Master Neurosciences

Brain Sciences are in full progress and constitute one of the major challenges of the Life Sciences of the 21th century. They represent a multidisciplinary field ranging from molecular and cellular approaches to cognitive approaches, and focus on the understanding of the structures and functions of neurons and neural networks, their development and their implication in large-scale integrative and cognitive functions. The first objective of the Master training is to give the student a specialized set of theoretical and technical skills in all topics covered by the Neuroscience fields. A significant proportion of the courses is therefore common to all paths. The second objective is to train students through research in order to encourage them to become autonomous. This is achieved through the development, in all courses, of analytical and critical approaches. A third aim is to train students to teamwork and collective project management - which does not exclude autonomy and, when possible, leadership.

Students in Life Sciences, Medicine or Psychology.

The M1 is structured in « common core + specialized courses », with common teaching for all Master paths and optional courses allowing to make a pre-choice of the specialized Master path.

In M2, teaching is mainly specialized, but some courses remain common (Scientific conferences, Research projects). Some of the courses are taught in English. New: the M2 level will be taught entirely in English starting in September 2023. The EMN-Online program is entirely in English and the courses are given by the teachers of the various partner universities through visio-conferences.

The Master's degree in Neuroscience aims to form students in the different fields of Neurosciences (Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, Neurodevelopment), by offering them a basic common training and more focused teaching in the different domains of expertise covered by the Master.

• Conducting projects by mobilizing concepts, theories, and methods from the Neuroscience fields, using a multidisciplinary approach (molecular, cellular, integrated, or cognitive levels).
• Analyzing and interpreting experimental data in a critical manner (hypothesis formulation and implementation of a hypothetical-deductive approach).
• Organizing in a written document or orally a logical argument resulting from a hypothetical deductive approach, or a research report close to classical scientific communication, in French and English.
• Mobilizing the knowledge and skills acquired in Neuroscience, whether disciplinary or not, for conducting a project in a public or private professional organization.
• Identifying training and professions (research and development, project manager, teaching, etc.) in the public or private sectors that allow potentiating the theoretical and practical skills acquired in Neuroscience, and building a professional project in an autonomous and responsible manner.

During their Master's degree, students carry out several internships in M1 and M2 in public (University, CNRS, INSERM) or private (company, start-up) research structures. As part of the international opening, students can carry out their M1 and/or M2 internship in one of the partner universities.

The industrial sector (about fifteen local or regional companies) participates to the Master's program, and promotes the link with the socio-professional environment, particularly for research internships in private companies.

The list of internships is available on the course website. The professionalization courses include scientific CV workshops and meetings with professionals. A newsletter is published every month with information on doctoral training and careers in neuroscience. NeuroSchool hosts the NeuroCommunity, a LinkedIn group that brings together current and former members of AMU neuroscience labs and training. The training supports the association of neuroscience students of Marseille 'Neuronautes', which organizes various actions, including networking.

Mobility scholarships: the Master has long established a partnership with the Universities of Oldenburg and Helsinki (Erasmus+), as well as a specific agreement with the Université de Montréal. This partnership is made concrete by the exchange of students in both M1 and M2. Mobility costs (incoming and outgoing) are fully covered by the NeuroSchool graduate school. In the context of the new CIVIS alliance of universities, the international openness of the Master's degree has been strengthened and we have already established strong relationships with the Universities of Tübingen, Rome, Madrid and Brussels.

Learning English: students attend weekly English classes in M1 (1 or 2 courses of 2 credits, depending on the track) and various courses in M1 and M2 are taught in English. As indicated above, the M2 level will be entirely taught in English from September 2023, followed by the M1 level from September 2024.

The prerequisites are :

To have a knowledge of :

• the cellular physiology and neurophysiology ;
• the major physiological functions ;
• the methods of processing and transferring nervous information ;
• the general anatomical organization of the peripheral and central nervous system.