PhD courses

NRSN works to make the best neuroscience PhD courses at all partner universities available to all PhD candidates in Norway. Our course portfolio includes ECTS accredited courses in a wide range of topics, based on the partners' expertise. Courses are adapted to facilitate student exchange (e.g., through intensive or module based teaching), and NRSN offers travel and accommodation grants to external participants.

How to register for PhD courses

You have to apply to the institution that is offering the course to be accepted as an external participant. Please visit the PhD course webpage or click the link for registering as an external candidate below each course description. Note that it is your home institution which is responsible for the formal approval of the course into the educational component of your PhD degree.

Available PhD courses in 2025

January-February 2025

IGSIN919 - Introduction to Practical Machine Learning (2/2.5 ECTS)

This course gives an intuitive introduction to machine learning both in theory and practice. The course has three parts. The first is a brief, introductory lecture to the software “R”, which will be used to han-dle the practical examples of data management and machine learning. The second part will cover “Machine learning: What is it?” and describe how it allows the discovery of knowledge from data. Since data is the fuel that drives machine learning, we will dive into data management where descrip-tion of organization, storage, cleansing, filtration, and preparation of data collected and used in re-search projects will be explained. In machine learning, multiple topics including data as a source for future decision-making, supervised and unsupervised learning techniques will be covered.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

Spring 2025

IGSIN - Course in the software package R (1 ECTS)

The course will give a beginner / low-level introduction to the R programming language, a powerful tool for performing various types of statistical analyses and visualisation of data. In contrast to other software packages for statistical analyses, R is a programming language, which has to be learned like any other programming language.

You will learn 1) Basic concepts of R-programming syntax and logic 2) how to import and work with data and 3) how to visualize these data – and statistics – in very simple ways.

Registration/application deadline: to be announced

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

NEVR8011 - Concepts in Data Analysis (7.5 ECTS)

During this course we will introduce the most standard techniques for the analysis of neural data, starting from their principles and highlighting strengths and limitations of each of the approaches. The topics of the course can be divided into two main modules: 1) Non-parametric or exploratory data analysis and 2) Parametric data analysis or statistical learning with models. Module 1 includes dimensionality reduction techniques, such as PCA, and Information Theoretic methods. Module 2 includes the simple linear regression model (and GLMs), methods for model inference and validation, model selection and decoding, Bayesian inference. Each presented topic will be accompanied by exercises, which will be introduced and partly worked through in class.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

PSY8005 - Human Psychophysiology- High-Density EEG Analysis (10 ECTS)

Event related potentials (ERP's) and time-frequency analyses combined with clustering techniques such as principal and independent component analyses (PCA/ICA) will be taught and practised in the course. High-density EEG recordings are often challenging to analyse. Conventional ERP analysis typically focuses on a small number of channels and identifies differences between trial types in certain time windows. Although this method can be used with high-density data, it does not take full advantage of the spatiotemporal information present in the data. One way of analysing electrical recordings made at the scalp is based on the assumption that EEG signals may be interpreted as a mixture of the activity of a number of underlying sources in the brain. Source separation consists of identifying different sources in the brain, where each source is described in terms of a varying course of activity and a consistent distribution across the scalp. In other words, a statistically independent source can be represented as both a time-invariant scalp-surface map and a time course of the strength of expression of that spatial map in accounting for the overall EEG at that point in time. Further, a blind (unbiased) separation of sources in terms of PCA and ICA will be used allowing us to extract more general stuctures of brain activity.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

Available PhD courses in 2024

February 2024

Human Brain Anatomy Course (in person)

Comprehensive introduction to human brain anatomy. Suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates in neuroscience, psychology and medicine.

Covers topographic, functional, and MRI neuroanatomy
Very clear and accessible delivery, assumes minimal prior knowledge
Includes live neuroanatomy video demonstrations
Opportunity to get 'hands-on' with preserved human brain specimens!
Includes instant access to 8 high-quality ONLINE preparatory modules

Price: £395 (with instant access to 8 online preparatory modules).

March - May 2024

Visualize your Science (4 ECTS)

The course Visualize your Science is tailor-made for PhD-students and Post. docs who want to improve your skills in drawing figures, making posters, and visually convey your research more effectively to mainly your peers but also the general audience. The course is an official PhD-course at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.

