Two-year multi-disciplinary

Master’s programme

Cognitive Neuroscience

change perspective

www.ru.nl/masters/cns 1
 Change perspective

Change Ranking and awards 2017

perspective
• Best Traditional University in the Netherlands 2019,
2010 - 2017, according to students in information guide
‘Keuzegids universiteiten’
• Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to two professors
connected to Radboud University in 2010
• 123 in the Times Higher Education Rankings 2018
• 205 in the QS World University Rankings 2018
• 115 in the Shanghai Rankings 2018

For more information on rankings and awards, please have a

look at www.ru.nl/masters/rankings

A warm welcome for international students

As a visiting student, the International Office of Radboud
University will help you with practical matters such as
Gaining new and exciting insights Gain a diploma from the Best Traditional in the Netherlands dates from Roman times when its name finding housing, arranging a visa, and medical insurance. In
Radboud University is one of the leading academic University in the Netherlands was Noviomagus (New Market). Situated close to the German addition, it organises many activities that will make you
communities in the Netherlands. Our top-flight education and Radboud University is in the top one percent of universities border, Nijmegen lies on the banks of the river Waal, a branch feel at home in the city and bring you into contact with its
research takes place in modern buildings with state-of-the-art in the world. An annual survey among all university students of the Rhine. It is a friendly and safe place to live and study. students and its other inhabitants. For more information:
facilities, located on a beautiful, green campus. in the Netherlands has shown that between 2010 and 2017, www.ru.nl/internationaloffice
students at Radboud University were the most satisfied with
We are a close-knit community where academics from their university. The survey included aspects such as the quality
different faculties – thanks to being walking-distance from of education, the guidance provided by teachers, and study Studying in Holland
each other – often work together in cross-disciplinary teams. facilities. In 2019, Radboud University was once again voted There are many reasons for choosing to study in the Netherlands:
Therefore, as a Master’s student at Radboud University, you the number one traditional university in the Netherlands. • Dutch higher education has a strong reputation worldwide
will not only be able to converse with your fellow students, As an example of excellence, the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics thanks to a national system of strict regulation and quality
but also with students from other programmes, teachers, was awarded to a professor and PhD student connected to assurance.
professors, and top-notch scientists. These meetings will Radboud University. These are some of the reasons why an • Dutch scientific research is rated disproportionately high
stimulate you to take a fresh look at things and change your increasing number of students and scientists from around the internationally.
perspective. In turn you, as an international student, can world choose to study and work in Nijmegen. The University • An international environment in which to study.
stimulate others to change their perspective. is constantly strengthening the international character of its • The Dutch speak good English, so it is easy to
programmes. The diverse backgrounds of those who study and communicate.
The strength of our university lies in its personal approach. teach at the University help our common objective: to achieve • The Netherlands is a multicultural society and a gateway to
Our Master’s students receive individual guidance from top the highest possible quality in education and research. Europe.
researchers. Students’ studies are also directly integrated • Education in the Netherlands is not free, but tuition fees are
with the work done at the university’s 14 research institutes Live in a true student city very reasonable. The annual fee for a degree programme at a
– a number of which are top in their field. This offers unique You will be based in a true university city: of its 170,000 Dutch higher education institution starts at €2083 (2019-2020)
opportunities to undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral inhabitants, some 30,000 are students. Students appreciate for students from the European Economic Area (EEA). The costs
candidates alike. the city’s attractive, green surroundings and its many venues of programmes or courses for students coming from outside the
for relaxation and entertainment. The cultural centre LUX EEA are generally higher (€12,645 2019-2020). Additional
is the largest art house cinema in the Netherlands and also expenses will include housing and other everyday costs.
offers theatre, music, debate, and multimedia. The oldest city

