This Master of Science program delivers an advanced, research-oriented education in computer science designed to develop highly qualified specialists and innovative IT experts. The curriculum allows students to gain deep, specialised knowledge while building the analytical and practical skills needed for complex problem solving in both academic and industrial settings.
Students choose from five topical specialisation areas—Design, Implementation, and Analysis of Computer Systems; Algorithms, Complexity, Data; Computer Security; Software Engineering and Programming Languages; and Artificial Intelligence—enabling focused study in fields with strong current demand. Beyond coursework, the program places strong emphasis on scientific methods and independent research through seminars, practical courses, project work and the Master’s thesis, preparing graduates for doctoral studies or research-oriented and development roles in industry.
The degree is organised into modules totalling 120 credit points (CP) and is split into distinct areas so you build both deep theoretical knowledge and hands‑on experience. In the Basic/Foundation area you choose two to three modules (minimum 15 CP) from an elective catalogue that strengthens core theory — for example Advanced Algorithms, Cryptography, or Theory of Machine Learning. The Specialisation area combines five to seven advanced modules (at least 35 CP) with a seminar (3 CP) and a practical course (3–5 CP). These courses cover contemporary topics such as Quantum Information and Computation, Energy‑Aware Computing Systems, and Blockchain Security and Privacy, letting you concentrate on one of five available specialisations or pursue a broader program of study.
A research‑oriented Project (10 CP) gives you the chance to apply what you’ve learned to a concrete task, often linked to active research groups and supervised by academic staff. The Free Elective area (20 CP) lets you pick two to four modules from offerings across the host university, the University Alliance Ruhr and the UNIC European University Alliance; this is a good place to develop soft skills (languages, teamwork, presentation, writing, intercultural competence, ethics, sustainability, etc.). The capstone is a 30 CP Master’s thesis: a problem‑oriented research project completed independently within a six‑month period, requiring scientific methods, interdisciplinary thinking, written documentation with literature context, and an oral colloquium presentation to demonstrate argumentation and presentation abilities.
Key learning outcomes include a solid grounding in theoretical computer science, specialised expertise in a chosen research area, the ability to carry out research‑oriented projects in collaboration with faculty, practical and transferable skills, and the capacity to plan, execute and communicate independent scientific work.
Requirements (concise)
Admission is open to applicants who hold a completed Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (or a comparable degree) of at least six semesters and 180 credit points (CP). Applicants must also meet a programme-specific qualification: your prior studies must contain a substantial set of core computer science and mathematics credits that are equivalent in content to the corresponding modules of the BSc in Computer Science at Ruhr‑Universität Bochum.
A minimum of 50 CP must come from fundamental computer science areas, and at least 18 CP must come from fundamental mathematics. After the application deadline, a selection committee will assess special eligibility based on the documents you submit (see list below). International applicants should make sure their transcripts and module descriptions allow the committee to verify equivalence with the Bochum modules.
If you have not yet completed your Bachelor’s degree at the time of application, you may still apply provided you have earned sufficient credits already (see details below). In that case you must submit an official university certificate showing all examination achievements to date and an average grade instead of a final degree transcript.
Requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 December 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
30 April 2026
Graduates are prepared for careers as advanced IT professionals, software engineers, security specialists, data and AI researchers, or systems architects in industry and research labs. The programme’s strong emphasis on scientific methods and research projects also provides a clear pathway to doctoral studies and academic careers.
The mix of specialised coursework, practical projects and a substantial Master’s thesis equips students with both the technical depth and transferable skills (project management, scientific communication, teamwork) valued by employers and research institutions.
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