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Masters in Software Engineering in Germany

ApAmarnath pratapwarOct 17, 2022

Masters in Software Engineering in Germany for International Students 

Germany is one of the best countries to study Masters in Software Engineering. Many students however think that a degree in Germany is taught in the German language. But this is untrue. There are numerous public and private universities in Germany that offer master’s degrees in software engineering in English. Under the DAAD’s international programs, there are 350 results for English-taught master’s programs in software engineering. Students who want to study the program in English have plenty of options to choose from. 

German education, particularly in the software engineering field, is recognized worldwide. So, what makes it stand out from the crowd? Here are some reasons you should consider Germany for your Masters in Software Engineering degree.

  • Advanced lectures from experienced and knowledgeable faculty
  • Practice and research-oriented curriculum 
  • University career centers for personal career planning guidance 
  • Excellent network of alumni around the world
  • Semester abroad and exchange programs for international students
  • State-of-the-art classrooms and other technological facilities
  • Options to individually choose modules for your curriculum from different programs
  • Access to the job platforms which connects you directly with regional and international companies
  • Good campus facilities
  • Germany is at the forefront of technological innovation and advancement
  • Strong economy that supports good employment prospects (Germany is one of the largest economies in Europe)
  • Excellent work-life balance unlike other advanced countries 

And all of this comes at an affordable tuition fee (few public universities are even tuition-free). Some universities even offer their enrolled students complimentary German or English language classes. We hope the reasons listed above convince you to pursue a master’s degree in software engineering in Germany. For more information on these courses, keep reading.

Masters in Software Engineering in Germany: An overview

Degree type  M.Sc.or M.Eng.
Duration  1 to 2 years 
Public university fees in Euros/year  255 to 6,600
Private university fees in Euros/year  8,160 to 20,000
Medium of teaching  English 
Annual salary of software engineers in Germany  55,442 Euros/year (Payscale)

Masters in Software Engineering in Germany: Curriculum 

The two-year Master’s program in Software Engineering in Germany comprises four semesters. The degree is offered as a Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree.

It follows an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program is divided into a theoretical base (65%), practicals (10%), and a master’s thesis (25%), respectively. 

Universities in Germany provide innovative learning, such as blended learning and problem-based learning. Students work in teams to solve challenges throughout the course using real case study materials. This enhances their analytical and problem-solving skills. It exposes them to the relational skills necessary to become future leaders. It also teaches students methodical and creative problem-solving strategies.

The third and fourth semesters are set aside for the master’s thesis. includes a seminar. Students can write their master’s thesis in German or English. The thesis usually covers a hot topic inspired by recent research. The entire program integrates management and engineering practices to impart employable skills to students.

Best German universities for Masters in Software Engineering

Academic universities make up most German institutions to offer M.Sc. in software engineering. There are 208 of them. The remaining 141 institutions are universities of applied sciences.

University Name  Course Offered  University Type  Duration 
University of Augsburg Software Engineering (Elite program), M.Sc. Public  2 years 
Chemnitz University of Technology Automotive Software Engineering, M.Sc. Public  2 years
Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering, M.Sc. Public  2 years
RWTH Aachen University  Software Systems Engineering, M.Sc. Public  2 years
University of Potsdam Software Systems Engineering, M.Sc. Public  2 years
Hof University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering for Industrial Applications, MEng Public  2 years
University of Hildesheim Foundation Software Engineering, M.Sc. Public  2 years
Jacobs University Bremen MSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering Private  2 years
University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) Software Engineering, M.Sc. Private  1 to 2 years 
SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering in Business, M.Sc. Private  2 years

Fees for Masters in Software Engineering in Germany

Most public universities in Germany do not charge a tuition fee for a Master’s in Software Engineering. They charge only a semester fee, which can range from 225 to 840 Euros per year. Few public universities charge a tuition fee along with semester contributions. Their fees range from 3,000 to 6,600 Euros. Private universities can charge up to 20,000 Euros yearly. They are the best option for international students as they do not have restricted admissions, unlike public universities. 

