Bachelor
About the Cognitive Science Bachelor program
The Bachelor's degree programme offers students a solid basic education in all areas of Cognitive Science and the opportunity to specialize according to their own interests within the three focus areas of the Cognitive Science degree programme:
- "Cognition: Mind, Ethics, and Society" looks primarily at philosophical issues in cognitive science, such as topics in the philosophy of mind and cognition and the ethics of artificial intelligence.
- "Cognition: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning" examines cognition in artificial systems and covers topics in artificial intelligence, neuroinformatics, computational linguistics, NeuroKI, and computer vision.
- "Cognition: Psychology, Communication, Neuroscience, and Behavior" examines cognition in biological systems and includes topics in cognitive modeling and psychology, theoretical and experimental linguistics, neuroscience, and animal cognition.
Special attention is given to applied methods in these areas and their interdisciplinary connections, as well as a solid foundation in mathematics and computer science, which are relevant to almost all areas of cognitive science.
The degree program offers an extensive selection of courses, giving students the opportunity to explore their interests and develop a personal profile. This allows them to flexibly set the content focus during the course of their studies. In addition to a sound theoretical and practical education, students also acquire valuable skills that go beyond subject-specific competencies. They gain experience in interdisciplinary project work and learn to solve complex problems in a team, which strengthens their communication skills and sharpens their personal profile.
Most of the course is taught in English, which helps students prepare for the international working world. Students are also expected to spend one semester - usually the fifth - of their studies abroad. The best place to start this adventure is at a university with a program in Cognitive Science or a sub-discipline of Cognitive Science. Any tuition fees incurred must be paid by the students, but you can apply for scholarships, e.g. as part of ERASMUS+. Information on this can be found under Stay abroad.
At 'CogScis' you can expect a warm and committed community and student body. In addition to a varied leisure program with activities such as our famous castle weekends, games evenings and parties, we attach great importance to mutual support during your studies and active participation in shaping teaching - also with our alumni, who, for example, give us valuable insights into their professional experience at the alumni conference or support us in many ways, see the CogSci Network e.V. association.
Go directly to the application:
For prospective students
- with a German university entrance qualification,
- with German citizenship and a foreign higher education entrance qualification,
- from the EU/EEA with a direct foreign higher education entrance qualification
Application portal of Osnabrück University.
International prospective students apply via the service agency "uni-assist e.V.".
Further information can be found on the website of the Admissions Office.
Facts and figures
Degree | Bachelor of Science |
Standard period of study | 6 semesters |
Start of studies | Winter semester |
Admission: | admission-free |
Course language | English, occasionally German |
Students per year | approx. 150 |
| Costs of the course | semester fee |
The degree program is currently not subject to admission restrictions.
Applicants for the Cognitive Science Bachelor's program at Osnabrück University must have the Abitur or an equivalent foreign university entrance qualification.
In order to understand the lectures and participate in discussions and examinations, students need a good knowledge of German and English right from the start:
- German: level B1
- English: level B2 according to CEFR
For accepted language certificates, see the pages of Osnabrück University (link). For further details on admission, see the current version of the admission regulations (link).
These are typical interests and characteristics of our students. Do you recognize yourself in some of them?
- You value a broad interdisciplinary learning perspective
- You are inquisitive
- You critically question existing conditions and views
- You are enthusiastic about future technologies
- You are fascinated by the brain and want to learn more about it
- You value the opportunity to design your studies and focus independently
- You are attracted to an international environment
- Mathematics and natural sciences are no obstacle for you
If you still have questions... : Please contact us:
The Admissions Office takes care of questions regarding the application process.
The CogSci Student Mentoring Team will be happy to answer any informal questions about the program.
If you have formal questions about the program, please contact the program coordinator and Dean of Studies, Dr. Dr. Gregor Hörzer.