Digital Sciences (Master’s program) – How to Apply

University degree

University degree (Bachelor's degree or higher) in a suitable field and with a final grade of 2.5 (German grading system) or better. Additionally, the following additional admission requirements must be met.

A program is considered suitable if it covers computer science or information science related contents from one the following fields worth at least 80 ECTS credits:

1. Theoretical computer science, formal languages, abstact machines, digital science
2. Programming, programming paradigms, algorithms, algorithmics, mobile computing, software technology, software engineering
3. Web development, web technologies, web-based applications
4. Human-computer-interaction, development of interactive systems
5. Knowledge organization
6. Digital society, computer science & society, media informatics & society, information ethics
7. Information visualization, information exploitation
8. Information in companies, information management, process management, knowledge management
9. Data modeling
10. Data analysis, information analysis, business intelligence, business analytics, decision support
11. Data mining, artificial intelligence
12. Information research, information retrieval, search engine technologies
13. Data bases, information systems, ERP systems, application systems
14. IT law, data privacy laws, legal aspects of computer science
15. Media technology and production, audio-visual media, computer graphics and animation
16. Communication technology and networks
17. Operating systems, distributed systems, computer architectures
18. IT operations, identity management, service management, visualization, services architectures, IT security, IT architecture management
19. IT controlling

Additional information on the applications process and a form to list the required ECTS credits is available at www.digital-sciences.de.

The degree of suitability of the Bachelor's degree is evaluated depending on the chosen specialization.

- BIS: Business Information Systems

- ITM: IT Management

- SAR: Software Architecture

- DIS: Data and Information Science

For each of these specializations, the percentage of missing prerequisite ECTS credits in the following six fields of action is determined to calculate the suitability of the Bachelor's degree:

1. "Acting Responsibly " (AR)

2. "Architecting and Coding Software " (ACS)

3. "Designing Innovations and Products " (DIP)

4. "Empowering Business " (EB)

5. "Generating and Accessing Knowledge " (GAK)

6. "Managing and Running IT " (MRI)

For each field of action for which prerequisites are defined, it is determined to what extent (measured in ECTS credits) these are met by the contents of the Bachelor's program. If the values listed in the following table for the chosen specialization are not met, the missing ECTS credits are added up across the fields of action (sum of missing prerequisites) and the proportion of the total of prerequisites required for admission is calculated (degree of suitability).

If credits are missing but the sum of missing credits does not exceed 15, admission may be granted on the condition that the missing ECTS credits are made up. If the sum of missing credits exceeds 15, admission is not possible. This criterion is verified during the applications process. A preliminary check is not possible. It is not possible to receive credits for previous professional activities.

An explanation of the fields of activity can be found at www.digital-sciences.de.

English language proficiency (all specializations)

Proof of English language proficieny on at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages (CEFR), e.g. one of the following test scores:

- TOEFL paper-based (550 points)
- TOEFL computer-based (213 points)
- TOEFL internet-based (80 points)
- IELTS (score 6.0)
- Annotation on the secondary school diploma confirming B2 level (CEFR) 
- equivalent proof of English language proficiency

The Examination Board may recognize other supporting documents.

Proof of German language proficiency (only for the specialization IT Management)

Applicants who obtained their undergraduate degree from an institution where the language of instruction is not German need to submit evidence that they passed the DSH - level 2 exam (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang/German language proficiency test for the admission of international students).

As a first step, all applications are ranked according to the final grade and the degree of suitability of the Bachelor's degree. Both criteria are weighted equally. The hightest-ranked applicants are invited for an interview.

As a second step, applicants upload a motivation video. This is to determine the applicants' prospects of successfully completing the program. More information is avialable here.

Applications are then ranked according to the following criteria: Grade of the Bachelor's degree 50%, level of suitability of the Bachelor's degree 25%, evaluation of the interview 25%. 

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

CaMS

You are required to apply to uni-assist.

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

uni-assist

You are required to apply to uni-assist.

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

uni-assist