2 www.ru.nl/masters/cns 3
 Discover the human brain in action

Asli Ozyurek
Centre for Language Studies, Donders Centre
for Cognition
Discover the A unique multi-disciplinary
Master’s programme
Indira Tendolkar
Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience

human brain in
Are you interested in the human brain? Would you like to The brain is our most complex organ and directs the
Language lies at the heart of what makes us human and conduct research into the workings of the brain and join an ‘orchestra’ of other organs in our body. Even with so
probably played a key role in the evolutionary survival enthusiastic, international group of top researchers? Then the many functions, there is still an incredible flexibility

action
of our species. Our amazing capacity to learn, produce Donders Graduate School is the place to be, with its multi- to the brain’s functioning and organisation. This
and understand language so effortlessly is something faculty Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience (MSc fascinating ‘plasticity’ is what we study, from neuro-
that we often take for granted. But there are many CNS). This selective Master’s programme takes two years development to old age, and all the way from molecules
complexities hiding just below the surface of our everyday and is, of course, of a scientific orientation. There is a strong to minds to population. Among the questions that
conversations that we do not yet fully understand. emphasis on experimental research. After all, what counts is keep us busy are how the brain acquires its abilities of
Researchers in the Language and Communication Cognitive neuroscience studies the cognitive and neural basis hands-on research experience. This Master’s programme is learning and memory, how genetic factors contribute
theme at the Donders Institute have a leading role in the of mental processes such as perception, action, language, unique in the Netherlands. to our cognitive abilities, where the neural substrates of
field, hosting the greatest concentration in the world attention and memory. This relatively young discipline seeks those abilities are localised and how they are used. And
of researchers working on language and combining to unravel the workings of the human brain. What happens in The Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience primarily what goes wrong under stress or when mental disorders
interdisciplinary approaches with the newest methods our brains when we do what we do? How is this fascinating, focuses on training talented Bachelor’s students to become occur - in the young (like in intellectual disability,
to understand the complexity of our language faculty. To unbelievably complex ‘micro cosmos’ inside our skulls excellent researchers. Research institutes and businesses autism and ADHD) or during aging (like in Alzheimer’s
achieve this, we take a multidisciplinary and multimodal organised? How do those billions of nerve cells collaborate in around the world need highly qualified and motivated disease)? Due to the breadth and depth of our work,
(including speech, gesture and sign) approach, bridging an organ no bigger than half a football? researchers. Moreover, since cognitive neuroscience is a integrating results from molecular, cellular, animal and
language research from the study of molecules all the way rather young discipline, there is still a lot to be explored and neuroimaging studies with work on neurocognitive
to language structure and to the study of language use in Thanks to brain imaging – a technology for measuring and many questions that need to be answered. Therefore, there is and behavioural measures, you will be able to learn the
context, interaction and shaped by culture. For example, depicting brain activity – scientists are now able to observe plenty of room for new discoveries! state-of-theart from leading scientists in the field of
at the neurobiological level we question how the human the human brain in action. In their research, cognitive Plasticity and Memory.
language capacity is rooted and evolved, in the ‘language- neuroscientists are therefore no longer dependent on Close cooperation on campus
ready’ human brain and its genetic makeup. At the patients with brain damage if they want to ascertain which The Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience is a
psychological level, we explore the mental operations that parts of the brain are involved in certain tasks and functions. multidisciplinary programme closely involving internationally Tansu Celikel
underlie our ability to produce and comprehend language, Nowadays, it is also possible to conduct carefully controlled renowned scientists from several faculties and research Donders Centre for Neuroscience
in our native or non-native languages and the role of experiments on healthy people using state-of-the-art imaging institutes on campus. The Nijmegen research in Cognitive
individual differences in this process. At the linguistic level, techniques. Because of this revolutionary development, Neuroscience has therefore gained national and international Most of us can cycle through a busy street quite
we try to understand what is common and different across cognitive neuroscience has gained tremendous momentum recognition for its high quality. In the Master’s programme effortlessly. When doing so, our brain receives
languages and how children born to different languages over the past twenty years. As many already know, cognitive you will attend lectures by these top scientists. They will massive amounts of information, little of which is
learn them so early and so easily. There is still much to neuroscience is the discipline of the future. also supervise your practical training and the writing of your relevant for the task at hand. At the same time we
discover at each of these levels and the relations between Master’s thesis in your second year. need to balance our bikes and find our way to our
them. Come to Nijmegen if you like to learn about the Donders Graduate School destination. Even such a seemingly routine everyday
newest approaches and methods to language research. It Research in the field of cognitive neuroscience is one of the The following faculties participate in the MSc programme: task engages most of (if not) the entire brain. In recent
is the place to be! spearheads in the research policy of Radboud University. • Faculty of Social Sciences years, we have learned a lot about how individual
More than six hundred scientists from different faculties and • Faculty of Arts brain regions operate to partly accomplish real-
Alan Sanfey top institutes have joined forces in the Donders Institute for • Faculty of Science, Mathematics & Computing Science world computations, but we still need a much better
Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging Brain, Cognition and Behaviour to systematically unravel the • Faculty of Philosophy understanding of how the brain operates at the
workings of the human brain. They work closely together, • Faculty of Medical Sciences Radboudumc network level. Also, it has been suggested that many
How do we manage to negotiate our way through very exchanging expertise and sharing state-of-the-art research disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia must be
complex physical and social environments, adapting equipment. The Donders Graduate School , of which the MSc The following institutes are responsible for the practical understood as malfunctioning of the brain network.
to these environments in order to fulfil our goals? Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) programme is a part, provides implementation of the MSc programme: As such, understanding the brain as a network is one
The research specialisation of Perception, Action, and the teaching. • Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour of the greatest challenges in neuroscience. Making
Control is concerned with understanding the neural and (DI, i.c. Donders Graduate School): progress in this field requires an interdisciplinary
cognitive structures of the brain that make those feats - Donders Centre for Cognition (DCC) approach, combining the knowledge gained using
possible. More precisely, we study how the integration - Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience (DCMN) different techniques with sound theories. We need
between perception and action is achieved, controlled,
and exploited during sensorimotor integration, adaptive
From molecules to minds to -
-
Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN)
Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (DCCN)
to understand how groups of neurons communicate
with each other whether the neurons are merely
decision-making, and complex social interactions. We population • Centre for Language Study (CLS) a hair away from each other or located in distinct
consider multiple levels of biological organisation, • Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (MPI) portions of the brain; this is the main focus of research
from genes to neuromodulators, from single neurons in the Neural Computation and Neurotechnology
to brain circuits, from individual organisms to multiple specialisation. Given the multidisciplinary groups and
interacting agents. At each of these levels, we are also the collaborative spirit at the Donders Institute, we
concerned with how the perception-action cycle is are in a unique position to better understand how the
altered in neurological and psychiatric populations. brain operates as a network and apply this knowledge
This interdisciplinary and multi-level approach offers to understanding cognition and disorders.
students the opportunity to experience different
analytical and theoretical perspectives, providing a
unique research profile in the Dutch and European
landscape of cognitive neuroscience.
4 www.ru.nl/masters/cns 5
 Four Master’s specialisations

