Bachelor's Degree Programme
| About the programme Quota 1 2024: 10,4 (Standby: 10,1) Language: English | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: Week 35 Admissions area number: 22419 |
In the Cognitive Science programme, you are introduced to fundamental theories of cognition. You learn how to design and carry out your own investigations of the human mind, brain and behaviour. Among other things, you will learn about statistical data analysis and computer programming, which will enable you to carry out your own experimental studies and to critically assess previous research results.
Courses consist of lectures and classroom instruction, where you participate in discussions, make presentations and work with your study group. You will also be doing practical lab exercises where you collect and analyse data from brain scans, behavioural experiments and large text databases. The programme introduces you to experimental design and statistics, cognitive neuroscience as well as cognitive approaches to communication and culture. The degree programme is conducted in English to promote an international study environment and prepare students for an international labour market.
In the course of your studies, you learn about the fundamental cognitive processes that underlie our conscious and unconscious perceptions and actions. You learn about how humans make decisions, and how we use language to communicate, share feelings and interact with others. This requires knowledge about relevant scientific theories as well as specific practical tools. You will thus learn computer programming (e.g. Python) and advanced tools for statistical data analysis (e.g. R and MatLab) which you will use in your own experimental investigations of human cognition and behavior.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, you can choose among a wide range of Master’s degree programmes, including Cognitive Science, Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (Beijing) or Information Studies. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme along with its focus on concrete data collection and analysis skills means that graduates of the programme are attractive to prospective employers from a variety of sectors, including IT, product design and neuroscience research.
“The programme is just what we need out here in the real world. There’s an enormous unmet need for graduates who are able to combine behaviour, data and cognition, which will be fundamental elements in many business models in the future.” Henrik Dresbøll, CEO Cosmographic and WeLearn.
All applicants, both for quota 1 and quota 2, must fulfil the following admission requirements for Cognitive Science:
Qualifying entry examination
You must have a qualifying entry examination.
Specific admission requirements
You must fulfil the following specific admission requirements:
B-level is the Danish subject level, not the grade. We assess your subject levels when you apply.
Grade point Average (GPA) requirement of 6.0 in quota 1
You must have a minimum GPA of 6.0 on the Danish 7-point grading scale in your qualifying examination to be assessed in quota 1.
If you do not have a GPA of 6.0 on the Danish 7-point grading scale, then your application can only be assessed in quota 2.
In quota 1, you must fulfil the above-mentioned admission requirements.
In quota 2, you must fulfil the above-mentioned admission requirements except the GPA requirement of 6.0. In quota 2 we assess your application by 2 criteria:
1. Your grade point average of the following particularly relevant quota 2 subjects:
2. Your relevant qualifications
Relevant qualifications
If you can document that you have particularly relevant qualifications, then these can be a part of your overall quota 2 assessment.
You can find more information about quota 2 and how to document your relevant qualifications here
In the academic regulations, you can read more about the content of the individual course, the structure of the degree programme and the demands the programme places on you as a student. You can also read about the types of exams and the exam requirements.
The diagram below shows you how the programme is structured. You can click on the different courses to read the course descriptions.
The Bachelor’s degree programme in Cognitive Science is based on lectures, practical exercises in e.g. programming and statistics, group discussions, independent study and experimental projects. At lectures, you learn about the central issues, theories and methods in the field of cognitive science. You apply this knowledge in classroom discussions, data analysis and modelling exercises, as well as in designing and carrying out your own research projects. As a university student you will be spending a large part of your studies on independent reading, preparation and exercises in e.g. programming and statistics. You will also be part of a study group, where you will work on presentations and projects together and discuss your subject.
Follow the academic activities at the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics.
You study Cognitive Science because you are curious! The degree programme is anchored in a vibrant research environment. Almost every day, you get to participate in research seminars and learn about fascinating new discoveries. For example, is it possible to tell if someone is depressed based on their tone of voice? And can computer games help teach autistic children to talk?
Here is an example of a typical week in the first semester of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cognitive Science. As you can see, you will be spending much of your time preparing for classes and lectures, and meeting with your study group. You should expect 37-40 hours of study time every week. This is why Cognitive Science is a full-time degree programme, even though you don’t necessarily have scheduled classes every day.
Monday:
9-11 Lecture in Introduction to Cognitive Science
11-13 Study group meeting
13-15 Class in Study techniques
15-17 Reading
Tuesday:
8-10 Reading
10-12 Lecture in Methods 1
12-14 Game time with "The Game Cortexas"
14-17 Reading
Wednesday:
8-10 Lecture in Cognition and Communication
10-14 Study group meeting
14-16 Class in Introduction to Cognitive Science
Thursday:
7-9 Morning swim with "Water Cogs"
9-12 Reading
12-14 Study group work
14-16 Class in Methods 1
Friday:
8-10 Reading
10-12 Class in Cognition and Communication
12-15 Study group work and reading
16-?? Broca's bodega (Friday bar)
Your life as a student doesn’t end when you close your books. As a Cognitive Science student, you will spend much of your time in the Nobel Park along with students from programmes such as Cognitive Semiotics, Linguistics and English. Furthermore, as a Cognitive Science student you have the option to participate in a lot of social and educational events and groups such as:
While studying Cognitive Science, you have the option of taking a semester abroad, which allows you to develop your language skills while gaining a new perspective on your subject, for example by studying artificial intelligence or communication. During the last year of your bachelor's programme, you can take advantage of one of the many exchange agreements between Aarhus University and partner universities all over the world. Get inspiration, guidance and travel lust here.
Your time at Aarhus University will begin with an introductory week in week 35 (the last week of August). During this week, you will get an introduction to IT systems, exam forms and degree programme structure and opportunities as well as meeting your lecturers. You can read more about your commencement of studies and the introductory week here. On this page, you will also find tips and good advice for new students at Aarhus University.
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Your career opportunities as graduate of the BSc programme depend on what supplementary subjects you take as well as what Master’s degree programme you choose later on.
The broad, interdisciplinary nature of the programme along with its focus on concrete data collection and analysis skills means that graduates of the programme are interesting to prospective employers from a variety of sectors, including IT, product design and neuroscience research.
As a graduate of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cognitive Science, you understand how the brain works, which gives you a unique understanding of how human beings interpret and relate to objects in their world, how they are affected by social situations and how they make decisions. This prepares you for a career in design or the analysis of consumer behaviour and markets. As a cognitive scientist, you also understand how data systems work, and you acquire concrete skills in computer programming which qualify you to work with information technology. On the Cognitive Science programme, you also learn to design experiments and process large data sets. This gives you skills in advanced data analysis and modelling.
In the last year of the Bachelor’s degree programme, you must choose a supplementary subject. You have the opportunity to choose a wide variety of subject, such as:
After completing the Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, you are qualified for admission to many different Master’s degree programmes. However, you should be aware that admission to some programmes requires specific supplementary subjects. Here are some of the options:
