This programme involves different scientific fields of natural sciences, technological sciences, and humanities as well. The focus of investigations is on the phenomena of cognition - perception, attention, memory, reasoning, thinking, and behaviour - from an interdisciplinary perspective: Anthropology, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Psychology have contributed to its development as core disciplines. The relevance of such an approach gains support from the constant need of building a knowledge-based society.

• strong interdisciplinary focus
• opportunities to participate in international research projects
• professional preparedness
• administrative capacity to help facilitate student life

• Duration of the program: 2 years (4 semesters)
• Credit number: 120 ECTS
• Type: master, full-time
• Language: English
• Tuition fee: 2100 EUR/semester
• Degree: Computational and Cognitive Scientist
• Minimum number of students: 5
• Maximum number of students: 40

DEGREE REQUIREMENT

Full acknowledgement is given for the following degrees:

• a Bachelor’s degree in: Psychology, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Biology, Liberal Arts: Philosophy Specialisation;
• college degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Computer Science, Teacher of Biology, Biology Laboratory Operator;
• university degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Informatics, Applied Plant Biology, Applied Zoology, Biophysics, Biology, Molecular Biology, Teacher of Biology, Aesthetics; Ethics, Anthropology and Social Studies, Philosophy.

If you have any of the degrees listed above or you are going to obtain a degree by the time of the results announcement, you do not have to do anything else but send a copy of the degree certificate (hereinafter diploma).

Please note that the degrees described above as well as the full acknowledgement are only for degrees obtained in Hungary. If your degree was obtained outside Hungary, it must be submitted for evaluation (see below). However, the above list will give you an idea of what degrees can be accepted.

Conditionally accepted Bachelor’s degrees which will be considered in the first place:

• Liberal Arts: Communications and Media Studies, Business Information Technology, Applied Economics, Economic Analysis, Hungarian Linguistics and Literature: Language Technology specialisation and Theoretical Linguistics specialisation, Pedagogy,
• Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineer, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineer, Economist in Business Administration and Management, Technical Manager, Mathematics,
• Communication and Media Science, Economist in Economic and Financial Mathematical Analysis.

In the case of these degrees they must fulfil the following credit requirements: at least 30 credits (ECTS) which can be recognized from the earlier studies in at least three of the following fields: mathematics, statistics; informatics; epistemology; logic; linguistics; physiology and anatomy. (Besides the degrees listed above, any other degree can be accepted if it fulfils the 30 ECTS requirement.)
The requirement, i. e. the existence of the credits listed above is established through a preliminary examination of the credits which must be initiated by the applicant in the form of a free-text request.

PLEASE NOTE:
If the applicant is taking their final examination during the current semester, and their degree certificate (diploma) is not issued before the last application deadline, a certification is required issued by the institution, which verifies that the applicant will presumably receive a degree at a specific date. In case of being accepted as a student, however, the applicant must present the diploma upon enrolment at the latest.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

The language of instruction for the entire programme is English, so a very good command of English is required during the oral entrance exam and throughout the whole programme. The language knowledge is assessed and evaluated during the interview.

The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities (Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.)). The details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.

How to pay the application fee?

You are required to pay 60/120/180 EUR application fee (non-refundable) depending on the application period, at the following link:  ELTE Online Fizetési Rendszer

Please follow the instructions below carefully: 

 
Early Bird period: enter this specific code: EARLY BIRD PPK (valid between: 2025.11.25 – 2026.01.31)
Regular application period: enter this specific code: REGULAR PPK (valid between: 2026.02.01 – 2026.06.15)
Late application period: enter this specific code: LAST CALL PPK (valid between: 2026.06.16 – 2026.07.10)

The discount codes work without accents, but they are sensitive to spaces. To avoid any issues, the best option is to copy and paste the code directly as shown above. 

The application procedure includes 4 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them.

Early bird application: until January 31st - discounted application fee: 60 EUR

Regular application 1: February 1st – March 25th - regular application fee: 120 EUR

Regular application 2: April 26th – June 15th - regular application fee: 120 EUR

Last Call: June 16th – July 10th - increased application fee: 180 EUR

We do not take applications between March 26th and April 26th!

When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Student Affairs and Registrar’s Office an entrance exam date option will be sent in the online application system after the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly.

The Faculty of Education and Psychology ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.

Following documents need to be submitted in the online application system:

• degree certificate (sealed, signed and dated diploma)
• transcript of records (sealed, signed and dated diploma)
• an official English translation of the certificates and the records, all sealed, signed and dated
  • The translation is needed only if the language of the original is not English. It can be a translation from the university, too.
• a reference work (The reference work can be any work which you wrote within the field of psychology, linguistics OR cognitive science (research paper, seminar paper, research report, published article, poster, study etc.). You can also write a new paper for the current application, which can be an improved version of an earlier work. If the work has been published or has been presented during your studies, please indicate on the paper where it was published or within what context it was written and presented. The maximum length should be 15 pages (without the appendices, and there are no requirements for form). If the work was co-authored, you must indicate their participation in the paper in percent (%). The reference work must be in English.)
• motivation letter: The letter should contain approximately 2000 characters. You should explain your experiences and ideas, how you met the field of cognitive science, why you thought it would be suitable for you, what your aim is with the MSc degree, how you would imagine your career, which area you are interested in and what further studies you might plan. Please, be always specific and try to connect your own ideas and experience to what we can offer you through our programme.
• main pages of the passport
• proof of transfer of the application fee
• proof of transfer of the entrance exam fee

The application and the entrance exam fee can be paid separately or in one amount as well.

You are required to pay 120 EUR entrance examination fee (non-refundable) at the following link:  ELTE Online Fizetési Rendszer

There are no discounts for the entrance examination fee!

The entrance exam consist of three parts.

The applicant is expected to talk about their motivation, earlier psychological studies, future plans besides the reference work submitted in the application.

Then, a discussion follows about an academic psychology-related article, which the applicant receives one hour prior to the interview. The article is from a field of the chosen specialisation. For example, in case of Clinical and Health Psychology Specialisation, the article will be about a research in that area. The applicant has one hour to read the article and make notes. Any additional help can be used (e.g. a dictionary). Then the examiner will start a discussion about the article and may ask the applicant to summarise it and will ask several questions:

• about its content
• about the methodology
• about the results and their application
• what could be improved
• what would be a suitable next step in the research.

During the entrance exam emphasis is laid on the the applicant' theoretical background, critical methodological analysis, statistical procedures, knowledge of the relevant vocabulary, placing of the results within the relevant field of research.

Finally, the interview gives room for questions coming from the applicant.

Successful applicants must have a good command of English and pass the entrance exam.

The entrance exam can be taken in person or via Teams (you do not need to download the app).

MORE INFORMATION

Please find more information about the curriculum and the course descriptions HERE.