Guilio Severijnen (22)

Specialisation: Language and Communication
Four is strange because they involve a unique human ability that
is acquired in the first few years of life. The acquisition and
comprehension of language is based on extremely complex
Jaap de Ruyter (26)
Specialisation: Perception, Action and Control
Bachelor’s in Psychology (Radboud University)
Nationality: Dutch – Italian Master’s cognitive processes, which are not yet entirely understood. It is
these processes that form the psycholinguistics’ field of study.
Bachelor: Medical Sciences (Radboud University)
Nationality: Dutch

specialisations
Top international institutes
Linguistics, cognitive psychology and neuroscience all play
a significant role in psycholinguistics. These sciences are
prominently featured in Nijmegen. On campus you will find, next
to the Donders Institute, the Centre for Language Study (CLS),
The MSc CNS programme offers four specialisations which associated with the Faculty of Arts, and the Max Planck Institute
correspond one-to-one with the four research themes of for Psycholinguistics (MPI ). These are all international research
the Donders Institute: (1) Language and Communication; (2) institutes with very modern facilities. As a student in the
Perception, Action and Control; (3) Plasticity and Memory, Language & Communication specialisation, you will gain ample
and (4) Neural Computation and Neurotechnology. Each experience in using experimental techniques.
Bilingualism specialisation has its own set of seven core courses and a The complex human brain
During my bachelor’s I wanted to know why things work the way they student has to complete 30EC of these courses to complete her/ Career Prospects Because I have an interest in the human body as a biological system I chose to study
do, I was very interested in finding out about the workings behind brain his specialisation training. The entire programme is in English After completing the Master’s specialisation in Language and medicine. During my Bachelor’s I realised that I am interested in the theory, rather
processes. I chose Cognitive Neuroscience so I can do fundamental and the specialisations share a common ground in the set of Communication, you will have knowledge on how language than the clinical site of medicine, and therefore chose a minor in neuroscience. This
research into brain processes, and language processing in particular. general core courses mandatory for all students. is acquired, understood and produced. You will also know a fascinated me. I learned about the workings of human brain and decided to do my
Being bilingual myself, I have been fascinated by language processing lot about language development, the neural basis of language Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience.
and want to know, among other things, how bilingual people process Five general core courses skills, language and speech disorders, and linguistics using
things differently from non-bilingual people. In the first year, next to the personalised set of specialisation contemporary research techniques and methodology such as In this Master’s programme, I can focus even more on studying the human brain as a
courses, students will become acquainted with the most speech analysis, eye-movement analysis, brain imaging and complex mechanism. I chose the specialisation Perception, Action and Control, which
A challenging programme important theories, models, experimental techniques and computational modelling. With this background you may find a is most related to my interest: seeing the brain as a biological system that integrates
I am now in my first year of the Master’s programme and have already analysis methods in cognitive neuroscience in general, through position as a PhD candidate within a psycholinguistic research information to enable perception and cognition. In this programme, I also explore
been taking part in the latest, state-of-the-art research in the field of the set of five general core courses. This specialised and common institute, as a researcher in a government institution i.e., in other research fields. Not just the biological side of things, but also subjects like the
language and communication. Researchers here are very motivated and ground is complemented with two skill-training courses and two the care sector (rehabilitation centres) or, e.g., in education physical side of MRI-machines, or the mathematics behind Artificial Intelligence
good in what they do. I’m getting acquainted with current research, as elective courses. For a detailed overview of the courses, please (language disorders or in a specialised company). (cognitive computing); cognitive psychology behind decision making and philosophy.
well as learning about different research techniques and paradigms. Not visit www.ru.nl/masters/cns All these research fields come together in this specialisation. Students have the
only do I learn what is already out there, but I also learn a lot about how freedom to specialise in what they are interested in. As long as you are motivated,
to challenge myself to find out more. Internship & thesis 2 Perception, Action, and Control you have many options to discover new areas. I find it unique to work on something
The second year is mainly devoted to the research internship and as unique as the human brain in a truly interdisciplinary team; students really get
