FAQ
Based on the examination regulations of 2 July 2015.
Admissions, Organization and Program of Study
The regular study period is four semesters. Within these four semesters, students must obtain a total of 120 credit points.
For the master’s degree programs Computer Science, Embedded Systems as well as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence:
No, but you must apply to the program. Further information can be found here.
The lectures are divided into different course categories: core lectures, advanced lectures and seminars. Students must fulfill the requirements of the study regulations of their master’s propram in order to attain the master’s degree.
The examination and study regulations can be found here:
Performance assessments are part of each course. They can take various forms. For example, they can be based on oral or written exams, or project work. Details can be found in the examination regulations. If the performance checks are passed, the student acquires the CP corresponding to the course. The result of each graded exam is therefore reflected in a student’s final grade.
Exams, Credit Points, and Credits for Other Activities
Credit points (CP), which can be obtained through a lecture, indicate the lecture’s workload. A credit point corresponds to 30 hours’ study effort. For example, a core lecture with 9 CP has an average workload of 270 hours.
For the supervision of a tutorial group as a tutor (“Bremser”), four non-graded CPs are given. If several groups for different courses are supervised, it is possible to obtain these points multiple times.
In general, 30 CP should be earned per semester. The minimum requirements are 9 CP after one semester, 30 CP after two semesters, 60 CP after four semesters, and 90 after six semesters. If a student fails to meet these minimum requirements, he or she is informed in writing that the achievement of the study objective is at risk, and is also offered a consultation. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements for a second time, he or she loses the right to examination at each university in the Federal Republic of Germany. This will be communicated to the person concerned by a written notification from the Examination Board. The student has the possiblilty to give a statement.
If a student cannot participate in an examination, he or she must provide a valid reason. In the case of illness, a medical certificate must be submitted to the lecturer of the course without delay. If a candidate misses an examination and does not give proof of a valid reason, he or she is deemed to have failed. The same applies if a student tries to influence the test results by cheating or using non-approved aids.
The Examination Board is made up of five elected members and their respective elected alternates. One of these five members presides. The tasks of the Examination Board include, among other things, the processing of applications from students and the monitoring of progress after each semester. In addition, the Examination Board ensures compliance with the provisions of the examination regulations.
Master’s Thesis and Completion of the Degree
The master’s thesis is a scientific report on a project that has been carried out under supervision. It is intended to show that the candidate is able to solve a computer science problem according to scientific methods and to present the results clearly. The thesis can be written in English or German, or on request also in another language. Six months’ working time is allowed for the master’s thesis. Details can be found in the examination regulations.
The master’s seminar is a type of research colloquium, in which the student must present the topic of his or her master’s thesis to the faculty of the chair where he or she wishes to write a thesis. This seminar must be completed before registering the thesis with the examination secretariat, and serves as a way to receive feedback from the faculty and to evaluate how well the student has understood the topic. The master’s seminar provides 12 CP. No later than the semester after the master’s seminar, the student must register his or her master’s thesis; otherwise he or she has to do it again.
The master’s program comprises in-course examinations and a thesis (the master’s thesis). This means there is no single final examination; instead, every course includes its own performance checks. Therefore, the student has the opportunity to actively shape his or her degree every semester.
Students who have fulfilled the requirements according to their study regulations will receive their master’s degree. It will reflect the results of their performance assessments and the master’s thesis.
Other Information
The Computer Science Students’ Representative Council (“Fachschaft”) represents the students in this course of study. It is made up of elected members who take care of the students’ interests and is, so to speak, the students’ “voice”. The Council ensures, for example, that the students’ proposals for the use of the study fees are passed on to the right places.
The homepage of the Council provides much more information about its work.