Computer Science, M.Sc.
Master's in Computer Science at Universität Paderborn, Germany — a research-informed program structured around five thematic Focus Areas (including Algorithms & Foundations, Software Engineering, and others), where students build a personalized academic profile by selecting elective modules across multiple areas, with depth recognized as a formal specialization. The curriculum integrates mandatory project work alongside entrepreneurship access through the university's garage33 start-up initiative. Primarily English-taught, which is notable for a German public university computer science program.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 30.11 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €351.15 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.
- ✓Those who want to move beyond a broad computer science foundation and develop genuine depth in one or more technical areas, without being locked into a single rigid specialisation track from day one.
- ✓Those who enjoy designing their own academic path — choosing elective modules across multiple Focus Areas to build a personal profile that reflects their research or professional interests.
- ✓Those drawn to the intersection of theory and application, and who want a curriculum that includes both conceptual rigour and hands-on project work.
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- ✓Those considering a career in the IT industry, public sector technology roles, or research, and who want a programme that actively connects them to the professional world through company visits, career events, and entrepreneurship support.
- ✓Those with an entrepreneurial mindset who might want to explore founding a technology company, and who value access to structured start-up support alongside their studies.
- ✓Those comfortable working and studying primarily in English in an international academic environment, while also having some exposure to German-language academic content.
- —Admission is competitive and grade-dependent: only applicants whose bachelor's degree meets the minimum grade threshold of 3.0 (German scale) are eligible, and selection is conducted as a ranked competition among qualifying applicants.
- —The requirement to choose modules from at least two different Focus Areas means that students need to engage in thoughtful curriculum planning early in their studies to meet both the breadth requirement and their chosen specialisation.
- —While the programme is taught primarily in English, some modules are delivered in German — students should be prepared to engage with German-language academic content where relevant.
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- —Paderborn is a mid-sized city in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia. Cost of living is moderate by German standards, but the city is less internationally connected than major university cities, which may be a consideration for students seeking a large urban environment.
- —The programme is open for both winter and summer semester entry, which provides flexibility but also means that module availability and cohort composition may vary depending on the intake semester chosen.
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
The Master's programme in Computer Science at Universität Paderborn is designed for graduates who want to deepen their expertise in a flexible, research-informed environment. The curriculum is built around five thematic Focus Areas, and students construct their academic profile by selecting nine elective modules — each worth 6 credit points — drawn from at least two different Focus Areas. This cross-area structure ensures breadth while still enabling genuine depth: completing three modules within a single Focus Area constitutes a recognised specialisation in that area.
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Beyond the elective module structure, the programme integrates mandatory practical elements directly into the study plan, ensuring that theoretical knowledge is applied in realistic settings. Students gain hands-on experience through project work embedded in the curriculum, complemented by access to entrepreneurship support through garage33 — the university's start-up initiative — and industry-facing activities such as company visits and career events.
Instruction takes place primarily in English, with individual modules offered in German where indicated in the respective course descriptions. This mixed-language environment prepares graduates for international professional and research contexts.
The programme is offered in both the winter and summer semesters, and is available as a full-time course of study. Students can enter the programme either directly after completing a relevant bachelor's degree or after practical professional experience, depending on their trajectory. The degree is awarded by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics — one of the technically strong faculties at the university — providing access to research groups active across the full breadth of modern computer science.
What you study
Curriculum Structure Overview
The programme is organised around a combination of mandatory elective modules drawn from five Focus Areas, a mandatory practical component, and a concluding master's thesis phase.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates are qualified for roles across the IT industry as well as technology-facing positions in public administration, insurance, and commerce. The programme's research depth also positions graduates well for doctoral study. Career support is built into the programme through a dedicated job and career portal, company visits, and practical projects that create industry connections during the degree. Entrepreneurial graduates can draw on the garage33 start-up support network when considering independent ventures.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €351.15 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Universität Paderborn, or a comparable degree in an equivalent subject area from another recognised institution. |
|---|---|
| Language | English C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 30.11 |
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 via uni-assist until 30.11uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 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
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 30.11.2026 (47 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.