The accredited internationally oriented M.Sc. programmes in Computer Science
(Informatik) and Applied Computer Science (Angewandte Informatik) are
two-year programmes that have been designed for highly qualified international and German graduate students.
The Master’s course lasts 4 semesters. The IIS offers a choice of two different Master’s degree courses:

• a consecutive Master’s degree course in Computer Science for Bachelor graduates from the Computer Science course at the University of Freiburg
• a non-consecutive Master’s degree course in Applied Computer Science for graduates in Computer Science coming from other universities.
  

Both Master’s degree courses in Computer Science were accredited by the ASIIN in 2005. This guarantees high quality standards in the teaching and the course in general. Education in computer science methods and techniques are the primary goals of the programmes. This is achieved through a wide range of courses, seminars and laboratory courses in Computer Science as well as in its application areas. The curricula comprise an individual choice of advanced graduate courses taking previous experience, intended specialization and language skills into account. During project work and the master’s thesis students participate in actual research of the institute.

The Master’s degree course broadens and deepens Computer Science expertise and aims to provide a specialization in a particular subject area. Both Master’s degree courses offered at the University of Freiburg (consecutive and non-consecutive) are research-oriented, enabling students to carry out independent scientific work. Students attend lectures, seminars and tutorials, which they are expected to select according to their previous knowledge. After three semesters (18 months) of study, they will write their Master’s thesis in the fourth semester (six months).Graduates of the Master of Science course may be considered for a PhD.

As a student you will benefit from the international orientation of the programme, will be actively involved in state-of-the-art research and will hear lectures by internationally recognized staff at the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, one of the oldest and top-ranked research universities in Germany and Europe. During the four semesters of our programmes you will have the opportunity to shape your individual profile while at the same time building the basis for a successful international career, whether in academia or in industry. Moreover, you will live and make friends in one of Germany’s most beautiful and lively cities.

What is in a name?

Even though the two programmes are named differently, their goals, structure and curricula are very similar, with only a few modules accounting for the different backgrounds of students in the respective programmes. The Computer Science programme is consecutive, in that it builds upon the Bachelor programme in Computer Science offered in Freiburg; whereas the Applied Computer Science programme is not consecutive, which means that it builds upon Bachelor programmes in computer science from other universities. The degree granted is the same (M.Sc.) and both programmes are research-oriented and equivalent. The term "applied" is contrasted with "pure" in reference to the previous academic background of the student, which provides the foundation for the choice of application area for applying the computer science methods and skills learned in the Applied Computer Science programme.