Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology

This course will help you to understand how the brain enables us to see, hear, speak, remember and think. Cognitive scientists, neuropsychologists and psychologists from across Cambridge will explore how the scientific method is being applied to the study of the mind, brain and behaviour.

Focusing on some of the most advanced areas of research in modern cognitive psychology, including perception, memory and language, we will explore how humans think, what is meant by intelligence and social cognition.

This course will also provide a conceptual introduction into the behavioural research methods used in cognitive psychology; we will complete a number of replications of important findings in psychology, and learn how to report the results of these experiments in the format of a science-journal article.

Who is this course for?

No previous experience in the subject is necessary and the course is open to anyone with an interest in the subject area. 

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: History, Core Themes and Methods

Synchronous teaching dates: 9 October, 30 October, 20 November & 11 December 2023 (all sessions 10:00 - 16:00 UK time including breaks)

This first unit introduces the history, core themes, and methods in the scientific study of the mind, brain and behaviour. The unit reviews the historical dominance of behaviourism in the early 20th century, the shift to cognitive science in the 1950s/1960s and the eventual adoption of the broader ‘cognitive neurosciences’. This unit explores a number of core themes in psychological research, and a number of key debates, such as the extent to which behaviour is learned or innate and the extent to which functions in the brain are localized to specific areas. Finally this unit introduces some of the key methods in modern psychology, from behavioural experiments, to neuroimaging and neuromodulatory techniques, to the study of clinical populations and individual differences.

Unit 2: Memory, Language and Perception

Synchronous teaching dates: 8 January, 29 January, 19 February & 11 March 2024 (all sessions 10:00 - 16:00 UK time including breaks)

This unit provides an introduction to the study of memory, language and perception. This introduces you to the core distinctions between different memory systems (episodic, semantic, procedural), and explores their distinct neural underpinnings. Students are introduced to both auditory and visual perception, paying particular attention to how physical stimulation is converted into electrical signals at the cochlea and retina, and exploring how those signals are processed in the cortex. This until also introduces the nature of language processing, with a particular focus on language deficits in different patient groups.

Unit 3: Executive Functions, Intelligence and Social Cognition

Synchronous teaching dates: 8 April, 22 April, 13 May & 3 June 2024 (all sessions 10:00 - 16:00 UK time including breaks)

This unit provides an introduction into some of the core topics in cognition, starting with classical models of executive function, and its relation to short term memory. It also explores the notion of general intelligence, and neural mechanisms involved in domain general problem solving. This unit also explores some of the core topics in social cognition, from theory of mind reasoning to the concept and implications of ‘mirror neurons’.

Entry requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course but as it is taught at university level applicants should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. 

English language requirement

If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements for Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pages for further information.

Technical requirements

For the 2023-2024 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available 

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities.  

The tuition fee for the course is £3,400.00.   

You can pay in two ways: 

• in full on enrolment by credit or debit card 

• in three equal instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, with the second and third instalment being taken on 1 January and 1 April . The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details

Please note your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education and any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency. 

Sources of funding, bursaries and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)

• Details of current bursary award schemes, application deadlines and information about how to apply are available on this website. Find out more. Please check the website regularly for updates as we frequently launch new bursary opportunities.
• Part-time students living in England and applying to study one of Undergraduate Certificates, Undergraduate Diplomas or Undergraduate Advanced Diplomas may be able to apply for a Student Loan from Student Finance England. These loans are for tuition fee costs only. None of our undergraduate courses are eligible for a Part-Time Maintenance Loan. Information on how to apply for a loan can be found on the GOV.UK website: Student finance: how to apply. Please note that you will not be eligible for a loan if you are studying for a lesser or equivalent qualification to one you already have.
• If you are a UK student on a course that could enable you to apply for a student loan and you have a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty which affects your ability to study, you may be able to apply for a Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA). Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) guide - on the GOV.UK website

Cancellations and refunds

• The ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy can be viewed here
• This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified by 11 September 2023 if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered to transfer their application to another course or receive a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy)

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis. 

Closing date for applications 

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on Monday 4 September 2023. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place. 

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs). Please do read through these, as well as the information provided on the tabs, and you should find the answers to most questions. However, if you still cannot find what you are looking for then please click on, the ‘ASK A QUESTION’ link at the top right of this page to send the course team a message and we will respond as soon as possible.

Will the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology be a good foundation if I want a Psychology degree?

Yes. If you are new to psychology this course will provide you with an understanding of the historical development of modern psychology and allow you to develop an understanding of the scientific method in its application to psychology. This will stand you in good stead to continue your studies across the range of psychological disciplines, and pursue a psychology degree.

Will the Certificate in Cognitive Psychology enable me to gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) after completing the course?

No. Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, or GBR as it was previously known) is a standard set by the British Psychological Society (BPS). It ensures that, before anyone can start a clinical psychology course, they have already studied psychology in sufficient breadth and depth to provide a sound basis for their postgraduate training. The Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology is not accredited for GBC membership, as it is not a degree; it is the equivalent of half a year’s study at first-year undergraduate level. Therefore completing the Certificate does not provide the breadth and depth of a degree. 

You can find accredited courses on the BPS website: https://www.bps.org.uk/public/become-psychologist/accredited-courses

Delivery and Learning Methodology

How are classes taught?

For the 2023-2024 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous (live) teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, using video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

You will have access to resources, discussion forums, and course tasks within ICE's Virtual Learning Environment. Teaching methods will include lectures, presentations by guest speakers and facilitators, interactive and experiential learning activities, reading and assignments to be completed by participants outside classroom sessions and online discussion forums.

What is the Flipped Classroom Approach?

The Flipped Classroom approach is a blended learning strategy which aims to increase student engagement with the course. Teaching and learning for the unit are delivered through a combination of formal presentations by the tutor, a range of interactive and participatory methods of teaching and learning, and through reading and tasks to be undertaken individually by students outside the unit sessions.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of each unit, you will be required to submit academic assignments that are written in a clearly articulated, critically analytical manner and demonstrates your understanding of the course subject, and your ability to include appropriate references.

When do the Study Days (live teaching) normally take place?

Please see the Teaching & Assessment tab for full details of Day Schools. 

A timetable is provided prior to the start of each unit via the VLE. Students are expected to participate actively in Day School sessions as they provide interactive teaching, such as small or whole group sessions, exercises and structured seminar discussions. Parts of the Day School are recorded for later reference however not all content can be recorded due to the confidential nature of some of the discussions that take place.

General

Can I undertake this course whilst working?

Yes. As a part time course, the Certificate in Cognitive Psychology enables learners to maintain personal and professional commitments while also studying at ICE. It is important to consider all aspects of your life before you decide to study on a course, having a clear idea of how you will accommodate studying into your current routine before you apply will enable you to get as much out of the course as possible.

How many hours of study are required?

The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. Each of the units of these courses attracts 20 credits so students should expect to need to study for approximately 200 hours in total to complete each unit successfully. Study includes synchronous/ asynchronous teaching, tutorials, reading, VLE participation, assignment preparation and independent study. However, it is recognised that student’s study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.