The degree course is especially interesting for computer science graduates who want to expand their knowledge not only in computer science but also in the natural sciences, and for students from the natural sciences who would like to focus further on computer science methods (and have a corresponding master’s degree to prove it).

In general, you should…

• be interested in asking deeper and more foundational questions,
• be prepared to explore topics from multiple perspectives and gain experience with methods and key concepts from at least two different subjects,
• be open for analytical approaches, such as mathematical modeling and formal abstraction, to bridge the gap between the natural sciences and computer science, and
• possess sufficient English language skills to be able to understand relevant specialist literature and take part in courses held in English.

The entrance requirements for the master’s degree programs Computer Science and Natural Sciences and Computer Science and Economics are:

A bachelor’s degree in the subject of computer science, meteorology, or physics in which you earned at least 180 credits or an equivalent degree from a higher education institution.

• In the latter case, you must provide proof of having earned at least 100 credits in computer science and your chosen subject of specialization (biology, mathematics, meteorology, physics, or economics).
• You must have earned at least 15 credits in quantitative methods subjects (mathematics – analysis, linear algebra, statistics).
• Additionally, you must provide proof of at least 10 credits earned in basic programming and software development.

Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in computer science must choose their previous subject of study as their subject of specialization (mathematics, meteorology, or physics).

When selecting a subject of specialization, you must also provide proof of the following:

a. Biology: proof of required basic knowledge in the field of genetics and cell biology (at least 10 credits).
b. Mathematics: proof of advanced linear algebra knowledge (at least 8 credits).
c. Meteorology: proof of required basic knowledge in the field of meteorology (at least 10 credits).
d. Physics: proof of required basic knowledge in the field of physics (at least 10 credits).
e. Economics: Proof of knowledge on the subjects of marketing management and business administration (at least 10 credits).

If you do not have all of the necessary credits, you may still be admitted under the following conditions: If you are missing up to 30 credits, you may be admitted but must earn the missing credits by the end of the first academic year. The courses you must take to earn the credits will be specified by the examination committee.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations.

At the beginning of the program of study, you will take courses to level your knowledge. If you have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, meteorology, or physics, you will take basic courses in computer science. If you have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, you will take courses from the subject of specialization you choose (mathematics, physics, meteorology, or biology).

Once you have these basics covered, you are relatively free to choose what you like from among the mandatory elective courses in computer science and/or your subject of specialization.

At the end of the program of study, you will take an interdisciplinary seminar and write your master’s thesis.

To a large extent, the computer science courses have been adapted to include interdisciplinary research questions for an interdisciplinary group of students.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

The Computer Science and Natural Sciences program qualifies you for today’s job market and for research in computer science, particularly in the following areas:

• Data science and machine learning
• Supercomputing, parallel algorithms and techniques (GPU, HPC clusters)
• Data management and big data
• Modelling and simulations
• Geometric and visual data processing

This program includes a solid education in the core concepts of computer science (with options for focusing on algorithmics, programming languages, databases, distributed computing, for example).

In comparison to a typical master’s degree program in computer science, this program will also teach you analytical and mathematical skills. Additionally, you will learn a wide range of methods for analyzing “real” data from the natural sciences and technology.

Typical professional fields for computer scientists with a natural sciences focus are:

• Machine learning, “AI” methods, data analysis (not limited to natural science fields, as it’s the methods that matter here)
• Jobs requiring close collaboration with engineering and the natural sciences (e.g., drug design in the pharmaceutical industry, development of autonomous machines and systems, modelling systems for the analysis of information in e-commerce, logistics, etc.), as you will have strong skills in the natural sciences
• Development of large distributed computing systems that efficiently handle large amounts of data and must carry out complex calculations in a short time span (number crunching from game engines to data centers)
• Research and development in industrial or academic contexts
• Development of new computer vision systems (such as for traffic monitoring)

As a graduate of the Computer Science and Natural Sciences degree program (M.Sc.). you have great opportunities on today’s job market. First practical experiences earned while you study (e.g., through internships), can make your transition to a profession even smoother.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.