What you can expect in our master's program

The German-language master's degree program in Informatics is characterized by the fact that there are no compulsory courses, but rather a great deal of freedom of choice for the entire program. You can design your studies flexibly and individually - with a clear focus on research-oriented teaching. The standard period of study is 4 semesters and you earn 120 ECTS credits.

Program structure 

• Elective Studies (6-49 CP): here you can take any elective modules. They do not have to be from a common subject area. The Elective Studies therefore offer you the opportunity to focus on specialization subjects or to broaden your specialist knowledge. The scope of the Elective Studies depends on how large you want your Area of Specialization, your Minor Studies and the Interdisciplinary Qualifications to be.
• 2 Areas of Specialization (min. 15 CP each, max. 73 CP together): with their variable sizes, the Areas of Specialization offer you the opportunity to focus your studies strongly on one subject area or to acquire in-depth knowledge from two areas of computer science. You can choose from the following Areas of Specialization:
  • Theoretical Foundations
  • Algorithm Engineering
  • Cryptography and Security
  • Parallel Computing
  • Software Engineering and Compiler Construction
  • Design of Embedded Systems and Computer Architecture
  • Telematics
  • Databases and Information Systems
  • Computer Graphics and Geometry Processing
  • Robotics and Automation
  • Anthropomatics and Cognitive Systems
  • System Architecture
• Minor Studies (9-18 CP): the Minor Studies offer you the opportunity to get to know one of the many application areas of computer science. This is an important basis for your professional qualification. At KIT, this means that you can take modules from another degree program at KIT. There is also a cooperation with the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG). Thanks to the variable subject size, you can decide how high the proportion of the Minor Studies should be in your overall qualification.
  The following supplementary subjects are available:
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Theoretical Physics
  • Experimental Physics
  • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Biology
  • Sociology
  • Media Art (at the HfG)
  • Business Economics
  • Economics
  • Operations Research
  • Fundamentals of Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering
  • Mathematics for Data Intensive Computing
  • Business Economics for Data Intensive Computing
  • Automation and Energy Grids
  • Social Aspects
  • Philosophy
  • Meteorology
  • Biologically Inspired Robotics
• Interdisciplinary Qualifications (2-6 CP): it is also important to us that you do not only develop your professional skills in the master's program, but we also offer you the opportunity to round off your qualification profile with a wide selection of interdisciplinary courses, for example language courses, dealing with social issues or simply rhetoric courses and work-life balance techniques. Here too, you decide how many of these you would like to take. You can also take more of these courses at any time, but they will no longer count towards your master's degree.
• Master's thesis (30 CP)

You can choose from a wide range of modules in each subject. You can find out what these are in the module handbook.

Within the subject structure shown, you must fulfill a few framework conditions in addition to the intended subject sizes:

1. Seminars and pratical courses: you must earn at least 3 CP from seminars and 6 CP from so-called practical courses at KIT within the Elective Studies and the Areas of Specialization. The latter are not professional internships and cannot be replaced by such internships. At the end of your studies, you must be able to demonstrate a total of 12 CP from these special achievements.
2. The degree program has so-called core modules. These are elective modules that can be completed either in the Elective Studies or the Areas of Specialization. The core modules offer basic knowledge from various areas of specialization in computer science and thus give you a good orientation for your chosen specialization subjects. A total of 10 core modules are offered. You must integrate at least 4 of them into your studies.
   The following modules are available to you:
   • Algorithms II
   • Computer Graphics
   • Formal Systems
   • Advanced Artificial Intelligence
   • Human Computer Interaction
   • Computer Structures
   • Robotics I - Introduction to Robotics
   • IT-Security
   • Software Engineering II
   • Telematics

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that enables you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written thesis. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 60 CP. Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed in a company or at another KIT Department. The master's thesis also includes a presentation of your results.

Internship

The study program does not include a compulsory internship. You can complete a voluntary internship during your studies. If it serves the objectives of your studies and covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester off (leave of absence). Such an internship offers you valuable experience outside the university and can make it easier for you to start your career later on.

