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About the Cognitive Science Bachelor Program

The Bachelor Program is designed to provide a sound foundation in all core areas of Cognitive Science and a first specialization based on one's own interests within the three focus areas of Cognitive Science:

• "Cognition: Mind, Ethics, and Society" focuses mainly on philosophical questions in Cognitive Science, such as Topics in Philosophy of Mind and Cognition and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
• "Cognition: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning" focuses on Cognition in Artificial Systems and comprises Topics in Artificial Intelligence, Neuroinformatics, Computational Linguistics, NeuroAI, and Computer Vision.
• "Cognition: Psychology, Communication, Neuroscience, and Behavior" focuses on Cognition in Biological Systems and comprises Topics in Cognitive Modelling and Psychology, Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics, Neuroscience, and Animal Cognition.

Particular emphasis is placed on the methods employed in these fields and on their interdisciplinary relations, as well as a strong foundation in mathematics and computer science relevant to virtually all areas of Cognitive Science.

The Bachelor Program is comprised of 180 credits (including both coursework and Bachelor's thesis) spread over six semesters, one of which (preferably the fifth semester) must be spent at a university or research institution abroad (for studies or an internship). The program is completed with a bachelor thesis and leads to a "Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)" degree in Cognitive Science. The language of instruction is predominantly English, but a basic command of German (level B1 or higher) is required in addition to a good command of English (level B2 or higher) for a few courses that are offered in German only. International applicants who satisfy this criterion are encouraged to apply.

Semester Abroad

We celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of Cognitive Science! To emphasize this, we expect students to spend one semester abroad - typically the fifth. Ideally, you go on this adventure at a university or institution with a Cognitive Science program or a program in one of its sub-disciplines. Scholarships can be applied for, e.g. within the ERASMUS+ program, see Semester Abroad.

Admission regulations

Applicants for the Bachelors' programme Cognitive Science must have a German "Abitur" or an equivalent foreign certificate providing the qualification for university entrance.

Students are required to have a good command of German and English from the beginning of their studies in order to understand lectures, participate in discussions, and take examinations:

• German: Niveau B1
• English: Niveau B2 according to GER

For accepted certificates of language proficiency, please see the pages of the language center of Osnabrück University (Link). For further details about the admission, please consult the current admission regulations (Link).

Since the winter term 2023/24, access to the Bachelors' programme Cognitive Science is not restricted anymore. Nonetheless, the language requirements still apply.

Tuition Fees

A semester fee of approximately 350 EUR (which includes the "Semesterticket" for public transport) is charged per semester. Students must provide proof of health insurance upon registration.

Application

For the winter semester 2025/2026, the application and enrollment process at Osnabrück University will likely begin on 15th May 2025 and will be handled exclusively electronically. If it is unreasonable or impossible for you to use the application portal, please contact us by e-mail at studierendensekretariat@uni-osnabrueck.de.

Prospective students

• with German university entrance qualification,
• with German citizenship and foreign university entrance qualification
• from the EU/ EEA with direct foreign university entrance qualification

apply via the application portal of Osnabrück University. 

For all of the above, the application deadline for the bachelor program "Cognitive Science" for the winter term 2025/26 is likely the end of September 2025.

Prospective international students from non-EU-countries apply via uni-assist e.V. For more information, please see the pages of the students' office, where you also find the required application form for Cognitive Science.

For international students from non-EU-countries, the application deadline is June 15, 2025.

Get in touch... 

 ... if this page got you interested in studying Cognitive Science and you want to learn more about the Bachelor program or if you have questions.

The CogSci Student Mentoring Team is happy to answer all informal questions regarding the Cognitive Science program.

For questions about the application process, please contact the admissions office.

For formal questions about the Cognitive Science program, please contact the Program Coordinator and Dean of Studies, Dr. Dr. Gregor Hörzer.