FAQs - Master Computer Science
These FAQs answer the most common questions about applying for and studying in the Master Computer Science program at HAW Kiel. They provide information on admission requirements, the application process, Bachelor's degrees with 180 ECTS, the additional 30 ECTS requirement, language requirements, the study structure, and starting your studies in Kiel.
How do I apply for the Master Computer Science?
Applications for the Master Computer Science are submitted through uni-assist. Please follow the application procedure described on the HAW Kiel Master Computer Science website and submit all required documents through uni-assist.
We cannot offer a preliminary assessment of individual applications before submission through uni-assist. Applications are evaluated as part of the official admission process.
Can I apply directly through the HAW Kiel online application portal?
No. International applications for the Master Computer Science must be submitted through uni-assist.
The reason is that the evaluation of international educational qualifications is part of the admission process. Different parties are involved in evaluating the application.
Can I ask HAW Kiel to check my documents before I apply through uni-assist?
No. We cannot provide a preliminary individual assessment of your application before you apply through uni-assist.
You can check the admission requirements on the Master Computer Science website and use the anabin database to find information about the recognition of your previous degree in Germany.
Can I apply if I have not yet completed my Bachelor's degree?
Yes, under certain conditions.
You may be admitted even if your Bachelor's degree has not yet been formally awarded because individual examination results are still missing. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you are expected to complete your Bachelor's degree in time and that all other admission requirements are fulfilled.
At the application deadline, no more than 15 ECTS of the Bachelor's degree may be missing.
Can I postpone my admission to the next semester?
No.
Admission is valid only for the semester for which you applied. If you do not enrol for that semester, your admission expires and you must apply again. Your new application will be evaluated according to the admission requirements applicable at that time.
This section is particularly important for applicants with an international Bachelor's degree.
I have a Bachelor's degree with at least 210 ECTS from the Bologna Area. Do I need to complete additional ECTS?
No. If you have completed a Bachelor's degree comprising at least 210 ECTS at a recognised higher-education institution within the Bologna Area, you can apply for the Master Computer Science without an additional 30 ECTS requirement.
You must, however, fulfil the subject-specific admission requirements of the Master Computer Science, including a minimum Bachelor's grade of 2.5 (German grading scale).
The Bologna Area, also known as the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), comprises European countries that participate in the Bologna Process. The process aims to make higher-education systems more comparable and facilitate the recognition of qualifications and student mobility between participating countries.
If your Bachelor's degree is from a country outside the Bologna Area, or comprises only 180 ECTS, different rules may apply. Please refer to the information on the 180 ECTS / 30 ECTS requirement above.
I have a six-semester Bachelor's degree with 180 ECTS. Can I apply?
Yes.
You need at least a 180 ECTS Bachelor's degree, of which at least 120 ECTS must be in Computer Science core competencies.
These core competencies include, for example:
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Programming
- Databases
- Software Engineering
- Networks
- Project Management
- Working Experience
If your Bachelor's degree comprises 180 ECTS and meets the subject-specific requirements, you can be admitted to the Master Computer Science.
However, you will have to complete the remaining 30 ECTS during your Master's studies.
My Bachelor's degree has 180 ECTS. Why do I need 30 additional ECTS?
In Germany, a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree together must comprise at least 300 ECTS.
The Master Computer Science at HAW Kiel comprises 90 ECTS. Therefore, applicants whose previous Bachelor's degree is assessed as a three-year Bachelor's degree corresponding to 180 ECTS must obtain an additional 30 ECTS.
180 ECTS Bachelor's degree + 90 ECTS Master's degree + 30 additional ECTS = 300 ECTS
The additional 30 ECTS can be completed during your Master's studies.
Does the 30 ECTS requirement apply to my Bachelor's degree?
This depends on how your international Bachelor's degree is classified in the German education system.
As part of the application process, HAW Kiel evaluates international Bachelor's degrees using the ANABIN database.
If your university is classified as H+ and your Bachelor's degree is therefore treated as equivalent to a three-year German Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), you will have to complete an additional 30 ECTS.
You do not need to know your H+ classification before applying. It is part of the evaluation of your international qualification.
What does H+ mean?
H+ is a classification used in the German ANABIN database to indicate that a foreign higher-education institution is recognised in Germany.
For the purpose of the Master Computer Science admission process, an international Bachelor's degree from an H+ institution is treated as equivalent to a three-year German Bachelor's degree, corresponding to 180 ECTS.
You can check the classification of your university in the ANABIN database. However, the final assessment of your qualification is part of the official application process.
How can I obtain the additional 30 ECTS?
The additional 30 ECTS must be relevant to Computer Science.
They can be obtained through:
- additional Computer Science modules beyond those required for your Bachelor's degree;
- Computer Science modules from another Bachelor's or Master's degree program;
- relevant Computer Science courses from recognised non-university institutions, including suitable MOOCs;
- relevant professional work experience, with a maximum of 5 ECTS.
Please note that modules or achievements that were already required to obtain your Bachelor's degree cannot be counted again towards the 30 ECTS requirement.
Can I complete the 30 ECTS during my Master's studies?
Yes.
The additional 30 ECTS can be completed during your Master's studies at HAW Kiel or through other recognised educational achievements.
This means that you do not necessarily have to complete the additional credits before starting the Master's program.
If you would like to take computer science modules at the UAS Kiel that are taught in English, we recommend the following:
- ADL
- BI132
- BK121
- MRP
- XLA
- XLFB
- additional courses from the English Data Science MA program
- English coures at opencampus.sh
Can I take Bachelor's modules at HAW Kiel to complete the 30 ECTS?
Yes.
You can take relevant Computer Science modules from the Bachelor's program at HAW Kiel, provided that you have not already completed the respective module as part of your previous degree.