The Spring course will be all online, the starting date is the 18th of March and ends on the 8th of May.

May - June 2024

NEVR8011 - Concepts in Data Analysis (7.5 ECTS)

Lectures in weeks 21, 22, and 23; final exam in week 25.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

Spring 2024

PSY8005 - High-Density EEG Analysis (10 ECTS)

This is a 2-week intensive course from on the EEG methodology and its application in studies of human brain functions, with particular focus on the visual system. Participants will learn about EEG signal processing though lectures, practical exercises in the lab, statistical analyses, group discussions, and presentations.

The course is given by Prof. Audrey van der Meer and colleagues in the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at NTNU. At the end of the course, each student will write an individual report which forms the basis of the formal assessment (examination).

The course will only be run with a minimum of five PhD candidates and a maximum of fifteen candidates.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

Fall 2024

NEVR8012 - Math for Biologists I: Linear Algebra (7.5 ECTS)

Many fields within the Biological Science are becoming increasingly quantitative and interdisciplinary. This poses the double challenge of having a good understanding of the biological aspects of the problem under study, as well as of the mathematics used to analyze the acquired data and to develop models for it. The goal of this course is to introduce biologists to basic concepts in Linear Algebra that they will encounter in most of the analysis techniques and models they will employ in their research. The course will smoothly introduce the language of mathematics, with the aim of easing interdisciplinary communication. Each class will be divided into a lecture and a practical session.

The course will be held in the fall semester 2024 (mid August to end of October).

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

September 2024

Neuroscience data integration through use of digital brain atlases (2 ECTS)

Dates: September 16th-17th 2024

Where: Kavli Institute of Systems Neuroscience, NTNU, Trondheim

With a new generation of three-dimensional digital reference atlases, new solutions for integrating and disseminating brain data are being developed. This course contains an introduction to currently available reference atlases for mouse and rat brain. It will demonstrate how the 3D brain templates for the reference atlases are acquired, how they are used as a basis for delineating the structures of the brain, how they can be enriched by other data modalities, and how they can be used as a basis for assigning location (coordinate based or semantic) to a wide range of structural and functional data collected from the brain. The course will also outline examples of data system employed to organize neuroscience data collections in the context of reference atlases as well as analytical workflows applied to the data, with opportunities for hands-on exploration of selected tools.

This course is offered by the University in Oslo but will in 2024 be held in Trondheim as a satellite event to the NRSN 2024 PhD conference, arranged at Jegtvolden Fjordhotell on September 18th-20th. NRSN members can apply for accomodation and travel support to attend the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this is available on the course website.

September - October 2024

IGSIN913 - Interdisciplinary Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

The course is intended to give students a basic and integrated understanding of the interplay between neurobiological systems and cognition, affect and behaviour. Studenst will also receive an introduction to basic central methods in neuroscience.

Participants can obtain 3 ECTS points for attending the course during the two weeks (minimum 80 % attendance). An additional 3 ECTS points can be obtained by handing in a written assignment (with an integrative perspective on neuro-anatomical, physiological, chemical, and psychological aspects of mental diseases and normal behavioural functions).

Deadline for application: August 20th

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

October 2024

ISGIN911 - Course in Functional Neuroimaging (3 ECTS)

The course is intended to PhD students holding a Master degree in neuroscience, psychology, natural sciences or equivalent, as well as medical students, taking part in a research-training programme in medicine. The course will give an introduction to the field of neuroimaging. After finishing the course, students will have basic knowledge of neuroanatomy and functional neuroimaging approaches.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

October - December 2022

BT8121 - Transdisciplinary Biotechnology (7.5 ECTS)

The aim is to obtain a true transdisciplinary course where PhD students from different backgrounds (biotechnology/life sciences and bioinformatics/mathematics/computer science) work together in the context of modelling and/or data analysis, and also learn about data collection in biotechnology/life sciences. Responsible research and innovation (RRI) will be an integrated part of the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

Fall 2024

Essentials of Neurophysiology: from neurons to circuits to behaviours (5 ECTS)

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in fall 2024. Dates to be announced in May 2024.

The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function. Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and practical hands-on sessions. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this is available on the course website.

