The track focusses on the processes that underlie human functioning from two different research perspectives: empirical work and computational modeling. The combination of these two perspectives allows for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying human functioning. For example, empirical work may suggest a functional layout for computation models, and vice versa, results of simulations with computation models can provide suggestions for setting up specific experiments. The underlying philosophy of Cognitive Science at VU Amsterdam is to challenge students to be knowledgeable in a wide variety of fields and techniques, all of which are related to the subject area of cognitive psychology.

Admission to this Master programme is open to students with a Bachelor degree in Artificial Intelligence or students from Computer Science with appropriate specialization. The student is assumed to be familiar with programming in Java and Prolog, to have a general knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and a basic working knowledge of computer science, logic, mathematics, psychology and natural language processing. Under specific circumstances other students may also be admissible.