top institutes in India that offer the course.

Ques:  Can Ph. D. be completed in four years?

Ans: Yes, Ph. D. can be completed in four years if the candidates is able to present their thesis or dissertation within that time period.