Computer Science (Master of Science)

The technological developments of the past 20 years have changed our daily lives. Smartphones, navigation devices, search engines or data streaming have become indispensable in our everyday lives. Self-directed robots, autonomous vehicles, computers that learn to understand images or mind-controlled prostheses are our future.

We teach you the practical and theoretical skills you need to work on these and other innovations. The international master’s degree program in computer science is aimed at foreign and German students with a bachelor's degree in computer science or a similar subject. The curriculum is very flexible and offers many choices so that you can develop yourself individually and prepare for a career in science or business.

Computer science in Freiburg offers the following concentrations:

Cognitive technical systems:
e.g. Robotics and autonomous intelligent systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, image processing and computer graphics

Cyber-physical systems:
e.g. Verification and analysis of hardware and software systems, software development and programming languages, embedded systems

Information systems:
e.g. Theoretical and applied algorithms, networks and distributed systems, data management and communication, bioinformatics

Prerequisites

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or in a closely related field. Very good command of mathematics and theoretical computer science (e.g. differential equations, linear algebra, analysis, formal languages, formal grammars, Turing machines, decidability, complexity theory, logic, automata, algorithms and data structures, operation systems, computer networks, computer architecture).
English language proficiency level C1* (e.g. IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 95).

Facts and Figures

Scope:	120 ECTS credit points
Standard program duration:	4 semesters = 2 years
Language of instruction:	English
Intakes:	winter semester (October) or summer semester (April)

Fees and Cost

German and EU nationals

78 € to support the services offered by Studierendenwerk (SWFR)
70 € administrative fee
7 € to support the student council

Altogether 155 € per semester to be paid to the university.

Non-EU nationals

1500 € tuition fees
78 € to support the services offered by Studierendenwerk (SWFR)
70 € administrative fee
7 € to support the student council

Altogether 1655 € per semester to be paid to the university.

The living cost in Freiburg amounts to approximately 700 - 800 € per month.

Application

Application:	The next intake is in October 2019. Applications will be possible from 1 April 2019. Step one: Please enter your data in our online application portal Step two: Please print out the application for admission created in the online application portal. Then send it along with the following documents to the address specified on the application form: certified copy of your undergraduate diploma (bachelors or equivalent). (If you have not yet completed your undergraduate studies: a certified transcript of records showing all courses and credits taken so far and all grades/marks obtained as well as the current overall average grade). certified copy of your transcript of records showing all courses and credits taken and all grades/marks obtained as well as the final overall average grade. certified proof of proficiency in English (TOEFL or IELTS). For details see further below.* general GRE test (strongly recommended; all sections are important!) Curriculum Vitae or résumé APS certificate (only for applicants who have studied in China, Mongolia or Vietnam) Additional documents that can be useful to submit: Certificate about your class rank Certificate about the average grade of your class University entrance exam result from your home country (if applicable) GATE result (India) * English proficiency certificates and score reporting: The following English language certificates are accepted: IELTS (Academic), TOEFL (paper-based, computer-based or internet-based, but NOT Institutional TOEFL/ITP), Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English, Pearson PTE Academic, TELC, TOEIC. Only native speakers from the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada or students who completed their Bachelor’s in one of these countries are exempted from submitting one of these English language certificates. A confirmation that the medium of instruction at your university was English is not sufficient. Test scores should be reported by the test center to the University of Freiburg (institutional code for TOEFL is 7125). Alternatively, you may send a certified hard copy. The same procedure is required for the GRE score. Please note: All documents must be submitted as hard copies. All photocopies must be certified. Soft copies or incomplete applications will not be considered. Certificates issued in a language other than German or English must be accompanied with a translation by an authorized translator. Application documents will not be returned to you (regardless of whether you are admitted or not).
Admissions:	The admissions committee will verify whether you fulfill the special prerequisites specified in the admissions regulations. For further information please contact the program coordinator (see contact persons). Please note: University admission requirements may be subject to change prior to the start of the application period.
Application deadlines:	May 31 (non-EU citizens), July 15 (EU citizens) for the winter semester. December 15 (non-EU citizens), January 15 (EU citizens) for the summer semester Please note: These deadlines do not refer to the date by which your online application must be completed, but to the last possible date by which all of your application documents must be received by the university.
	FAQs pertaining to the application and admission procedure
Faculty affiliation:	Faculty of Engineering

Curriculum

The Master's degree program in Computer Science has a very flexible curriculum. There are few mandatory subjects and a lot of electives.

