Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience MSc

Title

Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience MSc

Degree

Computational and Cognitive Scientist

Type

Degree program

Level

Master

Accreditation number

MAB 2015/7/XI/8

Language

English

Duration

4 semesters (2 years)

ECTS credits

120

Minimum number of students

5

Maximum number of students

30

Description

This programme involves different scientific fields of natural sciences, technological sciences, and humanities as well. The focus of investigations is on the phenomena of cognition - perception, attention, memory, reasoning, thinking, and behaviour - from an interdisciplinary perspective: Anthropology, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Psychology have contributed to its development as core disciplines. The relevance of such an approach gains support from the constant need of building a knowledge-based society.

Specializations

  • Cognitive Neuroscience Specialization
  • Social and Cognitive Development Specialization

MEI:COGSCI 

Our master’s programme (Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience, Msc) is part of the Middle European Interdisciplinary master’s programme in Cognitive Science (Mei:CogSci). For more information check the Mei:CogSci homepage. Eligible students can join this programme by spending one mobility semester at one of our partner universities in their 3rd semester. Student interested in the Mei:CogSci programme can also contact us via email for further information: cogsci@ppk.elte.hu.

For visiting students from our Mei:CogSci partner universities we offer multiple courses and research possibilities at ELTE. For more information you can visit our info site.

Strength of program

Our university has longstanding educational and research traditions in a wide area of fields, including both humanities and science, thus providing an appropriate background for a multidisciplinary field such as cognitive science. The skills and knowledge gained during the programme can be applied in a very wide area of basic research, applied research, and jobs outside the academic field. The students will have the opportunity to work with distinguished researchers on various projects in the university laboratories or join research in our partner institutions. They will have the opportunity to participate in international collaborations on research projects, and the chance to do international training with one of our partner universities.

The structure of the program is available on this link.
Career opportunities

The program provides graduates with the necessary theoretical/intellectual and empirical tools to pursue an academic career (Ph.D. program) in cognitive science or in one of the disciplines related to it. Apart from basic research graduates in cognitive science increasingly find work in applied research: prospective career fields include the IT-sector (interaction design, usability, knowledge management, etc.), education, and biomedical and clinical research, as well as economy. The generic skills (such as teamwork, ability to communicate, reflection and evaluation skills, ability to quickly learn and adapt) acquired by graduates are of use in a variety of careers in the private sector. Graduates of cognitive science are especially suited to work in highly interdisciplinary area, bringing experience in mediating between disciplines. These include the fields of IT and education (see above), as well as the areas of consulting, human resources, and science writing.

Job examples
  • Human Resources employee
  • Researcher
  • IT expert
EU/EEA students
non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

2,100 EUR

2,100 EUR

Application fee

EUR 60 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-30/01/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 01/02/2026-25/03/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 26/04/2026-15/06/2026___EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 16/06/2026-10/07/2026

EUR 60 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-30/01/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 01/02/2026-25/03/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 26/04/2026-15/06/2026___EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 16/06/2026-10/07/2026

Other costs

Entrance exam fee: 120 EUR (non-refundable)

Entrance exam fee: 120 EUR (non-refundable)

non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

2,100 EUR

Application fee

EUR 60 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-30/01/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 01/02/2026-25/03/2026___EUR 120 (non-refundable) between 26/04/2026-15/06/2026___EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 16/06/2026-10/07/2026

Other costs

Entrance exam fee: 120 EUR (non-refundable)


Offered for the next academic year

Yes

Start program

01, Sep, 2026

Deadline for applications - September intake

10, Jul, 2026

Is there a February intake

No


Admission requirements

Entry requirements

A) Full acknowledgement is given for the following degrees: a Bachelor’s degree in: Psychology, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Biology, Liberal Arts: Philosophy Specialisation; college degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Computer Science, Teacher of Biology, Biology Laboratory Operator; university degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Informatics, Applied Plant Biology, Applied Zoology, Biophysics, Biology, Molecular Biology, Teacher of Biology, Aesthetics; Ethics, Anthropology and Social Studies, Philosophy. 
If you have any of the degrees listed above or you are going to obtain a degree by the time of the results announcement, you do not have to do anything else but send a copy of the degree certificate (hereinafter diploma). 
Please note that the degrees described above as well as the full acknowledgement are only for degrees obtained in Hungary. If your degree was obtained outside Hungary, it must be submitted for evaluation (see below). However, the above list will give you an idea of what degrees can be accepted. 

