Read First
On this page, potential applicants can find out (1) whether they are eligible to apply for the master’s program Mind and Brain at all and (2) how good their chances are of getting accepted.
(1) Who is eligible to apply for the master’s program Mind and Brain?
From 2024 onwards there are different application requirements for the Mind Track and the Brain Track.
For detailed information see Admission page section I (a).
(2) GPA: How good are the chances of getting accepted into the program?
Mind and Brain is a competitive master’s program with approx. 300 applicants for 30–40 places each year. Admission is strongly based on the grade point average (GPA) of the applicant’s bachelor’s (!) degree.
Although there is no minimum passing grade (numerus clausus) for an application, previous application rounds have shown that successful applicants for the Brain Track and the Mind Track needed at least a GPA of 1.3 (German grade) or better. Equivalent grades to 1.3 in other grading systems are First class (British grading system) or 3.8 (American or any other grading systems with 4.0 as best and 2.0 as lowest passing grade).
Please find information on how to calculate the equivalent of your international GPA in the German grading system by applying the ‘Modified Bavarian Formula’ here:
http://www.mind-and-brain.de/master/selection-process/
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).
In 2023, successful applicants for as well the Brain Track as the Mind Track needed at least a GPA of 1.1 (First class; 3.9).
Applicants from India:
There is no coherent grading system used by all Indian universities, and in some Indian grading systems First class is not the best grade. For a successful application, Indian applicants need to have the best possible grade available in their grading system!
As a rule of thumb, successful applicants have to belong to the top 3–5 % of their class.
Please note, Indian applicants need a valid APS certificate!
