M.Sc. Neuro-Cognitive Psychology

Application period via the GSN Tool: Noon (CET) of December 1st, 2024 – Noon (CET) of Feburary 17th, 2025

Deadline for submission of application: 12:00 Noon (CET) of Feburary 17th, 2025

Deadline for submission of recommendation letters: 12:00 Noon (CET) of Feburary 24th, 2025

Communication of decisions about refusal or invitation to the interview phase: approx. 1 week before the interview phase

Interview Phase: TBA

Communication of decisions about refusal or acceptance to the GSN program: by end of May 2025

Start of NCP program: October, 2025

The Neuro-cognitive Psychology program

• is an English-language study program for a selected group of outstanding students
• is taught by leading scientists in their fields, with various teaching contributions from LMU (home institution) and a number of national and international (European) partner institutions
• has a major focus on attentional and executive control of vision and action
• integrates state-of-the-art theoretical and methodological approaches of Experimental Psychology and the larger field of Cognitive Neurosciences (Neurobiology, Neurophilosophy, Neuropsychology, Neuropsychiatry)
• is research-oriented, providing advanced training in basic-science Neuro-Cognitive Psychology as well as in applied, clinical and technological research areas
• consists of intensive, small-group and student-oriented teaching
• provides individual supervision and advising through a personal mentor system
• awards successful students with an international competitive Master’s degree, qualifying for an academic career but also for professional work in applied health and industrial settings
• is an integral part of the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences LMU Munich (GSN-LMU), preparing students for a career in research (Ph.D. program)

Teaching Network

The NCP program is conceived as an interdisciplinary study program, with main course offerings from the brain research-oriented sub-disciplines of Psychology (general and experimental, biological, neuro-, and developmental psychology) as well as contributions from LMU’s Departments of Neurobiology, Neurophilosophy, and Medicine (neuroanatomy and -physiology, neuropsychiatry) including also the Psychiatry Department of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). In addition, leading international researchers from European universities will also take an active cooperative role within the program such as providing places for laboratory internships outside of Germany.

Ph.D. in Systemic Neurosciences

NCP is part of the "Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences" and is conceived as a research-oriented Master program, with the opportunity for further graduate (Ph.D.) studies, leading to the award of a "Ph.D. in Systemic Neurosciences". Although admission to the Graduate School is dependent on a competitive selection process, especially qualified graduates of the NCP program will have a competitive advantage in this process (the NCP program offers a privileged access route to the school).

NCP Program Eligibility

Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree, or equivalent, in psychology, biology, medicine, or a closely related subject area. Also eligible to apply are students in the final year of their Bachelor, or equivalent, degree courses, provided that the degree will be conferred prior to the enrolment date within the Neuro-Cognitive Psychology program in the winter semester (October).

German applicants who do not hold a Bachelor degree must have successfully completed the "Vordiplom" or "Physikum" examinations in one of the subjects specified above, and have completed two semesters of advanced-level courses ("Hauptstudium") by the date of enrolment in the Neuro-Cognitive Psychology program.

Language Requirements

A proof of English proficiency of at least B2 level is necessary according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). No such proof is required if the degree qualifying for NCP was fully taught in English, if the university entrance qualifications were fully taught in English, or if the degree-holder’s native tongue is English.

The following Wikipedia page provides an example of a correspondence table between the levels of the CEFR and different certificates, such as iTEP, TOEFL, IELTS:

There might be further certificates, which are not listed. In individual cases, where a proof of language proficiency does not correspond to a level of the CEFR, this proof will be evaluated by the NCP Admissions Committee. Only certificates or other proofs of English proficiency submitted via the application tool can be accepted.

Complete Online Application Form

The application platform will be open from December 1st to February 15th (12 o’clock noon CET). You may save changes to your application before submitting and you will need to have the following documents prepared for upload:

• CV (max. 2 pages)
• Official Transcripts / Records of Study
• Diplomas
• Letter of Motivation (max. 500 words)
• Proof of English Proficiency

Two Separate Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation need to be submitted by the referee himself. On the online application form, you will have to fill in the referee contact tabs and follow the instructions to authorize the coordination office to invite the referee to submit his/her letter of recommendation electronically, on your behalf.
Your referees will need to fill in an evaluation form as well as a recommendation letter.

Please be aware that your application can only be processed after we have received both letters of recommendation. Therefore, please make sure that your referees have enough time to submit recommendations by the deadline (12:00 (noon) CET on February 22nd).

Academic Fees

The Neuro-Cognitive Psychology Program is tuition fee free. Nevertheless, students have to pay 85 Euro per semester for administrative purposes.

Living Expenses

Living costs (including accommodation in a student dormitory and health insurance) in Munich range from Euro 800 to 1000 per month for a single person.

Housing

Single rooms for students under 30 years of age are available in student dormitories administered by the Studierendenwerk of Munich, with monthly rents starting at approximately Euro 140 and ranging up to Euro 300. Private housing is usually more expensive, but offers a wider range of options (e.g. flat-sharing). For detailed English-language information regarding both on- and off-campus housing possibilities in Munich, see the English Studentenwerk Website.

Health Insurance

German health insurance is obligatory for all students who are not citizens of the European Union. Special public health insurance is available to all students under 30 years of age at low rates. This insurance covers the costs of normal medical treatment (including dental care) in Germany. The monthly payment is currently Euro 82.99. For more detailed information including a health insurance application form, see the English-language webpage of the Techniker Krankenkasse.