Master's degree with a profile

As part of your master's degree, you can acquire a so-called profile. You do not have to take any additional courses for this, but simply put together your elective modules appropriately. Upon graduation, you will receive a certificate from the KIT Department of Informatics, which you can use as an additional qualification for job applications.

The following profiles are available:

• Data-Intensive Computing
  
• Artificial Intelligence
  
• Software Engineering
• Energy Informatics
• IT Security
• Multi-Scale Computing Systems
• Visual Computing
• Robotics

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

For the master's degree program in Informatics, there is also the possibility of obtaining a double degree at the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA).

Further information can be obtained from the contact persons responsible for stays abroad at the KIT Department of Informatics or at the International Students Office.

After completing a master's degree in Informatics, you will be able to work flexibly on the job market. During your master's studies, you will acquire strong analytical skills and a highly structured approach to complex issues. The knowledge you acquire during your studies will provide you with a broad foundation for working in a wide range of specialist areas and sectors - in industry as well as in the service sector. You will also be in demand in (interdisciplinary) research or on the management floors of national and international companies with your master's degree or doctorate. By acquiring knowledge in one of the nine master's profiles on offer, you can underline your specialization and thus become even more attractive to companies in the high-tech sector. You will have top-class expertise in highly topical subjects such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, robotics, IT security, big data and much more. Last but not least, you can start your own business with a creative business idea. KIT will support you in this.

Characteristic features of the Informatics M.Sc. at KIT

• program content can be chosen almost freely from a wide range of research-oriented courses
  

• variable subject sizes allow individual concentration on specializations or broad-based studies
  

• supplementary modules from other degree programs as a basis for professional application
  

• master's thesis possible at another department or in cooperation with companies
  

• certificates from 9 different study profiles possible in addition to the master's degree
  

• various double degrees with universities abroad
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Informatics are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in Informatics (or a degree course with essentially the same content) from a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements
  you must provide evidence of the following achievements in your bachelor's degree or as part of other degree programs:
  • theoretical computer science: 15 credit points
    
  • practical computer science: 30 credit points
    
  • computer engineering: 8 credit points
    
  • mathematics: 25 credit points
    

If you do not meet the above requirements, you can still be enrolled on the master's degree program in Informatics, provided you successfully take part in an aptitude interview. The proven knowledge and achievements must not fall below the following requirements in three of the four areas mentioned:

• theoretical computer science: 15 credit points
  
• practical computer science: 20 credit points
  
• computer engineering: 6 credit points
  
• mathematics: 20 credit points
  

The aptitude interview can be conducted online (Zoom) in exceptional cases and within the scope of the available slots.

The assignment of modules to the above-mentioned subject areas is generally carried out by the selection commission. If you need advice on catching up on credits, first contact the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) at KIT. They also offer the information event "Für den Master ans KIT?" every 6 weeks.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Informatics, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above for your German language skills by the application deadline, admission is still possible if you can present a provisional document proving that you have at least B2 language level. Proof of B2 level only includes

• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with an overall result of DSH-1
  
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 3 in all four parts of the exam
  
• passed telc German B2 exam

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

There are 153 study places available each year. These are allocated on the basis of a ranking list among those applicants who fulfill the admission requirements. The ranking list is based on a maximum of 190 achievable assessment points. Your place on the ranking list in the selection process is determined by the sum of the following achievements:

• a maximum of 70 points will be awarded for the overall grade of the final academic examination
  
• in addition:
  • up to 20 points for credit points from Theoretical Computer Science
  • up to 50 points for credit points from Practical Computer Science
  • up to 10 points for achievements in Computer Engineering and
  • up to 40 points for achievements in Mathematics
    

The admission and selection commission decides on the allocation and equivalence of the achievements as part of the selection procedure.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Informatik
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft Mathematik Informatik

Teaching calendar

Course catalog

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs