Admission requirements

During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents in the MyApplication portal. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

• A recent passport picture*
  The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.
• A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card*
  Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.
• A copy of your most recent grades transcript AND/OR a copy of your bachelor’s diploma
  If you have not graduated yet, you can upload the official grades transcript of your bachelor's programme.
• A curriculum vitae
  List your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience.
• A motivation letter (max. 500 words)
  You are requested to fill in the motivation letter form that will be offered to you in the MyApplication portal under the task 'Upload motivation letter'. In this letter you specify why you want to follow this master’s programme and the specialisation of your choice. You must explain how you fulfil the admission requirements for this master's programme and how your background fits with the specialisation of your choice. 
• An Academic Background Form
  The document 'Academic Background Form' that needs to be filled in will be offered to you in the MyApplication portal under the task ‘Proof your academic capabilities’.

_{*As a UM student it is not necessary to upload this document in the MyApplication portal. Unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2025; in that case you do have to upload a copy of your passport.}

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

• Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
  Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master’s programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which document(s) you can use to prove your proficiency.

Please note:

• Make sure to upload the documents in the MyApplication portal in PDF or Word-format on time and before the application deadline.
• Do not upload Zip files, we cannnot open these files.
• All documents must be in English.
• Only completed applications will be taken into consideration. Note that after the deadline there is no possibility anymore to revise your application. Therefore we recommend that you start your application on time.

When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this in this section.

The research master Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience is a selective programme with a maximum enrolment of 24 new students per specialisation each year.

Selection procedure

The main steps in the selection procedure involve an assessment of your application, which may result in an invitation for an interview. Upon completion of the selection procedure, a message will be sent to you about your application status (details below).

Assessment of your application

After receipt of all required documents, the Board of Admissions will carefully assess your application. Using all your submitted documents, the Board will assess your application on a number of criteria, which include:

• knowledge, skills and experience in the area of your chosen specialisation that you acquired in the past;
• your motivation for choosing a specialisation and ability to acquire new knowledge and skills in the area of that specialisation;
• general motivation and ability for conducting research;
• attitude and communication skills necessary for functioning in a Problem-Based Learning teaching environment, and for the development of a research career in academic, industrial, clinical, governmental and other settings;
• openness to learning within an international academic environment;
• excellent command of written and spoken English.

Note: only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for application for this study programme’ on this page.

Interview

An (online) interview is part of the further selection procedure. It consists of a further assessment of the above-listed criteria. Interviews will take place in March/April.

Message about your application status

Based on the documents you have submitted and the selection procedure for your chosen programme, the UM decides on whether to offer you a place in this study programme. Once the UM has made this decision, you will be informed about it by email. We strive to let you know if you are offered a place or not within six weeks from the application deadline.

If there are more candidates than places, candidates that qualify for admission may be placed on a waiting list. This means that the final acceptance decision is delayed and that the UM offering you a place in the study programme depends on the availability of places. Candidates that have been placed on the waiting list will receive regular updates on the status of their application.