Overview

The Cognitive and Information Sciences programme at the University of California, Merced provides rigorous interdisciplinary training at the intersection of mind, brain, and technology. This Master of Science degree is designed to be completed within a single calendar year, including two semesters of intensive coursework followed by a summer project.

Students explore the complex mechanisms of human cognition, perception, and interaction through a blend of social, natural, and computational sciences. The curriculum is highly flexible, allowing individuals to focus on applied skills for industry roles or foundational research for academic advancement. This approach ensures graduates are well-equipped for the evolving demands of the global technology sector.

Why Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California, Merced?

The university offers a distinctive teaching environment that emphasises the intrinsic interdisciplinarity of cognitive science. Students benefit from strong institutional links to industry partners, particularly within Silicon Valley, which can facilitate valuable internship opportunities. The faculty are active researchers, providing mentorship in cutting-edge areas such as neural networks and social behaviour modelling.

Facilities at the institution support both empirical and computational research, allowing students to engage in high-level data collection and simulation. The programme is known for its collaborative atmosphere, where master's students interact closely with doctoral candidates and affiliated faculty. This community-driven approach helps students build a professional network while mastering advanced statistical and computational toolkits.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 15265 per year
National fee: USD 15265 per year
Local fee: USD 7714 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Cognitive Science
Statistics for Cognitive Science
Neural Networks in Cognitive Science
Complex Adaptive Systems
Methods of Data Science
Modeling Social Behavior
Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Science of Emotions

Careers with Cognitive and Information Sciences

Graduates from this programme are prepared for a variety of non-academic career paths, particularly those at the interface of humans and technology. Many alumni have successfully secured roles in data science and data analytics at major global organisations. These professional destinations highlight the practical value of the computational and statistical skills gained during the course.

Specific employers of previous graduates include prominent technology and consultancy firms such as Facebook, Accenture, and Pymetrics. The training provided enables students to pursue careers in industry, government, and research institutions. The ability to solve complex problems and learn new methodologies quickly makes graduates highly competitive in the modern job market.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Statistics for Cognitive Science

Neural Networks in Cognitive Science

Complex Adaptive Systems

Methods of Data Science

Modeling Social Behavior

Computational Cognitive Neuroscience

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Merced, United States

Disciplines

Information Technology (IT) Neuroscience Cognitive Science View 78 other Masters in Cognitive Science in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

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IELTS

6.5

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Other requirements

General requirements

Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with a major appropriate to the proposed graduate program. This degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent both in the distribution of academic subject matter and scholarship achievement comparable to that offered at the University of California.

Have a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) is required.

Provide TOEFL or IELTS test scores (international students only).

Upload a scanned copy of all college level academic work including community college, summer session and study abroad, onto your application.

Three letters of recommendation.

A statement of purpose is required to help determine whether your academic objectives can reasonably be satisfied in the graduate program to which you seek admission.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

15265 USD / year

≈ 15265 USD / year
Out-of-State

15265 USD / year

≈ 15265 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

7714 USD / year

≈ 7714 USD / year

Living costs

Merced

United States

1100 - 1600 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Cognitive and Information Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Merced

Financing

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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