Fast-Track Ph.D.

The Fast-Track Ph.D.

The GSN Fast-Track Ph.D. is designed for exceptional candidates who hold a relevant bachelor's degree and are ready to pursue doctoral research without completing a full master's program first. It is one of the most direct routes into neuroscience research at the highest level.

How it works

The program begins with a preparatory year: two semesters of intensive foundational training in neuroscience, delivered in close collaboration with the GSN-associated Master's programs in Neurosciences and Neurocognitive Psychology. Fast-track students share core courses with their M.Sc. peers, making the preparatory year both academically rigorous and socially integrated.

A dedicated advisory commission formulates individual training objectives for each fast-track student at the outset and monitors progress throughout the preparatory year. At its close, the student and their advisory committee decide together whether to continue on the Ph.D. or M.Sc. track, ensuring that every student is placed on the path that best fits their development.

Two academic tracks

From the preparatory year onwards, students choose between two tracks that allow them to shape their academic profile:

• Systemic-Cellular-Molecular Neuroscience – for students whose focus lies in the biological and experimental dimensions of brain science
• Computational Neuroscience – for students drawn to mathematical modeling, theory, and data-driven approaches

Regardless of the track a student selects, they will also complete coursework in the other area at a broader level, ensuring a well-rounded scientific foundation in each specialization.

Requirements to progress into the Ph.D.

To transition from the preparatory year into the Ph.D. program, fast-track students must:

• Successfully complete all preparatory year modules
• Achieve a grade point average of 2.0 or better (accoding to the Germany grading system)
• Secure affiliation with a research group for their future Ph.D. project by the end of the preparatory year