Software Engineering, M.Sc.
Master's in Software Engineering at Universität Hildesheim, Germany — an English-taught program that goes beyond standard development practice to cover model-based engineering, software architectures, requirements engineering, and programming languages, integrated from the start with two active research groups: Software Systems Engineering (SSE) and Machine Learning (ISMLL). Specialisation tracks in Machine Learning/Data Analytics and Natural Language Processing allow students to build depth in areas ranging from deep learning and large language models to computational linguistics, supported by a structured research pathway leading to the thesis.
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, summer semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 30.06, summer semester until 15.12 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €398.89 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 study software engineering as a discipline grounded in methods, models, and research — not just industry tooling
- ✓Those drawn to the intersection of software engineering with one specific application domain — whether machine learning, natural language processing, immersive technologies, or information systems — and who want to deepen that intersection systematically
- ✓Those who enjoy working on open-ended technical problems with a scientific framing and feel comfortable in a research-oriented academic environment
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- ✓Those who want early exposure to active research groups and the possibility of contributing to ongoing projects during their studies
- ✓Those who prefer a structured but flexible curriculum where core engineering knowledge is complemented by a personalised elective profile
- ✓Those who are comfortable working and writing in English in an international academic setting
- ✓Those interested in pursuing a doctorate or research career after their master's, as well as those targeting technically complex roles in industry
- —Admission is competitive and selective: applicants are ranked by a weighted formula in which the overall bachelor's grade carries the largest share, so a strong academic record is important
- —The program is intake-flexible with two entry points per year, but each cycle is independently competitive — applying in the less popular cycle does not lower the bar
- —Hildesheim is a mid-sized city in Lower Saxony with a relatively low cost of living compared to major German university cities, which can be a practical advantage
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- —The program is fully English-taught, meaning there is no German-language fallback; students who struggle with academic English in a technical context will face challenges from the first semester
- —The research project and seminar are distributed across the program, not concentrated at the end — students should expect to engage with academic research methodology throughout, not only during the thesis phase
- —The elective structure is broad but requires intentional navigation: students who do not proactively develop a coherent focus may find the curriculum fragmented
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 in Software Engineering at Universität Hildesheim is designed for graduates who want to move beyond routine development practice into the principled, research-aware engineering of complex software systems. The program is delivered entirely in English and integrates two active research groups — the Software Systems Engineering (SSE) group and the Machine Learning / ISMLL group — giving students access to current research from day one.
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The curriculum is built around a compulsory core covering model-based software engineering, requirements engineering, software architectures, advanced web development, and programming languages. Alongside these technical foundations, students complete a research methods module and progress through a structured research pathway: an integrated research project, a seminar, and a group development project. This staged sequence prepares students for independent scientific work before they reach the master's thesis.
Beyond the core, a substantial elective area allows students to build a coherent application profile. Methodological electives address software product lines, software quality, verification, analysis of software systems, generative AI-assisted tooling, sustainable software engineering, and human-computer interaction. Application-area electives are organised into thematic clusters — machine learning and data analytics, business administration and information systems, information retrieval, natural language processing, environmental sciences with GIS, cognitive psychology, and engineering of interactive applications including mobile, extended reality (XR), and AI/API composition. This flexibility means each student can construct a profile closely aligned with their thesis research direction.
Practical skill-building is explicitly embedded: the SE Tools Lab and the Group Development Project involve hands-on collaborative work. Soft skills modules in English and German are also available. The master's thesis, worth 30 credit points, forms the capstone of the program and is supervised within one of the program's research groups.
What you study
Semester 1 — Core Foundations
- Software Engineering (6 CP): Systematic methods for developing large-scale software systems
- Model-based Software Engineering (6 CP): Formal and semi-formal modelling approaches including UML and model-driven development
- Requirements Engineering for Quality (6 CP): Elicitation, specification, and validation of software requirements with a focus on quality attributes
- Software Architectures (6 CP): Architectural patterns, design decisions, and quality-attribute-driven architecture
- Programming Languages Lab (3 CP): Practical exploration of multiple programming paradigms and language features
- SE Tools Lab (6 CP): Hands-on work with the toolchain supporting professional software development
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates are equipped for technically demanding roles in software development, software architecture, and engineering management, as well as for research and development positions in industry or academia. The machine learning and data analytics track prepares graduates for roles in data science, ML engineering, and AI product development. The NLP and information retrieval tracks align with positions in language technology, search systems, and knowledge management. The interactive applications track opens paths in mobile, XR, and AI-augmented product engineering. Graduates with a research-oriented thesis profile are well-positioned to pursue doctoral studies in computer science or software engineering.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Lower Saxony), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €398.89 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 30.06, summer semester until 15.12 |
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 15.12Send 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 15.12.2026 (62 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.