Application Information

Our master’s degree program in Data and Computer Science is access-restricted with regard to requirements and qualifications, including a proof of English language proficiency and successful completion of some core Computer Science courses, as detailed below.

Starting with the winter intake 2024, we will be using heiCO for applications. Here you can find some information about the application process and contact information of the heiCO support team. Further details can also be found in the admission regulations (official German version). Please note that the admission requirements have changed starting from the winter semester 2024, in particular that the programme is now admission-restricted.

Here you can find information about the application deadlines.

Requirements

Sept 2024: Please notice that the requirements below refer tor the old (not admission-restrictred) admission regulations and no longer apply.

In the admisson regulations (note that only the German text is legally binding)  you will find detailed information about the requirements for admission to the program. Important onces can be found in Section 3 and are as follows.

(a) Degree in a bachelor’s program of study with a standard period of study of at least three academic years, which has been obtained with particular success

• with a subject component of 100% in computer science, mathematics, natural or engineering sciences or a degree recognized as equivalent in a course of study with essentially the same content from a domestic or foreign university or
• with a subject component of at least 50% in computer science, computational linguistics, mathematics or physics, if the bachelor’s thesis has a 100% subject component in computer science, computational linguistics, mathematics or physics, or a degree recognized as equivalent in a course of study with essentially the same content from a domestic or foreign university.

(b) Proven knowledge in computer science through the degree according to (a) or other proven knowledge in Computer Science in the amount of 32 CP, of which at least 6 CP can be assigned to both areas listed under items 1 and 2 and at least 6 CP are assigned to two of the areas listed under items 3 to 5 of the following areas:

1. Algorithms and data structures: Basics of algorithms as well as runtime complexity and data structures;
2. Practical Computer Science: Basics of programming, object-oriented programming and software engineering;
3. Theoretical Computer Science: Formal languages and automata and complexity theory
4. Computer architecture: Switching algebra, sequential logic, pipelines, storage hierarchy, and distributed systems and networks;
5. Mathematical basics: Vector spaces, linear mappings and the analysis of functions in one variable and of sequences and series.

(c)  Proof of English language proficiency. One of the following criteria must be met for proof of English language proficiency:

• B2 level certificate, including German or foreign university entrance qualification,
• Average of at least 9.5 points in English over four half-years in the German upper level,
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least 570 paper-based TOEFL test or 230 computer-based TOEFL test or 90 internet-based TOEFL test points,
• International English Language Test System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 or better,
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE),
• Completed a bachelor's degree in English,
• School system taught in English,
• Native speaker,
• DAAD language test, for example, at the central language laboratory of Heidelberg University