École Normale Supérieure – PSL
Master’s program in cognitive science
Advanced interdisciplinary training in the science of mind and behaviour.
- Duration
- Two years
- Credits
- 120 ECTS
- Language of instruction
- English
- Institutions
- ENS-PSL & EHESS
About the master
A research-based master, open to the sciences and the humanities
Run by the École Normale Supérieure within PSL University and co-accredited by the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, our master’s degree offers an interdisciplinary education in cognitive science, and is open to all students, whether they have previously studied in the sciences or the humanities.
The Master’s program is organized in four semesters. The first semester is a pluri-disciplinary core curriculum that introduces students to the foundations of cognitive science, and gives them time to choose their areas of specialization later in their curriculum.
All courses and exams are conducted in English, and the program culminates in a long-term research internship, the writing of a thesis and an oral presentation of the work.
Program structure
Organised over four semesters
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Semester 1
Core curriculum
All students follow the same pluri-disciplinary courses, an introduction to the methods and questions of cognitive science.
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Semester 2
Specialised courses and first internship
Students choose advanced courses in the areas they want to specialise in, and carry out 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 an oral defence.
Specialties
Six domains of specialization
In the second semester, students choose advanced courses to specialise 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 FAQ answers the most common questions.