During lectures students are challenged and motivated to think the writing of the thesis. With its abundance of state-of-the-art Targeted action: more than meets the eye different perspectives.
critically for themselves and to take part in discussions. Teachers facilities available, students embark in their second year on a big How do people pick out their own glass of beer from all the other
welcome the input from students, and are willing to help and answer research project that they can call their own. Under supervision glasses at the bar? And how do they find their way around a Internship – no longer stuck to the ground
questions. of a researcher at the Donders Institute, or one of its affiliated building? How do people walk from one room to the other – and I am currently a second year student and my internship is at the biophysics
institutes, a research project starts of course with a research to what extent can you do this with your eyes closed? Catching department of the Donders Institute where I take part in a research project to
Also, as a student of this programme, I have the opportunity to pursue question and ends in the Master’s thesis, written in the form of a ball, picking up a cup, writing a sentence, choosing a meal: investigate the use of wearable and smart technology that can aid people with
the subjects I find most interesting. For example, I chose my three lab- a research paper that is in principle submittable to a scientific these are all targeted actions that people often perform without Parkinson’s disease. More specifically, I study the use of smart glasses as an aid for
rotations -short internships in the first year- by sending an email to the journal. thinking. For patients who suffered a stroke, these automatic walking. Parkinson’s patients sometimes suffer from a symptom called freezing of
teacher after lectures I found particularly interesting, asking them if I actions do not come naturally any more, and are extremely gait, where they remain frozen in place while they do have the intention of walking.
could do a lab-rotation in their lab. difficult to perform. Why is that? What cognitive and brain By means of smart technology, we can relieve these symptoms. It can help people if
1 Language and Communication processes play a role in these actions? That is what researchers they have cues in their environment that they can aim for. We try to display this by
International surprise who study Perception, Action and Control want to discover. using augmented reality glasses. The use of smart technology in this domain is new
Although I knew that this programme would be taught in English, Understanding and producing language: more complicated and can be used anywhere.
the fact that it is so international was a surprise to me and is than you think Close cooperation between disciplines
very refreshing. I had no idea that people with so many different How do people understand a simple sentence? How do they Perception, Action and Control is a central research area within Even though my internship is in the Netherlands, it feels like a truly international
nationalities come to Nijmegen for this programme. It’s good to recognise separate words in running speech? How do they different faculties of Radboud University. It is aimed at the environment. You find different nationalities from around the world here. The
interact with people with different nationalities. In language research distinguish separate words when the acoustic signal does not three basic components of current cognitive neuroscience: students have a lot of time to focus on their studies and their internship, so we have
this is particularly interesting, because an example during a lecture can contain any spaces? And what about language production? How modelling (e.g. in artificial intelligence and physics), designing become one friendly community.
often immediately be related to a student from a particular country in do people produce a simple sentence? A mature language user and conducting behavioural studies (e.g. in psychology) and
the group. This makes it enriching. has a vocabulary of about thirty to forty thousand words. Speech measuring the biological foundation of behaviour. The various Broad development
is produced at a speed of three to five words per second. So, research groups of the Donders Institute within the research CNS is a relatively small programme where teachers have time for intimate teaching
how is it possible that, in such an amazingly short space of time, theme Perception, Action and Control use a wide range of modern and coaching of their students. Asking them questions is always possible. During
people can select the correct words, put them in the correct research facilities, which enables them to provide natural stimuli lab rotations, the contact between staff and students is easy; teachers are open to
order and grammatical form, and pronounce them intelligibly? and measure complex everyday behaviour. The close cooperation share their research with students. This programme really gives me the opportunity
Listening and speaking seem to be natural accomplishments. between the different disciplines also characterises the content of to develop myself broadly and to get acquainted with a lot of research, which will be
They are skills you normally hardly ever think about, which the courses in this specialisation. very useful in the future as I would like to do a PhD after my graduation.

