Master’s program in cognitive science
Advanced interdisciplinary training in the science of mind and behavior.
Two years, 120 ECTS, taught in English, at ENS-PSL and the EHESS.
A research-based master, open to the sciences and the humanities
The master’s program in cognitive science is interdisciplinary and open to all students, whether they come from the sciences or the humanities. It is run by the École Normale Supérieure, within PSL University, and co-accredited by the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales.
The program has four semesters. The first is a pluridisciplinary core curriculum: it introduces students to the foundations of cognitive science and gives them time to choose their areas of specialization later on.
All courses and exams are in English. The program ends with a long research internship, the writing of a thesis and an oral presentation of the work.
The four semesters
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Semester 1
Core curriculum
All students take the same pluridisciplinary courses, an introduction to the methods and questions of cognitive science.
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Semester 2
Specialized courses and first internship
Students choose advanced courses in the areas they want to specialize in and do a first internship in a research laboratory.
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Semester 3
Advanced coursework
Students freely choose interdisciplinary courses on current research topics in cognitive science.
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Semester 4
Research internship and thesis
The degree ends with a five-month research internship, a thesis and its oral defense.
Six domains of specialization
In the second semester, students choose advanced courses to specialize in one or more areas of cognitive science.
Applications
There is a single admission session each year: applications open in January and close in February. The Q&A answers the most common questions.