Applications / Admission 2024
Application period 2024: 1 – 31 May 2024
Program start: 1 October 2024
I. Requirements for Admission
Eligibility requirements for admission onto the master’s program:
(a) NEW: From 2024 on there will be different admission requirements for the Mind Track and the Brain Track.
MIND TRACK
- 60 ECTS / 30 American credits in either philosophy or cognitive science.
Please note: Students with a background in in psychology, neuroscience, medicine, or (neuro-)linguistics cannot apply for the Mind Track.
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) Philosopy 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 published 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 neuroscience.
Please see Grade Improvement page for details.
BRAIN TRACK
- 50 ECTS / 25 American credits in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medicine, or linguistics.
Please note: Students with a background in philosophy cannot apply for the Brain Track.
Please also note: We don’t accept students with a background in biology anymore.
In order to be able to apply, the required credit points must have been awarded in one subject only. It is not possible to add up credits from two or more subjects (e.g. 20 ECTS credits in linguistics and 40 ECTS credits in psychology) to reach the required number of points.
- 10 ECTS / 5 American credits in statistics
Please note: All Brain Track applicants will have to provide proof of fundamental knowledge in statistics, otherwise they cannot apply:
Basic knowledge in the field of Psychological Research Methods must be demonstrated, equivalent to a minimum of 10 ECTS (5 American credits).
The content includes the imparting of central knowledge in statistical methodology (probability theory, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics), with a particular focus on the psychological research methods in the planning, analysis, and interpretation of complex experimental research designs (e.g., multifactorial experimental designs, repeated measures designs, test power analysis).
ECTS credits obtained in courses that are predominantly or exclusively practical, emphasizing practical execution and/or the accumulation of practical experiences, will not be considered. This especially applies to internships such as observational internships, experimental internships, data collection internships, orientation internships, and professional internships (also as a qualification for entry into the practice of psychology), as well as comparable courses.
During the application process applicants will be asked to list the titles of relevant courses in a table. The listed courses must also appear on the applicant’s transcript(s).
If it is not evident from the table and transcript alone that the aforementioned topics were covered, applicants should provide additional documents. These documents can be either the description(s) of (a) relevant module(s) from the module handbook or schedules of individual courses. The authenticity of course schedules has to be confirmed by a signature or stamp from the university.
Please do not turn in complete module handbooks but only the descriptions of relevant modules!
- Grade improvement I:
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10 % when they published a first-author paper in an international peer-reviewed journal in the fields of psychology or neuroscience.
- Grade improvement II:
Applicants can improve their GPA by 10 % when they have work experience or on the job training in a neuro-cognitive or psychological research lab of at least 900 hours.
Please see Grade Improvement page for details.
(b) NEW: Proficiency in English – NEW: C1 (!!) level
The master’s program “Mind and Brain” is conducted entirely in English.
Proficiency in English must be proven with a recognized language certificate (FAQ 5).
The certificate itself must be dated, must state the testing facility, the achieved level, and the date of the last exam.
From 2024 on applicants have to prove an English proficiency on the the level of C1.
- IELTS – International English Language Testing System: 7.0
- TOEFL – (Internet-based) Test of English as a Foreign Language: 95
- TOEIC – Test of English for International Communication:
- - Speaking and Writing: 360 in combination with
- - Listening and Reading: 945
- UNIcert® II-Zertifikat: 1.3
- UNIcert® III-Zertifikat: 3.0
- UNIcert® IV-Zertifikat
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Language Certificate
- - a minimum of B in all skills or
- - ***** (5 stars) in all skills
- Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
- Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE): A
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
- Cambridge English: Business Higher (BEC H)
- ICFE – International Certificate in Financial English
- ILEC – International Legal English Certificate
- BULATS – Business Language Testing Service: 75
- Linguaskill: C1 in all skills
- LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry) English for Business (EFB): Level 3 with Distinction
- Graded language certificates of university language courses showing an English proficiency of C1 and a minimum grade of 2.3 (good).
Note: 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.
(c) Proficiency in German
Applicants do not have to provide a proof of proficiency in German!
(d) Grade improvement
Applicants can improve their GPA by providing confirmation of relevant previous work experience, for details see Grade improvement
(e) Incomplete studies
Students may also apply if they have not yet fully completed their studies.
(1) Students at German universities: At the time of application, applicants from German universities must have a transcript showing that no more than 30 ECTS points are missing to the completion of their degree. At the end of the online application process, applicants who have not yet completed their studies will receive a form that the examination office of their university has to fill in. On this form the examination office must confirm how many credit points the applicant has achieved at the point of application. At some universities this type of form is issued directly by the examination offices.