Scholarships/Financial Aid

Students are advised to apply for financial support and/or scholarships through the appropriate grant-giving institutions, such as their home country governments, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), companies, etc.. Please note that the DAAD has a closing date for receipt of applications until October 15th of each year.

We are unable to provide you with program-funded scholarships. However, there are also opportunities to top up your income by working as a student laboratory or research assistant (Studentische Hilfskraft) on our research council-funded research projects. This opportunity is open to all students, though some restrictions apply to students from non EU-countries (who are limited to a total of 180 days of work per year).

Steps After Receiving a „Letter of Acceptance“:

1. Confirm with the coordinator that you will take the spot.

2. Find out whether you have to enroll via the Studentenkanzlei (German citizensor students who have completed a degree in Germany) or via the International Office (all other students).

3. If you enroll via the Studentenkanzlei, follow the procedure described here.

4. If you enroll via the Interantional Office, you will receive a „Letter of Admission“ from the IO with further instructions

Things to Do After Enrollment and Before the Beginning of Term:

1. Initial Registration with your LMU User ID

2. Log-In to your Mailbox with the LMU User ID

3. Class Registration via LSF (more information will be provided by the coordination)

4. Activate Confluence in your LMU user account.

5. Attend our Welcome-Lecture the week before the start of term

(Curriculum for Students Starting in Fall 2025, Subject to Change, Pending Evaluation of the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs)

The study program is conceived as a two-year Master-of-Science program, held in the English language and compatible with the criteria of the ECTS system. It has a major focus on attentional and executive control of vision and action. One central feature of the M.Sc. in “Neuro-Cognitive Psychology” is its research-oriented education. Teaching aims to make students familiar with theories and empirical approaches from various academic disciplines: Psychology (e.g., Neurocognitive P., Neuro P., Computational P., Developmental P.), Medicine (Psychiatry), Neurobiology, and Philosophy.

First Year of Study (Semesters I and II)

In the first two semesters, students who have received their degrees in various fields such as Psychology, Biology, Medicine or Computer Science will be provided with a homogeneous base of knowledge at the level of current basic research within the area of Neuro-Cognitive Psychology.

All courses during the first and second semesters are obligatory. The goal of the lectures and accompanying tutorials is to provide a deeper understanding of each topic area through the discussion of exemplary questions, and to transfer this obtained knowledge to new problem areas. These courses will be supplemented by innovative methods courses (e.g., behavioral, EEG, fMRI methods), through which students gain methodological and technical competencies. These abilities will, in return, enable students to apply acquired procedures in two research projects, which also aim at delivering training about how to conduct Open-Science research.

Second Year of Study (Semesters III and IV)

While during the first year of study all courses are obligatory, the third semester provides a wide range of possibilities for academic specialization. These include the electives WP1-4, i.e. research in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology (WP 1), Biological Psychology (WP 2), Neuropsychology (WP 3) and Computational Psychology (WP 4). Within the electives WP 1 and WP 2, and respectively WP 3 and WP 4, students may choose one area of specialty. A primary goal of the seminars is to provide students with a path of specialization toward a specific field within which the hypothesis can be formulated for the Master Thesis required in the fourth semester. The seminars are supported by advanced (e.g., brain stimulation) methods courses as well as opportunities for acquiring ‘soft skills’ in the context of scientific research (e.g., Debating Club Seminars).

Research Excellence

LMU München is one of the few German universities with a comprehensive academic profile. Attesting to the excellence of its research, LMU has been one of the most successful German universities in the Excellence Initiative of the German Research Council (DFG) right from the initiative’s start in 2006. LMU has fostered outstanding conditions for top-level research, the promotion of the next generation of academics (ensuring equal opportunities), and the advancement of interdisciplinary and international collaborations. Currently, LMU Munich ranks 38th in the THE 2024 World University Ranking; it is the top university in Germany and ranks 11th in Europe.

In line with the inherently interdisciplinary nature of cognitive-neuroscience research, Munich is uniquely placed to bring together the critical mass required for larger-scale multidisciplinary research initiatives, in our case: a research-oriented master program. The M.Sc. in „Neuro-Cognitive Psychology“ greatly benefits from being embedded within the wider Munich neuroscience network, offering cutting-edge techniques, such as a recently established research-dedicated 3T MRT laboratory (jointly organized by the Department of Psychology, with the Institute of Psychiatry, and the Munich Center for NeuroSciences – Brain & Mind). One particularly relevant hub in this context is the Munich Center for NeuroSciences – Brain & Mind of LMU Munich (MCNLMU). The MCNLMU provides a forum for the broader neurosciences in the Munich area (most NCP lecturers are members; T. Geyer is a board member), organizing a high-level neuroscience colloquium series and, importantly, running the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSNLMU), the first (Excellence- funded) graduate school at LMU Munich.

Given these established structures, NCP can draw on a broad network of internationally competitive research units, from both LMU and TU München, linked within common DFG funded research initiatives (such as the Psychology-led research group „Active Perception“), with specific research foci, areas of expertise, and state-of-the-art technical facilities, psychophysics, eye-tracking, motion-tracking, animal research, EEG, TMS, tACS, and fMRI, as well as virtual environments.

NCP Research Project

To acquire hands-on research experience our NCP students are required to carry out one supervised research project on their own during the course of their study program and prior to writing the Master thesis. This project consists of a supervised experimental study which is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gather methodoligical experience in the field of Neuro-Cognitive Psychology while working on an original research question. The results are then documented by a project report in the format of a scientific publication. The research project is supposed to to be completed during the summer semester break.