Thinking of Applying?

The Neuroscience Diploma Program provides York graduate students with a well-rounded education in neuroscience, creating a solid foundation on which to base their own neuroscience research. Through coursework and the Neuroscience seminar series, students meet on a regular basis with like-minded neuroscience colleagues from across the university.

Eligibility

Neuroscience Diploma Program applicants must be admitted into the Department of Psychology, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, or Department of Biology program for their Master’s or PhD studies. Applicants must be incoming or current graduate student at the Master’s or PhD level whose thesis or dissertation is on a topic in Neuroscience and is being conducted under the supervision of a core faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program. Students in the last year of their Masters or PhD studies are not eligible to apply.

Diploma Requirements

To obtain a neuroscience diploma, the following requirements must be met:

1. Concurrent completion of a Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation in the field of neuroscience under the supervision of a core faculty member.
2. Minimum 2-year consecutive participation in the Neuroscience Diploma Program
3. Successful completion of two-half credit graduate courses in Neuroscience: KAHS 6155 3.0 (BIO 5146 / PSYC 6257) Fundamentals of Neuroscience I: Structures, Neurons and Synapses and PSYC 6253 3.0 (BIO 5147 / KAHS 6156) Fundamentals of Neuroscience II: Circuits, Systems and Behaviour.
   Please note that these two courses may also be counted towards the degree requirement of students’ departmental program.
4. Regular attendance at a monthly Neuroscience seminar series

   -Both first and second year students must attend all seminars

   -First year students only are required to read the article, submit 2 questions, and meet with the speaker

5. Successful completion of a neuroscience review paper

   -Topic should be selected in consultation with their supervisor

   -Main review paper approval form must be submitted

   -Student must be the sole author

   -Must be in journal format (e.g. Nature Reviews)

   -Approximately 6000 words in length, not including references

   -References must be primarily to original sources and must be extensive enough to   thoroughly cover the topic

   -Due Febuary 28

6. Research Day. Research presentation

How to Apply

Applicants must first obtain a graduate supervisor who is a core faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program through their graduate departments, including:

• Graduate Program in Psychology
• School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
• Graduate Program in Biology

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted to the Neuroscience Steering Committee.

Applicants are required to include the following materials in their application:

1. A copy of their most recent transcript
2. A CV including a list of academic publications and presentations
3. A summary* of the applicants’ proposed or ongoing research, signed by both the applicant and supervisor. The summary should be double-spaced, and no longer than one page
4. The supervisor’s letter of endorsement for the applicant and project

Incoming Master’s and PhD students should consult with their future supervisor before the application deadline to obtain assistance in the preparation. Applicants must include an email address with their application.

2012 applicants must submit their applications for admission by Friday, May 25th, 2012 to Lauren Sergio at lsergio@yorku.ca

Official transcripts must be mailed to:

                            Lauren Sergio

                            Neuroscience Diploma Program Director
                            Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York Centre for Vision Research
                            4700 Keele Street 1012F1 Lassonde Building
                            Toronto ON  M3J 1P3

*Summary must demonstrate that the research falls into the Neuroscience area. For a broad definition of neuroscience, please see the Neuroscience Graduate Diploma webpage.