MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience (MCNB)

The MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience (MCNB) Master's degree programme is an international programme offered by the Department of Education and Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin. MCNB is a research-focused consecutive Master's programme that aims to provide students with the theoretical and methodological skills to qualify for a career in applied research in general and neurocognitive psychology, biological psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Candidates complete 9 compulsory modules (75 ECTS) + elective modules (15 ECTS) and a Master's thesis (30 ECTS).  The programme is divided into two phases, study and research, which correspond to the two years of the programme. During the first year, in the study phase, the students are expected to take courses covering the programme's core themes. The study phase aims to provide an in-depth theoretical introduction to the three research themes and equip the students with appropriate methodological skills for the research phase. In the research phase, the students will have the opportunity to pursue their own research projects under the supervision of the programme’s faculty members. In the second year of the programme, the class schedule will be reduced to a week of class or one or two sessions a semester. Regulations for structure and sequence of studies are provided by the study regulations. They contain detailed descriptions of the contents and qualification goals of each individual module and provide an exemplary study plan. The examination regulations define the type and requirements of the module examinations and the Master's thesis. The regulations specify the credit points (CP) for each module or course as well as the workload in time hours for the entire study programme. The Master's thesis is intended to demonstrate that students are able to independently work on and present a research problem using scientific methods. Upon successful completion of the study programme, the university degree Master of Science (MSc) is awarded. Modules:  (1) Cognitive Neuroscience: Perception, Attention, Action, and Cognitive Control (10 CP) (2) Cognitive Neuroscience: Memory, Emotion, Language, and Consciousness (10 CP) (3) Cognitive Neuroscience: Research Practice (10 CP) (4) Neurocognitive Methods and Data Analysis (10 CP) (5) Probabilistic and Statistical Modelling (10 CP) (6) Introduction to Programming (5 CP) (7) Neurocognitive Methods Practical (5 CP) (8) Research Workshop (5 CP) (9) Research Experiences (10 CP) + Elective module (15 CP) + Master's thesis and oral examination (30 CP)