How to apply to the GSN

The application period within the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences for entry in Fall 2025 is now open.

Timeline for 2025 applications:

Application period: Noon (CET) of December 1st, 2024 - Noon (CET) of February 17th, 2025
Deadline for submission of application: 12:00 Noon (CET) of February 17th, 20257
Deadline for submission of recommendation letters: 12:00 Noon (CET) of February 24th, 2025

Letters of recommendation: Part of the online application, you will have to provide contact details and email addresses for your two academic referees. They will receive an automated email once you will submit your application, inviting them to submit an online recommendation through the application tool. Make sure to remind your referees to submit recommendations by the deadline (February 24th, 2025, at 12:00 (noon) CET). Only complete applications with two reference letters received within the deadline can be considered.

Communication of decisions about refusal or invitation to the Interviews: Mid April 2025
GSN Interview Phase (Online): end of April-early May (TBA)
Communication of decisions about refusal or acceptance to the GSN programs: by end of May 2025
Start of GSN programs: October 1st, 2025

Fill in your online application here!

Please note that we will only consider applications and corresponding documentation submitted during the application phase through our online application site.

Applications via email or through external platforms such as Uni-Assist.de or similar are not possible.

Be sure to check your program eligibility before starting your application!

The GSN does not charge application or tuition fees.

If you plan to apply for the NCP MSc program, please check the entry requirements at:

https://www.psy.lmu.de/ncp/appl_information/entry_requirements/index.html

Language Requirements GSN programs (except NCP MSc):

English is the Lingua franca of the program, and thus an excellent command of spoken and written English is required for participation.

Non-native English speakers should demonstrate adequate knowledge of the English language during the GSN interview phase. The submission of an English language proficiency test is not required.

FAQ: I don't have a TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge etc. language certificate. Can I still apply for the GSN programs?
These specific tests are not required for the PhD programs and MSc Neurosciences at the GSN. English language proficiency will be tested during the interview phase.

Language Requirements NCP MSc:

The MSc program in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology has separate language requirements available at https://www.psy.lmu.de/ncp/appl_information/entry_requirements/index.html

Required documents for application:

1. Completed online application form. Your completed online application form must be submitted by 12 o'clock noon CET on February 17th at the latest. You may save changes to your application before submitting.

We recommend submitting your application earlier, to make sure your referees have enough time to send in their letters (see point 2. below).

You will need to have the following documents prepared for upload as PDF / scanned documents:

CV (organized chronologically from your high school studies up to your current situation. Dates should be entered as MM/YYYY and should cover the entire period without any time gaps longer than 3 months)
Official transcripts / records of study: detailed documentation of your academic work (list of courses attended; grades if applicable)
Diplomas: certificates of relevant examinations (e.g. High-school leaving certificate, Bachelor's or Master's degree, plus relevant intermediate exams)

FAQ: I haven't completed my degree yet. May I still apply?
You may apply to our programs if you will complete the final semester of your degree program before our programs begin on October 1st.

Motivation statement (check the exact format and note on the use of generative AI here)
Research experience statement (max. length 2,000 characters) - describing all research experience which you consider relevant for us to know - optional for MSc & Fast-Track applicants, mandatory for all PhD applicants, except those in Neurophilosophy: Extra document requirements for neurophilosophy applicants

Please note that the research experience statement is NOT about listing the methods used in your research, as a special field for methods listing has been established in the online application tool.

2. Two separate letters of recommendation (deadline: 12:00 (noon) CET on February 24th!)

Letters of recommendation need to be submitted by the referees themselves.

On the online application form, you will have to fill in the referee contact tabs and provide the contact information for the two referees who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.

Your referees will need to fill in an evaluation form, as well as upload a recommendation letter.

After submitting your application, an automatic email will be sent to the referees with the necessary information to electronically submit the letter of recommendation. We recommend that you confirm with your referees ahead of time before triggering the email invitation by submitting your application. In some cases, email invitations might be directed to the spam folder of a referee. It is advisable to reconfirm the correct arrival of the email invitation with your referees.

Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that letters are submitted by your referees before the deadline on February 24th, 2025 at 12:00 (noon) CET. Once a referee has submitted a letter of recommendation, you will both get an automatic email. Please keep in mind that applications lacking letters of recommendation will not be considered.

Deadline for application submission: February 17, 2025 at 12:00 (noon) Central European Time (CET)

Deadline for recommendation letters: February 24, 2025 at 12:00 (noon) Central European Time (CET)

FAQ: My referee has not received the email request to submit a recommendation:
Please inform your recommender in advance that a request will be sent soon and ask referees to also look in their spam folders if they do not receive the email as expected. Should your recommender however not receive the request, please contact us at gsn.admissions@bio.lmu.de.

Please be aware that your application can only be processed after we have received both letters of recommendation. Therefore, please make sure that your referees have enough time to submit recommendations by the deadline (12:00 noon CET on February 24th).

General questions and inquiries should be sent to gsn.admissions@bio.lmu.de

Please note only applicants who will have submitted the online application form along with all required documents by the deadline will be considered for admission!

Selection Process

Stage 1: complete applications will be reviewed.
Stage 2: especially promising young scientists will be invited to the interview phase. More details about the interview phase will be sent per email to the selected candidates.

Please contact us for further questions, we are happy to help you!

gsn.admissions@bio.lmu.de