Advanced Signal Processing and Communications Engineering, M.Sc.
The Advanced Signal Processing & Communications Engineering degree program is a pioneering choice for technology-loving students who want to deepen their knowledge of digital signal processing and communications technology.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.03 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | Set by the university for international students — the amount is on the programme's official page |
| Semester contribution | €82 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
The programme has an admission restriction: the average grade of your certificate, converted to the German scale, decides. The cut-off changes every year — last year's value shows the order of magnitude, not a promise.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
ASC stands for Advanced Signal Processing and Communications Engineering, and it is a new Master’s programme for students who want to specialize in this field.
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The ASC programme is designed for students with bachelor degree focusing on information and communication technology. Its diploma is recognized internationally and meets the requirements for subsequent doctoral studies. The four-semester curriculum starts in winter. All courses are taught in English and do not require prior knowledge in German language.
The program emphasizes on fundamental concepts of modern technologies in the areas of signal processing and communications. Moreover, through hands-on experiments and research projects, students can build a solid understanding in one or more of the technical subjects, including information theory, statistical signal processing, machine learning, optimization, and game theory.
In addition, we also have a special mentoring program. Students can choose a mentor professor according to their interested field of study. Selected mentors will then help the students structuring their own curricula that are tailored to individual interests and career goals.
The four-semester curriculum includes three special events. A kick-off seminar right before the winter semester, a winter school held between the first and second semester, and a summer school held before the third semester. The kick-off seminar allows students to get in touch with the professors and each other before the start of the program. The winter school offers training on soft-skills, such as project and people management and business development. Lastly, the summer school prepares the students for the research-based training by working on scientific projects in a team. In addition to the events offered by the programme, students can opt for participation in various events organized by the Elitenetzwerk Bayern.
Germany has one of the most vibrant manufacturing industries in the world, and engineers are always in high demand. There are plenty of jobs available for ASC graduates in the communication industry, as well as any industry that utilizes embedded system or information technology, such as medical technology, energy systems (‘smart grids’), or automotive industry.
Advantageously, there are many big companies located in the Erlangen-Nürnberg area, Alcatel-Lucent, Audi, BMW, Deutsches HörZentrum Hannover, Dolby Germany GmbH, EADS, Ericsson, Huawei, IAD, Institut für Rundfunktechnik, Intel, NTT, Sennheiser, Shure, Siemens, to name a few. The co-operation of FAU and the Fraunhofer IIS (“Home of MP3“) makes Erlangen a world-wide leader in audio and multimedia technologies.
ASC-students are closely connected, and will benefit from the strong connection and networking for more opportunities. With the combination of our rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and abundant job resources, our students will be well-equipped to succeed in their study and career.
What you study
First semester
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
- Since Germany is one of the most productive industrialized countries, engineers are always in high demand. Demographic developments and the ever-growing need for young graduates who are familiar with the latest technologies lead to a large number of vacancies with attractive salaries for ASC graduates. In addition to traditional employers in the communications industry, ASC students expect numerous employment opportunities in industries whose competitiveness depends largely on embedded information technology, such as medical technology, energy systems (“smart grids”) or the automotive industry. There are also many important companies in all of these areas in the Nuremberg metropolitan region.
- The cooperation partnership between FAU and Fraunhofer IIS (“Home of MP3”) makes Erlangen a world-leading location for audio and multimedia technologies. The chairs involved in the ASC program have a variety of cooperation partners from industry, including Alcatel-Lucent, Audi, BMW, Deutsches HörZentrum Hannover, Dolby Deutschland GmbH, EADS, Ericsson, Huawei, IAD, Institute for Broadcast Technology, Intel, NTT, Sennheiser , Shure and Siemens. During their studies, students can carry out research work as part of joint research projects between the FAU and industry.
- The ASC master's degree program builds on the bachelor's degree programs in information and communication technology. It introduces students to cutting-edge research and development in the core areas of communication and multimedia technology and related interdisciplinary topics. The course structure corresponds to internationally recognized master's courses and meets the requirements for a subsequent doctorate. The four-semester curriculum begins in the winter semester and includes a final thesis that is written over a period of six months. All modules are taught in English and do not require any prior knowledge of German.
Cost of study
| Semester contribution | €82 |
|---|
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Engineering mathematics: Linear algebra, complex analysis, linear differential equations, Fourier transform, Laplace transform, z-transform Signals and Systems (textbook, e.g. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.03 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application directly to the university until 15.03Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Video about the programme
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Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.03.2027 (152 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.