For students with exceptional potential
Honors programs are internationally understood as selective pathways for exceptional undergraduate students. In Saarbrücken, this concept is combined with the strengths of a German public university: A top-notch, internationally renown computer science education based on foundational principles, a curriculum entirely taught in English, no tuition fees, early research opportunities and a welcoming international study environment.
This gives you flexibility: you choose the Bachelor’s program that fits your interests and, if admitted, join the Honors Program as an additional academic and research-oriented pathway.
You may be a good fit if you:
- have shown outstanding academic performance in school or competitions
- enjoy mathematics, programming, algorithms or abstract problem-solving
- have participated successfully in computer science, mathematics or science competitions
- want to study with other highly motivated students
- are curious about research and advanced computer science topics.
From foundations to future opportunities
The Honors program combines what many international students look for: international reputation, strong personal support and a safe and affordable study environment. As an Honors student, you remain fully embedded in the wider student community while gaining access to additional opportunities: advanced tutorials, early research experience, a dedicated learning environment and exclusive networking events.
Depending on your interests, the program prepares you for your career in research, graduate study or industry with:
- a research-oriented Master’s degree
- a PhD in computer science or related fields
- research internships
- student research assistant positions
- high-level technology roles in industry
- entrepreneurship or innovation-driven careers
Your Honors Certificate and transcript recognition make your additional achievements visible and easy to understand for graduate admissions offices and employers worldwide.
„The program helps you grow academically, personally and professionally
— with challenge, structure and support.”
Prof. Martina Maggio
Choose your Bachelor’s program — add the Honors Pathway
The Honors Program gives you the freedom to follow your individual academic interests: It complements your regular Bachelor’s studies with additional research-oriented elements. The program does not replace your regular courses, but deepens and extends them by adding 20 credit points of research-oriented work on top of your existing Bachelor’s program. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program alongside their Bachelor’s degree receive an official Honors Program Certificate.
Application
The key dates:
| Date | What happens |
| July 15 | Application deadline for English-taught Bachelor’s programs |
| August 31 | Application deadline for the Honors Program, Next: Invitation to an online interview |
| September 18 | Honors Program selection results |
| End of September | Enrollment deadline for German-taught Bachelor’s programs |
Choose your application route
The Honors Program in Computer Science is an additional selective track within eligible Bachelor’s programs at Saarland University. Your application path depends on whether you choose an English-taught or a German-taught Bachelor’s program.
If you want to study in an English-taught Bachelor’s program, you first apply for the Bachelor’s program.
Your steps:
- Apply for Computer Science B.Sc. English or Cybersecurity B.Sc. English by 15 July.
- Once you have received your Bachelor admission, apply for the Honors Program by 31 August.
- Invitation to an Online Interview.
- You will receive the results of the Honors selection process by 18 September.
- Complete your enrollment in your chosen Bachelor’s program by 30 September.
If you want to study in a German-taught Bachelor’s program, you usually enroll directly at Saarland University during the enrollment period. For the Honors Program, however, you apply before completing your Bachelor enrollment.
Your steps:
- Choose an eligible German-taught Bachelor’s program and apply for the Honors Program by 31 August.
- Invitation to an Online Interview.
- You will receive the results of the Honors selection process by 18 September.
- Complete your enrollment in your chosen Bachelor’s program by 30 September.
Important: The order is different depending on your route
English-taught Bachelor’s programs:
Apply for the Bachelor’s program first. Then apply for the Honors Program.
German-taught Bachelor’s programs:
Apply for the Honors Program first. Then complete your Bachelor enrollment.
Admission
The Honors Program complements your regular Bachelor’s studies with additional research-oriented elements. It adds 20 credit points of research-oriented work on top of your existing bachelor’s program. It does not replace courses — it deepens and extends them.
Admission to the Honors Program is highly competitive and based on academic excellence, motivation and fit.
You can be considered for the Program in two ways:
1. Preliminary admission at the beginning of your studies
Outstanding applicants may be admitted preliminarily when they begin their Bachelor’s studies and receive candidate member status upon acceptance. Selection is based on exceptional academic records, strong performance in recognized tests or competitions, and an interview.
Strong indicators may include:
_ excellent school performance (excellent Abitur, A-levels, SAT/ACT, JEE, or equivalent)
_ strong mathematics or computer science background
_ successful participation in recognized computer science or mathematics competitions and olympiads (IOI, ICPC, IMO, BwInf, and similar)
2. Admission after the first study year
Students who are not candidate members and but show outstanding performance during their first year at Saarland University are also eligible to apply for admission to the Honors Program. This application must be supported by the recommendation of a professor.
