5 reasons to study Human Neuroscience in Turku

Human Neuroscience is an emerging field that is open to all enthusiasts of different backgrounds. From biomedicine to computer science, whatever your education is, you will always find a suitable space for you. But when it comes to choosing the right programme, choices are here and there, and it is usually challenging to find the degree that meets all your needs.

So, what makes the Master’s degree programme in Human Neuroscience at UTU stand out from other programmes around the world? As a current student and almost a graduate of the programme, I want to share my reasons for applying to this degree that you could consider.

Read more about the Master’s degree programme

The programme is welcoming to all those who have an interest in studying the human brain and their motivations and future plans are well described. Previous students had their Bachelor’s degree from different fields like psychology, biology, computer science, and even dentistry.

Even if your degree is in something else and you are wondering if you will be accepted, just show why you want to join this degree and how it will help you achieve your dreams. Only make sure that it is the right programme for you.

Don’t worry, you will learn from basic neurobiology to advanced neuroimaging. You will never feel lost but you will have many classes….be prepared!

The programme is enriched with many essential courses that are important for all prospective neuroscientists. From understanding the basics of neuroscience to neuroimaging techniques and clinical neuroscience. But when it comes to the electives, there are no boundaries… even if it is economy.

And with the flexible study rights, it is possible to take your electives from other Finnish institutions. I had several courses from the University of Helsinki and Åbo Akademi that I found interesting mainly in bioimaging.

I would advise you to keep checking the programme’s study guide and others to think of all the available courses that match your interest.   

UTU is well known for its different research facilities, and this degree is organized by the Turku Brain and Mind Center (TBMC). TBMC includes researchers from both UTU and Åbo Akademi to study brain functions in health and disease. You can find different research topics using multiple techniques from studying the cellular and molecular changes to the whole brain structure.

So, if you are more interested in biomedicine and animal studies, you can ask to join any lab in Turku Bioscience or Turku Bioimaging. But if you want to learn about the non-invasive brain imaging techniques, there are a variety of facilities to choose from like the Turku PET Centre with its state-of-art scanners, the Turku EyeLabs, or other different techniques such as MRI, EEG, TMS…

I know it’s not an easy task especially if you are interested in more than one domain, but you can check the available labs and researchers, where you can read more about their research and current projects.  

Whatever your plans are, this degree will give you many options. You can continue for your PhD if you are interested in a career in academia. If you are more into the industry, you can find good opportunities in drug or game development. You could also work in the health industry.

A good start to your career is with an internship that can help you define your objectives or even a beginning of a possible job opportunity. At UTU, there is career guidance that can offer individual planning for what to do after graduating.

You can check what UTU can offer its students here.

What’s better than studying in the happiest country in the world and at one of the top universities!

Finland is a welcoming country to all internationals and the fact that you don’t need Finnish to survive makes it even more appealing. Most Finns are good English speakers, so you won’t find it hard to communicate with anyone in English in the supermarket, café, restaurant, etc… There are only a few cases when you find people who can’t speak English and are probably not in Turku. But it is always nice to learn the language.

You will also enjoy a warm sunny summer on most of the days if it is not raining 😊 and a snowy winter with some traces of the Northern lights in some parts of Turku but mainly in Lapland.

Now if you feel encouraged and are ready to be a human neuroscientist. Plan from now for the next application period in January 2024.

Last updated: 26 June 2023

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