December 2024

MEDFL5246 – Biology of Ageing (5 ECTS)

Biology of Ageing’ covers evolutionary and mechanistic theories of ageing; comparative biology of ageing; the new model organism genetics of lifespan (eg C. elegans, Drosophila, mouse); methods in ageing research (eg functional genomic analysis); the biology of dietary restriction; cellular senescence and senotherapy, telomeres and cancer; ageing-related disease; the biology of insulin signalling, energy handling and associated diseases (eg diabetes and obesity); stem cell ageing; prospects for treatments for ageing; and social and ethical issues relating to research on ageing.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Oslo (UiO).

Past courses in 2023

March - May 2023

Visualize your Science (4 ECTS)

March 2023

PSY8005 - High-Density EEG analysis (10 ECTS)

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

Human Brain Anatomy Course (in person)

Comprehensive introduction to human brain anatomy. Suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates in neuroscience, psychology and medicine.

Covers topographic, functional, and MRI neuroanatomy
Very clear and accessible delivery, assumes minimal prior knowledge
Includes live neuroanatomy video demonstrations
Opportunity to get 'hands-on' with preserved human brain specimens!
Includes instant access to 8 high-quality ONLINE preparatory modules

Price: £395 (with instant access to 8 online preparatory modules).

June 2023

DT8122 - Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence (7.5 ECTS)

The Nordic Probabilistic AI School, also known as ProbAI school, is an annual ‘summer’ school supported by the Norwegian Open AI Lab (NAIL) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The mission of ProbAI is to create an inclusive environment serving a state-of-the-art expertise in probabilistic machine learning. The school is considered to be of an intermediate to advanced level, covering topics such as probabilistic models, deep generative models, latent variable models, inference with sampling and variational approximations, normalizing flows, neural ODEs, probabilistic programming, and some of the latest research.

The next ProbAI will be held on June 12-16 in 2023, when the program will be back where it all started at NTNU in Trondheim. Applications will be opening in February 2023.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

B322/01 Principles of Neural Organization (5 ECTS)

Time and date: 5th - 13th June 2023 (including weekends) at 09:00 - 15:00

Venue: Aarhus University

Course fee: 6,000.00 DKK

The course is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2023.

Criteria for participation: University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).Aim: This course is interested in the following question: How can the brain be far smarter than a supercomputer yet consumes 100,000-fold less space and energy? Both brain and computer obey mathematical and physical laws and both deal with receiving, sending, processing, storing, and retrieving information. The course is supplemented with an introduction to the techniques that are (mainly) exclusive to neuroscience. This includes optogenetics, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging from behaving animals, and animal behavior. Students will visit the labs performing these experiments and will see these techniques in action.

Fall 2023

NEVR8012 - Math for Biologists I: Linear Algebra (7.5 ECTS)

The course will be held in the fall semester 2023 (mid August to end of October).

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

September 2023

FYS488 Computational Neuroscience (10 ECTS)

Selected topics related to mathematical modelling of (i) signal processing in nerve cells, (ii) neural coding and decoding, (iii) receptive fields in the visual system, (iv) information transmission in the nervous system, (v) biophysics of nerve cells, (vi) biological neural networks, and (vii) learning and memory.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the properties of neurobiological systems can be modelled mathematically and be able to navigate in the academic literature on computatiional neuroscience. Be able to formulate and solve simple models from computational neuroscience. Be able to navigate in and acquire knowledge from scientific literature in the subject field in order to be able to develop more complicated models. Understand that mathematical models are necessary in order to understand complex neurobiological processes.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NMBU.

PhD course in functional neuroimaging (fMRI) (3 ECTS)

The first part is a short theoretical introduction into neuroscience and neuroimaging, covering all relevant aspects on physiology, neuroanatomy, some of the most relevant functional networks, as well as the technical aspects behind structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and related methods, such as DTI and perfusion measurements.

In the second part, the course will introduce the most relevant experimental techniques, used in functional neuroimaging, as well as the methods, used for analysing functional as well as structural MRI data.

Course in Interdiciplinary Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

Dates: 25th September - 6th October

Registration deadline: 25th August

The course is intended to give the students a basic and integrated understanding of the interplay between neurobiological systems and cognition, affect and behaviour. They will also receive an introduction to basic central methods in neuroscience.

