Computer Science MSc Ruhr-Universität Bochum

The entire curriculum is offered in English.

However, some optional classes with German as the teaching language can be attended as well.

The main goal of the Master's degree programme in Computer Science is to offer students an in-depth and specialised education in the field of computer science in order to meet the growing demand for academic specialists and innovative IT experts. Currently, students can deepen their knowledge in five highly topical specialisation areas:

• Design, Implementation, and Analysis of Computer Systems
• Algorithms, Complexity, Data
• Computer Security
• Software Engineering and Programming Languages
• Artificial Intelligence

In addition to the subject-specific training, the Master's degree programme emphasises training students in scientific work (through seminars, practical courses, project work and Master's thesis) in order to optimally prepare them for research and academic careers.

Non-EU applicants: 

For applicants from outside the EU or with a Bachelor’s degree from outside the EU, the deadline is 15 December, 23:59 UTC+1 for the following winter semester. The application portal opens in the beginning of December.

For non-EU applicants, the start of studies is always in the winter semester!

EU applicants: For applicants from the EU, including applications from Germany and Ruhr University Bochum, there are two application deadlines. The first application deadline is 15 December, 23:59 UTC+1 for the following summer semester or winter semester and the second application deadline is 30 April, 23:59 UTC+2 only for the following winter semester. The application portal opens in the beginning of December for the first deadline and the beginning of April for the second deadline.

It is not possible to start studies in the summer semester!

For further information: https://informatik.rub.de/en/studium/computer-science/

In principle, there are no tuition fees at RUB. However, there are a few exceptions. Therefore, please inform yourself in advance about any additional costs for the degree programme you are interested in.

The study programme consists of modules with a total of 120 CP and is divided into the following areas:

• Basic/Foundation: Students select two to three modules with a minimum of 15 CP from an elective catalogue of lectures designed to provide in-depth theoretical foundations (e.g. Advanced Algorithms, Cryptography, Theory of Machine Learning)
• Specialisation Area: The specialisation modules (five to seven modules, min. 35 CP), together with the seminar (3 CP) and a practical course (3 to 5 CP), form the specialisation area This area consists of a variety of cutting-edge courses (e.g. Quantum Information and Computation; Energy Aware Computing Systems, Blockchain Security and Privacy) that allow students to focus on one of our five current specialisations or to receive a broad education.
• Project: The aims of the project (10 CP) are the practical application of the acquired knowledge and the acquisition of additional expertise in accordance with the respective project-specific task. The focus of the Master's project is research-orientated. Many Master's projects are closely linked to research projects at the individual chairs. This means that students also work together with academic staff and gain an insight into current research areas.
• Free Elective Area: In the free elective area (20 CP), two to four modules can be chosen from the entire offer of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, the University Alliance Ruhr and the European University Alliance UNIC. In particular, modules to deepen the so-called soft skills (foreign languages, teamwork, presentation techniques, writing workshop, intercultural competences, ethics, sustainability, etc.) are recommended.
• Master's thesis: The Master's thesis (30 CP) is problem-orientated and therefore contains innovative approaches and solutions. Students should demonstrate that they are able to work independently on a challenging computer science problem using scientific methods within a limited period of six months. In addition to the technical results, interdisciplinary skills must also be applied as part of the Master's thesis. Students carry out the project organisation independently and the results must be documented in written form, including a classification of the results in the literature. The most important results must be presented to a specialist audience in a colloquium lecture. In this way, students demonstrate their presentation and argumentation skills.

We highly recommend a semester abroad. This includes the option to take classes or conduct the Master's thesis outside of Germany. The RUB International Office and the administration of the Computer Science programme provide advisory support with any organisational issues.

Varied

In principle, there are no tuition fees at RUB. However, there are a few exceptions. Therefore, please inform yourself in advance about any additional costs for the degree programme you are interested in.

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 330 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in Germany (https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/re-registration-and-social-contribution).

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses in Germany

Admission to the Master's degree programme in Computer Science is open to students who have completed* a Bachelor's degree programme in Computer Science lasting at least six semesters and comprising 180 credit points or a comparable degree programme and who have a special qualification for this degree programme.

