International Programmes 2023/2024

Master of Science in Applied Neurosciences in Sports & Exercise Applied Neurosciences in Sports & Exercise

Paderborn University • Paderborn

Degree
Master of Science
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

Courses are held in English (100%).

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study

With the beginning of the first semester, all enrolled students have to be present in Paderborn until 31 October the latest to be able to actively start the study programme.

Application deadline

31 May for international applicants for intake in October of the same year
(21 September for applications from Germany)

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The international MSc in Applied Neurosciences in Sports & Exercise focuses on neuroscientific aspects of physical activity in sports and health care settings. Academic knowledge and research skills are conveyed within the two major scopes "Sports and Exercise in Neurological and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Injuries" and "Training and Performance Development from a Neuroscientific Perspective". Graduates will explicitly be enabled to pursue careers in related research fields. Moreover, working in applied clinical occupational fields will also be possible. However, we don't set a focus on acquiring manual skills (even though it is important for physiotherapists to enhance their manual skills for clinical practice).
"Sports and Exercise in Neurological and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Injuries" focuses on imparting specific knowledge of the symptoms and syndromes of diseases and injuries within the nervous system (i.e. different types of dementia and epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, concussion). Furthermore, the impact of physical activity in prevention and rehabilitation will be centred in different learning arrangements (literature based, experimental, applied).
"Training and Performance Development from a Neuroscientific Perspective" focuses on imparting specific knowledge of the central nervous activity during training and competition (i.e. mechanisms leading to fatigue, injury, over-training). Furthermore, the impact of appropriately managing exposure and recovery will be centred in different learning arrangements (literature based, experimental, applied).
Gaining methodological competences represents another key area of education.

The programme complies with the increasing demands of professional expertise and scientific work to accomplish the following:

  • improve evidence based prevention and rehabilitation of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and injuries by a differentiated application of the drug "physical activity"
  • improve evidence based exposure and recovery management in sports and exercise from a neuroscientific perspective to increase performance and reduce the risk of injuries
Current information

The study programme is a full-time study programme that can't be studied online or from abroad. It is necessary for students to be physically present in Paderborn from the first semester onwards.

Course organisation

The required skills to manage a successful career in the related fields are achieved through a modular structured study programme. This study programme is divided into three successive stages of study within a total of two years of studies. The first semester covers basic aspects of sports neurology and the neuroscience of sports and exercise as well as methodological skills (competences in neuroscientific methods, general research skills). During the second and third semesters, students work in a project-geared period. Students have the opportunity to improve and apply their neuroscientific knowledge in therapy and lab settings, leading to the ability to adequately implement sports and physical activity in these settings as well as strengthening their methodological skills. The main part of the workload is generated through scientific project work (literature based, experimental, and/or conceptual work). In the third semester, students additionally chose two out of three modules to expand their expertise in the fields of programming skills, intercultural communication, and/or a "Studium Generale" (general studies in a chosen field within the courses offered by the university). At the end of the third semester, a four-week internship helps students apply the knowledge they have gained in a practical context (i.e. research oriented or clinical setting). The fourth semester includes the Master's thesis. Besides neuroscientific knowledge, interdisciplinary elements within the programme enforce the development of personal skills, such as communicating, reporting, and presenting their own work or the work of a group. Project groups, which bring together about 10 students who work on the solution of a scientific problem, will specifically focus on these skills. The topics are typically derived from current research interests, and frequently lead many of the students to their Master's theses topics. The group is challenged to organise their own work and to schedule, design, and implement a complete project, which is then presented to the public. The Master's thesis has similar requirements and is typically a single person's work. First of all, the educational concept is designed to enable graduates to appropriately and successfully act in research-oriented fields, and secondly, graduates are prepared to work in clinical professional fields with a strong emphasis on application in common practice.

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A Diploma supplement will be issued
Yes
International elements
  • Training in intercultural skills
Integrated internships

An internship of at least four weeks has to be completed during the summer break between the second and third semesters or during the winter break between the third and fourth semesters. Programme advisers will assist students with finding an appropriate internship.

Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

Approx. 310 EUR per semester

Costs of living

See the website of the International Office at Paderborn University:
https://www.uni-paderborn.de/en/studies/international-office/degree-students/kosten-finanzierung.

Funding opportunities within the university
No
Academic admission requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in sports science, health science, physiotherapy, or neuroscience (or equivalent) with an overall grade of 2.5 or better according to the German grading system. The transcript of the Bachelor's degree should provide evidence of two of the three following ECTS requirements: at least 12 ECTS in Physiology, at least 12 ECTS in Research Methods / Statistics, and 12 ECTS in Bachelor's thesis.

Language requirements

Knowledge of English at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
Applicants can demonstrate knowledge of English by submitting any of the following (not older than two years):

  • a certificate confirming that they have achieved level B2 (TOEFL: 87 (iBT) or 550 (PBT); IELTS: 5.5 or FCE (Cambridge ESOL); UNIcert II or an equivalent form of proof)
  • proof of a Bachelor's degree completely taught in the English language (in native speaking countries like USA, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and Australia as well as in Germany)

German language skills are not mandatory for admission but strongly recommended if the internship is planned in German facilities. It might then be necessary to communicate with i.e. patients or athletes in German.

Application deadline

31 May for international applicants for intake in October of the same year
(21 September for applications from Germany)

Submit application to

For international applicants:
upload documents online here: https://www.uni-assist.de/online/?lang=en
AND send Hardcopies to:
Paderborn University
c/o uni-assist e.V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

For German applicants:
https://paul.uni-paderborn.de/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=CampusNet&PRGNAME=EXTERNALPAGES&ARGUMENTS=-N000000000000001,-N000568,-Awelcome%5Fbuz

Possibility of finding part-time employment

In individual cases students can obtain paid jobs as tutors as well as do technical work or support research projects within one of the research groups of the department.

Accommodation

The University of Paderborn offers several student accommodation possibilities on or near campus. As an alternative, students can look for a room or an apartment on the private market. The typical rent is between 260 EUR and 360 EUR per month.

Career advisory service

See the website of the Career Service at Paderborn University:
https://zsb.uni-paderborn.de/en/career-service.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

Our International Office offers a lot of support for international students coming to Germany: https://www.uni-paderborn.de/en/studies/international-students.

Paderborn University

University location

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