6 www.ru.nl/masters/cns 7
 Four Master’s specialisations

Career Prospects processed from node to node. Mental health requires these
Ilgin Kolabas (23) After completing the Master’s specialisation in Perception, brain networks to be effective. If they are not, or breakdown Angeliki Karaiskou (25)
Specialisation: Plasticity and Memory Action and Control, you will have experience in current research all together, brain diseases such as schizophrenia, attention- Specialisation: Neural Computation and
Bachelor: Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bio and analysis techniques in perception, motor research, and deficit disorder, or dementia may ensue. Recent technological Neurotechnology
decision-making, using research techniques from psychophysics breakthroughs in experiment and theory make it possible to
engineering (Istanbul University) Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering
and brain imaging. This will enable you to apply models of measure, characterise, and ultimately understand these brain
Nationality: Turkish perception, sensorimotor control, and complex choice in your networks. As such, research in this area is poised to make (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
future research. With this background you may find a position major contributions to the treatment of brain diseases as Nationality: Greek
as a PhD student or in industry research in the Netherlands or well as lead to fundamental insights into how information is
abroad. represented and processed in the intact brain and how the
brain learns.

3 Plasticity and Memory Breakthrough research

The specialisation Neural Computation and Neurotechnology
The connection between the brain and cognition focuses on brain networks ranging from the smallest scale
How does your brain enable you to remember certain events? (communication between individual neurons) up to the
I’ve always been fascinated by life and living, about finding out how we function. How does your brain adapt to certain changes, such as a largest scale (communication between different brain areas). From engineering to neuroscience
I associated this with DNA, so I did my Bachelor’s in molecular biology. But haemorrhage or other forms of damage? How do you distinguish Researchers at the Donders Institute have proposed a I am fascinated by the brain, but with a background that focused
as life is so much more than just biology, I did a minor in psychology. For my between important and relatively unimportant information powerful principle called ‘Communication through coherence,’ mainly on mathematics, physics and programming, my past experience
Master’s I looked for a programme that covered the overlap between biology and in the world around you? And how does the consolidation of which holds that fast brain oscillations are modulated so as to did not seem optimal. Still, I wanted to get involved with neuroscience,
psychology and that also contained research in this area. It all came together newly acquired memories work during sleep? These are just a line-up neurons for fast and accurate information processing. so I looked for a programme in computational neuroscience. I had heard
in the Master’’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience. The psychological field, few of the questions that scientists in the domain of Plasticity Experiments have confirmed this hypothesis in a number of about the Donders institute and its research in this domain, so that is
together with the genetics and their interaction is what I’m most interested in. I and Memory would like to see answered. In this research neural systems on scales ranging from neuron pairs to whole how I chose this university and its Master’s programme in cognitive
want to find out how these specific networks interact and influence us. How some theme researchers tackle the mechanistic underpinnings and brain areas. neuroscience (CNS). I like the fact that the CNS programme has four
abnormalities or maladaptations influence our everyday life and our genes, and behavioural consequences of long-term changes in neural different specialisations and that there are people here from all sorts of
how our DNA influences our daily life. structure and function. More specifically, the aim is to unravel Career Prospects different backgrounds who cooperate, work and study together.
how neuroplasticity supports development during childhood, After completing the Master’s specialisation in Neural
Change perspective adaptation to environmental challenges, and learning and Computation and Neurotechnology you will be able to A different life
What I love about this programme, is that everyone, students as well as memory throughout life span. In addition to fundamental study brain networks and will understand the processes I also came here because Radboud University is in the Netherlands, a
instructors, is so enthusiastic. The instructors are open to students and ready research, this group also focuses on topics related to Alzheimer’s involved in coherent brain activity that subserve neuronal country that is friendly to internationals and where almost everyone
