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Cognitive Science

Master of Science; language: English

Curriculum

The central tenet of Cognitive Science is that the human mind is essentially an information processing system. In order to understand human thinking, cognitive scientists try to to understand the various ways that minds process information to produce intelligent behavior. In order to build models of human cognition they carefully describe human behavior using methods from experimental psychology but they also use tools from computer science to formally describe the underlying information processing. Cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence form the core of the Cognitive Science curriculum at Technical University of Darmstadt.

Sample module overview
Sample module overview

Information on the study programme

Module Handbook (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
Study Regulations with Semester Course and Examination Schedule
Course Catalogue
Studying CogSci

Points of contact

Department of Human Sciences
Office for Student Affairs
Departmental Student Advisory Service
Departmental Students' Representative Committee

Semesters 4
Language English. Individual courses/modules can be offered in German. Please be aware that scientific literature very often must also be read and edited in German.
Start of studies Winter semester recommended; start of studies in a summer semester possible without study guarantee
Internship internships within the study programme (see semester course schedule)
Admission requirements 1. A degree B.Sc. Cognitive Science of TU Darmstadt (reference programme) or an equivalent degree;
2. submission of an official certificate of academic achievement with at least 110 CP with average score;
3. Proof of English at C1 (GER) level;
4. proof of the mandatory online self-assessment;
5. entrance requirements verification in accordance with the competences description.
Admission procedure Provided that the admission requirements (entrance examination) are met, there are no numerical admission restrictions.
Application Online application
How and when to provide the certification of the bachelor's degree
Formal and language requirements for applicants with international qualifications
Good to know Pre-Courses & orientation week
Website for first-year students
Preparatory courses for international students
Studying from A to Z
Costs and budget

Computer Science (M.Sc.)
Informatik (M.Sc.)
Psychologie: Arbeit, Technik, Organisation (M.Sc.)

Occupational fields for graduates of the Master of Science Cognitive Science fall into the fields of business and industry, research and teaching as well as the social sector.

In the field of economics and industry, the topics are ergonomics and artificial intelligence as well as their interfaces to information technology, e.g. cognitively oriented communication technology, communication and interaction consulting, specification, design and evaluation of human-machine interfaces as well as general development, implementation and evaluation of intelligent systems. In the field of teaching, these include lectureships in cognitive science courses, development of teaching and learning systems, as well as teaching in business and industry (training).

In times of global networking, the security of information technology is becoming increasingly important. TU scientists are dealing with questions of IT security in the profile area “Cybersecurity at TU Darmstadt – CYSEC” and at the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE, among others.

The research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Technical University of Darmstadt is internationally excellent. By providing the necessary interdisciplinarity to develop the potential of AI broadly and optimally, and thus catering to the latter's high social and economic significance, it distinguishes itself from other academic locations in Germany. AI research at Technical University of Darmstadt is strongly intertwined with cognitive science, which is bundled in the Centre for Cognitive Science.

In the social field, this includes consulting in the area of computer-aided group formation, research into socially distributed cognition, research into and therapy of environmental influences on child development (cognitive sociotherapy) and support for intercultural communication (applied cognitive anthropology). Further fields of application are the personalized and adaptive design of stationary and mobile training applications in sports, prevention and rehabilitation.

Future intelligent systems and their application will require the interdisciplinary cooperation of e.g. computer scientists, roboticians, designers and psychologists. Graduates of the Master of Science can take on modelling tasks, develop more open and scientific questions independently or actively support the interdisciplinary cohesion of such mixed teams. In addition, a Master of Science Cognitive Science degree opens up occupational fields that are generally more scientifically oriented and aim, for example, at the development of new technologies or active research into new solutions for intelligent adaptive systems. In the future, the demand for cognitive scientists will increase drastically, especially in the keyword areas of the future such as autonomous driving, big data and industry 4.0. This applies both to the industrial research and development environment and to university research, which precedes future development successes.

TU Darmstadt Career Service