						
							Cognitive Neuroscience is the science of the cognitive and neural foundations of mental functions such as perception, action, language, memory, attention and emotion.


					
open_in_newstudy website

locatieNijmegen
diplomaMSc 
typeonderzoek, 120 EC
start1 september
taalvolledig English
opleidingsduur2 jaar voltijd
accreditatiesNVAO
croho-code60506
numerus fixusnee
honoursnee
The Master of Science programme Cognitive Neuroscience (MSc CNS programme) is an interdisciplinary research Master’s programme of the Radboud University and the Radboud UMC.

The research Master’s programme offers four specialisations that coincide with the research themes of the Donders Institute: (1) language and communication, (2) perception, action and decision-making, (3) development and life-long plasticity, and (4) natural computing and neurotechnology.

The programme is an excellent opportunity for students who want to prepare themselves for a career as a researcher. Next to coursework, the programme offers the student many opportunities for hands-on research experience. The MSc CNS programme is internationally oriented. All courses are in English.


					

Master Cognitive Neuroscience (Donders graduate school)

Waarom aan de Radboud University Nijmegen?

Keuzegids topopleiding
2016

Nijmegen is one of the foremost centres of cognitive neuroscience in the world. Hundreds of scientists from various faculties and top institutes have joined forces on the Radboud University campus. Besides the Donders Institute there is the Radboud University Medical Centre and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. Their researchers work together very closely, exchange expertise and share state-of-the-art research equipment to unravel the workings of the human brain.

This Master’s programme is located within the world-renowned Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, located on the campus of the Radboud University, with a research staff of over 900 scientists.
Nijmegen is one of the foremost centres of cognitive neuroscience in the world. Hundreds of scientists from various faculties and top institutes have joined forces on the Radboud University campus. Besides the Donders Institute there is the Radboud university medical centre and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.
This competitive programme provides a sound balance of theory and practice. Our selective approach guarantees excellence, especially during the research training period.
The Radboud University campus holds a large array of state-of-the-art equipment, like labs with fMRI, MEG, EEG and eye-tracking equipment. Master’s students are free to use these, enabling you to do any type of research in this field you’d want to.
The programme has its own, student-driven, scientific journal; based on the Stanford Exchange: Proceeding of the Master’s Programme Cognitive Neuroscience.

Studieprogramma

opbouw
1e jaar
2e jaar

opbouw

The MSc CNS programme amounts to 120 ECs (European Credits). In the first year, 60 ECs are devoted to general compulsory courses, track courses, a programme elective, and skill training. In the second year, the hands-on research project amounts to 45 ECs, with an additional 15 ECs reserved for elective courses plus any remaining coursework.

Four general core courses are compulsory for all students, regardless of track. In addition, each student chooses an advanced methods course that focuses on haemodynamic methods, electrophysiological methods or molecular and cellular neuroscience. Next, 18ECs of track core courses are compulsory for each student, complemented by a programme elective. As programme elective one may choose any track course. For skill training, each student has to choose 12EC of a pre-defined set of skill training courses, or, with permission from the Examination Board, a skill training outside the programme may be chosen. Finally, 5EC are devoted to Personal and Professional Development. Here, you may choose to get coaching, to focus on the next step in your career, take on lab rotations, and/or take part in summer schools, workshops etc. The second year is mostly dedicated to gaining hands-on research experience in one of the participating research institutes and research groups. To complete the theoretical training, 15EC of coursework should be chosen. The second year will be completed by a Master Thesis and submission of the thesis to the student journal of the MSc Cognitive Neuroscience.

1e jaar The first year comprises general obligatory courses (e.g., Trends in Cognitive Science, Neuroimaging 1, Neurophilosophy and Lab Rotations), a skill training course, and track specific core courses.

	1	3	4
	periode
Neuroimaging I	6 EC
Trends in Cognitive Neuroscience	6 EC
Lab rotations	3 EC
Specialisation courses	30 EC
Neuroanatomy keuzevak	3 EC
Mathematics for Neuroimaging keuzevak	3 EC
Mathematical Programming using Matlab keuzevak	3 EC
Basic Mathematics for Cognitive Neuroscience keuzevak	3 EC
Neuroimaging II: Electrophysiological Methods (or Haemodynamic Methods)		6 EC
Neurophilosophy		6 EC
Neuroimaging II: Haemodynamic Methods (or Electrophysiolog0y Methods)		6 EC
Academic Writing keuzevak		3 EC
Practical ERP training keuzevak			3 EC

2e jaar The second year comprises the internship, including writing of the thesis, as well as a skill training course and two elective courses.

