Visual Computing (MSc) Saarland University

• Max Planck Institute for Informatics
• German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence
• Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT
• Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing

The programme can be studied entirely in English. When living in Germany, it is useful to learn some German, e.g. in language classes offered by the university. You can even use up to 6 CP from language classes within our Master's programme. Moreover, some non-compulsory classes in the Master's programme are offered in German, mainly in the supplementary areas such as physics. Thus, knowing some German broadens your range of selection possibilities even further.

The Visual Computing Master's programme is coordinated by the Department of Computer Science at Saarland University, one of the four best computer science departments in Germany (CHE ranking).

Visual imagery is the most important sensory information for humans. More and more information is represented by digital images and visual simulations. The entire field of acquiring, analysing, and synthesising visual data by means of computers is called visual computing.
Due to its interdisciplinary nature, the full spectrum of visual computing cannot be addressed adequately within a traditional, mono-disciplinary programme of study. This has prompted Saarland University to offer a novel interdisciplinary Master's programme that is entirely devoted to all aspects of visual computing. It includes classes and seminars on:

• image acquisition and geometric foundations
• image analysis (image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition)
• image synthesis (computer graphics, scientific visualisation, geometric modelling)
• related fields such as telecommunications, machine learning, artificial intelligence, signal processing, computational linguistics, medical engineering, and cognitive sciences
• useful foundations in mathematics, computer science, physics, and mechatronics

International applications are very welcome. Application deadlines are as follows:

• For any winter semester starting in October: 15 May
• For any summer semester starting in April: 15 November

Students are free to choose courses according to their preferences, but they have to obtain credit points from certain categories. There is no fixed timetable for courses.

Internships are possible, but they are not compulsory.

No tuition fees

Students only have to pay an administrative fee of 280 EUR per semester. This includes a pass for free public transport throughout the state of Saarland, payment of premiums for insurance coverage and access to university facilities. This entitles students to eat at the university canteens at reduced prices.

There are no tuition fees, and the cost of living in this smaller city with a vibrant cultural scene is moderate.

You need about 900 EUR per month to cover personal expenses (including accommodation).

Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related field, with a grade of at least 75%; completed online application form including the following:

• CV
• purpose of study
• transcript of records
• two references from professors or employers
• English certificate
• GRE recommended but not mandatory

English proficiency at level C1 is essential. Standardised test results (TOEFL, IELTS or CPE) are required. Exceptions are only made for native speakers from Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA and those who hold a degree from a university in these countries.

International applications are very welcome. Application deadlines are as follows:

• For any winter semester starting in October: 15 May
• For any summer semester starting in April: 15 November

Local and national scholarship programmes are available, for example, the "Deutschlandstipendium".

Jobs as tutors and research assistants are available in the department and cooperating institutes each semester. Openings are posted on bulletin boards and on our websites.

Additionally, check out the career portal of Saarland University: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/institution/career-center.html.

Also check out the welcome centre's guide for general information on working in Germany: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/living-working.

You can choose between student accommodation or private housing in the city centre, for example. More information on accommodation in Saarbruecken can be found here: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/accommodation.html.

The International Office provides support in finding accommodation and registering with university and resident authorities and organises social and intercultural tutoring.

Saarland University offers a special support and guidance service for our international students and visiting scholars. Aside from welcoming new foreign students to the university, we organise excursions and cultural events where students and scholars from abroad can meet German students and colleagues. We also provide support in dealing with official and administrative matters. To encourage interaction between German and international students, the international office also runs a successful peer mentoring programme called "you and me".

The university is home to several top research centres that have a direct influence on the departments of informatics, engineering, and life sciences and give this medium-sized university a wide reputation as a strong, research-driven place.

Located in the south-west of Germany, very close to the French border, Saarland University is a campus university offering an extensive range of courses and internationally networked state-of-the-art research. International students receive excellent supervision and can enjoy a comprehensive range of sports, culture and leisure activities while studying at the university surrounded by forest. 

The Department of Computer Science is among the best computer science departments in Germany (CHE ranking) and part of the Saarland Informatics Campus (SIC).

At SIC, activities of all informatics facilities, co-located at Saarbrücken, converge. The renowned Max Planck Institutes for Computer Science and Software Systems as well as the German Center for Artificial Intelligence, the Center for Bioinformatics and the Cluster for Multimodal Computing and Interaction as well as Saarland University with three departments and 24 degree programmes cover the entire spectrum of computer science.

Its 900 scientists and about 2,500 students from more than 80 nations create a stimulating international research environment and make the SIC one of the leading locations for computer science in Germany and Europe. So far, seven Leibniz Prizes from the German Research Foundation, four Konrad Zuse Medals and 33 awards from the European Research Council have gone to scientists at Saarland Informatics Campus.

https://saarland-informatics-campus.de/en/

Saarland University was the first place in Germany where one can study in such an integrated Master's programme. It has an excellent research reputation both in computer science and mathematics. It has a tradition of teaching all Master's courses in English, and a significant percentage of its Master's students are from abroad. It is supported by the departments of Mathematics, Mechatronics, and Physics and Computational Linguistics as well as by the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, the Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing, and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence. This provides a unique environment for first-class studies and research in visual computing.

The state capital Saarbrücken is the regional centre of the Saarland and is situated at the heart of the Europe.
The city has approximately 180,000 inhabitants and is strongly influenced by its proximity to France and the chequered history of a French-German border town. The university, trade fair, and conference city is set amidst vast woods. It enchants visitors with its French charm, which is reflected in the narrow alleys at the foot of the castle and in the pedestrian precinct at the St. Johanner market square.

Saarbrücken has a lot to offer for tourists and businesspeople alike: the French flair, the picturesque old part of the city, an extraordinary cultural life, a high quality of life, and a diversity of culture and nature – but above all, its warm and open people.

https://www.saarbruecken.de/en
https://www.visitsaarland.co.uk/