BNA Learning Outcomes Approved by Royal Society of Biology
19th December 2024
Career starter membership
Just graduated this year? Congratulations!
We believe that once a neuroscientist, always a neuroscientist. We also know that there are many different ways of continuing to be a neuroscientist following your degree, which needn't be further studies nor academia. Moreover, we recognise the financial constraints of many new graduates.
We therefore have a membership category just for people like you!
Our 'Career Starter' membership is an affordable membership category for recent graduates in transition stages of their career. For example, you may plan to do a Masters or PhD, but haven't started yet. Or you may have just started in a job outside of neuroscience, but want to stay in touch with your neuroscience roots and interests.
Stay part of your neuroscience community through our career starter membership: open to all graduated students, regardless of what you’re doing now.
Examples of ways that BNA membership can grow your enjoyment of neuroscience and develop your career:
Neuroscience community
Remain engaged with the neuroscience community
Reduced registration
Free or reduced registration rates for all BNA events
Printed Bulletin
The BNA Bulletin, full of neuro news & research, delivered direct to your door
Careers
Learn about career paths following a neuroscience degree, in academia or beyond
Networking
Get the chance to meet big names (and future employers!) in neuroscience
Global community
Free membership of FENS, with access to SfN benefits too
Join online today - from less than £2 a month
Eligibility criteria
Undergraduate students who have graduated within the last year and have not progressed into postgraduate study. You are eligible to apply at any time within 12 months from the official end study date on your student verification*.
Postgraduate (including Masters / PhD / F1 / F2) students, F1/F2 junior doctors and assistant/trainee clinical psychologists who have graduated within the last year and have not progressed into an early career researcher (ECR) or clinical role. You are eligible to apply at any time within 12 months from the official end study date on your student verification*.
* Proof of previous student/trainee status will be required in order to prove eligibility. This can be a photo, pdf or other document of, for example, your student ID card, proof of enrolment, or a headed letter from your institution clearly stating the end date of your previous studies. Alternatively, you can provide a copy of your degree certificate. You will be asked to upload this during the online application procedure. Don't worry if you haven't got this to hand! - you can still submit an application form, and then send proof of previous student status to us afterwards.
Please note that you are only eligible to become a career starter member within the first year of graduating, and you can only remain in the career starter membership category for a maximum of one year. After your career starter membership, we will welcome you to progress into either Associate, ECR or Full membership.
Benefits
Our core membership benefits for our career starter membership are listed below.
Alongside our core benefits, we also offer a range of special member incentives such as competitions, prize draws and discounts throughout the year - please look out for these notifications in the member eBulletin and via our social media channels!
- Free or reduced registration rates for all BNA events
- Free membership of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) (see how to activate)
- Reduced registration fees via FENS-sponsored abstract slots for the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting (read more)
- Free access to e-learning, virtual patients, webinars, and CPD points via ebrain, the world's largest online e-learning resource
- Free training materials, webinars, virtual conferences other resources at Neuronline
- 20% discount on the Human Brain Anatomy course (see here for information)
- Printed copies of the BNA Bulletin (3 per year)
- Members-only opportunity to publish articles for the BNA website and Bulletin
- Up to 50% off Royal Society of Biology Training events
- 15% discount on all books from Wisepress
- Monthly e.bulletin with news, offers and events
- Free online access to the European Journal of Neuroscience
- 50% discount on Royal Society of Biology membership for the first two years
- 10% off joint membership with the International Neuroethics Society
- Reduced APC charges for the BNA journal Brain and Neuroscience Advances
- Reduced registration fees for events and meetings run by partnering organisations
- Access to members-only information about travel grants, fellowships, grant-writing and other useful resources
- Continuously updated member-only offers e.g. discounts on journals and books
- Free advertising in the BNA Bulletin, eBulletin and website
- Free online job listings
Cost:
- £22 per year if paid by Direct Debit (tick the box 'Pay by Direct Debit' at the beginning of the joining form) (NB. Payment via Direct Debit is only available to UK bank accounts. If your bank account is from outside the UK or you are intending to pay in any currency other than GBP, you will need to select the option to pay by credit/debit card)
- £24 per year if paid by credit/debit card
Be part of a respected national academic society that represents UK neuroscience nationally and across the world.