Computational Linguistics University of Stuttgart

The programme is entirely conducted in English (100%).

Dialogue systems, machine translation, search engines and much more – with your Master of Science degree in Computational Linguistics (CL), you can make your contribution to all these fascinating fields!

The programme is offered by the Institute for Natural Language Processing Stuttgart, which is located in Faculty 5: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. It is intended for students from the fields of computational linguistics, computer science, general linguistics and related disciplines. Our programme provides an advanced education to students who wish to widen their knowledge of theories and applications relevant to the automatic processing of written and spoken language.

The programme starts with an intensive class that reviews the basics of computational linguistics. We offer three focus areas in the programme:

• (i) core computational linguistics,
• (ii) applied natural language processing, and
• (iii) speech processing

In a CL team laboratory in the second semester, students acquire practical skills for typical collaborative project situations. A CL research module in the third semester prepares students for writing their Master's theses.
In addition to the mentioned obligatory modules and the Master's thesis, the programme consists of a wide range of possible elective modules. These are offered by the Institute for Natural Language Processing and by the departments of Computer Science and Linguistics.

FAQ regarding MSc Computational Linguistics and teaching at the IMS

The average study time often exceeds the standard period of study, especially for students with non-CL (Computational Linguistics) backgrounds.

Working students and students who are unable to study full-time due to special conditions (e.g. childcare, care of relatives) have the option to study part-time. The standard period of study can be extended up to a maximum of nine semesters.

• 15 July for following winter semester
• 15 January for following summer semester

EU citizens do not pay tuition, whereas non-EU citizens pay a tuition of 1,500 EUR per semester.

https://www.student.uni-stuttgart.de/en/organizing-studies/formalities/tuition-and-fees/index.html

According to the Study and Examination Regulations for students starting their studies from the winter semester of 2024 and onwards:

• Semester one: Methods in Computational Linguistics, elective courses, Intro to DL for STP 
• Semester two: CL team laboratory, elective courses
• Semester three: CL research module, elective courses
• Semester four: Master's thesis

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Our institutes collaborate with numerous international (university) partners. Guest lectures conducted by international professors and researchers are often integrated into the lectures.

Students have the possibility to go abroad with programmes such as ERASMUS+ (especially in the third and fourth semesters, as there are no compulsory modules).

There are no obligatory internships, but six ECTS credit points can be acquired for a voluntary internship.

Varied

EU citizens do not pay tuition, whereas non-EU citizens pay a tuition of 1,500 EUR per semester.

https://www.student.uni-stuttgart.de/en/organizing-studies/formalities/tuition-and-fees/index.html

Approx. 200 EUR per semester

Living expenses amount to about 1,050 EUR per month. Non- EU students will have to demonstrate that they have sufficient finances to cover living expenses for 12 months. EU citizens may apply for state-guaranteed loans during the time of enrolment. 

For more information, see the links on our website.

A Bachelor's degree in computational linguistics, natural language processing, computer science, linguistics or a related field is required.

For an admission, you need to prove sufficient knowledge of the English language on CEFR level C1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). MoI is not accepted. Please note that you don't need a proof for German language proficiency (since the programme is taught in English).

Please find more details in the following document: https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/studium/studienangebot_assets/computational-linguistics/pdf/English_language_skills_MSc_CL_barrierefrei_03-2025.pdf.

• C@MPUS organisational platform: https://campus.uni-stuttgart.de/
• ILIAS platform contents: https://ilias3.uni-stuttgart.de

• 15 July for following winter semester
• 15 January for following summer semester

Please check the following website on financial aid and scholarships: https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/study/living-in-stuttgart/finances/index.html.

Stuttgart is located in Baden-Württemberg, one of the economically strongest and most innovative regions in Germany and Europe. The region is home to numerous companies and offers students many opportunities to get a student job or internship.

For more detailed information, please consult our university's website: International Students: Financing your studies and working.

Both the campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen and the campus in the centre of Stuttgart have on-site halls of residence. Dorm rooms (ranging from 320 EUR to 450 EUR per month) are furnished. Some are equipped with a sink, and all have access to kitchen and sanitary facilities, telephone and Internet. From the campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, the city of Stuttgart can be reached by suburban railway within ten minutes.

The university’s Career Service and the FiT-US project offer personal counselling and support as well as numerous activities on how to prepare for a career (e.g. job fairs, alumni talks, CV check, study-related German as foreign language courses):

Career Service for students | TRACES 

Prepare for the job market: Student success, career orientation and employability.

Additionally, our student associations publish job offers and organise company visits.

Faculty 5 offers extensive support for international students in the fields of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Information Technology:

• Personal counselling & support before, during, and after your studies by the Faculty 5 International Service Point (ISP)
• Guaranteed spots in study-related German language courses (DaF, German as foreign language) for enrolled international students (free of charge)
• Social activities such as semester opening gatherings, international days, cultural events, welcome packages, and much more!

Intelligent systems to benefit society

The University of Stuttgart is one of the leading technically oriented universities in Germany with global significance. Located centrally in an economically strong region with vast cultural integration, the university sees itself as a hub of university-based, extramural and industrial research. Furthermore, it takes a role as a leader in research-based teaching, focused on quality and holism. The university is dedicated to researching and strengthening the interfaces between technology, society and culture in an interdisciplinary manner, defined as the "Stuttgart Way". This means that the integration of engineering, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences is based on the fundamentals of cutting-edge research at a disciplinary level.

Excellent research and teaching

The University of Stuttgart implements innovative concepts in research and teaching in order to provide knowledge and strategies for a meaningful and sustainable development. It focuses on basic research that is both knowledge-oriented and application-related. To facilitate this research, the university is actively part of regional, national and international research networks.

The university is committed to the principle of unity between research and teaching. Students acquire knowledge, expertise and the power of judgement, in accordance with the guidelines of scientific research and awareness. The university fosters fascination for the sciences, supporting its students and junior researchers at all stages of their careers. It promotes independent thinking and provides an environment for responsible action. In doing so, it educates individuals into exceptional experts who think in an integrative and global manner and act responsibly in the sciences, economics and society.

A powerful region

Founded in 1829, at the beginning of the Industrial Age, the University of Stuttgart continues to prepare the way for innovation within an economically and scientifically powerful region and contributes to the economic success and prosperity of our society. This process combines the requirements of a social and cultural change, which allows an early and extensive input of social interests in research and design as well as teaching and further education.

Open-mindedness

The University of Stuttgart stands for open-mindedness, individuality and community spirit. It brings together students that are eager to learn, highly motivated employees, outstanding teachers, and excellent researchers as well as visionary thinkers and inventors. By means of its culture of integration, the university creates and conveys knowledge for shaping the future of our society.

The University of Stuttgart is nestled in one of Europe’s most vibrant industrial regions. This fosters many forms of interdisciplinary collaboration – for instance, in numerous Collaborative Research Centres (also known as CRC or sometimes CRC/TRR) and in application-oriented research assignments. The University of Stuttgart sets up a close relationship and a successful transfer of knowledge and technology between its research institutions and business enterprises in the region and beyond. This very practical orientation benefits research and teaching. At the same time, economic players profit from rapid access to new scientific knowledge and contact to experts in their specialised fields. There are numerous possibilities of collaboration for businesses. Furthermore, the university also maintains a close relationship with non-university research institutions such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the German Aerospace Center and the German Literature Archive Marbach. Thus, the optimal prerequisites for cutting-edge research at the highest level are all to be found in Stuttgart.