Admissions
Learn about the different phases of our admissions process including your application, the two-stage selection process, how acceptance is decided and how to secure a place on the programme.
Entry requirements
An undergraduate University degree.1
Typically, students who study Cognitive Sciences for a Masters degree have an undergraduate degree in cognitive science or one of the cognitive sciences disciplines, including psychology, philosophy, linguistics, informatics, biology, biomedicine or anthropology. However, we also welcome applications from candidates who hold undergraduate degrees from other disciplines. If you would like to discuss whether this programme is a good fit for your interests and career plans, please email us at cogsci@uniri.hr.
Good knowledge of spoken and written English (minimum B2 level).2
-
You can also apply if you are currently in your last year of your undergraduate programme. If successful, you will be given a Conditional Offer of Place and Conditional Acceptance. You will have to have proof of a completed undergraduate degree latest by the time you enrol in the Masters programme (at enrolment for undergraduate programmes conducted in Croatia, and by the 31 August if the programme was conducted in a different country).
-
Language competency will be examined during a short interview as part of the selection process. We do not require an official language test.
When to apply?
The official call for students wishing to start in October 2024 is available here. The main application deadline closed on the 6th March 2024. Students wishing to be considered for one of our scholarships must apply by this deadline. We strongly encourage all candidates who are non-EU citizens and need an entry visa to enter Croatia to apply for this deadline.
A late application deadline will be on 22nd May 2024 if places remain.
An extraordinary deadline may be opened on 23rd August 2024 if places remain. Please note that for this deadline, students with undergraduate degrees from outside Croatia need to submit all supporting documentation at the time of application, not at the time of the Offer of Place (Offer Letter).
All application deadlines are detailed in the following table:
Standard Application
Application Deadline
6th March 2024
Shortlisting
March 2024
Interviews
March 2024
Results
March/April 2024
Please reach out to us early for any questions - we want to make sure that our programme is a good fit for you!
Email us at cogsci@uniri.hr or lj.ostojic@uniri.hr (Head of Studies)
How to apply?
Fill out the Application Form. The form asks for information about the applicant (your name, address, etc) and your undergraduate degree(s) (where applicable, your degree/qualification from a non-Croatian Higher Education institution).
Send us the filled out structured motivational letter (in English).
Send us a copy of your CV (in English).
Provide evidence of the status of your undergraduate degree.
Please check the information box to find which documents we need as they differ based on whether you have completed your degree and where you studied.
Note: If you hold an undergraduate degree from a non-Croatian Higher Education institution, the degree will need to undergo the official recognition procedure at the University of Rijeka.
Information Box: Documents needed for your application
Selection procedure
Selection – stage 1
The Selection Committee will review your applications and we will shortlist candidates within 2-3 weeks after the application deadline. We will email all candidates. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short interview.
Selection – stage 2
In the short interview, you will meet with three of our teaching staff (from different disciplines). The aim of the interview is to assess proficiency of English and fit for the programme.
The interview will involve three questions: i) a general, introductory question, ii) a question that is geared towards the research proposal that the candidate wrote in section 2.3 in the Structured Motivational Letter, and iii) a question about general empirical research methods.
Candidates who did not study an empirical discipline for their undergraduate degree, may find it useful to have a look at Chapter 2 ('The Scientific Method') of Shaughnessy, J.J., Zechmeister, E.B., & Zechmeister, J.S. (2012). Research methods in psychology. McGraw-Hill (or equivalent research methods books) in preparation for the third interview question.
Final decision
Within two weeks after the first interview dates, we will make the final decision (precise date for 2023 to be confirmed).
Results from the selection process will be published on the official Faculty website. The appeal period is 24 hours after the results are published. We will also email all candidates.
Securing a place on the programme
If you are successful, we will email you with an Offer Letter detailing all further steps that are required to secure a place on the programme. This includes paying 75% of the first year’s tuition fees, i.e., €825 (non-refundable).
Students with undergraduate degrees from outside Croatia are required to send the following documentation (if not previously provided) for their undergraduate degree to undergo the recognition procedure for foreign academic degrees at the University of Rijeka ( more information is available on the University webpage ):
Copies of the official degree certificate and final transcript/diploma supplement,
Notary certified translations of the undergraduate degree certificate and final transcript/diploma supplement,
Official curricula (syllabus) of the undergraduate degree programme, with short descriptions of the content of all courses,
In case of a name change since graduation: a copy of the certificate, plus translation if applicable,
Proof of citizenship (or of refugee status) plus translation if applicable.
Upon receipt of the required documentation and payment, we will send you the Acceptance Letter and the Contract. The Acceptance Letter secures your place on the programme. If you are a non-EU student and you require a visa to study in Croatia, the Acceptance Letter is the documentation that you will need for your visa to be issued.
Upon receipt of the required documentation and payment, we will send you the Acceptance Letter and the Contract. The Acceptance Letter secures your place on the programme. If you are a non-EU student and you require a visa to study in Croatia, the Acceptance Letter is the documentation that you will need for your visa to be issued.
Related Pages
Quality Control
Find out how we continuously work on increasing and maintaining the quality of our programme.
Fees and Funding
Find out detailed information about fees and funding opportunities. We are continuously working on securing scholarships to cover tuition fees so make sure you check this page regularly.