This keeps the program open to students who develop strongly after arriving in Saarbrücken and show exceptional academic potential during their studies.
3. Interview
As a final step in the application process, each applicant will be interviewed by the admission board. The interview helps the admission board understand your academic interests, motivation, problem-solving mindset and readiness for an intensive research-oriented program.
Candidate members who complete their first year with outstanding results automatically proceed to full Honors membership.
Phase 1 — Your first year: Immersion
You enter the Honors Program as a candidate member. You complete the standard first-year curriculum with excellent grades, participate in research-oriented tutorials alongside your Honors peers, and are embedded in the community from day one. Provisional admission converts to full membership after your first year, based on academic performance.
Phase 2 — Research Seminar (7 CP)
Phase 3 — Research Lab (9 CP) + Tutoring (4 CP)
Total: 20 additional CP
You chose an english-taught Bachelor’s program?
Apply for B.Sc. program by Jul 15
Apply for Honors Program by Aug 31
Honors Program results: Sept 18
Enroll in the B. Sc. program by Sept 31
Start your studies in October
Choose your
B.Sc. program
Apply for Honors Program by Aug 31
Honors Program results: Sept 18
Enroll in the B. Sc. program by Sept 31
Start your studies in October
You chose a german-taught Bachelor’s program?
Honors Program at a glance
- Application deadline: August 31th
- Selection: highly competitive, based on academic excellence and interview
- Format: selective Honors pathway within existing Bachelor’s programs
- Language: English-taught and German-taught Bachelor’s pathways, depending on program and application route
- Costs: no tuition fees; students only pay the regular semester fee of approx. €394, which includes a public transport pass
- Community: small, selective cohort of highly motivated students, buddy program, social events and strong peer exchange
- Mentoring: personal academic mentoring by a professor
- Research: early research integration, research-oriented tutorials, Honors seminar series and research lab
- Recognition: successful completion recognized on the transcript and/or by an Honors certificate
- Support: personalised onboarding, housing support and guidance on Hiwi and internship opportunities
Study in one of Europe’s strongest computer science environments
Saarbrücken is an outstanding place to study computer science because research is close from day one.
At Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarland University is connected to a unique ecosystem of internationally renowned research institutions, including the Max Planck Institutes for Informatics and for Software Systems, CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, and DFKI — the German Research Center for AI. This creates an exceptional environment for students who want to engage with the latest science, explore cutting-edge research and learn from leading researchers: Within walking distance, students find a unique concentration of research in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, algorithms, software systems, visual computing, human-computer interaction, language technology, bioinformatics and more.
Through research-oriented tutorials, an Honors seminar series, a research lab and personal mentoring, students can discover their interests early and build bridges into research groups. For Honors students, this environment is a major advantage: you are not studying computer science far away from research. You are studying in the middle of it.
„For students who want to understand computer science deeply –
and start exploring research early.“
Prof. Jan Reineke, Dean
10 Benefits: What Honors students can expect
More than a Bachelor’s degree: a research-oriented academic pathway.
Dedicated Honors workspace
Honors students will have access to an attractive shared workspace: a place to study, meet peers, exchange ideas and build community.
For international students especially, having a home base on campus can make a real difference. It creates structure, belonging and a place to return to between lectures, tutorials and research meetings.
Networking with researchers and industry partners
Honors students will have access to selected networking events with researchers, alumni and industry partners. These formats are designed to open doors: to research groups, internships, Hiwi opportunities, scientific conferences and future career paths.
Personal mentoring by a professor
Each Honors student is matched with a professor as an academic mentor. Together, you discuss your study progress, interests, academic goals and possible next steps.
This gives you direct access to academic guidance and helps you make informed choices: which advanced courses to take, which research topics to explore, how to prepare for a research project, and how to build a strong academic profile.
Personalised onboarding and buddy program
Starting university in a new city or country can be exciting and challenging. The Honors Program supports new students through personalised onboarding and a buddy program.
Experienced students help you settle in, understand academic expectations and become part of the community.
Honors certificate
Successful completion of the Honors Program Track will be recognized on your transcript and/or through an Honors certificate.
This can strengthen your academic profile when applying for Master’s programs, scholarships, research internships or future positions.
Internship & HiWi support
The programme actively supports Honors students in connecting with research assistant (HiWi) positions within the SIC research groups, as well as industry internships through our industry partners. This is not a job guarantee — it is structured, personal support in accessing an exceptionally strong local and regional network.
