Charité Medical Faculty; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience; Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig
English (100%)
31 May every year for the following winter semester (begins 1 October).
Applications can be submitted only once a year: 2 to 31 May.
Mind and Brain is an interdisciplinary cognitive neuroscience programme that addresses the intersection between cognitive and clinical neuroscience, cognition research, psychology, computer science and philosophy. Our primary focus is on research questions that benefit considerably from comparing the viewpoints and approaches of different theoretical and empirical fields.
Mind and Brain has two study tracks. The Brain Track is targeted towards students with an empirical background in neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science or medicine who are interested in complementing their empirical work with more theoretical and philosophical approaches in order to provide a more enriched understanding of the human mind. The Mind Track is for students with a theoretical or philosophical background who would like to complement their approaches with an understanding of empirical research on the link between mind and brain. This will help clarify how empirical research can augment their theoretical approaches and also allow them to judge the robustness and validity of empirical research. Students from the Brain Track and the Mind Track will take many classes together.
This interdisciplinary training will provide students from both tracks with deeper insights into several important topics that lie at the heart of cognitive neuroscience: this includes the body-mind-problem, consciousness, emotions, decision making, intelligence and free will.
As a research-oriented Master’s programme Mind and Brain prepares students for a career both in research and academia and also in application fields such as data science. Please note that neither of the two Mind and Brain tracks is a classical psychology programme. Clinical neuroscience is only a small part of the curriculum and the programme does not prepare students who aim to work in psychotherapy.
Course Details
The core of the Mind and Brain Master's programme is made up of nine core modules (neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, cognitive neuroscience, research methods, empirical research training, ethics, philosophy of mind, language and the brain, clinical neuroscience, and neuroimaging) that are taken in the first and second semesters. Each module consists of a lecture and a more in-depth seminar. Students have to select seven out of these nine core modules.
The focus themes (module 10) and the research consolidations (modules 11 and 12) follow the core courses and further build on them. Every semester, the Master’s programme offers a selection of elective courses / seminars from which students can choose classes for these modules according to their own interest.
The voluntary semester abroad is to be taken in the third semester. The courses taken during this semester are devised and agreed upon together with the international partners involved.
First Semester Modules
Second Semester Modules
Third Semester Modules (The third semester may be spent abroad.)
Fourth Semester
Lab rotations (Brain Track only):
Brain Track students spend 2 x 300 hours in neuroscience research labs.
Approx. 290 EUR administrative fee per semester (includes public transport ticket)
Generally, Berlin is not a particularly expensive city. However, Berlin is still very popular. Thus, prices are rising and housing has become much more costly and hard to come by over the past few years. Master’s students should calculate at least 1,000 EUR per month for housing, subsistence, the university's administrative fees (payable once a semester, they include public transport; see above), and insurances.
There are distinct application requirements for the two study tracks, the Mind Track and the Brain Track.
MIND TRACK:
Please note, applicants with a background only in psychology, neuroscience, medicine, theoretical linguistics, or biology cannot apply for the Mind Track.
Please s. section I (a) for details: https://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/admission
There are three options for Mind Track applicants to improve their GPA for admission:
Applicants can improve their GPA by 20% when having studied either classes worth 10 ECTS (5 American credits) in Philosophy of Mind or 5 ECTS (2.5 American credits) Philosophy of Mind and 5 ECTS (2.5 American credits) recent Philosophy of Knowledge or Philosophy of Science.
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10% when they have published a first author paper in an international peer-reviewed journal in the fields of philosophy or neuroscience.
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10% when they have work experience or on the job training either in academic management or science journalism in the fields of philosophy or neuroscience.
Please the s. Grade Improvement page for details: https://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/grade-improvement
BRAIN TRACK:
Applicants with a background only in philosophy cannot apply for the Brain Track.
All Brain Track applicants have to provide proof of basic knowledge in statistics.
Please s. section I (a) for details: https://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/admission
There are two options for Brain Track applicants to improve their GPA for admission:
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10% when they have published a first author paper in an international peer-reviewed journal in the fields of psychology or neuroscience.
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10% when they have work experience or on the job training in a neuro-cognitive or psychological research lab of at least 900 hours.
Please the s. Grade Improvement page for details: https://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/grade-improvement
Admission requirements may be subject to change! Therefore, the following websites should be read carefully before applying:
http://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/admission/.
Proficiency in English (C 1 level)
The Mind and Brain Master’s programme is conducted entirely in English. Proficiency in English must be proven with a recognised language certificate. (Please read FAQs on website.)
The dated certificate must state the testing facility and achieved level as well as the date of the last exam.
Further certificates are listed here: http://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/admission/
Proficiency in German is not required.
31 May every year for the following winter semester (begins 1 October).
Applications can be submitted only once a year: 2 to 31 May.
International applicants apply online via uni-assist:
https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/apply-online/
Required documents and further information:
http://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/admission/
Although it is a demanding Master's programme, it is possible to work one day each week.
Berlin has a large market of apartments for rent. Apartments, or single rooms in shared accommodation, have recently become much more expensive and difficult to find. Prices for a room in a shared flat or for a one-room studio range from 500 to 750 EUR, depending on the district in Berlin and the amenities provided.
StudierendenWerk Berlin offers single rooms or apartments for students in dormitories. These apartments are very sought-after.
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is one of Germany's Universities of Excellence. In an international comparison, Humboldt-Universität ranks among the top ten German universities. Scientists at Humboldt-Universität research socially relevant topics and challenges of the future and communicate these with the public. Humboldt-Universität invests all of its energy into being a place of excellent research and teaching. Its aim is to promote young talent and to positively influence society and the economy outside of the university framework.
Every year, around 6,000 young people decide to embark on their studies at Humboldt-Universität in the heart of Berlin. There is hardly any other place where students can choose from the same variety of degree courses. Among these degree courses are several international Master's programmes featuring lectures and seminars held in English.
As a first-rate university, international exchange for both research and study programmes is a matter of course. Humboldt-Universität boasts academic partnerships with more than 400 Erasmus partners in Europe and with over 150 university partners worldwide. Every year, about 800 academics from abroad spend time at Berlin's oldest university. Additionally, researchers from Humboldt-Universität are welcomed at various international universities, where they conduct projects or field studies and teach as guest lecturers. Humboldt-Universität helps students prepare to study abroad, providing consultation to international students and academics regarding all questions relating to their stay in Berlin. Through the creation of international networks, Humboldt-Universität plays an active role in furthering intercultural research and teaching.
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