The completed Bachelor's degree programme must include at least 50 CP from the following areas of the fundamentals of computer science, whereby the contents must be equivalent to the respective modules of the BSc in Computer Science at Ruhr-Universität Bochum:

• Computer Science 1, 12 ECTS
• Computer Science 2, 8 ECTS
• Computer Science 3, 8 ECTS
• Software Engineering, 5 ECTS
• Computer Engineering 1, 5 ECTS
• Computer Networks, 5 ECTS
• Operating Systems, 5 ECTS
• Database Systems, 7 ECTS
• Computer Engineering 2, 5 ECTS

Moreover, the completed Bachelor’s degree must have at least 18 CP from the field of fundamentals of mathematics.

After the application deadline, a committee will determine the special eligibility on the basis of the documents submitted (in addition to the academic certificates, CV, letter of motivation, academic work sample, letter of recommendation).

*Note: If a degree has not yet been obtained at the time of application, an application can be made if at least 120 credit points have been earned in the Bachelor’s programme according to the study plan for the application in a six-semester Bachelor’s programme and at least 150 credit points in a seven-semester Bachelor’s programme. In that case, instead of the transcript, a certificate issued by the university showing all examination achievements up to that point and showing an average grade must be submitted.

Proof of English language skills at the level of at least C1 CEFR need to be provided via one of the following certificates:

• IELTS Academic (7.0 total score or higher)
• TOEFL iBT (100 score or higher)
• CAE C1 Advanced B (193 points or higher)
• CAE C2 Proficiency C (200 points or higher)

Presentation of a certificate may be unnecessary if appropriate proof is provided:

• for applicants with a German Abitur, five or more years of English language instruction
• for applicants who have completed a Bachelor’s degree with a standard period of study of at least three years, which was taught entirely in English and was "in-residence" in Australia, Ireland, Canada (English-speaking regions), New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America
  That is, the entire period of study must have been spent in these countries. This does not apply to degrees earned at universities in these countries but at locations outside these countries, to distance learning programmes, or to joint dual degrees with universities in other countries, or if a significant portion of the time was not spent in the former countries.
• for applicants whose native language is English
  This means that the language has been acquired and learned since early childhood without formal instruction or teaching and that the areas of speaking, writing, reading, and listening are used at the highest level and with the highest level of competence.

Non-EU applicants: 

For applicants from outside the EU or with a Bachelor’s degree from outside the EU, the deadline is 15 December, 23:59 UTC+1 for the following winter semester. The application portal opens in the beginning of December.

For non-EU applicants, the start of studies is always in the winter semester!

EU applicants: For applicants from the EU, including applications from Germany and Ruhr University Bochum, there are two application deadlines. The first application deadline is 15 December, 23:59 UTC+1 for the following summer semester or winter semester and the second application deadline is 30 April, 23:59 UTC+2 only for the following winter semester. The application portal opens in the beginning of December for the first deadline and the beginning of April for the second deadline.

It is not possible to start studies in the summer semester!

For further information: https://informatik.rub.de/en/studium/computer-science/

Students with good academic achievements and a high degree of social responsibility can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium” grant. They will receive a one-year scholarship of 300 EUR per month from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html.

International students can also apply at the International Office, e.g. for financial support during their final phase of study, such as graduation grants: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/scholarships?_wrapper_format=html.

In the city of Bochum, you can find different types of accommodation. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 350 to 600 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is usually less expensive.

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in multiple student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, students have their own single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with other students, they rent an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or they share an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.

In addition, private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/.

The Faculty of Computer Science offers two in-house job fairs, IT-Connect and ITS-Connect, which students can use to make contact with industry. In addition to this, the RUB Career Service checks students’ application documents, organises career-related events, workshops and counselling sessions, and provides information materials in German and English.

Tutors: During the first winter semester, an orientation tutorial is offered by an experienced student. During this tutorial, first-year students receive support with subject-related and organisational questions. The tutorials also make it easier for students to get to know each other and to form learning groups.

Specialist counselling: There is compulsory counselling for all first-year students before they start their studies. During their studies, students can make use of the daily consultation hours of the student counselling service.