Research seminar & research lab
Honors students are introduced to research groups and current research topics early in their studies. You will be able to explore advanced questions, connect with researchers, and gradually develop your own academic interests.
The Track includes research-oriented elements such as advanced tutorials, an Honors seminar series and a research lab. These are designed to help you move from learning foundations to asking your own research questions.
Housing support
Honors students receive prioritised access to university accommodation for at least their first year in Saarbrücken.
One fully-funded conference visit
Outstanding performance in the research components of the programme earns you funding to attend an international scientific conference with a research group. This is a rare opportunity for an undergraduate student — and an experience that consistently stands out in graduate school applications.
Strong community
The Honors Program is intentionally small and selective. Students join a community of peers who are also ambitious, curious and highly motivated.
Community is not an extra. It is part of the academic concept: learning together, challenging each other, sharing ideas, and building friendships with people who share their interest in computer science.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Honors Program is not a separate degree program. It complements the existing Bachelor’s degree programs in computer science-related fields at Saarland University.
You remain enrolled in your degree program and add the Honors components on top. This means you keep all your existing credits and course choices.
The order is different depending on your route:
English-taught Bachelor’s programs: Apply for the Bachelor’s program first. Then apply for the Honors Program.
German-taught Bachelor’s programs: Apply for the Honors Program first. Then complete your Bachelor enrollment.
The Honors Program is added as a selective pathway for students who meet the criteria.
The program is designed for students with exceptional academic potential, strong motivation, curiosity about research and a desire to go deeper into computer science.
No. The program is open to outstanding students from Germany and abroad.
No. The Honors Program, like the bachelor’s program, is conducted entirely in English.
The program is designed for an international target group and builds on English-taught computer science study options at Saarland University.
Yes, the program supports students in connecting with internship and work internship opportunities. Individual placements depend on availability, fit and selection processes.
The program is intended for a small number of highly qualified students. Internally, the program is designed as a selective, high-quality academic community rather than a large-scale offer.
Saarbrücken combines a public university setting with an unusually strong computer science research environment, including Saarland University, Saarland Informatics Campus, CISPA, DFKI and the Max Planck Institutes.
We are happy to answer questions from prospective students and their families. Please contact us!
Choosing a university abroad is a major decision — academically, financially and personally.
The Honors Program is designed for students who are ready for a challenging academic environment — but it is not designed to leave them alone with that challenge. Your child will study at a public German university, in a safe and affordable university city, with access to mentoring, onboarding, peer support and a strong academic community.
For parents, the core promise is clear: your child will be challenged academically — and supported personally. The Saarbrücken Honors Program offers a level of individual support and research integration that is unusual for a bachelor’s program anywhere in the world. Every student is personally known to a professor. Every student has a peer buddy, a workspace, and a clear path into original research. Combined with no tuition fees and a comparatively low cost of living, Saarbrücken offers a genuinely exceptional value proposition for high-achieving students.
Preparing for your time at Saarland University
Once you receive confirmation of acceptance, all you have to do is enroll, pay your semester fee and then find accommodation. Before travelling to Germany, there are a number of things you will need to do to get organized and, once you arrive in Saarbrucken, a few administrative formalities to complete. For instance, you will need to take out health insurance cover and open a bank account. You will also need to apply for a temporary residence permit and register with the local authorities. Our checklist summarizes all you need to do.
Accommodation services
If you aren’t already living in Germany, you can apply to rent one of the apartments reserved by the university for its international BSc. programs. These apartments are intended to make it easier for you to settle in and can be rented for one year. By the end of the first year, you’ll need to find new accommodation (either in a university hall of residence or on the private housing market). The university provides assistance with both. It is also very common to share an apartment with fellow students (called Wohngemeinschaft in German, or WG for short). More information.
An aerial view of the campus
Get an impression of what awaits you when you’re a student in Saarbrucken with a virtual tour of the campus. You can see the main buildings and lecture halls for computer science students here. It gives you an idea of the uni before you even get here.
How much will the course cost?
Although Saarland University is an internationally acclaimed research center for computer science, Saarbrücken remains a hidden gem among German university cities and therefore has a very moderate cost of living compared with other cities here.
Welcome at Saarland University in Saarbrücken
Saarland University offers special support and guidance services to our international students, every step of the way. Aside from welcoming new foreign students to the university, we organize where international students can meet their fellow German students and colleagues. We also provide assistance in dealing with official and administrative matters. To encourage interaction between German and international students, the department also runs a successful peer mentoring program called the Buddy Program.