B.Sc. Computer Science

Bridge in front of the Computer Science and Mathematics Building

Students in front of the Computer Science and Mathematics Building

Degree awarded	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Duration and credits	6 semesters; 180 ECTS credits
Starts in	April (summer semester) and October (winter semester)
Language of instruction	German

About the programme

Today, information technology (IT) permeates almost all areas of social and business life – some of them even owe their existence to IT. The B.Sc. Computer Science programme teaches students the principles and mathematical underpinnings of this key science. While the objectives of the degree programme include imparting extensive knowledge of software development, the scientific underpinnings and ability to think in terms of abstract structures are also part of the qualification. You will learn to put problems of computer science into precise statements, arrive at solutions by creating suitable mathematical models and implement optimised solutions on computer systems.

This is what the B.Sc. Computer Science degree programme in Passau offers:

A major software engineering project carried out in a team setting over a whole semester
Superb staff-student ratio
Excellent rankings
Integrated subject-specific English language training
A great student experience on Germany's most beautiful university campus and in the lively student town of Passau

Building on this bachelor's degree programme, the University of Passau offers the M.Sc. Computer Science and M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence Engineering, in which you can specialise and deepen your acquired knowledge. Upon completion of this bachelor's programme, you can continue along the academic career path by studying for a master's degree and subsequently your doctorate.

For details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's infosheet [German content].

Computer scientists have excellent job opportunities and a wide range of options on the labour market. You can work in essentially any business sector – such as industry, commerce, insurance, the service sector, management consultancies, public administration – or in scientific research at a university or research institution. One potential career path is in software or hardware development at a high-technology company. One of the special characteristics of computer-science work is that most projects are carried out in interdisciplinary teams.

The degree programme consists of compulsory modules and compulsory elective modules as well as an elective subject and the bachelor's dissertation.

Computer Science core module

The courses you will attend as you start out on the degree programme impart fundamental knowledge and competencies. This includes a sound education in programming, software engineering and technical computer science on the one hand, and a broad theoretical foundation in computer science and mathematics on the other. Building on these foundations, the courses that follow deal in-depth with specialised topics, allowing you to acquire a broad spectrum of knowledge and competencies in computer science. This includes the areas of algorithms, database and information systems, IT security, and computer networks.

The final phase of the degree programme gives you a freer hand and allows you to consolidate and specialise by choosing the relevant electives, such as those on artificial intelligence, which also helps you find a suitable topic for your bachelor's dissertation.

Elective

You can choose from the following electives:

Mathematics
Business Administration
Applied Foreign Languages
Psychology or another suitable course, with the approval of the Board of Examiners

Course catalogue: courses currently offered in the B.Sc. Computer Science programme

For further details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's information sheet [German content] and the module catalogue [German content].

This degree programme starts in the October (winter semester) and April (summer semester) each year.

With abitur or European qualifications

Prospective students with a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or the EEA region (e.g. German abitur or the Austrian matura) can enrol directly for this degree programme during the enrolment period.

Prospective students with non-EEA qualifications

How to apply

What German language skills do I need?

Information for international students

You will need German language skills at level C1 CEFR or higher to study this degree programme. If German was the language of instruction for your secondary school education or prior tertiary education, your academic certificates suffice as proof of your language skills. Otherwise, you will have to provide a recognised German language certificate along with your application for a place of study.

If you can provide recognised certificates for German language skills at level B2 CEFR at the time when you apply for a place of study, you may receive a conditional offer. In that case, you will be required to provide a recognised language certificate at level C1 CEFR by the time you enrol on the degree programme.

If you would like to learn German or advance your language skills, the University's Language Centre and its German Courses Passau division offer a variety of German language classes. However, if you would like to apply for a place of study on one of the University's German-taught degree programmes, you must meet the stated language requirements before you apply.