This two-year, English-taught Master’s programme is built around 120 ECTS: 90 ECTS of taught coursework and a 30‑credit research Master's thesis. The taught portion is organised into four thematic modules plus a set of electives. Core teaching in the first year includes introductory scientific computing lectures and practical "lab" courses, while seminars and project-style courses provide hands‑on experience. Students also pick one application area (e.g., computational fluid mechanics, computational structural dynamics, computational physics, or computational methods in medicine/biology) to link methods with a domain.
The four module areas are:
A further 15 ECTS come from additional electives, which may be taken within the four modules or from a broader catalogue (examples include parallel and distributed computing, probabilistic and stochastic methods, and data‑driven simulation). There is also an optional honours pathway that adds 30 ECTS of advanced topical courses (often compact courses or summer schools), soft‑skills seminars, and a research‑oriented honours project. For full curriculum details and course catalogues, see the programme page: https://www.cit.tum.de/cit/studium/studiengaenge/master-computational-science-engineering/ and honours information: http://www.bgce.de/.
Program requirements (credit breakdown)
This Master's curriculum balances a structured core with flexible specialisation and a substantial research component. Roughly one-third of the coursework (35%) is dedicated to compulsory modules that establish the essential foundations of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE). Around 40% of credits come from elective courses drawn from approved catalogues, allowing you to tailor your studies toward specific applications and methodological approaches within CSE. The remaining 25% of the program is reserved for the Master's thesis, which provides the opportunity to undertake an extended, independent research or development project.
Through this mix of required and elective coursework plus the thesis, you will develop the ability to understand and apply core CSE principles, choose and implement appropriate computational methods for applied problems, and integrate interdisciplinary knowledge from related fields. The thesis component demonstrates your capacity for independent problem formulation, methodological execution, and scholarly communication—skills highly relevant for research roles or industry positions that demand advanced computational expertise.
Credit distribution (requirements)
You should hold a strong university degree in a scientific or engineering discipline and be comfortable with the program’s quantitative and programming demands. Degrees accepted include a Bachelor's, Master's, or German "Diplom" (or an international degree judged equivalent to a German Fachhochschule qualification). Candidates are expected to have performed very well in their prior studies.
In addition to academic performance, the program requires solid mathematical preparation and practical programming ability. Note that selection for the honours track is handled within the program at the end of the first semester.
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for technically demanding roles in industry and research where simulation, modeling and high‑performance computing are central. Typical positions include computational scientist/engineer, HPC engineer, numerical software developer, simulation specialist in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, life sciences and finance, as well as data‑driven modelling roles.
The programme also provides a strong foundation for doctoral studies: the emphasis on a substantial research thesis and the optional honours stream make graduates competitive applicants for PhD programmes in computational science, applied mathematics and related engineering research fields.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen