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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Computational Cognitive Science
Header image Computational Cognitive Science

Computational Cognitive Science

How can we model human task performance? How do our brains combine visual and auditory information? What is the ideal patient monitor for tired emergency doctors?

The Master’s degree programme in Computational Cognitive Science (CCS) focuses on cognitive science and neuroscience and their applications. CCS gives you insights into human cognition, language, and the brain and teaches you to use this knowledge in applied settings, such as human-computer interaction and computerized learning tools. By leveraging knowledge of human cognition, for example, you can optimize how an artificial intelligence system communicates with human users and develop virtual reality applications for education or simulation models of human task performance.

Two questions form the basis for this programme:

  • How do human cognition and the human brain work?
  • How can we use this knowledge in applied settings?

To answer these questions, you have to know how humans perform tasks and how this affects potential interactions. How do humans acquire new skills and how do they learn to adapt to a new task? In addition, it is important to think about how humans communicate and apply this to human-machine communication. Language is a natural way of human communication, and this may or may not be a good choice for communication with a machine, depending on the circumstances.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Computational Cognitive Science
Course type
Master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60653
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • This programme is unique in its formal approach to the study of cognitive neuroscience and its applications. It therefore combines Cognitive science and modeling; Artificial Intelligence; Computational neuroscience; Language modeling and Human-AI interaction
  • Our students particularly value the programme's scientific approach
  • Our faculty is the home of the 2016 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Ben Feringa, and the Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Frits Zernike
Programme

Curriculum

2-year programme; credits per year: 60 ECTS; most courses are 5 ECTS.

For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/60653

Programme options
Cognitive Modeling and the Brain (specialization)
Human Language Modeling (specialization)
Human-centered AI (specialization)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional

Exchange is possible, for example as part of your Master thesis. All our science and engineering programmes offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America. Our exchange programmes have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Artificial IntelligenceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Artificial IntelligenceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Artificial IntelligenceUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
PsychologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Students with a BSc in psychology who have sufficient programming experience and have passed the course Architectures of Intelligence can be admitted.

Information ScienceUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Communication and Information StudiesUtrecht UniversityVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Information ScienceUtrecht UniversityVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Artificial IntelligenceUtrecht UniversityNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Artificial IntelligenceRadboud University NijmegenNo additional requirements
LinguisticsRadboud University NijmegenVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Artificial IntelligenceVU University AmsterdamNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Natural and Social SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Cognition, Language and CommunicationUniversity of AmsterdamVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Information ScienceUniversity of AmsterdamVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Artificial IntelligenceUniversity of AmsterdamNo additional requirements
PsychobiologyUniversity of AmsterdamVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
No education title foundMaastricht UniversityVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceMaastricht UniversityNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Cognitive Science and Artificial IntelligenceTilburg UniversityNo additional requirements
Communication and Information StudiesTilburg UniversityVia a pre-master with a maximum of 30 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceLeiden UniversityNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

A Bachelor's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Psychology or a relevant degree including the following subjects: Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Science, Statistics and Research methods, practical skills in Programming.

Information about admission possibilities and requirements for students with a Dutch degree is published on: https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission

knowledge minimum

Sufficient English proficiency on VWO level is required.

Registration procedure

The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme.

Please fill out this checklist to describe why you are applying for this Master's degree programme (questions to be addressed are outlined in the form).

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

A Bachelor's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Psychology or a relevant degree including the following subjects: Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Science, Statistics and Research methods, practical skills in Programming.

This is merely an indication of required background knowledge. The Board of Admissions determines whether the specific contents of this/these course(s) meet the admission requirements of the master programme for which you applied.

knowledge minimum

BEFORE YOU APPLY! Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/msc/ for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements.

language test

MAKE SURE TO VISIT https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements for all the necessary information about required language tests and minimum scores.

other admission requirements

BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements.

SCHOLARSHIPS

In cooperation with major national and international companies we welcome students with several scholarships

ASML Scholarship: ASML is one of the world's leading manufacturers of chip-making equipment. The €5000 p/y scholarship is awarded every year to 25 exceptional students, who get the chance to become a Technology Ambassador within their scholarship period. More information can be found here: https://www.asml.com/en/careers/students-graduates/asml-scholarship

Registration procedure

The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme. Applications are evaluated on a continuous basis. You do not have to wait until the application deadline to apply.

Please fill out this checklist to describe why you are applying for this Master's degree programme (questions to be addressed are outlined in the form).

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements.

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 20700full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 24200full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Once you have your Master's degree, you can either continue in science or use your skills in industrial R&D departments or usability labs to ensure that knowledge about human thinking and behaviour is incorporated as early as possible in the design process.

