Presentation

Logo del másterWelcome to the official website of the Master in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience of the Universidad de Granada in Spain. In our Master students are instructed about basic neurocognitive and behavioral processes. Although the contents of our master are focused on cutting-edge research, they also provide the skills required to work outside academia in fields such as neuropsychology, neuroergonomics, advanced data analysis, neuromarketing, neuroeconomics, behavior modelling and prediction, and other applied related areas.

The next academic course of the Master in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience will begin in October 2023. All teaching and most academic activities will be face-to-face.

Double degree with Padova University

Important notice: Due to the legislative changes currently taking place in Italy, regarding the requisites to work as a psychologist, the terms of the bilateral agreement are in the process of being renegotiated. For that reason, the double degree option will not be available for the academic year 2023-2024.

That does not affect the normal functioning of the Master Degree at the University of Granada, nor the students who have already started their double degree study plan during the academic years 2021-'22 and 2022-'23.

The terms and conditions in which the double degree is operative for the current academic year (2022-2023; for the students included in the last call), including the study plan, can be found here.

Strengths

The Official University Master's Degree in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience offers a global vision of the neural bases of cognitive and behavioral functions. Its teaching staff are highly qualified researchers and maintain stable relationships with numerous international laboratories in the fields of psychology and neuroscience.

Internationalization of our Master's degree is one of its strengths, which is reflected in the large number of visiting lecturers who teach advanced seminars to the Master's students every year. As an official university programme, our Master's degree can be recognised in the rest of the European Higher Education Area.

Another strength of our Master's degree is it aim to train graduates in the skills necessary for high-specialization positions in the growing number of fields of potential application of Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, including, not only neuropsychology, but also neuroergonomics, advanced data analysis, neuromarketing, neuroeconomics, and behavior modelling and prediction.

The small number of students (maximum 45 per academic year) allows a highly personalized and continuous interaction and feedback from the lecturers/professors, supervisors, and administrative staff.

Objectives and Competences

Objectives

The objective of the Master's programme is to provide advanced and specialised training in the field of Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience that will introduce students to a career in research or allow them to focus their careers on professional tasks related to Neuropsychology and Neuroscience. The programme is structured in three modules of courses and seminars, one of research lines and one of internships where the aim is to:

  1. Establish the methodological bases of research in cognitive and behavioural neuroscience;
  2. Introduce advanced knowledge of the basic mental processes that guide human behaviour from a functional and biological point of view.
  3. To acquire knowledge of the neural bases of behaviour.
  4. To provide students with tools and strategies that will enable them to carry out innovative research in the field of Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience.
  5. To encourage the application of knowledge of Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience to the applied and professional field.

Although the general objective of the programme is to train researchers, it also aims to provide them with theoretical and practical knowledge that will facilitate their entry into the labour market outside the strictly academic field. To this end, the programme includes practical credits to be carried out in approved centres in which the students will use the applied techniques that arise from the different research areas covered by the programme.

In the development of the objectives and the competences derived from them, the fundamental rights and equal opportunities between men and women, the principles of equal opportunities and universal accessibility for people with disabilities and the values of a culture of peace and democratic values have been taken into account.

Although the general objective of the programme is to train researchers, it also aims to provide them with theoretical and practical knowledge that will facilitate their integration into the labour market outside the strictly academic sphere. To this end, the programme includes practical credits to be carried out in approved centres in which the students will use the applied techniques that arise from the different research areas covered by the programme.

In the elaboration of the objectives and the competences derived from them, the fundamental rights and equal opportunities between men and women, the principles of equal opportunities and universal accessibility for people with disabilities and the values of a culture of peace and democratic values have been taken into account.

Basic competences

  • CB6 - To possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context.
  • CB7 - Students are able to apply their acquired knowledge and problem-solving skills in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
  • CB8 - Students are able to integrate knowledge and deal with the complexities of making judgements based on incomplete or limited information, including reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge and judgements.
  • CB9 - Students are able to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and rationale underpinning them to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
  • CB10 - That students possess the learning skills that will enable them to continue studying in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner.

General competences

  • GC1 - The acquisition of broad and advanced knowledge of basic psychological processes and the neural bases that underpin them. Students should be able to integrate knowledge and deal with the complexity of making judgements on the basis of incomplete or limited information, including reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements.
  • GC2 - Acquisition of practical knowledge in general psychological research techniques and in the specific methods and techniques of Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. Students should also be able to apply their acquired knowledge and problem-solving skills to new or unfamiliar environments within wider contexts.
  • GC3 - Acquisition of practical knowledge in techniques derived from Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience such as Neuropsychological assessment and intervention. Students should be able to apply their acquired knowledge and problem-solving skills to new or unfamiliar environments within wider contexts.
  • GC4 - Knowledge of the “applicability” of scientific psychological knowledge to the social, educational and health fields. Ability to deal with novel situations in these fields of application and to make judgements that include reflections on social and ethical responsibilities.

Transversal competences

  • T1 - That students possess the learning skills that will enable them to continue studying in a self-directed or autonomous manner. To this end, they will acquire the skills to carry out searches of bibliographical sources and to critically analyse and organise scientific literature on specific topics.
  • T2 - Students will be able to communicate their conclusions - and the knowledge and rationale underpinning them - to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner; this is reflected in the acquisition of skills in oral and written presentation of theoretical and research work.

