Courses

Global classroom, practical skills.

Each July, Neuromatch Academy offers immersive online courses that build core skills in computational neuroscience, climate science, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Designed for a worldwide classroom, our programs run across multiple time zones with globally adjusted tuition to ensure accessibility for participants everywhere.

How Does It Work?

Our courses are inclusive, intensive two- or three-week synchronous virtual courses, where participants are matched into small learning pods of approximately 15 students, each supported by a dedicated Teaching Assistant.

Each day is structured around a balance of curriculum time and project time.

During curriculum sessions, participants are expected to be on Zoom and actively engage with their pod as they work through interactive course materials, supported by their assigned Teaching Assistant.

Following a midday break, participants focus on a collaborative group research project. During project time, support is provided by the pod’s Teaching Assistant, a project-specific Teaching Assistant with expertise in the relevant dataset, and a project mentor.

Our courses are intense and provide an introduction to many topics in the field with the opportunity to dive in deeper based on your interests.

Course Structure

Students work in small learning groups, or pods, made up of 10-15 students and a dedicated teaching assistant. These pods are formed on time slot, common research interests, and language preference using our custom matching algorithm.

Each day, students spend approximately 4.5 hours on curriculum and 3 hours on research projects.

Coursework

Composed of mini-modules, each with a short video introducing the concept, narrative explanation, and interactive coding tutorials in Python. All in an interactive Python notebook so that you can execute code in-line while you learn with your peers.

Your assigned teaching assistant is with your pod for all of curriculum time.

Research Projects

Apply the techniques you learn to real research projects aligned with your interests. Your pod is split into two project groups supported by your pod’s teaching assistant, a project teaching assistant, and a mentor. Together, you will develop research questions and explore open science datasets.

Participation in the project component is optional. Students who complete it are eligible to apply to the Impact Scholars Program, which enables teams to continue conducting academic research with the support of a mentor.

Timing

Our courses are delivered across five timeslots around the world to align with global time zones and held each July to align with major summer breaks across most educational systems.

Courses are full-time commitments lasting two or three weeks. Participants are required to attend live sessions during their selected daytime time slot and may not complete the course overnight. Applicants should therefore choose the time zone option that best fits their daytime availability when applying.

Use the timezone widget to help select your slot

Our Course Topics

	Course link	Prerequisites	Next course dates
Computational Neuroscience The curriculum integrates cutting-edge advances in machine learning and causality research with state-of-the-art modeling approaches in neuroscience.	See course details	See prerequisites here	6-24 July 2026 TBD July 2027
Deep Learning Our Deep Learning (DL) course grew out of the realization that there is a real need for teaching an ethically responsible hands-on TA-guided code-first DL curriculum that emphasizes how DL can be used to advance science and achieve better scientific insights.	See course details	See prerequisites here	6-24 July 2026 TBD July 2027
NeuroAI What are common principles of natural and artificial intelligence? The core challenge of intelligence is generalization. Neuroscience, cognitive science, and AI are all questing for principles that help generalization.	See course details	Must take CompNeuro and Deep Learning course or equivalent. See all prerequisites here	13-24 July 2026 TBD July 2027
Computational Tools for Climate Science Through this program, students will gain skills and knowledge in the areas of climate science and impact, computational methods, data access, and scientific practices.	See course details	See prerequisites here	13-24 July 2026 No live course dates are upcoming in 2027.

Why Learn with Neuromatch?

Immersive Commitment

Full-time, focused learning.

Dedicate 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, and stay engaged with your pod to get the most from the course. No more than two absences to receive a certificate. See our Course Attendance Policy.

Collaborative Learning

Learn together, succeed together.

Work closely in small groups of ~15 students with teaching assistants, sharing ideas and contributing to team projects. Video cameras on and engage in classroom discussion!

Real Research

Hands-on projects with guidance.

Contribute to meaningful research under the support of teaching assistants and mentors, with a final presentation to showcase your work.

Recognized Achievement

Certificates and badges.

Receive a certificate for completing the course, and earn a special badge if you complete the collaborative project portion.

Applications for July 2026 Academy are now closed.

Applications for the July 2027 Academy will open in February 2027. Applicants will be required to create a profile in our portal and complete an online application through the platform once applications open.

Create a Neuromatch Portal Profile Now

Affordable, accessible, equitable.

Our globally adjusted tuition ensures that learners everywhere can participate in high-quality computational science training, no matter where they are.

