Visual Computing Master’s Program
Visual Computing Master’s Degree Program at Saarland University
Subject at a glance
Visual imagery constitutes the most important sensory information for humans and is of central importance in communication networks, multimedia applications in smartphones, industrial quality control, medical technology, driver assistance systems, pattern recognition problems in bioinformatics, scientific computing, augmented reality, media design and robotics. Therefore, more and more information is represented by digital images and visual simulations.
In the hierarchy of senses, vision frequently is seen to be the most important one. Media and communication face a continuous evolution from textual over auditory towards visual representations. Computational processing of such data is the foundation of its general availability. The master’s program in Visual Computing denotes the entire field of acquisition, analysis and synthesis of visual data by means of computers and focuses on fundamental principles, processes and applications of computer-assisted processing of visual information.
Career Prospects
Graduates in visual computing will undoubtedly have exciting careers in various industries. They can create immersive experiences in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), and work in industry fields such as gaming, education, and healthcare. Their skills are also in high demand in the movie and animation industry, where they craft stunning visual effects and realistic 3D models. Beyond entertainment, these graduates are key players in the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), developing algorithms for visual data interpretation that fuel innovations for example in facial recognition and autonomous vehicles. In the tech sector, their expertise significantly enhances user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, ensuring digital products are not only functional but also visually appealing and intuitive.
They often find roles in product development, research, and strategic planning, driving forward the next generation of technological advancements. With the digital world evolving rapidly, the unique blend of skills that visual computing and computer science graduates possess makes them invaluable in shaping future digital landscapes and interactive technologies.
Last but not least, they have excellent opportunities to continue as a Ph.D. student, here in Saarbrücken, somewhere else in Germany, or abroad.
Your Profile
As a profoundly interdisciplinary program of study, Visual Computing requires a good scientific background in one or more of the field including computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, or computational cognitive sciences, demonstrated through a suitable Bachelor or equivalent degree. You should have a keen interest in expanding your understanding of Visual Computing and its applications in general as well as in some of the specific subareas covered at Saarland University. For that, you can benefit from the large selection of courses offered by the university as well as its partners on campus that will allow you to adjust the study program to your specific needs and interests.
Your study program
In four semesters, the interdisciplinary master’s program in Visual Computing teaches all aspects of visual computing. Master students have to gain a certain number of credits in specific categories, but are free to choose their own specialization. Lectures include classes and seminars on image acquisition (ultrasound, CT, MR, computational photography, …), image analysis (image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition), image synthesis (computer graphics, scientific visualisation, geometric modelling) as well as related fields such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, signal processing, telecommunications, computational linguistics, medical engineering and cognitive sciences.
An industrial internship and a master internship in a research group can be included in the elective requirements.
Students can join the programme at the beginning of the summer or winter semester. Application deadlines are the 15th of May for the following winter semester and the 15th of November for the following summer semester. Applications should be submitted via the online application portal managed by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Further information on application and admission can be found in the application guide
The degree programme is composed of lectures and seminars. Some of the lecture courses have accompanying tutorials or problem-solving classes. Students are also required to compile and submit a master’s thesis.
Taught courses conclude with an assessment of student learning, which is usually graded. Credits gained from assessments are cumulative and contribute to the student’s overall academic achievement. Detailed information on the type and duration of the academic assessment for each course can be found in the study regulations and module descriptions.
To complete the master’s programme, students must accumulate 120 credit points (CP). The standard period of study is four semesters, with students typically accumulating 30 CP per semester. 83 CP are from taught courses and are roughly divided into the following categories:
- 39 CP from courses in the core areas of image acquisition, image analysis, and image synthesis
- 9 CP from courses in image-related fields
- 7 CP from seminars on topics in visual computing
- 18 CP from courses covering important fundamentals in other fields to allow students to address specific gaps in their knowledge in fundamental fields
- 10 CP from additional elective modules such as additional courses from the visual computing course list, language course, modules in visual culture and communication in the arts, media design, cognitive science, psychology or by supervising undergraduates in tutorials or problem-solving classes
Additionally, students are awarded 37 CP for completing their master’s thesis and the accompanying master’s seminar at the end of their studies.
The exact modalities and the current range of courses can be found in the study regulations and the course catalogue.
Audit Chair
Prof. Dr. Phillip Slusallek
Campus Saarbrücken
Gebäude E1 1, Raum 019
66123 Saarbrücken
Mail: vc-pa@cs.uni-saarland.de
Central Student Advisory Service
Campus Saarbrücken
Campus Center, Geb. A4 4, EG
Tel.: +49 681 302-3513
Mail: studienberatung@uni-saarland.de
Study Coordination of Computer Science
Dr. Rahel Stoike-Sy and Barbara Schulz-Brünken
Campus Saarbrücken
Gebäude E1 3, Raum 207-209
66123 Saarbrücken
Tel.: +49 681 302-58092
Mail: master@cs.uni-saarland.de
Facts about the Master Visual Computing
- Application deadline: May 15 (winter semester) / November 15 (summer semester)
- Standard period of study: 4 semesters
- No admission restriction
- Lectures in English
- Required English skills: GER: C1, TOEFL: 95/120, IELTS: 7.0/9.0
- Tuition fees: None
- Semester fee
Teaching
Since the summer semester 2024, you can find all lectures and seminars that you can attend in your study programme in the LSF
Here you will find an overview of the lectures that have been offered for the respective categories in the past semesters: Download link
Application Areas
The master’s program in Visual Computing an interface between theory and application. An extremely exciting professional and research field awaits you!
- Automation
- Digital media
- Filmmaking and television
- Gaming
- Industry and economy
- Medical imaging
- PR and advertising
- Robotics
Automation
Digital media
Film/TV
Gaming
Industry/Economy
Medical imaging
PR/Advertising
Robotics
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.
The academic study programs offered at Saarland University are state-funded. Therefore no tuition fees are charged for all Bachelor’s and consecutive Master’s programs. Instead, students pay an administrative fee of 286 EUR per semester, which includes a pass for public transportation and further benefits.
Students in Saarbrücken should calculate to have about 800 EUR living expenses per month, though this figure will vary individually. This figure includes fixed costs such as the obligatory health insurance and the rent for an apartment. The health insurance is 115 EUR per month and covers all necessary procedures. The rent adds up to about 300-400 EUR per month, which is significantly less than in Munich, Aachen, Berlin or Karlsruhe.
There are lots of different funding opportunities for studying in Germany:
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.