Cognitive Science - Bachelor (mono)

The Bachelor's program in Cognitive Science has restricted admission for all subject semesters. The study places are allocated according to the university's own selection process based on the following criteria:

• average grade of the university entrance qualification (Abitur),

• special aptitude features that attest the applicant’s suitability for the study program: vocational training, practical work and / or special school or extracurricular achievements.

Currently, 60 study places are being allocated each year.

Der Studiengang ist zulassungsbeschränkt. Die NC-Werte stehen jeweils erst nach Abschluss des Auswahlverfahrens fest. Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht über die Grenznoten des letzten Verfahrens.

The prerequisite for studying at the University of Tübingen is the general higher education entrance qualification, usually the Abitur, or another university entrance qualification such as, for instance, the delta examination for prospective students with a technical college entrance qualification or a university entrance qualification for professionally qualified persons. Applicants with foreign school-leaving qualifications should contact the Advisory and Admissions Department for International Students.

In  Baden-Württemberg there is an obligation to provide proof of participation in a study orientation phase when you enroll in an undergraduate degree program.

The study and examination language is German. Individual courses can be held in English, and the scientific literature is mainly written in English so that knowledge of English is required. However, a formal proof of proficiency in English language is not required. German language skills equivalent to DSH-2 (Testdaf4) are required for foreign students.

International applicants * without * a German university entrance qualification must provide a formal proof of German language skills in accordance with the university's enrollment regulations (see also information on proof of language proficiency / DSH language test).

The bachelor’s program in Cognitive Science is a "mono-Bachelor" program, that is, a study program with only one single study subject (major). Because the study program is interdisciplinary and thus combines already courses from different disciplines (Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Neurobiology, Linguistics, and Philosophy), there is no additional minor.

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary investigation of the mechanisms that underlie cognitive abilities (such as perception, motor skills, learning, memory, problem solving, thinking and language). Cognitive Scientists study, for instance, the formats of mental representations, the factors that determine how well an organism perceives and learns, the components of language processing, the neural correlates of cognitive processes, what defines "consciousness”, and how cognitive processes can be described by means of computer models. Depending on the specific sub-area or main focus within Cognitive Science, different aspects of cognitive abilities are investigated using different methodological approaches (e.g., empirical approaches such as experiments as well as computer models for simulating cognitive abilities). Due to its interdisciplinary nature, Cognitive Science enables a comprehensive understanding of the facets, the scope and the mechanisms of cognitive abilities.

In accordance with the interdisciplinary nature of Cognitive Science, the bachelor program in Tübingen provides an interdisciplinary education that is carried out by the departments of Computer Science, Psychology, Biology, Linguistics, Mathematics and Philosophy.

The aim of the bachelor program is to impart well-founded theoretical and methodological knowledge in the core areas of Cognitive Science as well as their integration and transfer into practical problems. Thereby, the students acquire a comprehensive, scientifically sound understanding of cognition from an interdisciplinary perspective and they are able to use this knowledge in the context of practical applications.

Tübingen's Cognitive Science program is embedded in a research landscape that is unique in Germany: In addition to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the three Max Planck Institutes for Biological Cybernetics, Developmental Biology and Intelligent Systems, the Hertie Institute for Brain Research, the Bernstein Center for Brain Research, the Werner Reichardt Center for Integrative Neurosciences as well as the Cyber ​​Valley initiative on Artificial Intelligence give students the unique opportunity to get to know and contribute to current research in Cognitive Science and potential applications on site.

The Bachelor degree program in Cognitive Science comprises 180 credit points (CP) according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in total. Of these, 124 CP are accomplished in compulsory modules in the sub-areas Computer Science and Mathematics, Psychology, Biology, Linguistics and Philosophy. These compulsory modules cover the theoretical and methodological foundations of cognition as well as their practical applications in current research in Cognitive Science. In addition, the bachelor program includes advanced modules (20 CP) as well as modules that serve the acquisition of practical and generic competencies (“Schlüsselqualifikationen”) (21 CP); these modules enable students to set an individual focus and to transfer the acquired theoretical and methodological skills into concrete application scenarios. As part of the bachelor thesis (15 CP), students are guided and trained by active scientists in developing their own research question and implementing it into a concrete research project in a selected sub-area of Cognitive Science.

Information about the Erasmus program (Uppsala, Sweden) for students of computer science and cognitive science.

Optional time abroad
You may choose to spend some time abroad as part of any study program. You should start planning it 12 to 18 months before your departure. 
Here you will find general information and advice on studying abroad. In addition, some departments have their own subject-specific services providing information on studying abroad.

The department of Computer Science - which also hosts the Cognitive Science program – is one of the leading research sites in Germany in this field and internationally recognized. It maintains close cooperation with major business companies and research institutes (e.g. three Max Planck institutes in Tübingen) on a national and international level. Furthermore, it is characterized by interdisciplinary cooperation with other departments at the University of Tübingen such as Medicine, Biology, Psychology, and Media Science.

As a founding member and part of the Cyber ​​Valley initiative, the University of Tübingen contributes to one of the largest research cooperations in Europe in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In addition, Tübingen and neighboring cities (including Reutlingen, Böblingen, Sindelfingen and the region Neckar-Alb) are part of the metropolitan area surrounding Stuttgart: Thereby, they are embedded in one of the economically strongest regions in Europe with a flourishing automotive and IT sector, and they are home to various university spin-offs, startups, and medium-sized as well as large companies.

In addition to excellent future prospects, this stimulating environment offers numerous opportunities for student jobs.

In the winter term 2023/24 approximately 440 students are enrolled for the Cognitive Science programs:

The module handbook of the B.Sc. Cognitive Science describes the goals and structure of a degree program. In the module handbook you will find details of the type of modules offered and their respective workloads as well as the classes, requirements and assessment. An ideal course plan is set out in the module handbook to help you plan your studies. The module handbook and the exam regulations help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

The exam regulations of the B.Sc. Cognitive Science contain the legally binding regulations for a degree program. They set out, for instance, which modules must be taken and which assessment must be completed in order to successfully complete the degree program. The exam regulations also regulate how often exams may be repeated, which deadlines apply to assessment, and how the final grade is calculated. The exam regulations and the module handbook help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

Career prospects open up both in advanced basic research and in application. Areas of application include the medical-clinical field, information technology, the automotive industry, robotics and high technology in general. However, innovative product development, science management and science journalism are also potential career fields. Concrete examples are cognitive ergonomics, communication consulting, multimedia and e-learning, human-machine interface, operability of machines, user interface optimization, design and development of effective software, or development and programming of service robots and of high-tech prostheses.

Further information:

• http://www.gk-ev.de
• http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cognitive-science
• http://cognitivesciencesociety.org
• http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kognitionswissenschaft
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_science

Advice and internships
The University’s Career Service assists with careers orientation and getting started in your profession. Jobs and internships can be found in the Praxisportal.

A Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science is typically followed by a (“consecutive”) Master's degree; due to the broad professional qualifications students acquire during their bachelor studies in Cognitive Science, they can, for instance, follow up with a master’s degree in Cognitive Science itself, but also with a master’s degree in related study subjects with a stronger specialization (e.g., in the area of machine learning, cognitive neuroscience, or computer science).

With respect to the master’s programs in Cognitive Science and related study topics that are offered at the University of Tübingen, further information on the admission requirements can be found on website of the Department of Computer Science and the Graduate Training Center.

Admission to doctoral studies with a bachelor's degree is not possible. Admission to doctoral studies requires completion of a master's degree program.

Information about the Alumni of Tübingen.