During the course the students will be introduced to the most important neurobiological systems (neuroanatomical and neurophysiological). They will be introduced to neuromolecular mechanisms and neuropharmacology. Important psychiatric and neuropsychological clinical conditions as well as normal psychological functions will be described and methods for measuring these will be demonstrated.

Past courses in 2022

September 2022

ISGIN911 - Course in Functional Neuroimaging (3 ECTS)

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

September-October 2022

IGSIN913 - Integrated Neuroscience Course (6 ECTS)

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB).

October-November 2022

NEVR8015 - Math for Biologists II: Calculus and Introduction to Probability Theory (7.5 ECTS)

The goal of this course is to introduce PhD students in the Life Sciences to concepts in Calculus and Probability Theory that they will encounter in most of the analysis techniques and models they will employ in their research. The course will smoothly introduce the language of mathematics, with the aim of easing interdisciplinary communication. No previous mathematical knowledge is required, as we will start from the basics. Each weekly class will be divided into a lecture and a practical session.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

October-December 2022

BT8121 - Transdisciplinary Biotechnology (7.5 ECTS)

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

December 2022

MEDFL5245 – Biology of Ageing (4 ECTS)

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at the University of Oslo (UiO).

Past courses in 2021

August 2021

NEVR8012 - Concepts in data analysis (7.5 ECTS)

During this course we will introduce the most standard techniques for analysis of neural data, as well as cutting edge techniques that are becoming very prominent in the analysis of big datasets. Each presented topic will be accompanied by exercises. Lecturers will encourage all attendees to try to implement the introduced techniques to their own data. Time will be allocated for discussions and to provide some guidance.

Find more information here!

August 2021

Registration deadline: April 15th

STKD6800 Neuro-insights: Data Science Approaches in Neuroscience I (5 ECTS)

STKD6810 Neuro-insights: Data Science Approaches in Neuroscience II (10 ECTS)

Because most young researchers in life and health sciences do not have a solid quantitative background, they face difficulties when analyzing data independently. This difficulty represents a major drawback in research. Students waste time learning analytical methods by themselves that could be more quickly learned with proper instruction and support. Additionally, the lack of convention or standards in some fields is a source of confusion that slows the learning process. As consequence, the quality of insights and research productivity suffer. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to data science and big data applied to neuroscience research.

Its content is designed to train the participants in state-of-the-art techniques in data analysis and machine learning. This will enable the students to interact independently with the data and draw insights from them. The modules are organized so the participants have the opportunity to learn how to handle the most common data types (e.g., EEG, calcium imaging). Special attention is given to field-tested data management protocols, as they are critical for a fast transition from data acquisition to knowledge generation.

This is a hands-on course where the students will learn from implementing the analysis themselves with close supervision. The course will focus on case studies using data from real experiments; advanced students may choose to use their own data. The students will develop understanding through constant presentation of their work and dialectical reflection over their choices, results, and interpretations.

10th - 16th September

JANUBET Primate Neurobiology School

Venue: Kyoto and Inuyama Japan

There will be a limited number of stipends covering travel and accommodation from JANUBET and students can apply for support through the NRSN International Training grant program (tentative travel and accommodation costs will be around 3000 Euro)

Fall 2021

Integrated Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

Registration deadline: 30th August

Past courses in 2020

19th February - 30th April

Math for biologists - linear algebra - DIGITAL (7.5 ECTS)

This course is offered by the Kavli Insittue and NTNU.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU.

19th -26th April

Essentials of Neurophysiology: from neurons to circuits to behaviours (5 ECTS)

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in April 2021. The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function. Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and demonstrations/lab work. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this in the course website!

2nd - 5th March

Registration deadline: February 15th

PhD course in functional neuroimaging (fMRI)

The third part is the practical part, where an experiment will be developed, performed on the scanner, analysed, and the results will be discussed.

9th - 20th March

Human Psychophysiology: High-Density EEG analysis (10 ECTS)

Information about how to apply as an external candidate at NTNU can be found here.

Past courses in 2019

11th - 22nd March

Registration deadline: February 1st

Human Psychophysiology: High-Density EEG analysis (10 ECTS)

Information about how to apply as an external candidate at NTNU can be fund here.