First of all, students have to choose one or two key courses. Key courses are courses which introduce the students to the research areas of the Department of Computer Science and lay the basis for the specialization area to be chosen. The following key courses are offered:

Algorithm Theory (every winter term, always in English)
Image Processing and Computer Graphics (every winter term, always in English)
Databases and Information Systems (every winter term, always in German)
Software Engineering (summer term 2018 in English, summer term 2019 in German)
Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (every summter term always in English)
Computer Architecture (summer term 2018 in German, summer term 2019 in English)

After that, students can focus in one of the following three specialization areas:

In the last semester, students work on their master’s thesis. They are expected to tackle an actual research question in close cooperation with a professor and his/her staff.

Possible occupational fields

Computer science is one of the most versatile study fields. There are hardly any life areas left, that do not involve any computing. Computer scientists can work for example in

Software development
Energy supply
Media / entertainment industry
Medicine or biotechnology
Education
Automotive industry
Logistics
Police
Banking and finance

Syllabus and Examination Regulations

Please note: Only the latest version is listed here. Older versions can be found in Module Handbooks and Exam Regulations under Studies and Teaching.

Online syllabus in HISinOne (Please note, loading might take some time)
Exam and admission regulations (in German)
Exam regulations (unofficial version in English - not legally binding)

Contact Persons

Do you have any questions concerning the application and admission procedure? Please contact the program coordinator:

	Georges-Köhler-Allee 101 Room 101 02 013a Phone: +49 761 203 8340 E-Mail: admissions@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Ms. Ursula Epe

For questions pertaining to the curriculum, please contact the academic advisor:

	Georges-Köhler-Allee 101 Room 101 02 013a Phone: +49 761 203 8169 E-Mail: studienberatung@informatik.uni-freiburg.de
Ms. Martina Nopper

Testimonial

"When I searched for options to study my Master’s in computer science, I found the University of Freiburg, which in this field is one of the most prestigious universities in Germany. Freiburg’s Department of Computer Science is renowned for winning several international robotic competitions, and yes, the same researchers who have won these competitions are the ones that teach the students in Freiburg."

Christian Herrera Salazar

Particularities about this study program

Flexible Curriculum

The master’s degree program in computer science has a very flexible curriculum. There is not a single course in the curriculum that the students have to take. Instead, students are always provided with several options from which they can freely choose. In this way, each student can build their study plan according to their individual interest.

Lecture Recordings

Many lectures are recorded and made available to students online so they can revisit and listen to the lecture once they have missed a class or when they are preparing for the exam..

Smart, Micro, Green – Engineering in Freiburg

Smart – stands for robots that act independently, for computers that learn to interpret images or algorithms that become faster and smarter. Simply put, smart stands for computer science.

Micro – is meant literally here. The tiniest technical systems emerge that inconspicuously take on complex tasks in everyday life, medicine and industry. Without even knowing it, you are constantly dealing with microsystems. They make our lives healthier, safer, more comfortable, more versatile and, to say the least, easier.

Green – Freiburg is known worldwide for being the Green City. Since 2015, the Faculty of Engineering has been active from an engineering perspective with its own department for sustainability research. How can renewable energy be generated, fed into the grid and stored? How do we develop materials and systems that are produced and used in an energy- and resource-efficient way and that can adapt optimally to difficult environmental conditions or disasters?

Studying engineering in Freiburg always means that you benefit from all three areas of research, no matter which area you choose. Smart, micro and green technologies are becoming more and more in demand - acquire the necessary competencies to solve the social and technical questions of the future as engineers and computer scientists!