University Name  Course Offered  Fees (Euros/year) 
University of Augsburg Software Engineering (Elite program), M.Sc. 255 (semester contribution)
Chemnitz University of Technology Automotive Software Engineering, M.Sc. 540 (semester contribution)
Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering, M.Sc. 3,000 (tuition fees), 308 (semester contribution)
RWTH Aachen University  Software Systems Engineering, M.Sc. 600 (semester contribution)
University of Potsdam Software Systems Engineering, M.Sc. 632 (semester contribution)
Hof University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering for Industrial Applications, M.Eng. 6,600 (tuition fees), 200 (semester contribution)
University of Hildesheim Foundation Software Engineering, M.Sc. 880 (semester contribution)
Jacobs University Bremen MSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering 20,000
University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE)* Software Engineering, M.Sc. 8,976
SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences Software Engineering in Business, M.Sc. 8,160

*Students can avail of up to 17% discount on full tuition fees with an early bird discount. 

You can apply for scholarships if you need financial aid to study in Germany. The German government has the following grants for a master’s degree in any field. 

  • DAAD scholarships
  • Deutschlandstipendium grants
  • Erasmus scholarships

Visit this page to learn more about these scholarships. To view university-specific scholarships for master’s degrees in electrical engineering and related fields, click this link. 

Living costs in Germany for international students 

As an international student, your estimated living cost in Germany would be 861 Euros per month. Depending on your spending habits you might require more or less (700 to 1,200 Euros a month). The major portion of your expenses goes towards rent and food. Lets us look at the individual categories. 

Category Cost in Euros/month
Rent  323 to 350 
Food  160
Transportation  50
Utilities  40
Health insurance 110
Personal expenses  200

All in all, you need at least 10,332 Euros per year to cover your living expenses in Germany.

Admission requirements for Masters in Software Engineering in Germany

Before pursuing a graduate degree in software engineering, a student must have a bachelor’s degree in the field. In case you have a bachelor’s degree in closely related fields, you can go for a pre-master degree before applying for a master’s. The UE university has a Master Preparatory Program for M.Sc. Software Engineering course. You should keep the following documents handy before beginning your application for master’s in software engineering in Germany:

  • Copy of the bachelor’s certificate with all grades (GPA >2.5/5)
  • Proof of English language 
  • German language proficiency (only a few universities)
  • CV
  • Passport
  • Motivation letter
  • Reference letter(s) [if any] 

English language requirements can be fulfilled with an IELTS score of 5.5 to 6.5. The following test scores are also acceptable:

  • TOEFL Internet 87 to 90 
  • TOEFL Computer 200 to 240
  • TOEFL Paper 543
  • Pearson English Test Academic 59 points
  • Duolingo 110
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency Grade B or C

These scores correspond to the English proficiency at B2 level as given by the Common European Framework of Reference.

Career scope of German Masters in Software Engineering

We live in a world controlled by software and electronics. With increasing dependencies on software, there is a growing need for trained software engineers. A bachelor’s degree in software engineering is not enough to keep up with the advancements in this field. A master’s degree in software engineering is what students need.  

It prepares students for a number of organizational and leadership tasks in software engineering organizations. With a master’s degree you can get employed as 

  • Software engineer 
  • Digital business manager 
  • Digital transformation manager
  • Software developer
  • Junior software engineer
  • Software tester
  • IT consultant 

Many overseas software engineers choose to work in Germany after completing their studies. They are drawn to Germany by the high employment rate in the field. The annual salary of a software engineer in Germany is 55,442 Euros (Payscale).

In order to stay in Germany, students have to apply for a residence permit before their student visa expires. It allows them to stay in Germany for additional 18 months. During this period they are free to hunt for a job that suits them. Once they get  a job, they can apply for a work visa. You can retain a visa for up to four years. Additionally, individuals may apply for an EU Blue Card upon meeting certain requirements. The card authorizes them to live and work permanently in the EU. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Master’s in Software Engineering program from a German university is mostly 4 semesters or 2 years long. 

German universities offer a Master’s in Software Engineering as a Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree. 

Yes, there are 350 English-taught Master in Software Engineering programs in Germany.

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