Your degree in Behavioural Neuroscience

Skills you’ll develop

While studying Behavioural Neuroscience, you’re gaining a deep understanding of the biological basis of behaviour and exploring the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. You’ll develop important skills and learn advanced research methods to gain a multidisciplinary understanding of behavior and cognition as they relate to nervous system function.

These skills may include:

Critical observation and evaluation of nervous system dysfunction, ranging from psychiatric to neurological conditions
Design and execution of neuroscience experiments with human participants or animal subjects
Research and critical evaluation of biomedical literature
Application of specialized knowledge related to neurological diseases and disorders
Application of ethical considerations in neuroscience research, decision making, and consideration of societal implications
Verbal and written communication of technical and scientific data aimed at neuroscientific and non-neuroscientific audiences
Technical usage of computational modeling, neuroimaging, and statistics

Career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including health and biomedical research and development, machine learning, pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare, government and regulatory affairs, non-profit, education, consulting, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academic backgrounds, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

Addictions and mental health counsellor
Anesthesiologist
Artificial intelligence designer
Behaviour interventionist
Biochemist
Biomedical engineering technologist
Biostatistician
Biotechnology technician
Child and youth worker
Clinical counsellor
Clinical research associate
Cognitive therapist
Correctional service officer
Disability case manager
Electroneurophysiology technologist
Food scientist
Geneticist
Healthcare consultant
Health policy development officer
Hospital administrator
Life skills instructor

Medical illustrator
Microbiologist
Neural stem cell researcher
Neurologist
Neuropathologist
Nurse
Optometrist
Patent officer
Pharmacist
Occupational therapist
Teacher/Professor
Physical therapist
Psychologist
Public health director
Scientific research manager
Scientific writer
Social worker
Speech language pathologist
Toxicologist
Veterinary neurologist

Make the most of your specialization

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help clarify understanding of your values and interests.

UBC Neuroscience Club
Learn about neuroscience research through weekly journal club meetings, student-led seminars, and an annual conference.
UBC Psychology Students’ Association
Sign up for resume and CV workshops, meet your Psychology professor, and attend fun events.
UBC Cognitive Systems Society
Meet students with an interest in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, human-computer interfaces, and robotics.
UBC Science Co-op
Gain work experience in behavioural neuroscience between study terms.
UBC Life Sciences Institute
Browse research opportunities, events, programs and student competitions in life sciences.
UBC Undergraduate Research Opportunities club
Find a mentor, learn how to get into research, or receive help on publishing your manuscript.
Departmental research opportunities
Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
Vancouver Coastal Health volunteer opportunities
Get volunteer experience in hospitals and health centres.
Fraser Health volunteer opportunities
Volunteer in local communities through healthcare opportunities.
UBC PATHS
Attend events and help raise awareness and funds for common neurodegenerative diseases.
UBC Peer Support
Support other students while developing your active listening, problem solving, and empathy skills.
UBC Speech and Linguistics Student Association
Check out volunteer opportunities and attend career talks and social events.
UBC Undergraduate Journal of Psychology
Showcase your research by submitting papers to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Behavioural Neuroscience graduates on LinkedIn to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

More information

From your Science degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Science degree.