Applicants may also turn in this form from the examination offices of their universities.
(2) Students at international universities: Applicants from international universities will need their university to issue an informal but official statement confirming when they are expected to complete their studies. The university’s statement has to be supplemented by an official transcript showing that no more than 30 ECTS points or the equivalent number of credits are missing to the completion of the degree. The BA/BSc final graduation certificate must be submitted no later than September.
Please note: Recommendation letters or motivation letters are not required! If supplied, they will not be read and not be taken into account.
II. Applicants with a German education background
Applicants with a German education background, i.e. applicants holding a German bachelor degree, apply online via the application portal of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
In contrast to foreign applicants who apply exclusively online via Uni-Assist, German applicants register online via the Humboldt-Universität application portal, print out the application form and send it with all required documents listed below as hard copies to Humboldt-Universität. The address will be on the form.
Please note:
- Applicants with a foreign secondary school education and a German bachelor degree apply via the application portal of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Applicants with a foreign secondary school education and a foreign bachelor degree apply via Uni-Assist - s. section III “Applicants with a foreign education background” below.
Please note: Do not send forms and documents to the Berlin School of Mind and Brain! The application process is centralized at Humboldt-Universität.
Applications to Humboldt-Universität must include the following:
(a) Signed application form
The application form can be downloaded only at the end of the online application procedure with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The form contains an automatically generated address to which the application must be sent (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Studierendenservice, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin)
(b) Certificate awarded for first degree leading to a professional qualification and photocopy of the corresponding Transcript of Records
(c) Proof of proficiency in English − see related list under I(b) above and FAQ 5
If the certificate awarded for a first degree cannot be provided, the following must be submitted:
- form to be filled in by the university at which the first degree leading to a professional qualification was acquired (the form can be downloaded only at the end of the online application procedure with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
- official overall summary of achievements to date (Transcript of Records)
(d) Current Immatrikulations- or Exmatrikulationsnachweis
Note: The required documents may vary slightly from German applicant to German applicant. Every German applicant can look up the documents they have to provide in their online application account (Online-Statusabfrage) in section “Nachweise”.
Humboldt-Universität has produced a video which spells out different aspects of the application requirements for German applicants. Please take a look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LasIcPolCpY
Key words “unresolved problem” for the second e-mail to mb-master@hu-berlin.de
III. Applicants with a foreign education background
Foreign applicants apply online via Uni-Assist by uploading the required documents as PDF files!
Foreign applicants do not have to send hard copies of required documents!
The application portal for the master's program Mind and Brain on the Uni-Assist website opens 2 May 2023.
Only from this date on students can apply for our program via Uni-Assist.
Foreign applicants, i.e. applicants holding a bachelor degree from a university outside of Germany, must upload the documents listed under (b)–(h) as PDF files to the Uni-Assist application portal:
Please note: International applicants with a German bachelor degree apply via the online application portal of Humboldt-Universität.
(a) Application form, to be filled online in the application portal of Uni-Assist.
(b) 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,
• 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.
The PDF files which applicants upload have to be scans of the official documents (certificates, transcripts), with seals and signatures, or documents which can be verified digitally.
Unofficial documents, which students may be able 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 (FAQ 6),
• The certificates 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.
Information regarding “translation of documents” (FAQ 6).
Applicants must check if there is country-specific information on their home country available on the Uni-Assist website!
For some countries, Uni-Assist requires applicants to turn in additional documents:
https://www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/info-country-by-country/
(c) 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)
(d) Proof of proficiency in German: Applicants do not have to provide a proof of proficiency in German!
(e) Proof of proficiency in English (B2 level) − see related list above under I(b) and FAQ 5
(f) 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).
(g) A current passport-sized photograph
(h) A scan of your passport
Key words “unresolved problem” for the second e-mail to mb-master@hu-berlin.de
IV. Application fees
All Uni-Assist applications are subject to a fee of € 75.00.
Every additional application: € 30.00.
Please read about the different payment options that Uni-Assist offers for the application fee (FAQ 7):
https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/pay-all-fees/payment-options/
V. Contact
Master’s Program Coordinator
Dr Dirk Mende
mb-master@hu-berlin.de
Tel. +49 30 2093-89768
Postal address:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Berlin School of Mind and Brain
10099 Berlin
Germany
Please note: Do not send forms and documents to the Berlin School of Mind and Brain!
