What is the NeuroBIM program?
NeuroBIM is a 2-year Master program of fundamental Neuroscience that takes place at the University of Bordeaux. It is not a Master of Psychology, Neuropsychology, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Neuroscience or Clinical Neuroscience.
Can I follow the program on line?
No, NeuroBIM is on-site (in-person, no alternation) only.
How long is the NeuroBIM program?
NeuroBIM recruits first at Master 1 (M1, 1st year) level. Most students at Master 2 (M2, 2nd year) level come from the NeuroBIM M1 and French M1 tracks of the Neuroscience Master program of Bordeaux. A few students are recruited at the M2 level directly provided their previous education represents a solid base in the field (see below).
Students who get accepted for the first year (the application process is highly competitive for all applicants) will be accepted to the second year automatically later on, provided they pass the 1st year exams.
Can I apply directly to the second year of the NeuroBIM program?
Under certain conditions, you may apply directly to the second year of the NeuroBIM program. Such applicants should hold a diploma or an education level corresponding to the one provided by the 1st year of NeuroBIM, i.e. Bachelor degree + 1st year of a Master program (240 ECTS). Applicants should be aware that the program is highly competitive. To apply directly to the second year, they must provide evidence they have already acquired a solid basis in Neuroscience.
Applicants should contact the professors in charge of the second year of the program to check their eligibility (Prof. Combes at denis.combes@u-bordeaux.fr and Prof. Masse at karine.masse@u-bordeaux.fr).
The application process and application dates are different from the ones of the first year of the program (see for further details Master 2 Application Form).
Do I need to speak French to get accepted in the NeuroBIM program?
The program is fully taught in English and there is no need to speak French to get accepted in the program. A few French classes are provided to foreign students at the beginning of the program. These lectures are optional and adapted to the students' level in French. Their first aim is to help students regarding their daily life in Bordeaux and integration in the French society.
Applicants who are fluent in French can also apply to the French tracks for the first year of the Neuroscience Master program of Bordeaux (see https://formations.u-bordeaux.fr/details-formation?type=formation&id=131)
If a student is granted admission, is deferral of the admission to the next academic year allowed?
The answer to this question is: no. The student will have to apply again the next year, without guarantee of being admitted, since the application process is competitive.
Is there an open day or a similar kind of event to get more of a grasp of the program?
There is no open day for the NeuroBIM program. But beside the website, future applicants may contact the Neuroscience in Bordeaux Association - NBA (http://www.assonba.com) if they wish to know more about NeuroBIM and get in touch with former students.
When can I apply?
There is only one single application session a year that is from February 1st to March 31st for the first year of the program. The program starts on September 1st of the same year (1st year).
When is the deadline to apply?
The application window is February/March every year and the deadline to apply is usually set on March 31st. Please check it by having a look at the website. No applications are admitted after the deadline.
How can I apply?
To apply to the program (1st year), send all the required documents by email as one clearly identified single pdf file (the total weight should not be more than 5 MO) to: admissiontec@u-bordeaux.fr between February 1st and March 31st at the latest.
Name of the file and email subject should be: CandidateName_Surname_2026_NeuroBIM application
The required documents include: a recent photo, a copy of national ID (EU candidates) or passport (non-EU candidates), a strongly convincing letter of motivation (<1,000words), a copy of the Bachelor degree or Graduation certificate translated in English or French, all previous Official Academic Transcripts translated in English or French (including all grades obtained during the 3-4 years of Bachelor, the cumulated final grade, comparative ranking with the other students of the Bachelor program - top 1%, 5% or 10%...- and information about the grading scale), a detailed Curriculum Vitae 'CV', 1 recommendation letter by an academic.
Please see Documents for application for further details on the required documents for application.
To apply, the submission of official copies of documents by email is sufficient.
To apply directly to the second year of the NeuroBIM program, the process is different from the one of the first year of the program: see further details at Master 2 Application Form
Is there any application fee?
There is no application fee.
May I apply in French?
Since NeuroBIM is an international program, the evaluation Board expects to read the CV and motivation letter written in English. However, all documents that are written in French will be read too.
Applicants who are fluent in French can also apply to the French tracks for the first year of the Neuroscience Master program of Bordeaux (see https://formations.u-bordeaux.fr/details-formation?type=formation&id=131)
Do I have to submit an application for admission via Campus France or through Mon-master?
The application procedure does not go through Mon-master or Campus France, though Campus France registration is very useful for non-European students for visa application if they are accepted in the program.
Applicants to the first year of NeuroBIM should use Campus France for visa issues only – and when applicable.
To apply directly to the second year of the NeuroBIM program, applicants may have to go through Campus France according to their nationality or apply through the eCandidat website (see for further details Master 2 Application Form).
May I submit some of the required documents after the deadline?
No, all available documents must be provided before the deadline. However, if you are in the process of obtaining a new passport, you may provide a copy of both your ID and your previous passport and send a copy of your new passport later, but before July in case you are selected.
In case you are not graduated yet, you should provide an official enrolment certificate in addition to all previous Official Academic Transcripts. You will provide the final transcripts of the last term later (after the deadline).
If your university only sends online transcripts directly to other universities, ask your university to send the transcripts directly to Profs Voisin and Avignone and to admissiontec@u-bordeaux.fr as well.
In any case, a copy of the Bachelor degree or Graduation certificate must be provided before the program starts (September 1st).
The NeuroBIM application process is competitive, with a limited number of seats available, and part of the quality assurance of the program lays in the trust applicants have in the application process that must remain fair and the same for all. We thus do not provide extension to apply to the program.
Does the translation of academic transcripts has to be certified/official (translated by professionals in a bureau)?
