How to apply to the GSN

The application period within the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences for entry in Fall 2026 is now open.

Timeline for 2026 applications:

• Application period: Noon (CET) of December 1st, 2025 - Noon (CET) of February 16th, 2026
• Deadline for submission of application: 12:00 Noon (CET) of February 16th, 2026
• Deadline for submission of recommendation letters: 12:00 Noon (CET) of February 23rd, 2026

Letters of recommendation: Part of the online application, you will have to provide contact details and email addresses for your two referees who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. After submitting your application, an automatic email will be sent to the referees with the necessary information to electronically submit the letter of reference. We recommend that you confirm with your referees in advance before submitting your application and reconfirm the arrival of the email invitation with them. Should your referee have not received the automated email, ask them to check all folders, including the Spam/Junk. Reach out to us with updated referee details in case you want to make a change. Due to the high number of applications, we must limit the number of changes to a referee to two. The latest time for changing referee details is Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 12:00 noon CET. Only complete applications with two reference letters received within the deadline on February 23rd, 2026, at 12:00 (noon) CET can be considered.

• Communication of decisions about refusal or invitation to the Interviews: Mid April 2026
• 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 2026
• Start of GSN programs: October 1st, 2026

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. See more information about student fees at the LMU Munich.

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

https://www.lmu.de/psy/de/studium/m.sc.-neuro-cognitive-psychology/ 

Language Requirements for programs at GSN  (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.lmu.de/psy/de/studium/m.sc.-neuro-cognitive-psychology/ 

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 16th 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)

• 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, since a decicated field for methods exists in the online application tool.

2. Two separate letters of recommendation (deadline: 12:00 (noon) CET on February 23rd)

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

Part of the online application, you will have to provide contact details and email addresses for your two referees who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.

After submitting your application, an automatic email will be sent to the referees with the necessary information to electronically submit the letter of reference. We recommend that you confirm with your referees in advance before submitting your application and reconfirm the arrival of the email invitation with them.

Should your referee have not received the automated email, ask them to check all folders, including the Spam/Junk. Reach out to us with updated referee details in case you want to make a change. Due to the high number of applications, we must limit the number of changes to a referee to two attempts. The latest time for changing referee details is Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 12:00 noon CET. 

Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that letters are submitted by your referees before the deadline on February 23rd, 2026 at 12:00 (noon) CET. Once a referee has submitted a letter of recommendation, you will both get an automatic email. Only complete applications with two reference letters received within the deadline on February 23rd, 2026, at 12:00 (noon) CET can be considered.

Deadline for application submission: February 16, 2026 at 12:00 (noon) Central European Time (CET)

Deadline for recommendation letters: February 23, 2026 at 12:00 (noon) Central European Time (CET)

FAQ: My referee has not received the email request to submit a recommendation:
Make sure you enter the correct email address. 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. Reach out to us at gsn.admissions@bio.lmu.de with updated referee details in case you want to make a change. Due to the high number of applications, we must limit the number of changes to a referee to two attempts. The latest time for changing referee details is Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 12:00 noon CET.

Please be aware that your application can only be processed if 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 23rd.

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 with questions that have not neen already addressed on our website and application tool.

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

For inquiries related to the NCP MSc, please contact ncp@psy.lmu.de