Application Procedure

What Are the Deadlines ?

You can either start in April (summer semester) or in October (winter semester).
International applications are very welcome.

Our application deadlines are

  • May 15 for the winter semester starting mid October of the same year.
  • November 15 for the summer semester starting mid April of the following year.

You can expect to be notified about one month after the deadline.


How Does the Application Work ?

Only documents in electronic form are needed for the application.

Before completing the online application form and sending the necessary documents as a pdf-file via the upload interface, please read the following information carefully. It is meant to help you to submit a complete application. Any incomplete application or applications handed in after the deadline cannot be taken into consideration.

If you have already been admitted to the M.Sc. program in Computer Science at Saarland University, no second application is required. Just send us an informal letter stating that you would like to study Visual Computing instead or in addition to it.

In all other cases, please complete the online application form. There you will be asked to provide the main information on your application, and you also need to upload your application files, see below.

The completed application form must be accompanied by the following documents in German, English or French (translations must be submitted with documents in other languages). These documents should be submitted in pdf format via the upload interface:

  • a curriculum vitae highlighting relevant course work, major academic achievements, and prior research experience, including published or communicated research results

  • a personal statement explaining the applicant's motivation and reasons for pursuing a M.Sc. in Visual Computing. This point is very important for us. Please avoid superficial answers and do not exceed two pages.

  • In addition, applicants are encouraged to supply one or two representative research publications, if any. Please do not include class project reports.

  • All applicants from all countries must provide a proof of advanced proficiency in English (level C1 of the Common European Framework). The following certificates will be accepted:
         
    • IELTS (academic test): min. 7.0 out of 9
    •   
    • TOEFL (internet based): min. 95 out of 120
    •    
    • TOEFL (paper based): min. 600 out of 677
    •    
    • Cambridge English Certificate: C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE)
    •    
    • PTE Academic: min. 76

    The English certificate is a mandatory part of the application. A confirmation of your university or a MOI (Medium of Instruction) is not a sufficient equivalent.

    Only native speakers from Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA, or applicants who have studied in one of the above mentioned six countries are excluded from this rule. In these cases, please enter native speaker from [country] or studied in [country] into the form and upload a high school and/or bachelor degree certificate from that country as proof.

    For German applicants, a basic English course up to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur) is sufficient. In that case, please enter Abitur in the form.

    Knowledge of German does not need to be provided.

  • academic certificates:
    • school-leaving certificate giving the right of entry to higher education in the applicantīs home country with individual grades

    • academic transcripts documenting grades.

    • university degree certificate or diploma indicating the final grade(s) / GPA. Please do not apply if the CGPA of your Bachelor degree is under 75%! (Academic Performance / equivalence to a B. Sc. of Saarland University)

All certificates must be accompanied by an explanation of the grading system. The accuracy of the translation must be confirmed. Original certificates will not be needed until matriculation at our university.

Applicants who have obtained their university degree in China, India or Vietnam, are required to submit the original APS Certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle) in the corresponding country. Please upload a scan of the original APS Certificate by the application deadline. We are sorry to inform you that we do not offer extended deadline for the submission of the APS Certificate.

We also need two recommendations of professors or employers who know you and your work very well. We will contact the referees and ask them to upload their recommendations. In any case: please inform them about your choice and give them a copy of our recommendation info-sheet (pdf) (Word.doc). Don't send testimonials.

The application and accompanying files will remain with the University. Personal data will be stored in computer files only to the extent necessary for the administration of applications and in compliance with the Federal Data Protection Act.