HAW Kiel's Computer Science Bachelor's modules can therefore be used to fulfil the additional ECTS requirement.
You should contact the respective lecturer regarding participation in the course and clarify the examination arrangements with the examination office.
Can I take Master's modules to complete the 30 ECTS requirement?
Yes.
Relevant Computer Science modules from other Bachelor's or Master's degree programs can be recognised.
However, you should always clarify whether a module will be recognised before taking it.
We strongly recommend contacting the program director before completing modules for the 30 ECTS requirement.
Can courses from other universities or institutions count towards the 30 ECTS?
Yes, provided that they are relevant to Computer Science and can be properly documented.
Achievements from recognised non-university institutions, including suitable MOOCs, may also be considered.
The content and workload must be documented.
Can professional work experience count towards the 30 ECTS?
Yes, but only to a maximum of 5 ECTS.
The work experience must be relevant to Computer Science.
You must provide documentation from your employer describing the type, scope and duration of your professional activity.
Can language courses count towards the 30 ECTS?
No.
Language courses cannot be credited towards the additional 30 ECTS requirement.
How much work is one ECTS credit?
One ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work.
Therefore, 5 ECTS correspond to approximately 150 hours of work.
What documents do I need to prove my additional ECTS?
All achievements must be documented by an official certificate or equivalent document issued by the relevant institution or employer.
The documentation should state:
- the content of the course or activity;
- the duration or workload;
- the number of ECTS credits, where applicable.
If this information is not included on the certificate, please provide additional documentation such as a syllabus or similar document.
Without sufficient documentation, the achievement cannot be verified and therefore cannot be recognised.
When do I have to complete the additional 30 ECTS?
The complete 30 ECTS requirement must be fulfilled before you start your Master's thesis.
You should therefore plan the additional modules early during your Master's studies.
We strongly recommend clarifying the eligibility of modules before taking them.
How do I submit the certificates for the 30 ECTS requirement?
Once you have completed the required 30 ECTS:
- Collect all certificates and supporting documents.
- Complete the ECTS balance template.
- Submit the completed table as a PDF.
- Attach the certificates and other documents proving the completed achievements.
- Submit the complete set of documents to the program director.
Please submit the complete collection of certificates, not individual certificates one at a time.
The program director will decide whether the submitted achievements can be recognised. Once the 30 ECTS requirement has been fulfilled, the program director will inform the examination office.
The Master Computer Science is taught in English. Do I need an English certificate?
You must provide proof of sufficient English language skills.
This can be demonstrated in several ways:
- school reports showing English instruction for at least five years up to the qualification for university admission;
- English as your native language;
- successful completion of a university degree taught in English;
- an internationally recognised English certificate at B2 level or higher according to the CEFR, such as an appropriate Cambridge ESOL qualification.
Do I need to speak German?
No German language certificate is required for admission to the English-language Master Computer Science program.
However, German language skills can be useful for everyday life in Germany and for some employment opportunities.
How long does the Master Computer Science take?
The Master Computer Science comprises 90 ECTS and is designed as a three-semester Master's program.
What does a typical study plan look like?
The curriculum is flexible and allows you to select modules according to your interests and previous knowledge.
The program includes compulsory and elective components as well as the Master's thesis.
Can I choose modules from other degree programs?
Yes.
The curriculum allows interdisciplinary modules as a replacement of one elective module (5ECTS). Depending on the module and its relevance to your studies, you may be able to take courses from other degree programs.
The module database provides information about the courses offered in each semester.
Where can I find the examination regulations?
The examination regulations define the formal requirements and rules for the degree program.
The current examination regulations are available on the HAW Kiel website.
What happens if my visa is delayed and I cannot arrive in Kiel at the beginning of the semester?
You cannot postpone your admission because of a visa delay. Admission and enrolment are valid only for the semester for which you applied.
However, the curriculum is flexible and it is possible to arrange an individual study schedule. In particular, you may be able to start attending selected courses after your arrival.
Can I take the courses online until I receive my visa?
No.
The Master Computer Science is currently not offered as an online degree program.
If you arrive late because of a visa delay, you should contact the lecturers of your selected modules as soon as possible. The lecturers of your selected modules are listed in the module description (see module database). Individual arrangements regarding participation may be possible.
What should I do if I arrive after module registration has closed?
Contact the lecturers of the modules you wish to attend and inform them that you will arrive late due to your visa. Participation must be arranged individually with the respective lecturer. You can find the instructors’ contact information listed with the modules in the module database.
Important Information:
- Lecture times, deadlines for exam registration, re-enrollment, etc:
- Please check the semester calendar on our faculty pages that applies to you.
- Modules offered in the current semester:
- Check the module database. The database contains all modules offered for your degree program in the current semester.
- Curriculum, class schedules and room assignments for the current semester:
- Faculty pages, under the section “Study → Event schedules … → Events in … semester → Master of Computer Science”
I am currently studying Information Engineering at HAW Kiel. What happens to my degree program?
The Master Information Engineering program has been discontinued.
Students enrolled in the four-semester Master Information Engineering program who have not completed their degree by the end of the summer semester 2026 will continue their studies from the winter semester 2026/27 onwards under the examination regulations of the Master Computer Science program.
Most modules from the former Information Engineering program can be recognised in the Master Computer Science program.
Where can I get more information about studying at HAW Kiel?
Information from the Master Welcome Event: Handout
Studying in Germany: https://www.recognition-at-universities.de/studying-in-germany
For general information about studying at HAW Kiel, accommodation, networks and support for international students, please contact the International Office.
For questions concerning application, admission, enrolment and study organisation, please contact Student Information / the Department of Student Affairs.
For questions concerning the curriculum, module selection or the additional 30 ECTS requirement, please contact the Master Computer Science program director.