This research-oriented, international Master's programme offers advanced training across the neurosciences, with a particular emphasis on Sensory, Behavioural, and Computational Neuroscience. It is open to graduates from a range of undergraduate backgrounds, and all teaching is delivered in English. You can tailor your studies by specialising in one of the focus areas or combining them with related disciplines.
Teaching combines theoretical instruction with intensive hands-on modules in small groups and individual student projects that are linked to ongoing research. Before starting the Master’s thesis, students complete at least one research project to gain practical laboratory or computational experience. The programme spans methods from molecular genetics, electrophysiology, anatomy and behavioural analysis to mathematical modelling and modern imaging techniques, reflecting the wide methodological scope of sensory research at the host institution.
The course is deliberately interdisciplinary: faculty and fellow students come from diverse scientific backgrounds and several joint courses are offered with other Master's programmes (Biology, Neurocognitive Psychology, Molecular Biomedicine, Physics, Engineering and Medicine). It is flexible as well — there are no mandatory courses and you design your individual curriculum from a broad selection of electives. The international atmosphere, the opportunity for a semester abroad, and close supervision by researchers in internationally recognised labs make it a strong choice for students wishing to pursue independent scientific work. If your primary interest lies in molecular-level research or cognitive psychology, related "sister" programmes in Molecular Biomedicine or Neurocognitive Psychology are available at the same university.
Admission highlights (concise)
This two-year (120 ECTS) Master’s programme is built entirely from elective courses, giving you flexibility to shape your studies around your interests. All students must complete one research module and a Master’s thesis, while the remainder of credits are chosen from three module types—background, research, and skills—and additional electives. Course formats range from intensive small-group background blocks to individual laboratory research projects, so you gain both theoretical foundations and hands‑on experience.
Key learning outcomes include the ability to plan and carry out independent experimental research, critically evaluate and synthesize scientific literature, present and defend results, and apply quantitative tools for data analysis. You will also develop transferable professional skills—such as programming, statistics, science communication and engagement with ethical issues—while having opportunities to take interdisciplinary modules from related Master’s programmes or study up to one semester at another institution in Germany or abroad.
The programme emphasizes practical lab competence and independent scholarship: background modules provide concentrated teaching (lectures, seminars, practicals) in small groups; research modules place you in a supervisor’s lab for an extended project; and skills modules teach broader, career‑relevant techniques. For detailed examples of how individual study plans can be organised, see the programme website: https://uol.de/en/master-neuroscience/curriculum.PDF
Requirements (concise)
This program requires a completed Bachelor's degree (or near completion) with specific coursework and supporting documents. The admissions committee ranks applicants using a points system based on academic grade (converted to the German scale by uni-assist) and additional qualifications; ties are resolved by lottery. Make sure you include the completed specific eligibility form and all supporting documents — the admissions committee will only consider the materials you submit.
If you are an international applicant whose credits use a different system, ensure your transcript makes the credit values clear (ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). If you are still finishing your Bachelor’s, you must document at least 150 credit points now and submit your Bachelor’s diploma during your first semester. You will also need to prove your English proficiency (see the programme’s information for acceptable tests and scores).
Mandatory qualifications / documents
Advantageous qualifications (points-based ranking; categories A + B determine eligibility; ties decided by lottery)
Important reminders
Winter Semester (International)
30 April 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are well prepared for research careers in academia (PhD programmes) and for R&D positions in industry sectors such as neurotechnology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The programme’s strong emphasis on experimental and computational methods, plus transferable skills (programming, statistics, imaging, modelling, science communication), also equips alumni for roles in data science, biomedical engineering, clinical research support, and science policy or communication.
The mandatory research module and close supervision in active research groups facilitate direct entry into doctoral programmes or research positions. Additionally, interdisciplinary training and elective options broaden career pathways into adjacent fields (e.g., cognitive neuroscience, molecular biomedicine, medical technology) and prepare students for roles in applied research, product development, or further professional qualifications.