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Philosophy of Neuroscience, Master Degree, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

the Netherlands

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Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
Master Degree	Full-time, Part-time	1 year	September	EUR 2694 per year	EUR 17480 per year

About Philosophy of Neuroscience, Master Degree - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Translate neuroscientific insights into practical applications

How can you translate insights from neuroscience into clinical psychiatric practice and, in turn, into something that a patient can understand? What are the implications of neurotechnologies such as Deep Brain Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for our understanding of self and personal identity? What sort of explanation do neuroscientists provide? When is neuroscientific evidence admissible in the court of law?

The Philosophy of Neuroscience specialisation of the two-year Master's in Philosophy is unique in several ways. It's one of the few programmes to combine neuroscience and philosophy. It's genuinely translational: you'll study not only the theories but also what they mean in terms of practical skills and training. And it has a special focus on psychiatry and mental illness. You'll reflect on the philosophical foundations of neuroscience, engage with the broader implications of neuroscientific research, and become a better scientist as a result.

Learn more about Philosophy of Neuroscience, Master Degree - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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Entry requirements

Admission is based on a strict selection procedure. The Faculty's Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. To be considered for admission to the Master's programme Philosophy of Neuroscience (PNS) you must meet the following requirements:

Hold an academic Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Psychology with a Biological Psychology or Neuropsychology profile. If you hold a Bachelor's degree in a closely related discipline (e.g. Movement Sciences, Artificial Intelligence or Medicine), you are also eligible to apply.

Be eligible to a Neuroscience Master's or a related programme in which you can obtain 30 ECTS in neuroscience courses at a Master's level. Since PNS applies philosophy on neuroscience, 30 ECTS must be obtained in this discipline at a Master's level. Most of our students aim at obtaining two Master's degrees, that is to say in PNS and in Neuroscience. There are no additional criteria beyond the admission criteria for the Master's programme Neuroscience that is followed.

English language requirements

You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven't taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities:

TOEFL score 600 paper based with a minimum of 55 in each of the subtests plus 4.0 in TWE, score 250 computer based or score 100 internet based with a minimum of 20-23 in each of the subtests).
IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score (with none of the separate section scores dropping below a minimum score of 6.5).
Cambridge English: Cambridge Proficiency Exam with score A, B, or C; or Cambridge Advanced Exam with score A, B, or C.

Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

have completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; or
have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union

The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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Masters Webinar

Each year, we organise an online session for aspiring Master's students that covers everything you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Master's webinar took place on Tuesday, October 15, at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recordings all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Get the latest insights on scholarship opportunities;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.

Bachelors Webinar

Each year we organise an online session for aspiring Bachelor's students that covers all you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Bachelor's webinar took place on Thursday 24 October at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recorder version all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Ask all your questions about the housing market in Amsterdam;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.