Computer science

The consecutive Master's degree course in Computer Science deepens the knowledge you have acquired in your Bachelor's degree and qualifies you for demanding jobs in development, research and IT management.

A central element of the course is the two-semester Guided Research Project. You will work on a complex research or development task in interdisciplinary teams and combine theoretical analysis with practical implementation. In doing so, you will deepen your skills in scientific work, project organization and teamwork.

The application-oriented focus of the study program optimally prepares you for responsible tasks in Business Studies, research and the public sector.

After successfully completing the course, you will be awarded a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree.

To sharpen your profile for the job market, the study program offers you a high degree of freedom of choice. You can either develop a broad, individual skills profile or choose one of three optional specializations. To be awarded a specialization on your certificate, you must complete four modules and your Master's thesis in one of the following areas:

• Engineering of Software Systems: this specialization focuses on the design and modeling of complex software architectures, requirements engineering and modern software development processes and usability.
• Embedded Systems: Here you will specialize in the development of networked and autonomous systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), real-time systems and robotics.
• Data Science: This area deals with the analysis of large amounts of data (big data analytics), machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced statistical methods.

In addition, you have the opportunity to integrate current technological trends or interdisciplinary content into your studies at any time through the compulsory elective catalog

The Master's degree course is designed for a standard period of study of four semesters and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. Thanks to the modern curriculum structure, you can concentrate more intensively on the respective content, which significantly improves studyability and learning success.

It is possible to start the course in both the summer and winter semesters.

The ideal structure

The degree program is structured in such a way that it leads you step by step from the academic specialization to the independent Master's thesis:

• 1st semester: Foundation & Management
  You will deepen your theoretical foundation with two modules from the field of formal structures (e.g. quantum computing or cryptography) and acquire important management qualifications (e.g. project management or personnel management). At the same time, you start your first compulsory elective modules.
• 2nd & 3rd semester: Project work & specialization
  The core of this phase is the Guided Research Project (GRP). Over the course of two semesters, you will work intensively on a research or development task in a fixed team of 7 to 10 people. This is flanked by further specialization modules from your chosen focus or free elective modules.
• 4th semester: Master's degree
  The final semester is dedicated to the Master's thesis (24 ECTS) and the final colloquium (6 ECTS). Here you show that you can independently work on a challenging computer science problem using scientific methods.

Freedom of choice as a principle

The course of study gives you maximum freedom. You decide for yourself whether you want to combine modules from the various catalogs to sharpen your individual profile or whether you want to follow a fixed focus of study.

For better orientation, you will find sample study plans for our specializations here:

Example: Study plan for specialization "Engineering of Software Systems" (start in winter semester)

Example: Study plan for specialization "Embedded Systems" (start in winter semester)

Example: Study plan for the specialization "Data Science" (start in winter semester)

Note: The modules offered depend on the respective semester and your own selection and may vary.

What makes Fachhochschule Dortmund special? What should you know about the city and the region? How is Fachhochschule Dortmund positioned in terms of internationality and what counseling and support do we offer you? Find out more about Fachhochschule Dortmund.

• want to master complexity: You enjoy developing abstract models for challenging problems and using architectural patterns strategically.
• Have a desire for responsibility: You aspire to a management position in Business Studies or a career in application-oriented research.
• Appreciate the "learning by doing" approach: You like to work hands-on and actively. As around 50% of the intensification modules offer internships during the semester, you can apply theoretical knowledge directly. The two-semester Guided Research Project in particular focuses on the practical implementation of complex research and development tasks in a team.
• Team players in an international environment: Due to the close integration with international study programs, you will appreciate the professional exchange in multicultural teams.
• Want to work scientifically: You have the curiosity to methodically penetrate technological trends and present your own results in a professional manner.
  

• A first professionally qualifying degree with an overall grade of at least 2.5.

• Sound knowledge in core areas of computer science such as programming, algorithms, data structures and mathematics.
• A keen awareness of the ethical and social responsibility of technological developments, for example in relation to data protection or AI.

If you would like to apply to study Computer Science (Master of Science) at Fachhochschule Dortmund, you must meet the necessary admission requirements:

The prerequisite for admission to the degree program is a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a computer science-related degree program or a Diplom-Informatiker*in at a university of applied sciences or university or the completion of a corresponding accredited Bachelor's degree program at a vocational academy, in each case with an overall grade of at least "good" (2.5).

If the commission determines in its examination that there is only a limited proximity in terms of content to the Computer Science study program, access to the course can also be granted if examination achievements amounting to a maximum of 30 ECTS credit points are missing for the assumption of considerable proximity in terms of content to the Computer Science study program. The missing examination achievements must be successfully proven at the latest with the application for admission to the thesis. The examination regulations of the framework examination regulations and these degree program examination regulations apply accordingly to the examinations to be completed as part of the requirements.

A commission appointed by the Faculty Council of Computer Science, which consists of two professors and one member of staff, decides on the relevance of the study program.

The study program starts annually in both the summer and winter semesters and is admission-free

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