User interface design experts, usability testers, and interaction designers are needed in companies that make computer software and new media applications. You could also seek employment as a researcher at a research institute, either at a university (PhD study) or a research institute like Applied Scientific Research (TNO). About 50% of our students choose a career as a scientist, mostly going on to do a PhD.

Job examples

  • Work for a startups to develop smart software
  • Interaction designer
  • Usability tester
  • Software developer
  • PhD research position
Research

Interdisciplinary in nature

Within the Master's degree programme Computational Cognitive Science, much of the research is connected to the department of Artificial Intelligence and the research institute Bernoulli. Most of the teachers in the Master's programme are affiliated with the Bernoulli Institute and the content of the courses is closely linked to their research themes.

The mission of the Bernoulli Institute is to perform outstanding academic research and teaching in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence, and to maintain international leadership herein; to foster these disciplines as a living body of knowledge, and to make it relevant to society in its broadest sense. The symbiosis between pure and applied science, and between mono- and multidisciplinary research and teaching, is a distinguishing characteristic of our institute. As an important part of this mission we aim to transfer our results to other areas of science and technology, and initiate and expand inter- and multi-disciplinary research collaborations.

The following research groups within the institute focus on Artificial Intelligence:

The research in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Engineering is inherently interdisciplinary in nature. With Computing Science, an interest in formal modeling is shared, where these models may be symbolic, statistical or hybrid in nature. With Psychology and Biology an interest in natural cognition is shared, where the goal is to describe fundamental qualities of cognition in such an explicit way that computational models of perceptual, cognitive, and behavioural control functions can be constructed.

Good ties with the research of other institutes at the University of Groningen

The master Computational Cognitive Science has strong ties with other institutes of the University of Groningen, such as the research institute for Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, the Heymans Institute for Experimental Psychology and the University Hospital.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Campus TourMore information

Contact

  • Academic Advisors FSE (For questions regarding the programme)
  • studyscience@rug.nl Study Science (For students who are interested in a Campus Tour or who have other general questions)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl
  • 
						Testimonial of Pauline Schomaker

    The cognitive aspect of the programme particularly interested me as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and the applications of AI in various fields.

    – Pauline Schomaker
    Read more

    Pauline Schomaker- Student of the MSc Computational Cognitive Science

    I chose to pursue a Master’s in Computational Cognitive Science after completing my Bachelor’s in Information Science, with a minor in Artificial Intelligence, at the Faculty of Arts. The cognitive aspect of the programme particularly interested me as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and the applications of AI in various fields.

    The research-oriented aspect of the programme was something I hadn’t expected, but I found it extremely valuable. I was able to work on a research project of my own choosing, using real data and EEGs. The guidance from my supervisor and the weekly meetings were extremely helpful. Also, the small class size allowed me to form close relationships with my peers and engage in meaningful discussions outside class.

    The programme has provided a strong foundation for my upcoming Master’s thesis. I have already worked on small projects, such as creating a cognitive model for an opponent in a game and analysing the usability of different apps for elderly people. I am interested in combining my thesis with an internship at a company, where I can apply what I have learned and gain hands-on experience. Overall, I believe that this programme has equipped me with the tools and knowledge for a successful career in cognitive science and AI.

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Kai van Amsterdam

    My job is as multifaceted as the programme is

    – Kai van Amsterdam
    Read more

    'I got a job at the UMCG after writing a thesis on anaesthesia monitors. Anaesthesiologists view graphs on monitors during surgery. We wanted to develop a monitor that translates graphs into statistical patterns. It proved that anaesthesiologists cannot recognize these patterns. Maybe a computer can? Could a model predict what's going to happen next? This is the focus of my research.

    I also analyse data for the anaesthesia department. There is too much data for the physicians to process. You need to find the right balance of drugs for each patient, which is why it is important that physicians can make good use of the available data. My job is as multifaceted and practical as the programme was. I get to do research and I’m also involved in various projects!’

    Close

Study associations

Cover

Cover is the study association for all students of AI, CS, and CCS here at the UG. We offer fun activities, a room to hang out, and support for you to pass all your upcoming courses.
A study association is an organisation run by a team of students from the respective bachelor’s and master’s degree programme(s). We organise many activities for students, including introductory camps and monthly “borrels” (informal social gatherings with drinks). Our activities follow our 3 main pillars: education, social, and career. Hence, we organise course support lectures, symposia, educational talks, parties, informal gatherings, career day, company visits, company talks, and many more.If you decide to study AI, CS, or CCS, be sure to sign up for Cover at www.svcover.nl/join, so you can attend all our awesome activities even after the Kick-off Week! And, about the Kick-Off Week, we always organise a treasure hunt, a barbecue, a borrel, and an introduction camp that spans an entire weekend for the first years.
https://www.svcover.nl/
Read more