Computer Science International, M.Sc.
Master's in Computer Science International (M.Sc.) at the University of Rostock, Germany — an English-taught research-oriented program with two specialisation tracks: Information Systems (databases, big data, data mining, machine learning, visual analysis) and Complex Systems (distributed systems, modelling, simulation, formal verification). The curriculum combines deep technical specialisation with interdisciplinary electives covering communication and societal dimensions of computing, and includes a supervised research project module leading into a full-semester master's thesis.
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 | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 30.11 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €352 per semester |
| Campus | Rostok Campus |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
- ✓Those with a strong computer science foundation who want to move beyond coursework into genuine research activity — designing studies, analysing results, and contributing to open questions in the field.
- ✓Those drawn to the intersection of data, intelligence, and systems: readers who get genuinely curious about how large-scale data is structured, mined, and visualised, or how distributed systems can be made resilient and secure.
- ✓Those who want a focused academic environment where the thesis is not a formality but a centrepiece — the program is structured so that independent research work dominates the final stages.
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- ✓Those comfortable working entirely in English in an international academic context — the program is designed for international students and does not require any German.
- ✓Those who are deciding between an academic research career and a high-level industry role in R&D, and want a program that keeps both paths open.
- ✓Those who appreciate a curriculum that balances technical depth with broader professional competencies — the non-technical elective area is deliberately built into the structure, not optional.
- ✓Those who want to choose their own thematic direction: the two-track structure with substantial elective freedom rewards students who arrive with a clear sense of which problems interest them most.
- —High grade threshold: the minimum CGPA requirement of 85% of the maximum means only applicants with strong academic records will qualify — this is a selective program.
- —No German required, but living in Germany: the program is fully in English, yet daily life in Rostock takes place in German. Students who do not speak German may face initial adjustment in everyday contexts (housing, administration, social integration).
- —Research-heavy final year: the third and fourth semesters are almost entirely devoted to a project and a thesis. Students who prefer coursework-heavy study to self-directed research may find this transition demanding.
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- —Rostock is a mid-sized Baltic city: it offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to German metropolitan centres, but has a smaller international community and fewer large-scale tech industry employers locally than cities such as Berlin or Munich.
- —Both full-time and part-time modes are available: part-time students should plan carefully, as the research-intensive structure of the later semesters still requires sustained focus regardless of formal enrolment mode.
- —Two intake windows per year: the program admits for both winter and summer semesters, which gives flexibility but also means the cohort composition may differ between intakes.
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
Computer Science International is a fully English-taught research master's program offered by the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Rostock. It is designed for graduates who wish to engage deeply with cutting-edge topics in computer science and develop the skills needed for independent research, advanced development, and complex problem-solving.
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The program is structured around two specialisation tracks: Information Systems and Complex Systems. Students select one track and build a coherent academic profile through a combination of compulsory specialisation modules, elective areas, and interdisciplinary electives. Alongside subject-specific depth, the curriculum includes a non-technical elective area covering competencies such as language skills, presentation techniques, leadership, project management, and the societal impact of computer science.
A central element of the program is the Project Module in the third semester, in which students independently investigate a research question or develop a technical solution under academic supervision, putting theoretical knowledge into practice. The fourth semester is dedicated entirely to the Master's Thesis, an original research contribution that demonstrates the student's ability to work autonomously on a significant scientific or technical problem.
The program covers a broad spectrum of contemporary research areas. Within Information Systems, students engage with topics such as databases, big data analytics, data mining, software engineering, human-computer interaction, machine learning and artificial intelligence, interactive visual analysis, and simulation. Within Complex Systems, the focus shifts to distributed systems, modeling and verification, self-organizing systems, security and fault tolerance, cryptographic algorithms, middleware, and web technologies.
Both full-time and part-time study modes are available, accommodating a range of personal and professional circumstances. The program admits students for both the winter and summer semesters, offering flexibility in when to begin.
What you study
Semester 1 — Specialisation Foundation
Students begin by entering their chosen track and taking the core specialisation modules.
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 careers across a wide range of sectors. Typical roles include positions in academic research and university teaching, as well as research and development roles in industrial companies in the computer science and IT sectors. Graduates also pursue careers in project planning, technical sales, system commissioning, and service departments of technology-oriented firms. Beyond the core IT industry, companies in other sectors that operate IT-intensive departments — finance, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare — regularly employ computer science graduates at this level. Research institutions, public authorities, and industry associations also offer positions in development, analysis, and consulting that align with the program's profile.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €352 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a first academic degree in Computer Science with a minimum of 180 credit points, or an equivalent qualification in a closely related field. |
|---|---|
| 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.
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.