Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience

Application and admissions

Please do not forget to check the admission requirements.

Each year, the programme will admit a maximum of 20-25 students to each of the four specialisations. Admission is limited to students with at least a university bachelor degree, completed before 1 September 2012.

Application deadlines

1 February 2012 - application deadline for non-EU students who intend to apply for a Maastricht University scholarship or any other scholarship.
15 April 2012 (regular deadline)

Please note that we can only process complete applications. Please make sure that you have uploaded all required documents before 15 April.

Application procedure

Step 1: Apply in Studielink
Step 2: Apply and register via the My UM portal
Admission procedure
More information

Step 1: Apply in Studielink

First of all, you must apply in Studielink, the online application tool for higher education in the Netherlands. After completing this step, you can proceed with your application at Maastricht University via the My UM portal.

PLEASE NOTE: all students with a registered address in the Netherlands and a current Citizen Service Number (so-called BSN) must have their own DigiD code in order to login to Studielink.

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To apply in Studielink, please take the following steps:

Apply for an account in Studielink. You will receive an e-mail with your Studielink login details within minutes.
Login to Studielink, set a personal password, enter your personal data and select ‘new enrolment application’.
Select first the university and then the programme of your choice.The specialisations of the Research Master programme are listed separately in Studielink. This means that you must already have decided on a specialisation when you apply. If you are not sure which specialisation is right for you, please contact Ms. Renée Rijkens (researchmaster-fpn@maastrichtuniversity.nl, tel. +31 43 3881747) for additional information before you proceed with the Studielink application.
In the following steps please fill in:

Bachelor diploma that you have obtained or will obtain;
Payment information such as a bank account number from which your tuition fees will be paid. This information can only be changed later via the university (not via Studielink) so please enter a bank account only if you are sure it will be used to pay the fees. If unsure, you can supply these details later - but keep in mind that this is essential for processing your payments and therefore your application and -if admitted- your registration.

5. Finish by clicking ‘Send my enrolment application’.

For questions about how to apply in Studielink, please check the Studielink manual.

Step 2: Apply and register via the My UM portal

Once you have submitted your application in Studielink, you will receive an e-mail from Maastricht University containing login details for the My UM portal, where you can finish your application.

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Please use Internet Explorer to fill in the application.

To complete your application, please take the following steps:

Go to the My UM portal: Fill in the application forms (personal data, education, remaining questions)
Upload the required documents. These documents are:

Curriculum vitae;
Photocopy of valid passport or EU ID card;
Passport size photo;
Certified transcripts (in English or Dutch) of university courses followed and marks received.
Bachelor's students of the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience must upload their transcript of records via MyUM/courses/academic work overview. A signature is not required on the transcript;
A certified hard copy of the bachelor's diploma. If you have not yet received the bachelor’s diploma, the English (or Dutch) transcript of university courses followed and marks received will suffice. Note that the bachelor’s degree must be obtained before 1 September 2012;
A motivation letter that describes your background and motivation for research training in the chosen specialisation (maximum 500 words);
Proof of English language proficiency*: please provide official test results indicating a minimum Internet-based TOEFL score of 90 (test code 7102) or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no component less than 6) or Cambridge examinations: CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) with grade A, B or C or CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) with grade A, B or C+.

* You are exempted from an English proficiency test if you have a Dutch bachelor’s diploma or if you received your previous academic education in English.

3. Two academic references.

Ask your referees to:

Fill in the online reference form and
Write a one-page reference letter, which must be copied into the reference form.

Please note that we can only process complete applications. Please make sure that you have uploaded all required documents before 15 April.

Admission procedure

After we have received your required materials the Board of Admissions of the Research Master will carefully assess your application. You will then be notified whether you have been selected for the second stage of the admission procedure, which entails an individual interview and 45-minutes analytic writing assignment.

Interviews with pre-selected candidates will take place in April 2012. if you are invited for the interview and you live either in the Netherlands or within a 200 km radius of Maastricht, you will be expected to attend in person. A Skype interview can be arranged if you live further away.

Around 23 May 2012, you will be formally notified whether you are admitted or not admitted. If you are admitted you will received detailed information about the registration process at Maastricht University.

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