Computer Science, M.Sc.
Master's in Computer Science at the University of Potsdam, Germany, built around five 60-credit specialisation tracks (Data and AI, Algorithms and Foundations, Digital Health, Security Engineering, Systems) that mirror the Digital Engineering Faculty's research clusters, plus an Open Track with no fixed focus. Students can move from advanced coursework into a thesis in the same area, leaving a later doctorate open. English-taught, which is uncommon for a German CS master's.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 01.06, summer semester until 01.12 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €372.80 per semester |
| Campus | Campus III - Griebnitzsee |
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 already hold a computer science, IT systems engineering or data science bachelor's and want to specialise deliberately in one area instead of studying a generic curriculum.
- ✓Those who are drawn to a specific field such as machine learning and data, security, systems, theory, or computing applied to healthcare.
- ✓Those who are still exploring their direction and would value the flexibility of an Open Track that combines areas.
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- ✓Those who like academic study near active research clusters and may consider a thesis or doctorate in the same field afterwards.
- ✓Those who see themselves as software architects, project leads, consultants, data scientists or tech founders rather than purely executing roles.
- ✓Those who are comfortable studying in English in a German university setting, in a smaller city next to Berlin.
- —The admission process is competitive, and the prerequisite credits in specific subject areas are checked against your transcript. Compare your bachelor's modules with the required topics before applying.
- —Applicants whose degree does not carry a computer science title, for example data science or a related engineering field, should check carefully that their coursework covers the required foundations (theory, programming, mathematics, technical computer science).
- —Applicants with a non-German degree go through a preliminary document evaluation, so allow extra time for document preparation.
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- —The program is taught in English, but daily life, administration and housing in Potsdam are largely in German. Basic German is helpful outside the classroom.
- —Potsdam lies directly next to Berlin. Living costs, especially rent, are higher than in many other German university towns.
- —The Open Track gives freedom but also requires you to define your own coherent profile. The thematic tracks offer more structure.
- —Part-time study is possible, which suits working applicants but extends the time to graduation.
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 Computer Science master's at the University of Potsdam is run by the Digital Engineering Faculty and based on the Griebnitzsee campus. It builds on a first degree in computer science or a closely related field. Its central design idea is the track: each student takes a 60-credit specialisation, and the tracks are aligned with the faculty's interdisciplinary research clusters.
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The program offers five thematic tracks:
- Data and AI
- Algorithms and Foundations
- Digital Health
- Security Engineering
- Systems
Students who prefer not to commit to a single area can choose the Open Track, which has no fixed focus.
Because the tracks reflect real research clusters, a specialisation is more than a set of electives. It connects to the topics the faculty actively works on. This lets students move from advanced coursework towards a thesis topic in the same area. It also keeps the option of a later doctorate open.
The program covers both the theoretical and the applied sides of computing. Algorithms and Foundations leans towards formal and theoretical work. Systems and Security Engineering deal with how software and infrastructure are built, secured and operated. Data and AI covers data-driven methods and machine learning. Digital Health applies computing to healthcare problems, which means working at the boundary between computer science and another discipline.
The program is organised for both full-time and part-time study. It is taught in English throughout, which is still unusual for a computer science master's in Germany. The curriculum assumes a strong undergraduate grounding in algorithms, programming, discrete mathematics and technical computer science, and builds on that foundation instead of revisiting it.
The program is oriented towards leadership and design roles in software and IT. These include software architecture, project leadership, consulting, data science and IT entrepreneurship.
What you study
Specialisation track (60 credits)
Students choose one of the thematic tracks. Each track comprises 60 credits and follows the faculty's interdisciplinary research clusters.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates are prepared for leadership and senior technical roles in software and IT. Typical roles include:
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- Software Architect
- Software Project Lead
- IT Consultant
- Software Developer / Application Developer
- Software Quality Officer
- Data Scientist
- IT Entrepreneur
A doctorate is also possible after the master's. Outcomes depend on individual profile, track and market conditions, and no employment is guaranteed.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Brandenburg), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €372.80 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | A bachelor's degree or equivalent first professional university degree in Computer Science, IT Systems Engineering, Data Science or a closely related field. |
|---|---|
| Language | English C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 01.06, summer semester until 01.12 |
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 01.12Send 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.
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 01.12.2026 (39 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.