Graduate Education from a Bachelor's to a PhD Degree

The GSN offers an integrated research training program from a Bachelor's to an MSc and PhD in 3 to 4 years. PhD students in the GSN receive financial support from their host laboratories, in order to fully dedicate their work and concentration to their PhD project.

Exceptionally qualified students have the chance to join the fast-track program leading directly from a bachelor's to a PhD degree in approximately 4 years.

Entering the GSN with a bachelor's degree

The close collaboration with the master's program Neurosciences enables us to offer a fast-track program for especially talented and eager students. During the first two semesters they will go through the Preparatory Year Program consisting of lectures, seminars and practical courses teaching fundamental aspects in neurobiology and neurosciences.

In order to equip all students with the necessary background knowledge, our curriculum contains an extra module conveying mathematical skills which are needed to deal with computational neurosciences. For students with a background in mathematics, engineering, physics, bioinformatics or similar, this module is replaced by a module on comparative anatomy and evolution of vertebrates to procure a better knowledge and "feeling" for biological systems. During the time of the preparatory year, students also begin getting acquainted with their PhD lab and research topic. The GSN will provide financial support through a stipend during this time.

If students achieve the necessary grades at the end of the preparatory year, they can directly proceed with their PhD studies. For students, who do not meet the requirements at the end of the preparatory year, we offer the possibility to transfer to the master's program. The workload during the preparatory year is extremely high and is therefore advisable only to selected students.

Entering the GSN with a master's or equivalent degree

During the PhD research, all students are accompanied not only by a single supervisor, but by a thesis committee of three persons. Next to their research activities students have to perform 30 ECTS on curricular activities, spread over the course of their PhD studies. These activities can include valuable methods courses, special guest seminars, summer schools, retreats, conference visits and international internships, to name a few. Also a variety of complimentary skills courses are offered, ranging from presentation skills to time- and self-management or publishing skills. We will also give insight on career opportunities beyond science.

The GSN offers a wide range of courses from introductory lectures to very special one-on-one methods training. Each student tailors his or her individual curriculum together with the thesis committee and thus receives an education optimally adjusted to the special need of the students and the corresponding research project.

The GSN student assembly

The GSN has an active student assembly which meets regularly and has two representatives in the scientific board of the GSN. Thus students have say in the GSN governing board. We encourage our students to organise visits of guest scientists or retreats or other science events themselves.