The curricula of the three master's programs comprise around 55 different neuroscience courses, all taught in English and offered periodically every academic year. The courses range from broadly-based neuroscience topics to demanding, specialized courses, as well as two longer-lasting laboratory rotations and a final master's thesis.
The master's programs have an explicit ‘research orientation’ with the goal of optimally preparing graduate students for demanding doctoral projects. This goal is achieved by two means: first, by recruiting active researchers as instructors who incorporate state-of-the-art neuroscientific questions and methods in their courses and, secondly, by implementing extensive periods of laboratory training where students engage in current research projects. The same is true for the experimental master's thesis of 6 months, which often serves as a ‘seed crystal’ for a subsequent doctoral dissertation.
The master's programs of the three graduate schools are basically designed alike regarding the overall requirements, the curricular and semester structure, the format of the study regulations and the ECTS credits and degree earned (for details, see ‘Module Handbooks’). However, regarding the course content they differ considerably.
The master's programs consist of four semesters (2 years). The 1st year covers the theoretical training that provides the required competences needed in the 2nd year of study, which comprises the practical training.
Semesters 1 + 2 comprise the theoretical parts of the master's training, including the exams at the end of each semester. Course types include lectures, lectures with exercises, journal clubs, tutorials, seminars and practical block courses. To find out about specific courses, visit the GTC Master's website, click on one of the three tracks, go to 'Courses, Regulations & Downloads' and download the latest module handbook.
Semester 3 comprises two 10-week long laboratory rotations where students work on small research projects in laboratories of their choice. Students will acquire practical skills in state-of-the-art methods and, furthermore, will get to know current scientific questions and research projects embarked on in Tübingen. Each lab project will be concluded with a written report and an oral presentation of the project in a final seminar. The lab work, together with the written and oral performance, will be marked and makes up a considerable part of the final grade.
Semester 4 represents a six-month period where students conclude their studies with an experimental master's thesis. After graduation, students may either leave the program with a M.Sc. degree to pursue further studies elsewhere or they may continue with their project and enter the GTC’s doctoral program (for details, see ‘Doctoral Program’).
