Bilingual Bachelor's (BiBa) in Computer Science Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

BiBa is a Bachelor’s degree programme in computer science that is taught bilingually (in German and English). You do not have to know German beyond level A1 when you enrol, but you will be a full-fledged computer scientist with a high proficiency in both English and German when you finish.

Our goal is to prepare you for a career in Computer Science, in particular to be able to work on topics of utmost importance to humanity and society in multinational teams.

• You will be proficient in German and English, both for your professional life and your integration into German society and industry. Our aim is that you will have a command of these two languages and will even be able to switch languages in mid-sentence! COMMUNICATION IS KEY – GO FOR IT!
• You will have taken the same required courses in computer science as those in a regular computer science programme. Your „minor“ subject will typically be German. You will take a couple of elective courses, less than in a regular programme, but this will not curtail your preparation for working in your profession as a computer scientist. You will be able to attain a good livelihood – COMPUTING PAYS!
• You will be able to work on the truly important „grand challenges“ of our time, because these are not confined to a single country, but can only be tackled through multinational teams – which generally work in English, while all-important small talk is done in the regional / national language. Examples of the topics of such "grand challenges" include the environment (global warming), cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This is COMPUTING WITHOUT BORDERS!

You will be able to work within Germany or abroad in collaboration with German partners. Alternatively, you will be able to continue your education in a Master’s degree or even a doctorate in Germany or abroad.

The study course is an in-person programme that requires attendance. The course cannot be studied online.

The German classes will be held throughout the semester and also as intensive courses in the break periods, in order to facilitate a quick advance of our students to the necessary German level by their third year.

Winter semester: 15 July

Date may differ for the current semester. Please check the programme website.

Starting in the BiBa English Track is the most common choice for international applicants. For four semesters, students will take all computer science and maths courses in English. This includes among others: 

• Introduction to Computer Science
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Soft Skills
• Databases
• Technical Computer Science
• Theoretical Computer Science

Additionally, you will learn German at least up to Level B2. 

This will enable you to take computer science classes in semesters 5 and 6 in German, as well as in English. In these two semesters, you will have the opportunity to take some elective courses from the broad variety offered at the faculty, e.g. courses in the areas of:

• Visualisation
• Simulation
• IT Security
• Wireless Networks
• Computational Intelligence
• Business Intelligence

The most current study plans and module handbook can be found on the programme homepage: https://www.inf.ovgu.de/biba.

PDF Download

Mingle with the other students in the programme – about half will be German native speakers and the other half will be international students learning German.

Students in the German programme track may choose to spend a semester abroad to immerse in a foreign culture, e.g. at our partner institution, MUN Canada.

The seventh semester is dedicated to an internship in a company, which also includes writing the Bachelor's Thesis. The internship may also be decoupled from the Bachelor's thesis and done independently.

No tuition fees

Currently, the semester fee is 278.90 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschlandsemesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria and more.

A minimum of 992 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

In our new programme, students can start if they fulfil the following three prerequisites:

1. You are proficient in either German or English (this is the new and special aspect of our programme). Proficient means you have to have attained at least the level of B2 in the European Reference Framework for languages in your stronger language.
2. You need to have an academic level corresponding to a German
   "Abitur" or the British A-Levels. If your school leaving certificate is not equivalent, there are several ways to get up to speed: e.g.
   • Take part in a Preparatory Year (Prep Year), called a "Studienkolleg" in Germany.
   • In some cases, you can attend university in your home country for a year or two, taking certain courses, and then transfer to our BiBa programme. You can find information on what is needed with your school leaving certificate on the following page https://www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/check-university-admission/.
3. Since this is a special study course, we want to find the students who fit best into our programme. Therefore, we have included an eligibility test, which you will have to pass in order to be admitted to the programme. In the eligibility process, you need to earn 10 points by submitting proof of your special interest in the programme. This includes:
   • A letter of motivation in German or English
   • Optional proof of specific skills: internships, working experience, certificates, participation in competitions, letter of recommendation from a teacher
   • Optional proof of language skills: an additional foreign language; English AND German at least C1; German as a foreign language at least A1

Please find detailed information on the admission criteria in our study and examination regulations. More information on the application process as well as formal requirements for Bachelor's admission on the university website. For more detailed information on the points and the eligibility process as a whole, please refer to the regulations document.

English track: English at least B2 is required for application/admission. No knowledge of German is required for admission, but A1 is required before starting the programme in October.

German track: English AND German at least B2 for admission

Winter semester: 15 July

Date may differ for the current semester. Please check the programme website.

The university provides a limited number of excellence scholarships. Eligible candidates are students in advanced semesters who clearly show above-average results. Scholarships cannot be provided for new students. 

Additionally, you may check the following overview:
Scholarships and funding opportunities for international students.

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 174 EUR to 421 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

https://www.ovgu.de/en/careerservice.html

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of Germany's youngest universities. It was formed by a merger of the existing technical university, the teacher training college, and the medical school. The university now comprises nine faculties and about 12,600 students and is becoming increasingly more important as a centre for education and research. It plays an important role in the regional capital of Magdeburg, which is developing into a centre for business, scholarship, and culture. The university is a member of many organisations and committees. It is named after Otto von Guericke (1602 to 1686), Magdeburg's famous citizen, whose pioneering research into the vacuum brought him renown well beyond Germany's borders. The university aspires to teach and research in the tradition of this great scientist, philosopher, and engineer and to continue with his humanist work.

At the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, students can choose from more than 100 study programmes in various areas of study and specialisation. There are also many possibilities to combine different subjects across faculties. To open up to qualified students from all over the world, the Otto von Guericke University is vastly expanding its offers of programmes taught in English. The conditions for students are ideal, with modern laboratories, experimental workshops, and clinics equipped with high-performance computers and an excellent staff-student ratio. The offer of a sound, thorough education, combining a high level of theoretical expertise with practical experience, makes Magdeburg an attractive choice.

In recent years, research at the university has gone through a decisive change, from applied research to innovative, fundamental research. Among the many areas represented, the neurosciences, immunology, non-linear systems, new materials, processes and products, computational visualistics, social transformation, communication, and culture deserve a special mention. The university hopes to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in Magdeburg and the surrounding area through its research. Equally, disciplines such as humanities, economics, and management, which have been established more recently at the university, have already made their mark on our research profile. Special emphasis is placed on close cooperation between teaching staff and students.

The Otto von Guericke University is a proud member of the European University Alliance EU GREEN, which is aiming to be your gateway to sustainability. Together, we aim to be a broad European hub for education, research and innovation in sustainability that goes beyond the consortium borders and acts globally to provide solutions to local or regional challenges, which can be replicated at a global level.

Magdeburg also attracts students because it offers accommodation with either a single bed or twin beds in its halls of residence.

Take a virtual trip through our international campus!

As the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg is the seat of the state parliament and administration. The town is more than 1,200 years old and has about 242,000 inhabitants. Its excellent location on the River Elbe and its proximity to Berlin, Hanover, and Leipzig have proven to be a significant asset to the city. In the 19th century, the town developed into an important industrial and trade centre. Nowadays, another quite distinctive feature of Magdeburg is its considerable research and innovation potential at the university, the Max Planck and Fraunhofer research institutes, and the university of applied sciences, which are all located in close proximity to each other. Magdeburg offers an extensive park and garden landscape, a rich cultural and sports life, and an ideal atmosphere for being a student. Please visit the website: www.magdeburg.de.