B) Conditionally accepted Bachelor’s degrees which will be considered in the first place: Liberal Arts: Communications and Media Studies, Business Information Technology, Applied Economics, Economic Analysis, Hungarian Linguistics and Literature: Language Technology specialisation and Theoretical Linguistics specialisation, Pedagogy, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineer, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineer, Economist in Business Administration and Management, Technical Manager, Mathematics, Communication and Media Science, Economist in Economic and Financial Mathematical Analysis. In the case of these degrees they must fulfil the following credit requirements: at least 10-12 credits (ECTS) which can be recognized from the earlier studies in at least three of the following fields: mathematics, statistics; informatics; epistemology; logic; linguistics; physiology and anatomy. (Besides the degrees listed above, any other degree can be accepted if it fulfils the 12 ECTS requirement.) 

The requirement, i. e. the existence of the credits listed above is established through a preliminary examination of the credits which must be initiated by the applicant in the form of a free-text request.

If the applicant takes their final examination during the current semester and their degree certificate (diploma) is not issued before the application deadline, a certification is required, which verifies that the applicant will presumably receive a degree. In case of being accepted as a student, however, the applicant must present the diploma upon enrolment at the latest.

The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities (Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.)) . The details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.

Language requirements

Minimum level of language proficiency (oral) (A1-C2): C1
Minimum level of language proficiency (written) (A1-C2): C1

Further comments:
The language of instruction for the entire programme is English, so a very good command of English is required during the oral entrance exam and throughout the whole programme. The language knowledge is assessed and evaluated during the interview, the Faculty of Education and Psychology doesn't require an official language certificate.

Documents to submit with application
Document Comment
Online application form -
Bachelor-level degree -
Transcript of records -
CV -
Motivation letter The letter should contain approximately 2000 characters. You should explain your experiences and ideas, how you met the field of cognitive science, why you thought it would be suitable for you, what your aim is with the MSc degree, how you would imagine your career, which area you are interested in and what further studies you might plan.
Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid) -
Copy of application fee transfer -
Entrance exam fee -

Reference work

The reference work can be any work which you wrote within the field of psychologylinguistics, OR cognitive science (research paper, seminar paper, research report, published article, poster, study etc.). You can also write a new paper for the current application, which can be an improved version of an earlier work. If the work has been published or has been presented during your studies, please indicate on the paper where it was published or within what context it was written and presented. The maximum length should be 15 pages (without the appendices, and there are no requirements for form). If the work was co-authored, you must indicate their participation in the paper in percent (%). The reference work must be in English.-
An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English. It can be a translation from the university too. -
Application procedure

The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.

The application and the entrance exam fee should be paid using the new Epay system. More details soon.

The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.

The application procedure includes 4 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them.

  • Early bird application: until January 31st -  discounted application fee: 60 EUR
  • Regular application 1: February 1st – March 25th
  • Regular application 2: April 26th – June 15th
  • Last Call: June 16th – July 10th - increased application fee: 180 EUR

We do not take applications between March 26th and April 26th!

The Faculty of Education and Psychology ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.

When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Student Affairs and Registrar’s Office an entrance exam date option will be sent in the online application system after the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly.

Procedure of the entrance examination

The applications are examined by the Admission Board and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system. Admission letters are sent out in the online application system.

Based on Section 34 of Government decree 423/2012 (XII. 29.) on the admission to higher education institutions, the higher education institution regulates the admission requirements and the method of ranking in the case of a Master’s programme, but the applicant can be admitted only if he/she achieves at least 50% of the maximum points. According to ELTE’s Admission Regulations if an applicant receives 0 points in any of the requirements of the admission procedure listed below, they cannot be accepted to the programme.

The oral examination is an interview with the applicant about his/her professional background, scientific interests, and professional plans. The entrance exam can be taken personally or via an MS Teams meeting. (The application does not need to be downloaded, the meeting is accessible through the browser.)

Evaluation and results

You can obtain a maximum of 100 points for the MSc in Cognitive Science programme according to the following:

1. Reference work (a maximum of 60 points): detailed description above.

2. Interview (a maximum of 40 points): an interview in English about the professional background of the applicant, his/her scientific interests and professional plans based on the CV and letter of motivation. If you cannot attend personally, you can request an entrance examination via MS Teams meetingafter you receive the schedule in which case we will request a copy of your passport or personal ID for identification purposes.

Results and the official decision will be announced within a month after the entrance exam date, in the application system.

Type of entrance examination: oral

Further details of selection and evaluation:

The ranking is based on a total evaluation of the academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.

 

Program leader

Dr. Bálint FORGÁCS
Head of Department of Cognitive Psychology

Program coordinator

Violetta FRANK
International Admission Coordinator
E-mail: admission@ppk.elte.hu
TEL: +36 1 461 4500 / 3499
Postal address: 1075 Budapest Kazinczy utca 23-27.

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Faculty of Education and Psychology

Faculty of Education and Psychology

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