Masters

Cognitive Science

Ruhr-University Bochum

Bochum, Germany

Program Overview

Cognitive science is a dynamic, interdisciplinary area of research. The driving questions within cognitive science focus on the theoretical understanding and empirical investigation of cognitive phenomena, e.g.: What are the basic mechanisms of learning, forgetting, and remembering? What are the principles of action guidance in humans, and how do we understand the actions of others? What is the role of emotions in cognitive processing? What are the neural processes underlying object recognition? What does it mean to possess concepts and to be rational? How did the cognitive capacities of humans and animals evolve? The two-year Master's programme in Cognitive Science at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) offers a unique opportunity to enter into the fascinating field of cognitive science. It combines systematic and empirical approaches from philosophy, psychology, neural computation, psychiatry and the neurosciences. Students will be trained to use and combine different methodological approaches in order to gain new insights into key problems in the field of cognitive science and generate interdisciplinary solutions to solve them. Key topics of research in the Master's programme in Cognitive Science at RUB are: social cognition learning and memory perception and action language, logic and categories Key methods of research in the Master's programme in Cognitive Science at RUB include: philosophical theory formation behavioural and neuroimaging studies statistical analysis/experimental psychology lab basic and advanced logic computational modelling The programme is formally hosted by the Faculty of Psychology, but relies on strong interaction between several departments. Therefore, we can offer interdisciplinary classes as well as hands-on research experience in philosophy, psychology, neural computation, psychiatry and the neurosciences.

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EUR

Financials

Tuition FeesNone
Living Expenses11904 euros (living expense) plus semester contribution
Note: This programme appears tuition-free, but students should still budget for the semester contribution and living expenses.
INFO

Intakes and Duration

Intake Season

Winter (October)

Duration

4 semesters

CO

Career Outcomes

You can always explore various career paths after completing this program. The listed options are some of the most popular among graduates.

EUR

Salary Outlook

Typical range

€45,000 – €75,000 per year

Fresher, mid-level, and experienced ranges are linked to external sources so they stay auditable for applicants.

LANG

Language & Exams

Teaching Language

English

The programme is taught entirely in English. All students are required to provide proof of English proficiency. We require a proficiency level of at least B2+. German is not a requirement. The following tests are accepted as proof of English proficiency: UNIcert II (grade 2.0 or better) IELTS 6.5 (with at least a 6.0 in all four subcategories) TOEFL iBT 85 (with at least 18 in all four subcategories) FCE (grade A or B, respectively C or B2) Test certificates have to be uploaded by the applicant via the application portal. Do not send any hard copies. Language certificates must not be older than two years at the day of application. No test certificates are required If you are a citizen of the following countries: Australia Canada (excluding Quebec) Ireland New Zealand United Kingdom United States of America If you have obtained your Bachelor’s degree in English and the programme lasted for at least three years and your graduation dates back no more than two years German participants need proof of English proficiency just like non-German applicants. The German Abitur does not count. Furthermore, if your language of instruction in school was English, yet you do not fulfil any of the other conditions, you are still required to submit a language test.

IELTS required (IELTS 6.5 overall)Language certification required
REQ

Requirements

Academic Admission

The minimal condition for application is a Bachelor’s degree from a university inside the EU with at least 180 ECTS or an equivalent degree from outside the EU. The following subjects are considered relevant for the programme: Cognitive science Psychology Philosophy with a strong focus on analytic philosophy, especially philosophy of mind, epistemology or philosophy of science (at least 15 ECTS) Neuroscience Computer science Linguistics Mathematics Biology with a focus on neurobiology or bioinformatics (at least 20 ECTS) Subjects that are not included in the list are considered relevant if they have a clear focus on cognitive science (e.g. neurobiology or neuroinformatics) or if they include courses amounting to 60 ECTS that are clearly related to cognitive sciences in terms of content. If the Bachelor's programme consists of two (or more) subjects, one of the relevant subjects listed above must have been completed to the extent of at least 60 ECTS. Additionally, a minimum of 15 ECTS in a second subject from the list must be completed.

APS Certificate

An APS certificate is required for applicants who have completed their qualifying education in India, China, or Vietnam.

IELTS Score

IELTS 6.5 overall

Application Deadline

Application deadlines are subject to changes. Please refer to the above university course link for the most accurate information.

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