to help. Students are also very open and share their interests and expertise. The disease, neurodevelopmental and stress-related disorders. communication. You will be able to apply for a wide range of speaks English. But although everybody speaks English and the people
programme has a very international atmosphere, a real cultural mix that has research projects, ranging from computational neuroscience, are open, it did take me some time to get used to living here. People try
broadened my perspective. Different people from different cultures have different Neurocognition in Nijmegen: the cutting edge neuroinformatics, machine learning to psychology, to help, but the way of living is different from Greece. Still, the people
visions and different suggestions. Our brains are shaped by the way we are raised. Radboud University and the Radboud University Medical neuroimaging and systems neuroscience. These skills, in here are easy to talk to, which helps. In my spare time, I also meet
Students share their perceptions with others. That really adds to the programme. Centre (Radboudumc) both have an outstanding reputation combination with an understanding of communication with some of the people from my specialisation because we work on
Not only in course work, but also during going out, or during extracurricular in the domain of Plasticity and Memory. The Plasticity and processes in the brain are invaluable for a PhD position in assignments together. One girl is Dutch, one girl is Chinese and another
activities. The different cultures enhance the creativity in a group. Memory theme truly realized a bench to bedside approach and this domain and (non-)industrial jobs, e.g. related to artificial student is from Iran. All very different, and I really like that.
is therefore integrated with clinical subthemes of the Radboud intelligence, brain-computer interface etc.
In the programme, the selection of course options is quite vast. You can more or University Medical Center. I am in my first year and still working on finding out what direction I
less create your own path by choosing different courses and by the lab rotations want to go into. So far, I like everything! I chose the specialisation of
that you choose to do. When you do a course, we are not taught by one instructor Career Prospects Neural Computation and Neurotechnology because of my background.
for the whole course, but taught by different specialists in the field. After completing the Master’s specialisation in Plasticity I like doing computational things and mathematics; I prefer maths and
and Memory, you will be able to conduct neuroimaging programming to biology, although I would like to learn more about the
Living in the Netherlands and neurobiological research. You will know a lot about biological side of the brain. I am also interested in courses from other
Coming from Istanbul, Nijmegen and the Netherlands feels really organised. At anatomical and neurophysiological aspects of the human specialisations even though some of them are quite challenging for me.
first a little challenging, I now find it an easy country to live in. The city is filled brain and theoretical cognition/neurocognition models. This
with students, so it feels young and open. There are many events going on, I will enable you to conduct research into the neurofunctional Approachable staff
have never been bored here. I was surprised how easy it has been to meet Dutch architecture of cognitive key functions, for example in the This programme is really about the brain. What is very unique, is that
students, I thought they would be really clustered, but actually, most of my context of a PhD project at a research institute or academic it has four specialisations and that people from all sorts of different
friends are now Dutch. university. backgrounds can work together. The contact with the teaching staff is
quite different from what I was used to in Greece. The teachers in the
Internship Master’s programme are very approachable and their doors are always
Although there are very good opportunities in Nijmegen, I chose to do my 4 Neural Computation and open to ask questions.
internship at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) in Munich. The Radboud University Neurotechnology
offers the MPI/Radboud Scholarship which I applied for and received. The lab
where I work, works on improving imaging quality by making tissues transparent. Communicating networks: connecting the dots
They use a tissue clearing protocol that is quite widely used all over the world, Our perception of the outside world, as well as our deepest,
so I thought it would be a great qualification to learn for my later studies. The most private thoughts are just patterns of electro-chemical
techniques we are using specifically work in strokes and dementia. With this we activity generated by a massive network of interconnected
try to understand different stroke models and how we can see stroke progresses. neurons. Within this network, information travels and is