You need to provide a copy your official transcripts and diplomas (enrollment certificate) together with their translation in English of French, but the translation does not need to be certified, provided the marks and grades appear in Arabic numerals in the official transcripts, and thus can be checked easily by the Board of admission.
Is the recommendation letter necessary?
The recommendation letter is optional, since not every student in the world is in a position to obtain a recommendation letter. The Board carefully looks at all applications, even if there is no recommendation letter. However, it is strongly advised to provide one, since letters of recommendation are beneficial most of the time. It should be written by an academic who knows well the candidate. It should contain no more than two pages, be written in English or French, include the referee signature, presented on institutional headed paper and bearing an institutional stamp/seal.
May I add more than one recommendation letter to the application?
One single recommendation letter is usually provided, but the Board will accept up to 2 recommendation letters.
How can the recommendation letter be provided?
Recommenders can send their reference letters directly to Profs Voisin and Avignone, or alternatively the applicant may embed the letter in the application file submitted to admissiontec@u-bordeaux.fr
Shall I provide an official certificate attesting my English level?
Good proficiency in English is required to attend NeuroBIM. As all the classes are taught in English, candidates must at least meet the required standards of B2 level (independent speaker, upper intermediate). There is no need for applicants to provide an official certificate attesting their English level, since applicants' English level is checked during the interview, if they go through the first round of the selection procedure. However, any certification of the applicant's English level is welcome and can be embedded in the application file.
Which degree do I need to apply to this program?
All applicants must have already obtained a first higher education degree (Bachelor's degree -180 ECTS- or equivalent Diploma) or demonstrate a recognized equivalent level of learning according to national legislation and practices, with excellent grades and/or other study results. The successful applicants are in the higher range of academic ranking.
NeuroBIM welcomes applicants with a background in biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, medical studies, pharmacy, cognitive sciences or psychology.
Proven interest in the field of Neuroscience has to be provided by applicants with a Bachelor's degree in another subject (chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science…). Did they take online courses to build knowledge of Neuroscience? Did they attend Neuroscience lectures, seminars, meetings, go through internships, summer schools, other online courses? Can they provide certificates or other evidence of that?
I graduated more than two years ago, may I still apply to the program?
The application process is open to any student all over the world, provided he/she has validated the needed prerequisites through his/her education.
I already hold a Master degree in another field, may I still apply to the program?
The NeuroBIM board of admission is open-minded and you may apply, but the application process is highly competitive (1:10). It is important you provide evidence that you have acquired enough biology and basic science (math, physics, chemistry) background to get accepted in a Neuroscience Master program. You must also demonstrate a proven interest in the field of Neuroscience.
I did notice that candidates with a Bachelor's degree in another subject must provide documented interest in the field of Neuroscience - I reckon the provided documented interest is expected in a form of a motivation letter?
More than that: did you take online courses to build knowledge of Neuroscience? Did you attend Neuroscience lectures, seminars, meetings, go through internships, summer schools, other online courses? Can you provide certificates or other evidence of that?
Does the NeuroBIM course require a BSc degree in Neuroscience? If I do not have a BSc degree in Neuroscience, would this put me at a disadvantage?
No, access to NeuroBIM does not require a BSc degree in Neuroscience as a prerequisite. No, if you do not hold a BSc degree in Neuroscience, this does not put you at a disadvantage.
Is it required to contact a faculty member and secure a position at his/her lab prior to submitting an application?
No, NeuroBIM 1st year students choose their internship in September from a list of validated proposals that is made available to them on September 1st. How things work if students wish to do their internship in a place that is not in the list yet is explained in September.
The NeuroBIM Master course is offered in English, is a proof of language proficiency required?
Proficiency in English is required to attend NeuroBIM. As all the classes are taught in English only, applicants must meet the required standards of B2 level at the minimum (independent speaker, upper intermediate). But there is no need for applicants to provide an official certificate attesting their English level, since it is checked during the interview, if the applicant reaches the 2nd step of the selection procedure. However, any certification of the applicant's English level is welcome and can be embedded in the application file.
What are the fees for this course?
Fees are reduced and low for all students who get accepted into the NeuroBIM program (around 350€ a year in 2025).
Normal tuition fees for international, non-European students were 3,770€ per year for a Master's degree in France in 2025. However, partial fee waivers may be awarded to students on the basis of their country of origin (according to World Bank data) and/or academic excellence.
Based on the excellent academic quality of NeuroBIM applicants/country of origin, applicants selected to NeuroBIM are eligible for a partial fee waiver. Their fees are thus equivalent to those of European students, i.e. around 243€ (Master's degree) per academic year + around 95€ for student services (CVEC).
What scholarships are available in order to fund my studies? As an international student, will I be eligible for a stipend?
There is no specific scholarship available for the NeuroBIM program. Some funding may be provided through the Eiffel scholarship program (see below). Students from outside Europe are eligible for a partial fee waiver (see above).
Please note that NeuroBIM is a very demanding full-time study program only. There is no time for a job in parallel.
Am I entitled for the Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence?
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program may provide funding to Master students.
The requirements for Eiffel scholarship (https://www.campusfrance.org/en/eiffel-scholarship-program-of-excellence) state that the educational establishment in France should nominate the candidates. The deadline for the Eiffel fellowship (national program) is different from the Master application deadline and is usually set in November by the University of Bordeaux. Potential applicants should check it on the University of Bordeaux website.
They need to send their specific application file to the Eiffel program to grant-application.master@u-bordeaux.fr before this deadline. At the same time, they also need to send their NeuroBIM application file to Profs Voisin and Avignone. If necessary, they may be interviewed in the following weeks.
