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China is to offer brain science-related undergraduate majors for the first time. Zhejiang University aims to provide two undergraduate programs—neurobiology and neuropsychology—in its recently established School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, filling the gap in neuroscience education for undergraduate students.

Duan Shumin, fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and dean of the School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, said that graduate students majoring in brain science receive barely any neuroscience education in their undergraduate stage, which is not good for their future research. The training in brain science integrating different disciplines in their undergraduate stage will boost research in brain science, Duan added.

China faces a huge talent gap in brain science. Statistics show that the country needs at least 100,000 psychiatrists, and the cultivation of highly-qualified brain medicine talents is crucial for China's development, said Zhou Yudong, vice-dean of the school.

Li Xiaoming, a professor at the school, said that the establishment of the two majors aims to cultivate highly qualified innovative talents in brain science, neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry.

Zhejiang University has launched a plan to integrate research in brain science and artificial intelligence (AI) in 2018. The School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine will also offer AI-related courses for undergraduate students majoring in neurobiology and neuropsychology.