Communication Systems and Networks (Master's program) – How to Apply

A degree program is deemed suitable if it includes modules from the fields of mathematics, physics, electrical engineering and computer science worth at least 110 credits.

If applicants do not meet all requirements stated above, they can only be admitted under the condition that they make up for missing prerequisites before registering for the Master's thesis. To do so, they are required to take certain courses at Bachelor's level. This is usually the case if an applicant has an undergraduate degree worth less than 210 credits or if less than 110 credits were obtained in a suitable field.
Nature and scope of these conditions are individually determined by the examination board based on the courses taken in the first-cycle program. Admission to the Master's program will be denied if the applicant has obtained less than 80 credits in the core fields stated above.

Applicants participate in a selection procedure. The supporting documents submitted with the application are reviewed and evaluated based on the following criteria:

a) Subjects covered during pervious university education and their relevance for the Master's program

b) Previous grades and coursework

c) Academic and professional career so far

d) If applicable: Professional experience and its relevance for the Master's program

e) Personal motivation to enroll in the Master's program

Applicants with foreign degrees obtained outside of Germany please consider the information on admission requirements.

Applicants who have not yet graduated from a suitable undergraduate program may be admitted and enrolled if they can prove at the time of application that they are less than 30 credits away from graduating, i.e. if they have accumulated at least 150 out of 180 credits in a 6-semester program or 179 out of 210 credits in a 7-semester program. If applicants have accumulated less than the required number of credits, the examination board will decide on a case-by-case basis.

Please note: Should a candidate meet these criteria only after the application deadline has passed, their application cannot be considered.

English language proficiency

Applicants need to submit proof of their English language proficiency by submitting one of the following documents:

- IELTS Academic: band 6.0 (at least 5.5 in each part)
- TOEFL iBT: 4.0 (at least 3.5 in each part; applies to tests taken on or after January 21, 2026)
- TOEFL iBT: 80 points (at least "high-intermediate level" in each part; applies to tests taken before January 21, 2026)
- Cambridge ESOL: at least FCE grade B
- PTE Academic: 66 points (at least 50 in each part)
- Annotation in the German Abitur certificate confirming English language proficiency on at least B2 level (CEFR)

TOEFL ITP (institutional testing program) is not accepted.

English as language of instruction at secondary schools and universities: 
An exemption from providing proof of English language proficiency only applies to applicants who have completed both their secondary education and higher education entirely in English in one of the listed countries; this exemption does not apply to countries that are not listed. Countries with English as language of instruction

Please note: Only the types of proof listed above are accepted. There are no exceptions.

Students need to provide evidence of their English language proficiency by the time of application for the Master's program.

Another requirement is the submission of a compelling letter of motivation.

a) Application process for
- German applicants and
- applicants with a first-cycle degree in a field related to the Master’s program from a German university

Applications are submitted through TH Köln's campus management system (CaMS).

CaMS

Applications for the winter semester can be submitted through CaMS from early April and for the summer semester from early December of each year (subject to change).

Information on the documents which are to be submitted with your application is available in CaMS.

Application period for the summer semester 2027: around early December 2026 – February 15, 2027

b) Application process for
- international applicants without a first-cycle degree from a German university but with a first-cycle degree in a field related to the Master’s program from a university outside of Germany

You are required to apply via uni-assist.

Applications for the winter semester can be submitted through uni-assist from early February to late March and for the summer semester from early September to late October of each year (subject to change).

Make sure to read the information on the application process through uni-assist.

uni-assist

Exceptions

Applicants who have not graduated yet from their first-cycle program may participate in the admissions process if they can submit proof (at the time of application) that they will have graduated by September 30 (applications for admission in the winter semester) or April 30 (applications for admission in the summer semester).

If all other admission requirements are met, they will be offered admission under the condition that they successfully graduate from their undergraduate program.

Please note that applicants who have been offered conditional admission may encounter difficulties when applying for a student visa. This is why we strongly recommend applying after your graduation from your first-cycle program.

Application period for the summer semester 2027: Early September 2026 – October 31, 2026

Information on visa applications

Please be aware that in some countries the waiting time for visa appointments might be 12 months or more. We recommend checking the website of the German Embassy in your home country for information on waiting times and the visa application process.

Letters of Admission are usually sent out in June (for the winter semester) and in January (for the summer semester). You do not need your Letter of Admission to schedule an appointment. It only needs to be presented during the actual appointment.

Please consider this information and plan your application for admission as well as your visa application accordingly.

Information on the process, requirements and procedure is available on our information page on applying for admission to an advanced semester.

Application period

- Mid-February until March 15 of each year for the summer semester
- Mid-August until September 15 of each year for the winter semester

Admission restrictions

Please note that when applying for admission to an advanced semester in the winter semester 2026/2027, proof of a grade average of 2.5 or better in the first-cycle degree with the required academic background for the Master’s program must be provided.