Master in Cognitive Neuroscience: Mind and Brain
Skövde, Sweden
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2027
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2027
TUITION FEES
SEK 155,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* first installment: SEK 77,500 SEK (around 7000 EUR) | EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees
Key Summary
About: This English-language Master in Cognitive Neuroscience at University of Skövde examines consciousness, the brain, and well-being. It’s a one-year demanding programme for students from cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, cognitive science, or experimental psychology. Teaching links with active empirical research; senior staff run projects and students join research, present and publish findings, complete a thesis.
Career Outcomes: Graduates show strong academic progression: the majority continued to second- or third-cycle studies, enrolling at institutions such as Max Planck Society, University College London, and Karolinska Institute. Careers include research assistant, PhD candidate, cognitive neuroscientist, data analyst, or roles in mental health and neurotechnology.
Do you want to learn more about issues relating to the links between consciousness, the brain, and subjective well-being? This English-language master’s program allows you to develop your knowledge of these issues at a high level.
The University of Skövde offers a one-year master’s program in Cognitive Neuroscience: Consciousness and the Brain taught entirely in English. This is a demanding master’s program for students with a background in cognitive neuroscience consciousness studies, or closely related subjects. It may also be suitable as a conversion program for students with an interest in these subject areas and a background in a subject such as philosophy, cognitive science, neuroscience, or experimental psychology. The program is taught in English and provides a sound basis for research and teaching at a higher level within cognitive neuroscience. It requires ongoing, focused studies over a year (two consecutive semesters).
Research
Most senior members of the teaching staff at the department also carry out active research, in some cases as part of major research projects and with international collaborators. We encourage our students to take part in our research activities and be involved in presentations and publications of their research findings. Find out more about this research, publications, and previous theses at the university’s international website.
The study programme is provided by the University of Skövde and is named Cognitive Neuroscience: Mind and Brain - Master's Programme (Kognitiv neurovetenskap: Medvetandet och hjärnan - magisterprogram). It comprises 60 credits and is a second-cycle programme. The main field of study is Cognitive Neuroscience.
Constituent courses in the study program
During the first semester, you will study four courses within different subjects:
- Cognitive Neuroscience: Research Practice A1N, 7.5 credits
- Consciousness and Its Neural Basis A1N 7.5 credits
- Research Methods and Data Processing in Cognitive Neuroscience A1N, 7.5 credits
- Seminars in Cognitive Neuroscience A1N, 7.5 credits
- Master's Degree Project in Cognitive Neuroscience A1E, 30 credits
This takes the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, and group discussions. The focus lays on a critical evaluation of the current approaches in consciousness research and in cognitive neuroscience research more generally. Several of the courses are given by internationally leading researchers at the department and joined by internationally renowned guest lecturers for specific activities.
During the second semester, you will carry out an empirical or theoretical study within cognitive neuroscience, either in our lab facilities or with one of our affiliated research groups. This forms the basis for a final degree project. During the semester, you will receive personal supervision from an experienced member of the teaching staff in your studies and your work.
Objectives for Master's Degree according to the Higher Education Ordinance
- Knowledge and understanding
- Proficiency and Ability
- Ability to Evaluate and Relate
- Local objectives for the study programme at the University of Skövde
The programme began in 2011 and has already achieved strong academic results. After graduating, the majority of students have continued their studies at second- or third-cycle level at various universities, both in Sweden and abroad, including Max Planck Society, University College London, the Karolinska Institute, KU Leuven, the École Normale Supérieure, and the University of Bern.
When? Where? How?
- Study period: 1 September 2025 - 7 June 2026
- Location: Skövde, Campus
- Pace of study: 100%