8 www.ru.nl/masters/cns 9
 General information

General information Programme

Programme
outline
outline
Overview of the Cognitive Neuroscience programme. In two years, 120EC needs to be
obtained. The first year is largely dedicated to coursework, while the second year mainly
comprises the research internship, culminating in the writing of the Master’s thesis.
What prior qualifications do you need? to be admitted to an academic study programme at the Master’s SECOND
SECOND YEAR
YEAR
FIRST
FIRST
YEARYEAR
You may apply for the Master’s programme in Cognitive level. For more information on the application procedure, the
Theoretical
Theoretical
training
training Practical
Practical
training
training
Neuroscience if you have a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, general and specialisation specific requirements, including English General
General
(compulsory)
(compulsory) General
General
(compulsory)
(compulsory)
Physics, Mathematics, Biomedical Sciences, Behavioural Sciences proficiency, please visit: www.ru.nl/masters/cns
Programme outline Trends
Trends in cognitive
in cognitive neuroscience
neuroscience 6EC 6EC Practical
Practical training
training & Thesis
& Thesis 45EC45EC
(e.g. Psychology), or a related Bachelor’s programme. For this Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging I I 6EC 6EC
selective Master’s programme, every applicant is assessed Tuition fees Neurophilosophy
Neurophilosophy 6EC 6EC
individually to ascertain whether he/she is eligible to participate Students from the European Economic Area (EEA) which includes Lab Lab
rotations
rotations 3EC 3EC
in the programme. Further information can be found on our all EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway, pay the same Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging
II (choose
II (choose
one)one) 6EC 6EC
website: www.ru.nl/masters/cns tuition fee as Dutch students, for the academic year 2019/2020: FIRST YEAR SECOND methods
Electrophysiological YEAR
Electrophysiological methods
€2,083 per year. For students from outside the EEA, the fee is Theoretical training Haemodynamic
Haemodynamic
methods
Practical methods
training
If you are interested, please call the secretariat’s office €12,645 per year in 2019/2020. For the most up to date tuition Generalone
Position of CNS alumni (compulsory)
year after graduation Specialisation
Specialisation
General (compulsory)
Trends in cognitive neuroscience 6EC
five five
corecore Practical
courses training & Thesis
courses 45EC
30EC30EC FreeFree
choice
choice
(elective
(elective
courses)
courses) 12EC12EC
(+31(0)243611669), or send an email to: [email protected] fees, please visit: www.ru.nl/masters/tuition (data 2017)
Neuroimaging I 6EC
SkillSkill
training
training
(choose
(choose
2 out2 of
out6)of 6)
Neurophilosophy 6EC
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy 3EC 3EC Practical
Practical
ERPERP
training
training 3EC 3EC
The Master’s programme is open to Dutch as well as Scholarships
Lab rotations Advanced
3ECAdvanced
mathmath 3EC 3EC Academic
Academicwriting
writing 3EC 3EC
international students. The Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience has been Neuroimaging II (choose one) Basic
6ECBasic
mathematics
mathematics 3EC 3EC Basic
Basic
statistics
Matlab statistics
mathematical programming 3EC 3EC
accredited by the Dutch authorities. This means that Dutch Electrophysiological methods TotalTotal 60EC60EC TotalTotal 60EC60EC
How to enrol for the Master’s programme students enrolled in this programme may apply for a government Haemodynamic methods
The Admission Board of the Master’s programme in Cognitive scholarship. For more details, please go to: www.duo.nl Specialisation
Neurosciences determines whether or not you will be admitted five core courses 30EC Free choice (elective courses) 12EC
Figure
Figure
A. Overview
A. Overviewof the
of Cognitive
the Cognitive
Neuroscience
Neuroscience
programme.
programme.In twoIn two
years,
years,
120EC
120EC
needs
needs
to beto be
to the Master’s programme. An interview (real life or Skype) may Foreign students are encouraged to find a scholarship through: Alumni Skill
quotestraining (choose 2 out of 6) obtained.
obtained.
The The
first first
yearyear
is largely
is largely
dedicated
dedicated
to coursework,
to coursework,while
while
the second
the second
yearyear
mainly
mainly
comprises
comprises
be part of the selection process. After you have been accepted www.studyinholland.nl/scholarships Neuroanatomy the3EC
research
the research
internship,
internship,
Practical culminating
ERP culminating
training in the
in writing
the writing
of the
of 3EC
master
the master
thesis.
thesis.
to the programme by the Admission Board, you will need to If you are a student from outside the EEA, you may be eligible Advanced math 3EC Academic writing 3EC
Basic mathematics 3EC Basic statistics 3EC
complete the formal registration to Radboud University online. to apply for the Radboud Scholarship Programme. For more Patricia Romero Verdugo “I enjoyed that the programme was so interdisciplinary:
Total 60EC Total 60EC
On the basis of your documents the Radboud Student Affairs information on this scholarship programme please visit: PhD candidate at we had lecturers and classmates from different
Office will determine whether you meet the general requirements www.ru.nl/rsp Donders Institute backgrounds (such as physics, biology, and psychology). It
was inspiring and fun to collaborate and learn from each
Figure A. Overview of the Cognitive other’s
Neuroscience programme. In two years, 120EC needs to be
expertise.”
obtained. The first year is largely dedicated to coursework, while the second year mainly comprises
the research internship, culminating in the writing of the master thesis.