"Neuromatch’s mission is to make education and research in computational science accessible to everyone, everywhere. They adjust tuition fees based on where each student is located, so anyone with curiosity and motivation can take part"
- Sepehr Gourabi, Iran and US, Computational Neuroscience Alumni.

Tuition Fees

Making computational science accessible to everyone, everywhere.

We adjust our tuition fees based on the cost of living in the country where you are located while taking the course. We also offer tuition waivers for participants who need financial support, with waiver amounts varying by location.

Tuition fees directly support the payment of our Teaching Assistants and help sustain Neuromatch as a global, nonprofit organisation.

Calculate your tuition

Application & Course Timeline

January 2026Information Webinars
Learn more about the courses, meet the community, and ask questions!
16 February 2026Applications Open
22 March 2026Applications Close
Midnight in your local time zone.
Mid-April 2026Application Decisions
Welcome to the Neuromatch community!
10 May 2026Enrollment Deadline
Accept your offer and make your payment
Early-June 2026Matching
You'll learn what timeslot you are are in and get information about your pod.
July 2026Orientation
Each course will have an orientation, this is required for all students.
6-24 July 2027CompNeuro and Deep Learning courses start!
13-24 July 2026NeuroAI and Climate Science course starts!
July 2026Closing ceremonies
August 2026Certificates sent out

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligbilty & Applications

1If the material is open-source, what is the value of enrolling?

While course materials are publicly available, the live program offers significant added value: *Dedicated, protected time to learn intensively *Daily support from a paid TA and Project TA *Structured collaboration with a global pod *A mentored research project that cannot be replicated through self-study alone *Community, networking, and post-course opportunities The live experience is designed to support learning, accountability, and real research practice.

2Do I need a letter of reference to apply?

Nope!

3Is there a cost to apply?

No! No payments are needed to apply. Application decisions come out Mid-April. You have until Early-May to enroll and pay your tuition and a small processing fee to secure your spot.

4Can I apply as both a teaching assistant and a student?

Yes, you can submit applications for both roles, but you will only be accepted for one. You will only be accepted into one course (either as a student or a TA), so it is important to rank your applications thoughtfully in the Portal when prompted. If you are not accepted to your first choice, you may still be considered for your next-ranked option.

5Can I apply to multiple courses? Can I take multiple courses at once? How does acceptance work?

You may submit up to three applications total, across any combination of student and teaching assistant roles. You will only be accepted into one course (either as a student or a TA), so it is important to rank your applications thoughtfully in the Portal when prompted. If you are not accepted to your first choice, you may still be considered for your next-ranked option.

6How do you assess whether applicants meet the prerequisites? Is there a test or proof required?

We do not require formal tests, transcripts, or certifications to verify prerequisites. We operate on an honor system. All prerequisites are clearly outlined in each course book, along with suggested materials to review or upskill if needed. These prerequisites are designed to ensure you have the background needed to succeed and feel confident during the course. Part of the application is also a written personal statement about why you want to take the course.

7I come from a non-traditional, international, non-neuroscience, or interdisciplinary background. Am I still eligible?

es. Our community includes undergraduates, graduate students, industry professionals, medical trainees, and career switchers from around the world. Educational structures vary globally, and we take that into account. If you are unsure how your background maps to the prerequisites, we recommend reviewing the detailed prerequisite sections and support materials in the course book.

8Do I need prior research experience or a defined research idea to succeed?

No prior research experience is required! In your application your can optionally share any previous publications or preprints. The courses are designed to teach the research process itself. Projects are collaborative and you will receive guidance from your TA and Project TA. You will rank project topics of interest in your application and pods are formed accordingly. Research questions are developed by you and your group, with structured support throughout!

9Does choosing the Lo-Fi track affect my chances of acceptance?

No. Selecting the Lo-Fi track does not reduce your chances of being accepted. We do our best to place learners into Lo-Fi pods when requested. If we are unable to do so, you will be offered a place in a regular pod and can decide whether it works for you. Certificates are awarded equally across tracks. Only the tutorials section of the course follows the Lo-Fi format, the project portion of the course is the same across all pods.

10How competitive is admission? What is the typical acceptance rate?

Neuromatch is a scalable organization. As long as applicants meet the prerequisites, we are generally able to scale cohorts and hire additional TAs to support learners. Historically, acceptance rates have been approximately 85–90%, depending on the course. Admission is not intended to be exclusionary; the goal is to ensure readiness for a positive learning experience.

