Live Webinar 
08 June 2026, 04:00 AM (Europe/Berlin)
Mind and Brain - Mind Τraсk
(Starting: Winter Semester)
- Starting
- Winter Semester
- Mode of Admission:
- local admission restriction (local NC)
- Application:
- directly at university
- Study Mode:
- On campus
Course Description
“Mind and Brain” is an interdisciplinary cognitive neuroscience program 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 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. The Brain Track and Mind Track students 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: Including the body-mind-problem, consciousness, emotions, decision-making, intelligence, and free will.
As a research-oriented master’s program “Mind and Brain” prepares students both for a career in research/academia and in application fields such as data science. Please note that neither of the two “Mind and Brain” tracks is a classical psychology program. Clinical neuroscience is only a small part of the curriculum and the program does not prepare students who aim to work in psychotherapy.
Requirements
Qualification Requirements
Bachelor's degree.
Required ECTS credits: 180.
It is required to have at least:
- 60 ECTS/30 American credits in either philosophy or cognitive science.
Please note: Students with a background in psychology, neuroscience, medicine, or theoretical linguistics cannot apply for the Mind Traсk.
Although there is no minimum passing grade (numerus clausus) for an application, previous application rounds have shown that successful applicants for the Mind Track needed at least a GPA of 1.4 (German grade) or better. Equivalent grades of 1.4 in other grading systems are First class (British grading system) or 3.7 (American or any other grading system with 4.0 as best and 2.0 as lowest passing grade).
The cut-offs for a successful application vary slightly from year to year. But for applicants with a GPA of less than 1.6 (German grade), the chances of getting accepted are close to zero. Equivalent grades to 1.6 in other grading systems are First class (British grading system) or 3.6 (American or any other grading system with 4.0 as best and 2.0 as lowest passing grade).
Mind Track applicants can improve their GPA by providing additional documents:
- Grade improvement I:
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) in Philosophy of Mind and 5 ECTS (2,5 American credits) recent Philosophy of Knowledge or Philosophy of Science. - Grade Improvement II:
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10 % when they publish a first-author paper in an international peer-reviewed journal in the fields of philosophy or neuroscience. - Grade improvement III:
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 neuroscienсе.
Language Requirements
The following certificates are recognized as proof of your language proficiency.
EnglishSpecification: 1.3
Specification: 3.0
Specification: At least A.
Application & Admission
Application Deadlines
German Students 
Other EU Students 
Non-EU Students Non-EU StudentsApplication Procedure & Selection
Application Documents
Foreign applicants, i.e. applicants holding a bachelor's degree from a university outside of Germany, must upload the documents listed under (2)–(8) as PDF files to the Uni-Assist application portal.
Please note: International applicants with a German bachelor's degree apply via the online application portal of Humboldt-Universität.
- Application form, to be filled out online in the application portal of Uni-Assist.
- Please upload the following documents as PDF files* in the Uni-Assist application portal:
- University entrance examination documentation (if applicable),
- Evidence of study areas and grades obtained in previous studies (i.e. Transcript of Records),
- Graduation certificate,
- Self-assessment forms regarding specific knowledge (mandatory for Brain Track applicants regarding statistics knowledge, voluntary for Mind Track and Brain Track applicants regarding grade improvement),
- Secondary school-leaving certificate: The secondary school-leaving certificate is a requirement for applicants from European Union (EU) countries only. Applicants from countries outside of the EU do not have to turn in a secondary school leaving certificate.
- Enrollment certificate (if at the time of application, you are a student at a German or European higher education institution) or proof of withdrawal from the register specifying the areas of study (if you have studied at a German or European higher education institution).
- Proof of proficiency in German: Applicants do not have to provide proof of proficiency in German.
- Proof of proficiency in English (see language requirements). The following don’t have to submit one of the aforementioned English certificates:
- Native speakers,
- Applicants with a school-leaving qualification from an English-language secondary school,
- Applicants who have completed assignments totaling at least 20 ECTS credits in an English-language university program; This fact – English-language program – must be made clear in the transcript, otherwise, an informal but official letter from the university is required, in which it is stated that the relevant subjects were taught in English,
- Applicants who attained a minimum of 13 points (Grundkurs) or 11 points (Leistungskurs) in English courses in each of the last four terms of the German Abitur,
- Applicants who can demonstrate they completed their entire university education, or a large part thereof, in English. This fact must be made clear in the transcript; otherwise, an informal but official letter from the university is required, in which it is stated that the relevant subjects were taught in English.
- Complete CV in table form with signature.
There are no specific requirements regarding the table form. Any table format is acceptable.
The CV has to provide information about the applicant's secondary school and university education (names of institutions and dates). - A current passport-sized photograph.
- A scan of your passport.
*The PDF files that applicants upload have to be scans of the official documents (certificates, transcripts), with seals and signatures, or documents that can be verified digitally.
Unofficial documents, which students may be able to download from their student online accounts, are not valid.
Please note: If the original certificates were not drawn up in German or English, applicants must provide:
- Officially certified translations into English or German of applicants' certificates.
- The certificates are in the original language.
If the language of instruction in your program was neither English nor German the transcript in the original language is required - even if your university provides you with an additional English-language transcript.
Applicants must check if there is country-specific information on their home country available on the Uni-Assist websitе.
Location
