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 or if he/she fails to meet the requirements regarding the minimum required grade.

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 and German language skills.

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 above stated number of credits, the examination board will decide on a case by case basis. Additionally: 

- a current grade average of 2.3 or better

In such cases, applicants are required to submit proof of their graduation with a final grade of 2.3 or better by the end of the re-registration period for the 2nd semester. Failing to do so will result in their removal from the register of students.

English language proficiency

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

- TOEFL paper-based (550 points)
- TOEFL computer-based (213 points)
- TOEFL internet-based (80 points)
- IELTS (6.0)
- Annotation in the Abitur certificate confirming English language proficiency on at least B2 level of the Commen European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Equivalent qualifications are accepted until the summer semester 2026: 
- prior enrollment of at least one year in a university program with English as language of instruction (no longer accepted as of the winter semester 2026/2027)
- prior schooling of at least one year with English as language of instruction (no longer accepted as of the winter semester 2026/2027)
- completion of a suitable degree program which includes courses in "Technical English" worth at least 3 credits. This specifically includes the degree programs in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering at TH Köln (no longer accepted as of the winter semester 2026/2027)
- Native speaker of English (no longer accepted as of the winter semester 2026/2027)

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

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 late April and for the summer semester from late November (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 2026: Early December 2025 – February 15, 2026

Application period for the winter semester 2026/2027: Early May 2026 – July 15, 2026

b) Application process for
- EU/EEA citizens and their spouses with a foreign first-cycle degree in a field related to the Master’s program
- international applicants with a first-cycle degree in a field related to the Master’s program from a university in the EU/EEA
- international applicants who do not have a university degree from an EU/EEA country but a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or the EU/EEA

You are required to apply via uni-assist. 

Applications for the winter semester can be submitted through uni-assist starting in February and for the summer semester starting in September of each year (subject to change).

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

uni-assist

Application period for the summer semester 2026: September 2025 – January 15, 2026

Application period for the winter semester 2026/2027: Early February 2026 – July 15, 2026

c) Application process
- for applicants who are not EU/EEA citizens and who obtained both their higher education entrance qualification and first-cycle degree in a field related to the Master’s program outside the EU/EEA

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) with a grade of 2.3 (German grading system) or better.

If all other admission requirements are met, they will be offered admission under the condition that they graduate from their undergraduate program with a minimum grade of 2.3 (German grading system).

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

Application period for the summer semester 2026: September 2025 – October 31, 2025

Application period for the winter semester 2026/2027: Early February 2026 – March 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)/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

This program has no restrictions for admission to an advanced semester.