Specific competences

  • SC1 - Ability to use research and assessment techniques in psychology, neuropsychology and neuroscience.
  • SC2 - Ability to acquire and analyse data in psychology, neuropsychology and neuroscience.
  • SC3 - Ability to make critical judgements on the methodological quality of both basic and applied research studies (experimental control, designs used, etc.).
  • SC4 - Acquisition of knowledge of psychological processes and their neural bases.
  • SC5 - Knowledge of the main methodologies in cognitive, emotional and behavioural neuroscience.
  • SC6 - Ability to apply knowledge of processes and their neural bases to applied fields (neuropsychology, neuroscience, ergonomics, education, etc.).
  • SC7 - Knowledge of the dysfunctions of human cognitive processes and their neural bases, and of the forms of assessment and rehabilitation of these processes.
  • SC8 - Acquisition of the ability to listen to and assimilate scientific information in English, learning to take an active and critical perspective in the acquisition of information.

Facilities

The Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), the departments participating in the programme, the Psychology School, and the International School for Postgraduate Studies (EIP) offer all the resources and services necessary, including the many UGR library branches, study and computer rooms, access to databases and journals in both paper and electronic formats, classrooms, laboratories and administrative services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • The administrative information related to the application can be found at the website of the International School for Postgraduate Studies.

  • You can apply via the following link, which is available only during the call for application periods.

  • Students must choose between a research training itinerary and a neuropsychology training itinerary. In the former, the mandatory internship takes place in the laboratories of the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), in collaboration with researchers working on consolidated research lines. In the latter, the internship takes place in external neurpsychology clinics. Candidates must select their itinerary at the moment of application.

    Importantly, in order to apply for the neuropsychology itinerary, students must hold a degree in psychology and be able to certify Spanish language skills (C1), advanced enough to interact with neuropsychological patients and their families.

  • 45, of which up to a maximum of 18 can opt for the neuropsychology itinerary.

  • All the necessary information regarding pre-registration can be found in this link.

  • In the first phase, some slots are granted to foreign students. The vast majority of slots are assigned in the June-July call (second phase), regardless of the student's nationality. A third phase will open only if there are vacancies left after the second phase.

    • 40%, undergraduate marks

    • 20%, CV (previous grants and scholarships, placements and internships, courses, relevant work experience)

    • 20%, affinity of previous training and education to the itinerary the candidate has chosen

    • 10%, language competence in English, Spanish, and other EU languages (the list of accepted certificates can be found here)

    • 10%, Professional goals (order of preference in which the Master is chosen, motivation letter, letter of recommendation from renowned academics and professional from fields related to the chosen itinerary)

  • All teaching and most other activities are exclusively face-to-face. A minimum of 80% attendance is required to pass all courses.

  • The calendar and timetables can be found in this link (in Spanish), as well as in the Student's Guide (in English).

  • Students opting for the neuropsychology itinerary must hold a degree in in Psychology. For the research itinerary, candidates with a Psychology Degree will be given high preference, candidates with related degrees (Medical degrees, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Psychopedagogy) will be given medium preference, and candidates with other degrees low preference.

  • Tuition fees vary slightly from one year to another, and can be found in this link. Please note that our Master belongs to Group 5, and consists of a total of 60 credits.

  • The Master itself does not offer scholarships or grants. General information about grants and scholarships, common to all UGR Master degrees, can be found in this link.

  • Both itineraries allow access to a variety of PhD programs in Spain and the EU. In the UGR, our Master allows access to the Psychology PhD programme.

  • Our Master is a potential starting point for an academic career, and is valid to apply for FPI/FPU postdoctoral fellowships.

  • Our Master is bilingual. All courses included in Double Degree agreement with Padova University have separated groups in English and Spanish, in such a way that the totality of the 60 credits mandatory to complete the Master's programme can be taken in English. Courses not included in the bilateral agreement are taught in Spanish.

    • For both Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking students it is mandatory to be fluent in English (certified B2 level) to enroll in courses taught in English.
    • For Spanish-speaking candidates not taking any courses taught in English, certifying English language skills is not mandatory, but it is an important criterion to be taken into consideration as a merit in the selection process.
    • For non-Spanish-speaking students, it is mandatory to be fluent in Spanish (certified B2 level) to enroll in courses taught in Spanish.
    • Importantly, in order to apply for the neuropsychology itinerary (and thus for the neuropsychology internship), students be certify Spanish language skills (C1), advanced enough to interact with neuropsychological patients and their families.

  • Please see the answer to the previous question.

  • Our Master does not entitle graduates to work as clinical neuropsychologists in Spain.

  • The itinerary is chosen at the moment of pre-registration. Selection of criteria are the same as for the research itinerary. However, given the small number of available slots in this itinerary, such criteria are applied in a slightly stricter manner.

  • Assignments are made on the basis of the student's academic records (70%), and other merits specifically related to the itinerary (30%).

  • Yes, provided that the Master's Academic Committee assesses the selected neuropsychology center as meeting the legal and quality criteria for the internship to reach the high Master's standards.