Master of Science (M.Sc.) Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences
The Master's program is an interfaculty/interdisciplinary discovery-orientated degree program of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, which enables the students to specialize in the field of Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences on a modularized basis.
| Duration | 4 semesters |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Admission requirements | a Bachelor of Science in a biomedical field, psychology, mathematics or computer sciences. |
| Number of students per semester | five |
| Language of instruction | Please note that modules will be held in English. |
| Applications | Deadline for an application for the summer semester: 15.01. Deadline for the winter semester: 15.07. compare applications |
Curriculum plan of the Master's Program
During the Master's Program, similar to the Bachelor's Program, the students get a practical as well as a theoretical training consisting of lectures, courses, demonstrations and obligatory lab projects. The organization into modules allows a flexible curriculum, matching each participant's scientific background.
During the first three semesters the students can choose their courses out of a list of offered modules. Currently we offer the following courses (for detailed description of the modules please visit 'modules'):
| M-Neuro-AM1 a-c | Computational Neuroscience |
| M-Neuro AM2 a-c | Experimental and Translational Neuroimaging |
| M-Neuro-AM2 a-c | Neural Function I: Analyzing the Neural Underpinning of Behavior - From structure to function to behavior |
| M-Neuro-AM4 a-c | Neural Function II: Analyzing the Neural Underpinning of Behavior - From structure to function to behavior |
| M-Neuro-AM4 a-c | Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology |
| M-Neuro-AM4 a-c | Neurobiology in Drosophila |
| M-Neuro-AM6 a-b | Neuroimaging |
| M-Neuro-AM6 a-b | Cellular Signal Transmission and Repair Mechanisms |
| M-Neuro-AM7 a-d | Medical Imaging in Stereotactic Neurosurgery |
| M-Neuro-AM7 a-d | Retinal Immunology |
| M-Neuro-AM7 a-d | Data Analysis in Life Sciences |
| M-Neuro-AM8 a-e | Sensory Systems |
| M-Neuro-AM8 a-e | Neuroethics |
| M-Neuro-AM10 a-b | Animal Models in Neuroscientific Research |
| M-Neuro-AM11 a-d | Clinical Neuroscience I |
| M-Neuro AM11 a-d | Sleep and Clinical Neuroscience |
| M-Neuro-AM11 a-d | Clinical Neuroscience II |
| M-Neuro-AM13 | Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases |
| M-Neuro-AM15 a-c | Quantitative Microscopy |
| M-Neuro-AM15 a-c | Basic Research Techniques applied in Metabolic Neuroscience |
| M-Neuro-AM15 a-c | Seminar Neurobiology: Genes, Circuits and Behavior |
| M-Neuro-AM16a-b | Lecture Neurobiology: Genes, Circuits and Behavior |
| M-Neuro-AM16a-b | Neurosurgical aspects in neuroscientific systems |
| M-Neuro-EM1&2 | Project work (elective modules) Performing two projects (elective modules) during the lecture-free period is obligatory. |
| Master thesis | Master thesis and colloquium The Master's Program is completed by a five-month Master thesis |
Please note that some modules are only offered either in the winter or the summer semester. More information about the different modules can be found on the page Modules. More information about the curriculum can be found in the examination regulations (§5 and §6), which you will find via Downloads.
Career Objectives and Perspective
Aim of the study program is to train scientists whose degree gives them qualifications that do the international competition justice. They should attain substantial understanding of neuroscientific questions based on fundamental knowledge in relevant fields, important for their later career.
Students of the M.Sc. Program are qualified to deal with neuroscientific relevant inquisitions with a repertoire of scientific methods that exceed the traditional neuroscientific disciplines. Therefore the degree provides the students with a sufficient qualification enabling professional work in fields including basic teaching, the pharmaceutical industry, scientific publishing, and coordinative positions in neuroscientific organizations.
Due to good collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in fields such as the M.D./Ph.D. Programs (Dr. nat. med. / Dr. rer. nat.) and due to the European Graduate School in Neurosciences (EURON) with Marie Curie training site of the EU (MCTS) the location Cologne can give best conditions for a Ph.D. Program.
How to apply for your Master thesis
Issued by the examination board of the Master of Science Program Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cologne, Oct 28, 2021.
Disclaimer: The legally binding regulations are outlined in the exam regulations (Masterprüfungsordnung) as published on 27.02.2019 and available here: https://am.uni-koeln.de/e25983/am_mitteilungen/@32/AM_2019-12_AeO_ZO-MA-Neur owissenschaften_ger.pdf
Further details are regulated by the examination board (Prüfungsausschuss, PA-MSc-NW).
