Outcomes of the MSc in Neuroscience

Marseille neuroscience pole of excellence provides invaluable training opportunities for the master’s students (in over fifty research teams).

Moreover, fifteen private companies (local or regional) participate in the master’s program, including through internships, thus promoting the link with the socio-professional environment.

Our master’s primarily prepares students for executive jobs in research and development in fundamental and applied areas:

• researchers,
• teachers and professors,
• clinical research associates,
• engineers
• technical sales executives,
• communication officer,
• project managers…

Opportunities can be found in various sectors:

• public research
• education, serious games, e-health
• care or rehabilitation centers
• pharmaceutical and biotech companies
• private research centers
• charities
• physical activities and sports
• robotics and artificial intelligence…

Every year , the Observatory of Student Life conducts an investigation to find out what our graduates are doing 30 months after obtaining their master’s degree:

• between 28.1% and 45.5 % of respondents were pursuing a PhD,
• between 17.9% and 24.1% were physicians,
• between 7.1% and 13.8% were seeking employment.

In March 2018, the OVE contacted the 38 2017 graduates of the Master of Neurosciences about their professional integration 8 months after graduation. Thirty-four people responded to the detailed questionnaire on employment and further studies. Here is the information that emerged.

Of the 34 respondents, 13 are PhD students in neuroscience (12 in France and 1 abroad), 2 are MD graduates, 1 is looking for a job and 11 have chosen to do further training. Here are a few examples of prepared training:

• DFG Sciences Médicales (medical students);
• DESIU Formation des Assistants de Recherche Clinique et des Techniciens d’Etudes Cliniques;
• M2 Compétence complémentaire en informatique ;
• DESIU Aide à l’Insertion Professionnelle des Etudiants ;
• DES Neurologie ;
• DES Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation ;
• DES Ophtalmologie.

Other graduates have chosen to enter the labour market directly. They work mainly in R&D and health/social work. They are also active in education and training, and in IT. They are now working as neurologists, teachers, instructor-educators, developers or scientific application engineers.

How did they access their current jobs?

The top 3 means of access to employment for our graduates are:

• the master’s internship (52%)
• public service competitions (28%)
• their personal network (20%)

What types of contracts have they obtained?

Most of them are on specific contracts linked to their doctorate or on fixed-term contracts. However, there are a few permanent contracts and civil servants.