This master’s degree programme in computer science builds on the knowledge acquired in a bachelor course; a broad, modularised selection of lectures and projects in very diverse fields enable students to choose a concentration in a specific area of computer science. Students also acquire additional skills in an applied elective field. This course finishes up with a master’s thesis, in which students work independently on a current topic in their field of specialisation. Here, as with project work or in their activities as an assistant, students have the opportunity to work in international research teams at the University.

Knowledge: Graduates will have acquired profound and broad knowledge in the areas of mathematics, information science and the natural sciences. They are enabled to perform independent scientific work and to exhibit leadership and responsibility in both a professional setting and in society at large. Our engineers approach new findings in their field with a critical awareness.

Skills – Graduates are able to:

• analyse and solve scientific problems, even when they are unusually or insufficiently defined and reveal conflicting specifications.
• abstract and formulate complex problems emerging from new or developing areas of research.
• apply innovative methods of basic science problem solving as well as to develop new scientific methods.
• develop approaches and solutions to complex and at times unusual questions, and where necessary apply knowledge from outside disciplines.
• create and develop new work, products, processes and methods.
• use their scientific judgement as information scientists to work with complex and possibly incomplete information and to recognise and deal with contradictions.

Competence – Graduates possess the competence to:

• recognise what information they will need and to locate and acquire such information.
• plan and execute theoretical and experimental studies.
• critically evaluate and draw conclusions from data.
• study and evaluate the application of new and emerging technologies.

Beyond the bachelor’s qualifications, master’s graduates are also able to:

• methodically classify and systematically combine knowledge from diverse areas and deal with complexity.
• quickly and systematically acquaint themselves with new tasks.
• systematically reflect upon the overarching consequences of their work as computer scientist and to incorporate this reflection into responsible actions.
• critically question existing methods and where needed to develop these methods further.

The master’s programme is divided into four areas: the core subject, the specialised subject, one project and the applied subject. For the applied subject the same subjects are offered as in the bachelor's programme. Additionally, there are transferable skills modules (ASQ), a seminar and a ('free') module that can be chosen from the entire course catalogue of the University. The core subjects Practical and Applied Informatics (PAI), Theoretical and Mathematical Methods of Informatics (TMI) and Technical and System-Oriented Informatics (TSI) teach the fundamentals of their respective fields. 36 credit points (ECTS) must be achieved in this section. The following combinations are possible:
- 12 up to 24 ECTS from PAI and 36 ECTS from TSI or TMI
The core modules usually amount to 6 ECTS so that two modules from one subject can be combined respectively. This guarantees high combinatorics while maintaining simple structures.

Certain modules from the specialised subject of the bachelor's programme can be taken in the master's programme as well. This requires, however, that no exams have been completed for these modules during the bachelor's degree and that they are fundamental modules which are not offered in the specialised subject of the master's programme. This regulation is in support of the idea that students can take foundational introductory modules in certain areas of Computer Science in the third and fourth semester of study. With a smart choice of majors in the bachelor's and master's programmes you can thus tailor your education to be broad and in-depth at the same time. You can, for example, emphasise the area of Artificial Intelligence during your bachelor's degree and specialise during your master's degree in Process Management and Databases or Embedded Systems. This is also true for the applied subject: Students who prefer a broad education can choose a new applied subject; others can deepen their learnings from the applied subject they took during the bachelor's degree. Another advantage is that students can further develop foundational competences in a specific area from their bachelor's degree. Students who completed their bachelor's degree at another higher education institution with a different course offer can also be included. They receive an introduction into their chosen subject. After the first semester of the programme, all master’s students can be taught on the same advanced level.
Subsequent to the core education you can choose from nearly all important areas of Computer Science in your specialised subject. An essential element of the Computer Science master's programme at Ulm University is the practical education in the form of a project. Several project modules or even seminars can be bundled as a project. Another option is to complete two projects or one big project in a team or alone. The programme concludes with a six month long master’s thesis.

Application and practice orientation

A so-called applied subject complements the subject-specific programme. Applied subjects are almost exclusively disciplines in which Computer Science plays a particularly important innovative role.

•        Biology, Chemistry, Physics

•        Mathematics, Economics

•        Electrical Engineering, Psychology, Pedagogy

•        Medicine

•        Philosophy

Almost any undergraduate programme at Ulm University can be chosen as an applied subject. All information on study objectives, contents or credit points can be found in the module handbook.

Semester abroad? Why not! Our exchange programmes offer various opportunities to meet people from different cultures and improve your language and intercultural skills. It is well worth your time to go abroad and expand your horizon, both on a personal and professional level.

The many international students on our campus also create an international flair.  The <link en/io/ - internal-link "Öffnet internen Link im aktuellen Fenster">International Office</link> is here to support both incoming and outgoing students. The International Office offers international prospective students who wish to apply for a German-taught study programme at Ulm University, <link en/io/degree-phd/prospective-students/preparatory-course/ - internal-link "Öffnet internen Link im aktuellen Fenster">a preparatory course</link>.

Degree course scheme Master Informatik FSPO 2017

Admission requirements

Study and examination regulations

Online Application

Course Flyer

Fachschaft Informatik
Studienkommission
Dean of Studies: Prof. Dr. Birte Glimm
Subject-specific student advice: Dr. Markus Maucher
Auslandsstudium: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Slomka, Ph.D Sabine Habermalz (Erasmus, International Office), Daniel Kanzleiter (BW Austauschprogramme, International Office)

Online-Adressbuch der Universität