Applications for registration of a master thesis have to use the Master Thesis Registration Form in its most recent version (to be found at https://neuroscience.uni-koeln.de/downloads) and they need to be sent to the examination board through the mail address PA-MSc-NW@uni-koeln.de. Applications are approved by the examination board (PA-MSc-NW). Applications are required to be handed in 4 weeks prior to the intended starting date to allow for sufficient time of formal checks and approval. The candidate has to obtain signed approval of a 1st examiner and a 2nd examiner for her/his master thesis and colloquium prior to her/his application.
By default, 1st and 2nd examiners are chosen from the list of examiners (see below) that has been approved by the examination board. 1st and 2nd examiner must belong to different research groups from two different institutions.
By regulation (Masterprüfungsordnung, see link above), both examiners are expected to either hold a professorship or have passed the degree of habilitation (or equivalent). Exceptions may be granted on application by the examination board (in such cases please allow for additional time to evaluate your registration form). Generally, the 1st examiner is also the supervisor of the thesis. However, there is the possibility to suggest in addition a direct supervisor for the thesis (she/he will not be examiner and thus not grade the thesis and/or colloquium) in addition to the two examiners. This constellation may e.g. be relevant in cases where the candidate applies for an external master thesis (in such cases please allow for additional time to evaluate your registration form).
List of examiners and master thesis supervisors
| Department | Academic Title | Name |
| Anatomy | Prof. Dr. | Martin Scaal |
| Anatomiy | Prof. Dr. | Johannes Vogt |
| Anatomy | Prof. Dr. | Doychin Angelov |
| Opthalmology | Prof. Dr. | Antje Neugebauer |
| Biochemiistry | Prof. Dr. | Marius Lemberg |
| Physiology | Prof. Dr. | Tatiana Korotkova |
| Endokrinology | Prof. Dr. | Jens Brüning |
| Human Genetics | Prof. Dr. | Brunhilde Wirth |
| Psychiatry of Childhood and Adolescence | Prof. Dr. | Stephan Bender |
| MPI Metabolism Research | Dr. | Marc Tittgemeyer |
| Medical Psychology | Prof. Dr. | Elke Kalbe |
| Neurosurgery | Prof. Dr. | Roland Goldbrunner |
| Neurosurgery | Prof. Dr. | Veerle Visser-Vandewalle |
| Neuropathology | Prof. Dr. | Martina Deckert |
| Neuropathologiy | Prof. Dr. | Manuel Montesinos-Rongen |
| Neurophysiology | Prof. Dr. | Jürgen Hescheler |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Gereon Fink |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Michael Schroeter |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Özgür Onur |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Christian Grefkes |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Michael Barbe |
| Neurology | PD Dr. | Haidar Dafsari |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Thilo van Eimeren |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Norbet Galldiks |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. | Helmar Lehman |
| Neurology | PD Dr. | Michael Malter |
| Neurology | Prof. Dr. Dr. | Adele Rüger |
| Neurology | PD Dr. | Clemens Warnke |
| Neurology | PD Dr. | Gilbert Wunderlich |
| Nuclear Medicine | Prof. Dr. | Alexander Drzezga |
| Palliative Care | Prof. Dr. | Raymond Voltz |
| Physiology | Prof. Dr. | Rudolf Wiesner |
| Radiology | Prof. Dr. | Marc Schlamann |
| Psychiatry | Prof. Dr. | Frank Jessen |
| Psychiatry | Prof. Dr. | Joseph Kambeitz |
| Psychiatry | Prof. Dr. Dr. | Kai Vogeley |
| Psychiatry | Prof. Dr. | Alfredo Ramirez |
| Neurology | PD. Dr. | Carolin Weiss Lucas |
| Neurology | Dr. | Lukas Volz |
| Neurology | Dr. | Graziana Gatto |
| Psychiatry | Dr. | Thomas Schüller |
| Neurology/FZJ | Prof. Dr. | Peter Weiß-Blankenhorn |
| Psychology | Prof. Dr. | Simone Vossel |
| Psychology | Prof. Dr. | Jutta Stahl |
| Psychology | Prof. Dr. | Jan Peters |
| CECAD | Prof. Dr. | Natalia Kononenko |
| CECAD | Prof. Dr. | Matteo Bergami |
| Neurology | Dr. | Carlos Baldermann |
| Neurology | Dr. | Markus Aswendt |
| Molecular Neuroscience | Prof. Dr. | Dirk Isbrandt |