Cognition & brain sciences
About the program
The cognition and brain sciences track of our MSc and PhD programs covers areas like embodied cognition, memory and visual perception.
We aim to understand the nature of the representations and processes that cause mental events. We also study how the memory of past mental events affects later experiences and behaviour. We use many empirical approaches, including:
- naturalistic studies of children and adults
- lab experiments
- brain imaging
- case studies of brain-damaged patients
- computational modeling
Each faculty member has a microcomputer-based laboratory for data collection, data analysis and computational modeling. The group holds a variety of specialized equipment and software (e.g., state-of-the-art eye tracking and 3-D kinematics). We have connections with medical facilities that provide opportunities for research with neurological cases.
We provide graduate students with office space and shared access to laboratory facilities.
Faculty members
Core faculty
- cognitive control
- attention
- memory
- aging
- computational cognitive neuroscience
- working memory
- executive control
- decision making
- memory and cognition
- eyewitness memory
- cognitive neuroscience
- computational modeling
- statistics
- language
- cognitive and neural mechanisms of expertise
- face recognition and perception
- experimental techniques in vision research
- collaborative research on object and scene perception
- memory
- visual attention
- eye movements
- cognitive aging
Affiliated faculty
- clinical neuropsychology
- executive functioning
- sports concussions
- clinical neuropsychology
- neuroimaging
- cognitive neuroscience of aging
- dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- quantitative modeling
- longitudinal research design
- development of executive function
- development of embodied cognition
- nature-based education and self-regulation
- development of executive function
- development of embodied cognition
- nature-based education and self-regulation
- social perception and evaluation
- surprise and learning
- infancy and early childhood
- eye-tracking and neuroimaging
Research themes
- cognition and action
- reinforcement learning, errors and decision-making
- cognitive control and working memory
- from visual input to meaning
- visual expertise
- memory in action: basic theory and applied domains
- cognitive development
Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic grad student, from finding a supervisor to submitting your application.
Applications for a September 2027 start open September 1, 2026 and are due November 30, 2026 through My UVic application.
Psychology MSc admission requirements
Courses
Our graduate program emphasizes collaborative research activities more than coursework. We believe courses are important to help you succeed as a scholar.
We offer courses that we believe will be of direct relevance and value for our students' research. Our program is designed to give a good deal of flexibility regarding how and when requirements are met.
In our MSc and PhD programs, you’ll complete the program’s course requirements and additional courses for the cognition and brain sciences track.
Funding
Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help fund graduate students through a combination of:
- UVic fellowships and awards
- teaching assistantships
- research assistantships
Many of our students also receive external awards and scholarships, and financial aid and bursaries. A funding offer is normally included with an offer of admission.
Our department offers a limited number of graduate awards and fellowships each year to incoming students. These range from $1,000 to $20,000. Some funding offers may include a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate awards and/or fellowships.
Co-op
UVic is home to the largest co-op graduate program in Canada. Learn about combining co-op placements with your program on the co-op for graduate students website. Grad students are also eligible for the shorter work experience program.