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Master's Programme Computer Science

Overview

Degree

Master of Science

Duration

4 semesters

Credits

120 ECTS

Language

German and English (certificates are required)

Content

The programme is essentially a broad computer science Master's programme, but has distinctive interdisciplinary specialisations. It imparts the informatics basics to develop and maintain systems of software and hardware analytically, creatively and constructively. The methodical and analytical training combined with a broad spectrum of applications qualifies graduates of this degree for a field that is in high demand on the labour market and in science.

Internationality

Stays abroad possible during studies

Start

Summer and winter semester

This programme offers you:

  • Depending on your choice of focus, you will have strongly developed skills in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Algorithmics, Scientific Computing, Visual Analytics or Software Engineering. All of these areas are highly relevant and in demand in both academia and industry.
  • The degree programme is characterised by great flexibility and choice. There is not a single compulsory course in the curriculum.

Access requirements

The programme is aimed at students with a Bachelor's degree in computer science or related courses.


The following contents must have been covered in the Bachelor's degree programme:

  • Theoretical computer science (min. 15 ECTS)
  • Mathematics (min. 18 ECTS)
  • Programming, Software Technology, and Information Systems (min. 18 ECTS)

These minimum requirements are met by students of the University of Cologne in the Bachelor's degree programmes in Business Mathematics, Business Information Systems and Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science.

In Theoretical computer science, lectures include topics such as automata theory, formal language theory, computability and complexity theory, as well as logic, algorithms, or data structures.

In addition, the Bachelor's degree must have been completed with a grade of at least 2.5.

Since courses are offered in both German and English, applicants for the degree programme must provide evidence of both German language skills (DSH-2 or equivalent) and English language skills (level B2).

The examination board makes the necessary determinations and decides on possible exceptions. In particular, the Examination Committee may require that qualifications must be made up for.

Structure

The structure of the degree programme is shown in the figure below. It is characterised by great flexibility and wide-ranging options for students. All courses in the compulsory elective area of computer science are assigned to a specific subject area (see below). The programme structure only stipulates that students must achieve a certain minimum number of credit points in individual subject areas. Students select one of the subject areas as their focus area. In the focus area, courses totalling at least 21 CP must be completed. Students select two further subject areas as supplementary areas to the focus area, in each of which they must complete at least 12 CP. This ensures a certain subject breadth within the scope of the informatics education. The study structure is completed by a seminar in computer science (6 CP), a Master's thesis (30 CP), interdisciplinary qualifications (6 CP) and the achievement of 24 CP in an application field (see below).

 

Subject areas

Subject areas structure the courses according to the content areas of computer science. A subject area can contain courses in different forms (lecture, tutorial, practical, project) and with different scopes. Currently there are the following subject areas:

  • Algorithms and Theory
  • Engineering of Software-Intensive Systems
  • Artificial Intelligence and Visual Analytics
  • Scientific Computing and High Performance Computing

Please refer to the module handbook for the specific courses in the subject areas.

Fields of application

The application field enables students to apply the computer science fundamentals in a concrete context and to use them creatively. Students must decide on one of the following fields of application when they start their studies and take courses there to the extent of 24 CP.

  • Application field "Mathematics"
  • Application field "Physics"
  • Application field "Economics"
  • Application field "Digital Humanities"
  • Application Field "Computational Biology"
  • Application area "Earth and Atmosphere"

Please refer to the module handbook for the specific courses in the application fields.

Interdisciplinary qualifications

In addition to the subject-specific content, students must take courses in the module "Interdisciplinary Qualifications" amounting to 6 CP, which cover relevant topics outside of the subject-specific expertise. For this purpose, students can choose from a catalogue of courses in the areas of entrepreneurship, philosophy of science, interdisciplinarity, ethics/philosophy and society. The module is ungraded.

Some of the courses recommended here can be found in the course plan of the masters programme in KLIPS. Students also have the opportunity of applying for credit for courses not listed in KLIPS for the "Interdisciplinary Qualifications" module. For this purpose, a request must be sent to the examination office. This also applies in particular to the courses offered by the ProfessionalCenter of the University of Cologne, which are listed in KLIPS as "Extracurricular Courses".

 

We look forward to receiving your application!

Application process and deadlines

  • Application deadline for the summer semester: 15th of January
  • Application deadline for the winter semester: 15th of July.

Applications are submitted via the campus management system Klips 2.0.

External applicants with a foreign Bachelor's degree also apply via Klips 2.0, but must apply for pre-examination documentation (VDP) via uni-assist and submit this in Klips 2.0.

Requirements

The following documents must be submitted:

  • Proof of admission requirements
  • Description of the (previous) course of studies (Transcript of Records)
  • University entrance qualification
  • External applicants must also submit the pre-examination documentation (VPD)

Further links

Orientation:

Application:

Dates:

Help and advice

If you have general questions about the degree programme, please contact the student advisory service of the Department of Mathematics/Computer Science.


In particular, if you have questions regarding the content, you can also contact the head of the Department of Computer Science, Prof. Vogelsang.

FAQs zum Masterstudiengang Informatik

Die wichtigsten Fragen und Antworten im Überblick.

1. FAQs - Vor dem Studium

2. FAQs - Während des Studiums