Overview The MSc is an international, research-oriented consecutive Master’s program run by the Department of Education and Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin and taught in English. It is designed to give students advanced theoretical grounding and practical methodological skills in neurocognitive psychology, biological psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, preparing graduates for careers in applied research or further academic training (e.g., PhD programs).
Structure and study phases The two-year curriculum is split into a study phase (year 1) and a research phase (year 2). During the first year you take courses that cover the programme’s core themes and build the methodological competencies needed for independent research. In the second year the focus shifts to student-led research projects carried out under faculty supervision; formal teaching is reduced to roughly one intensive week of classes or one to two short course sessions per semester.
Key facts and requirements
If you are an international student, expect a research-intensive environment with close supervision during the second year and coursework in the first year that emphasizes both theory and research methods.
This programme is governed by formal study and examination regulations that set out the sequence of courses, detailed module descriptions, qualification goals and an exemplar study plan. The regulations also assign credit points (CP) and specify the workload in time hours for every module and for the programme as a whole. Successful completion leads to the Master of Science (MSc) degree; the Master’s thesis and its oral defence are designed to show that you can independently investigate and present a scientific research question using appropriate methods.
The curriculum combines thematic core modules in cognitive neuroscience with hands‑on methodological training and research experience. Core theoretical topics include perception, attention, action and cognitive control, as well as memory, emotion, language and consciousness. Practical and methodological modules—such as neurocognitive methods, data analysis, probabilistic/statistical modelling and an introduction to programming—prepare you to implement and analyse experiments. Research workshops, practicals and a sequence of research experiences provide laboratory and project work that feed directly into the Master’s thesis.
Learning outcomes focus on both conceptual and technical competence: you will gain advanced knowledge of major cognitive neuroscience domains, practical skills in neurocognitive methods and data analysis, competence in probabilistic/statistical modelling and basic programming, and experience managing empirical research projects. By the end of the programme you should be able to design experiments, analyse complex datasets, and communicate scientific results effectively, culminating in an independently written Master’s thesis and oral examination.
Key requirements and modules (credit points, CP)
Additional programme notes
This Master's programme is highly competitive and requires specific academic prerequisites and documented language ability. Applications are evaluated in a multi-stage process with a fixed timetable, and admission is determined by a point-based ranking system.
The selection process runs in three stages, beginning with the application window in April/May and concluding with a final admission decision by the end of July (tentative). Candidates are ranked on a scale from 100 to 0 selection points (SP), with higher totals indicating stronger applications. Academic grades from the undergraduate degree are converted into up to 60 SP (according to the programme’s grade conversion table). Shortlisted applicants are invited to a one-on-one interview; the admissions committee assesses motivation and suitability in these interviews and can award up to 40 SP, bringing the maximum possible score to 100 SP.
For full details on grade conversion, documentation formats, and application instructions, please consult the department website.
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for careers in applied research within neurocognitive psychology, biological psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, where strong methodological and data-analytic skills are required. The programme’s research emphasis and the 30 ECTS Master's thesis also provide a solid foundation for students who wish to pursue doctoral studies or research positions in academic and research institutions.
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg — Oldenburg
International Psychoanalytic University Berlin — Berlin
SRH University — Heidelberg
Leipzig University — Leipzig