Portal Account

1I withdrew my application in the Portal to make an edit, but now I cannot reapply!

Please email nma@neuromatch.io and ask us to delete that application. You’ll be able to resubmit your application!

2I have logged in to the Portal but cannot see the applications, what’s wrong?

You have to complete your Profile in the upper right before you begin. There is also an email verification that you need to complete before your account is active.

3I am having trouble creating an application through the Portal from a mobile browser.

We have not been able to test our application on mobile browsers. Please try to use a computer with a normal display instead.

4I had some issues creating a Portal account and cannot login, what should I do?

You will need to verify your email when creating your Portal account, please check your spam folder if you did not get the verification email.

Course Logistics & Experience

1Are your courses graded?

No, students are not graded and we cannot supply grades.

2Do these courses provide credits at my university?

That is up for your advisors at your university to determine. Many university graduate programs DO offer credit for these courses by demonstrating your certificate and showing the curriculum to them.

3What level are the courses, and who are they designed for?

The courses were originally designed for graduate-level learners, but participants range from advanced undergraduates to senior PhD students and industry professionals. You must be 18 years and older to participate. Success depends less on formal status and more on meeting the prerequisites, committing the time, and actively engaging with the material, your TA, and your pod.

4What time zone will the course take place in?

We offer 5 time slots to accommodate participants globally. You can see which time slot is best for using the time zone widget above. After you’ve been matched to your pod, you’ll be able to see your pods time slot in the portal.

5Will the courses be in any languages other than English?

The main language of instruction will be English, and all materials will be in English. In addition, many of our students will be grouped into pods where the TA and students all share another language. Language pods are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

6How do students get grouped into teams or ‘pods’?

We use an algorithm to place people in complementary groups based on common interests, time availability, seniority, and in many cases shared language. This will allow students to meet online at a time and context that is most convenient for them.

Fees, Policies, & After the Course

1What if I have to miss some days of the course?

The course design is cumulative, meaning that each day requires knowledge from the previous day. Thus, missing any days of the course makes it difficult to keep up. If you know you will miss some of the course, it would be best to apply next year instead. In case of emergencies, students can miss up to 2 days and still receive a certificate. All of the content is freely available online, so students missing just a few hours of the course may be able to catch up by viewing the lectures and lessons out of sync with their pod. Please see our Course Attendance Policy linked to above, under 'Why learn with Neuromatch?'

2I’m a student and cannot afford the course fee, what are my options?

In exceptional circumstances, individuals who cannot afford the reduced fee may apply for an additional hardship discount through the payment portal. This will take place after acceptance at the time of enrollment. All students will have to cover the processing fee, this fee is scaled to your local cost of living, just as the course fee is.

3What types of payment are accepted?

Available payment options differ by country, but Debit Card, Credit Card and Direct Bank Transfer are available in nearly all countries. Additional options include Link, Google Pay, WeChat, Cash App Pay, Klarna. We do not accept purchase orders or invoices from universities due to the complexity of university invoicing, and the relatively small amount of money for these transactions.

4If I was accepted, but can not attend this year, can I defer my enrollment to next year?

No, you will need to reapply.

5Do you offer refunds?

We hire and commit to paying teaching assistants based on the number of students signed up for each course and are therefore not able to grant refunds to any students after matching occurs, usually in early June. You can read more about our refund policy here. If you have an emergency situation that you feel grants you exemption from this policy, you may complete this form for consideration. Decisions about refunds are made on a case-by-case basis and can’t be guaranteed past the deadline above. The nonrefundable processing fee portion is not refundable.

6Do students and TA receive a certificate?

Yes, both students and TAs will receive a certificate of completion. Students must comply with our Attendance Policy. Certificates are in the Profile page of Portal, under Documents. Students and TAs must complete the end of course survey to access their certificate. If you choose to connect your Portal account to your ORCiD account, you can publish your certificate via ORCiD.

7What opportunities are available after completing a Neuromatch course?

After the course, learners may apply to programs such as the Impact Scholars Program, which is a competitive, application-based opportunity. Neuromatch also offers alumni workshops, community events, and is developing additional fellowship opportunities. More information is shared during the final week of the Academy.

Have more questions? Please email the Neuromatch Academy Support Team at nma@neuromatch.io

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Watch the January 2026 Session.

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Our community of volunteer Neuromatch Ambassadors around the world can help answer your questions and share their experiences in multiple languages!