	1	3
	periode
Neuroanatomy	3 EC
Practical Training and Thesis afstuderen	45 EC
Elective courses	12 EC
Mathematics for Neuroimaging keuzevak	3 EC
Basic Mathematics for Cognitive Neuroscience keuzevak	3 EC
Mathematical Programming using Matlab keuzevak	3 EC
Practical ERP training keuzevak	3 EC
Academic Writing keuzevak		3 EC

specialisatie Language and Communication

Studying the acquisition, understanding and production of language.

A mature language user has a vocabulary of about thirty to forty thousand words. Speech is produced at a speed of three to five words per second. How is it possible that, in such an amazingly short period of time, you can select the correct words, put them in the correct order and grammatical form, and pronounce them intelligibly? The acquisition and comprehension of language are based on extremely complex cognitive processes which are not yet entirely understood. It's these processes, and their biological underpinnings, that form psycholinguistics' field of study and are the basis of this specialisation.

specialisatie Perception, Action and Decision-making

The Master's specialisation in Perception, Action and Decision-making studies the basic sensorimotor aspects of perception-action coupling as well as the cognitive contextual and social components.

In the Perception, Action and Decision-making specialisation you'll gain ample experience in current research and analysis techniques in perception, three-dimensional motor research, psychophysiological studies, neuroimaging and electromyographical studies. You'll also be able to apply formal theories on and models of perceptive functions, sensorimotor functions, and complex actions in your research.

specialisatie Development and Lifelong Plasticity

The Master's specialisation in Development and Lifelong Plasticity studies the mechanistic underpinnings and behavioural consequences of long-term changes in neural structure and function.

Memory is at the very heart of our personality: the countless snapshots of our daily experiences have a pervasive and enduring influence on the self. But how are these memories organised in the brain and how are they given value and meaning? The specialisation in Development and Lifelong Plasticity looks at the development and decay of the healthy and the maladaptive brain. The goal is to understand various types of neuroplastic changes in the brain, specifically in patients with for example Alzheimer's disease, stress-related disorders, chronic pain, autism, intellectual disabilities, and ADHD.

You'll study diverse brain functions by measuring and manipulating cognitive, emotional, hormonal and neural mechanisms, as well as by (epi)genetic fingerprinting and developing cell and animal disease models. You'll learn to do research towards patient care that individualises the diagnostic approach and therapeutic and care interventions. Aim is to obtain an optimal fit with patient characteristics and individual preference.

specialisatie Natural Computing and Neurotechnology

The specialisation in Natural Computing and Neurotechnology studies the interaction between and within groups of neurons, and how they affect our interactions with the outside world.

In the Natural Computing and Neurotechnology specialisation you'll have ample knowledge of the anatomical and neurophysiological aspects of networks in the human brain and the techniques for the computational analysis and modelling of brain networks. This will enable you to conduct independent research into the neurofunctional architecture of cognitive key functions, such as perception, attention, memory, language, planning and targeted actions and develop technologies to measure, characterise and model networks at the whole brain level and/or the local cortical circuit.

Onderwijs

taal van onderwijs	100% en
avondonderwijs	n.v.t.
afstandsonderwijs	n.v.t.

onderwijsvormen

colloquium, computer exercise, group discussion, individual assignment, internship, lecture, research, research project, research proposal, practicum, self study, seminar, thesis, tutorial, working group

objectives

The aims of the programme are to offer an interfaculty programme to motivated and talented Bachelor students to become future researchers in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) in general and for the specialisations of Language & Communication; Perception, Action & Decision-making; Development and Lifelong Plasticity; and Natural computing and Neurotechnology specifically. In addition, the programme aims to attract a broad, diverse and qualitatively high incoming stream of students with BS

Toelating en kosten

toelaatbare profielen

WO bachelor	toelaatbaar

toelatingseisen

vooropleiding
BSc degree in Linguistics, Physics, Biology, Medicine, Mathematics, Behavioural Sciences (e.g. Psychology), Artificial Intelligence or a related discipline.

cijferlijst

resumee

toelatingsgesprek
Eligible candidates may be invited for an interview, person-to-person or online.

reference letter
Two letters of recommendation are required.

motivatiebrief
A letter of motivation is required, as well as a recent CV and a list of all Bachelor courses and the results obtained.

inbegrepen in collegegeld

registration fee

examination

Na de studie

This Master's programme will give you the qualifications you need to attain a PhD position. About 80 percent of our graduates take on a PhD project in Nijmegen or in other parts of the world. Other graduates find jobs in the commercial sector or at research institutes. Each year there are, on average, about 12 PhD positions available at the graduate schools Donders Graduate School for Cognitive Neuroscience (DGCN) and the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS).

Beroepsperspectief / arbeidsmarkt

Potentiële beroepen

commercial sector

phd researcher

research institutes

societal researcher

bron: StudieData

Contact

Simon Jan Hazenberg

Programme coordinator

E: simonjan.hazenberg@donders.ru.nl
W: Simon Jan Hazenberg

Meer informatie?
Bezoek de website van deze opleiding.

Deze opleiding