Cognitive Science (MSc) Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Cognitive science is a dynamic, interdisciplinary area of research. The driving questions within cognitive science focus on the theoretical understanding and empirical investigation of cognitive phenomena, e.g.:

• What are the basic mechanisms of learning, forgetting, and remembering?
• What are the principles of action guidance in humans, and how do we understand the actions of others?
• What is the role of emotions in cognitive processing?
• What are the neural processes underlying object recognition?
• What does it mean to possess concepts and to be rational?
• How did the cognitive capacities of humans and animals evolve?

The two-year Master's programme in Cognitive Science at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) offers a unique opportunity to enter into the fascinating field of cognitive science. It combines systematic and empirical approaches from philosophy, psychology, neural computation, psychiatry and the neurosciences. Students will be trained to use and combine different methodological approaches in order to gain new insights into key problems in the field of cognitive science and generate interdisciplinary solutions to solve them.

Key topics of research in the Master's programme in Cognitive Science at RUB are:

• social cognition
• learning and memory
• perception and action
• language, logic and categories

Key methods of research in the Master's programme in Cognitive Science at RUB include:

• philosophical theory formation
• behavioural and neuroimaging studies
• statistical analysis/experimental psychology lab
• basic and advanced logic
• computational modelling

The programme is formally hosted by the Faculty of Psychology, but relies on strong interaction between several departments. Therefore, we can offer interdisciplinary classes as well as hands-on research experience in philosophy, psychology, neural computation, psychiatry and the neurosciences.

The two-year Master's programme in Cognitive Science at RUB is organised in six different module types.

First semester
Introduction:

• Introduction to Cognitive Science
• Soft Skills Module

Basic methods (two or three methods modules must be taken, depending on the students’ academic background):

• Introduction to Philosophical Method
• Introduction to Programming
• Introduction to Statistics

When two basic methods modules are sufficient, one additional module is taken in Free Choice.

Second semester
Core:

• Core Module Mind & Language
• Core Module Brain & Behaviour
• Core Module Computation & Artificial Intelligence

Free Choice

Third semester
Focus (two out of three modules are selected):

• Focus Module Mind & Language
• Focus Module Brain & Behaviour
• Focus Module Computation & Artificial Intelligence

Research:

• Research Module

Free Choice

Fourth semester
Master's thesis

A mandatory practical course is included in the Master's Cognitive Science programme. This can be done in a research group of the RUB, in research departments of other institutions in Germany or abroad, or at a suitable company.

The minimal condition for application is a Bachelor’s degree from a university inside the EU with at least 180 ECTS or an equivalent degree from outside the EU. The following subjects are considered relevant for the programme:

1. Cognitive science
2. Psychology
3. Philosophy with a strong focus on analytic philosophy, especially philosophy of mind, epistemology or philosophy of science (at least 15 ECTS)
4. Neuroscience
5. Computer science
6. Linguistics
7. Mathematics
8. Biology with a focus on neurobiology or bioinformatics (at least 20 ECTS)

Subjects that are not included in the list are considered relevant if they have a clear focus on cognitive science (e.g. neurobiology or neuroinformatics) or if they include courses amounting to 60 ECTS that are clearly related to cognitive sciences in terms of content.

If the Bachelor's programme consists of two (or more) subjects, one of the relevant subjects listed above must have been completed to the extent of at least 60 ECTS. Additionally, a minimum of 15 ECTS in a second subject from the list must be completed.

Please note that for a successful application, the form "Overview of the fulfilment of academic admission requirements" must be completed correctly and uploaded to the application portal during the application period.

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 380 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in Germany (https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/re-registration-and-social-contribution).

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses in Germany

Students with outstanding academic performance who are involved in special social activities can receive 300 EUR per month for a year from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund “Deutschlandstipendium”: https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/deutschlandstipendium-information-students.

International students with good to very good academic performance who need financial support during the final phase of study can receive a graduation grant of 400 EUR per month for six months from the International Office at RUB: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/scholarship-international-students.

The Career Service for International Students offers:

• Events & workshops: From networking events to online seminars – learn the best tips from career experts and meet start-ups from the region.
• Digital Career Guide: The Moodle course “Career Service for International Students” prepares you for starting a job in Germany.
• FIT4Job – Mentoring for Internationals: RUB alumni share their professional expertise and good practices 1:1 with you.
• Counselling services: Identify your talents and career goals in a personal counselling session. Our RUB Career Service team provides support in preparing application documents and interviews.

Moreover, the administration of the MSc programme Cognitive Science organises alumni talks and offers personal consulting.

In the city of Bochum, you can find different types of accommodation. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 400 to 800 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is usually less expensive.

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in multiple student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, each student has a single room and shares a kitchen and bathroom with other students, rents an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or shares an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.

In addition, private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/.