8th-13th May

Registration deadline: 25 March

Hands-on course in comparative neuroanatomy, Sendi Japan

This course aims to provide a concise introduction in comparative neuroanatomy. Teaching includes lectures in the morning covering the development and overall anatomical organization of the brain and the functional organization of main systems in the brain, such as motor, visual as example of sensory systems, basal ganglia and cerebellum, learning and memory and emotion, planning attention and decision making. The afternoons are dedicated to anatomical dissections ranging from fish, frogs, reptiles and mammals, including non-human primate and human primate brains. The dissections will be partially hands on and partially demonstrations.

NRSN members who wish to attend can apply for an NRSN international training grant for this purpose. Maximum number of participants for the course is 15. Accommodation and food during the stay is covered by the NFR funded project JANUBET (Japan and Norway United in Brain Education and Therapeutics).

Find the program for the course here

6th-13th May

Registration deadline: 25 March

Essentials of Neurophysiology: from neurons to circuits to behaviours (5 ECTS)

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in May 2019. The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function. Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and demonstrations/lab work. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this in the course website!

17th - 18th June

IMB9345 Neuroscience data integration through use of digital brain atlases

Anatomical reference atlases of the brain are important tools for assigning location to data captured with the many methods and instruments used to study the brain. With a new generation of three-dimensional digital reference atlases, new solutions for integrating and disseminating brain data are being developed. This course will provide a theoretical background and hands on experience with tools for integrating experimental data from rodent brains in reference atlas space. The development and use of novel 3D brain templates for rodent brains for assigning location to a wide range of structural and functional data will be demonstrated. The course will outline examples of data system employed to organize neuroscience data collections in the context of reference atlases as well as analytical workflows applied to the data.

19th-30th August

Sleep regulation: neural circuitry, pharmacology and physiology

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge in the basis of sleep regulation, on the neuronal, physio-logical and pharmacological level. Through a series of readings, active learning exercises and class-room assessments, students will learn the biological basis for circadian regulation of sleep, phenomena and functions of sleep.

14th - 26th October

Integrated Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

Registration deadline: 1 September

October - November 2019

National Master and PhD courses in Computational Neuroscience at Ås

As in the three previous years the participation of students from all over Norway will be facilitated by having the teaching arranged as two intensive periods with lectures and exercises at Ås:
The first teaching block will be from Monday September 30th to Friday October 4th.
The second teaching block will be from Monday November 11th to Friday November 15th.The exam will be sometime in mid-December.
The course requires a working knowledge of mathematics and basic programming.

The course will cover selected topics related to biophysics of nerve cells biophysical modeling of signal processing in nerve cells and neural networks modeling learning and memory biophysical modeling of recorded electrical signals. The course will also give practical experience in using key neuroscience simulation tools like
NEURON
NEST
LFPy
Most material in the course will be taken from the book “Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience” by Sterratt et al.

The course, which will give 10 ECTS credits (study points), will be come in two versions:
a Masters Course FYS388, and a PhD course FYS488, which in addition to the Masters Course curriculum will involve a project (to be presented at the end of the course)

NOTE: ALL external students, that is, students who are not already registered NMBU-students, MUST apply to become an “enkeltemnestudent” here:
https://www.nmbu.no/studier/opptak/soke_enkeltemner
If you apply to take the Masters course, the course code is: FYS388
If you apply to take the PhD course, the course code is: FYS488

For administrative questions about how to apply for “enkeltemne" at NMBU, contact Sigrun Vedø Lien at NMBU (sigrun.vedo.lien@nmbu.no), ph. 67231509.
For other questions, contact Gaute.Einevoll@nmbu.no .

Past courses 2018

26th - 29th November

IGSIN PhD course in functional neuroimaging (fMRI)

Application deadline: October 30th

The course is intended to PhD students in neuroscience, and will give an introduction to the field of neuroimaging. The course is divided into three parts. The first part is a short theoretical introduction into neuroscience and neuroimaging, covering all relevant aspects on physiology, neuroanatomy, some of the most relevant functional networks, as well as the technical aspects behind structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and related methods, such as DTI and perfusion measurements. In the second part, the course will introduce the most relevant experimental techniques, used in functional neuroimaging, as well as the methods, used for analysing functional as well as structural MRI data. The third part is the practical part, where an experiment will be developed, performed on the scanner, analysed, and the results will be discussed.