Rowan Sommers “The best thing about the CNS Master is that it allowed
PhD candidate at me to acquire both skills and knowledge from an
Max Planck Institute incredible variety of disciplines. My brain has never been
stimulated as much as it was during the CNS Master.”

Danielle Tump “The freedom and opportunities to broaden your

to examine the match between the student’s wishes Developer and tester at knowledge and experience in the direction you find most
and capacities and the programme’s high demands MindAffect in Nijmegen interesting.”
and ambition. Students who meet these standards of
excellence are invited to enter our two-year educational
Rob van Lier programme. In the first year of our programme, the
Director of the Master’s programme students follow theoretical and skill training courses,
while in the second year the students level-up their Nic Bechet “The combination of specialised neuroscience training
The Master’s programme is part of the Donders Institute scientific expertise by means of an internship in an PhD candidate at coupled with the opportunity to apply this knowledge
for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, an internationally established research group. In selecting an internship Lund University, Sweden whilst working in an exciting research group really
leading institute in the research field of cognitive students are encouraged to make their own choice stood out for me.”
neuroscience. The lecturers in the Master’s programme regarding research topics and methods. At the end, a
are also researchers in the Donders institute, having Master’s thesis is written and our students are ready
up-to-date knowledge about the latest scientific to compete for challenging PhD jobs, or jobs at (inter-)
developments. Prospective students are invited to apply national institutes and companies who need highly Giulia Lorenzon “Not a simple Master, rather a school of life. It made me
to one of our four Master’s specialisations in which they qualified researchers with the latest knowledge and Italian Civilian Service discover and cross limits that I couldn’t even imagine.
are trained to conduct cutting edge research using state- hands-on experience regarding cognitive neuroscience volunteer for psychological It pushed me to the edge of my potential, and made my
of-the-art techniques. All applications are reviewed and and brain-related research methods. In short: Nijmegen support in Ecuador family international.”
in most cases applicants will be invited for an interview is the place to be to study Cognitive Neuroscience.

10 www.ru.nl/masters/cns 11
Useful addresses

Secretariat
P.O. Box 9104 Amsterdam
6500 HE Nijmegen Schiphol
122 km
The Netherlands
Nijmegen
Visiting address
B.02.39 – Spinoza Building
Montessorilaan 3
Rotterdam
Airport Germany
117 km
6525 HR Nijmegen Weeze
T: +31 24 361 16 69 Eindhoven Airport
47 km
E: [email protected] or [email protected] Airport
I: www.ru.nl/masters/cns 68 km Düsseldorf
Airport
112 km
Programme Coordinator
Dr. Arno Koning
Visiting address
B.02.35 – Spinoza Building Belgium
Montessorilaan 3
6525 HR Nijmegen
T: +31 24 361 26 15
E: [email protected]

Radboud University
Central Student Office
P.O. Box 9102
The Netherlands
6500 HC Nijmegen
The Netherlands
T: +31 24 361 23 45
E: [email protected]
I: www.ru.nl

International Office
P.O. Box 9102
6525 HP Nijmegen
The Netherlands
T: +31 24 361 60 55
E: [email protected]
I: www.ru.nl/iornational Office

www.ru.nl/masters/cns

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