Applied to MIT, not to a course
MIT says you apply to the entire university, not to a specific major, and all first-year students begin undeclared.
Undergraduate · MIT Course 9
MIT Course 9: brain and cognitive sciences, entered after arriving
MIT does not admit students to a major: every first-year student begins undeclared and may choose any course of study without further admission procedures. Course 9, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, is one of MIT's numbered majors. For an A-level or IB applicant, the questions are what the Catalog's degree chart requires, how it differs from neighbouring majors and what MIT says about testing. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to Course 9.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What MIT says about MIT Course 9
Taken from the MIT Course Catalog's degree chart for Course 9 and MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, Tests & Scores and International pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check MIT's pages for the 2028-entry details.
A degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
The Course Catalog lists a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Course 9.
A Tier I foundation
Tier I includes 9.00 Introduction to Psychological Science, 9.01 Introduction to Neuroscience and 9.40 Introduction to Neural Computation.
A laboratory and research requirement
Students select a laboratory subject and a research subject, which cannot be the same subject.
The SAT or ACT is required
MIT requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year students and asks that predicted grades be sent if available.
Official sources
- MIT Admissions: Majors & Minorsmitadmissions.org
- MIT Course Catalog: Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Course 9)catalog.mit.edu
- MIT Admissions: Tests & Scoresmitadmissions.org
Read on 1 November 2026 on the MIT Course Catalog's degree chart for Course 9 and MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, Tests & Scores and International pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The department's own website, the subject descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The degree
What the Catalog chart says Course 9 requires
The chart's Tier I lists two programming subjects, 9.00, 9.01, 9.40 and a statistics subject. Students then select seven subjects from Tier II, Tier III or restricted electives, at least three from Tier II, plus one laboratory subject and one research subject. The chart gives units in the major as 168 to 174. This guide did not read the subject descriptions.
Is it the right course?
Course 9 beside Computer Science and Biology
The catalogue lists these as separate degrees, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general and relies on the degree titles and charts.
Course 9 fits if
you want to study the brain and mind together with computation.
Course 6-3 fits if
your interest is computing. Avandy's MIT Course 6-3 and 6-4 guide covers it.
Course 20 fits if
your interest is biological engineering. Avandy's MIT Course 20 guide covers it.
Admission and testing
An MIT application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
MIT requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year students. It asks that transcripts include the results of external examinations such as the IB or A Levels required for university entrance in your home country, and that predicted grades be sent if available; only admitted students are required to send final grades. Course 9 is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not MIT's.
Do you want psychology, neuroscience and computation together?
Tier I covers all three.
Are you comfortable choosing a course later?
MIT applicants begin undeclared.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
MIT requires one of them.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
MIT's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check MIT's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. MIT has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check MIT for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Course 9 degree chart and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to MIT Course 9?
No. MIT says you apply to the entire university, not to a specific major or school, and all first-year students begin undeclared.
What does Course 9 require?
The chart requires Tier I subjects, seven further subjects across the tiers, a laboratory subject and a research subject.
How many units are in the major?
The chart gives units in the major as 168 to 174.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
MIT says it requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year students.
Do A levels and the IB count?
MIT asks that transcripts include external examination results such as the IB or A Levels and that predicted grades be sent if available.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are MIT's wording with no entry-year label. Check MIT's pages again when MIT publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about MIT Course 9
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in the brain, mind and computation, how they would handle laboratory and research subjects and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.