Cognitive Science Technical University of Darmstadt

The central tenet of cognitive science is that the human mind is essentially an information processing system. In order to understand human perception, thinking, decision making, and action cognitive scientists try to understand the various ways that minds process information to produce intelligent behaviour. In order to build models of human cognition, they carefully describe human behaviour using methods from experimental psychology, but they also use tools from computer science to formally describe the underlying information processing. As cognitive science and artificial intelligence share the common goal to understand the information processing that underlies intelligence, these two disciplines form the core of the cognitive science curriculum at TU Darmstadt. They are supplemented by introductory courses to neuroscience, linguistics, and philosophy.

The Cognitive Science Programme is organised by the Department of Human Sciences in close cooperation with several other departments, especially Computer Science, to cover the full interdisciplinary spectrum of cognitive science.

The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programmes have been developed by an interdisciplinary team including members of the Centre for Cognitive Science, and the coursework has been coordinated with the German Society for Cognitive Science. The faculty are distributed across several departments, with core contributions from psychology and computer science. A strong emphasis is put on computational aspects in understanding the human mind and intelligent systems in general.

Core Cognitive Science courses:
Advanced Module I: Perception and Action (9 CP)
Advanced Module II: Higher Cognition (9 CP)
Advanced Module III: Applied Cognitive Science (9 CP)
Cognitive Science Master Project (18 CP)

Elective subject area: Cognitive Science (21 CP)

Elective subject area: Computer Science (18 CP)

Interdisciplinary elective area: (6 CP)

Master's thesis (30 CP)

For details, please check our website.

Bachelor of Science degree in cognitive science or an equivalent degree and the submission of an official certificate of academic achievement with at least 110 CP.

Admission requires competencies of at least 80 CP of the reference undergraduate programme (BSc Cognitive Science at Technical University of Darmstadt) in the areas of basic computer science (at least 30 CP), foundations of cognitive science (psychology, movement science, cognitive science, neuroscience, or related disciplines) (at least 30 CP), and advanced courses in cognitive science: linguistics, philosophy, sports science, psychology (at least 20 CP).

See our website.

Semester fee

Costs and budgeting

Jobs and part-time work

TU Darmstadt's International Affairs Department assists international students in their search for accommodation through its Housing Assistance Office. A major science hub, Darmstadt is home to multiple research institutions, three universities, and many high-technology companies, all of which attract people from around the world. A wide variety of accommodations that vary in size, furnishing, and rent are available in Darmstadt and its vicinity. As the university does not own or manage student housing, we support students in finding housing in private and public student dormitories or on the private market. In order to improve your chances in finding the optimal place to live, we recommend that you start your search early. We are happy to assist you in this process. Please make sure to register online on the housing assistance website for international students.

Our services include the distribution of an “Accommodation Guide” that includes links to private and public student dormitories, hotels and youth hostels, and a “Housing Guide” that provides tips on how to search for accommodation in Darmstadt.