Access requirements and application Autonomous Systems (M.Sc.)

Access requirements

Access to the English-language Master's degree programme in Autonomous Systems (M.Sc.) requires a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent degree) in a computer science programme or a degree programme in mathematics, natural sciences, engineering or economics with a share of at least 90 ECTS credit points (about 50 %) in computer science content, with sufficient skills in computer science concepts, methods and tools and with a minimum grade of 2.5 according to the German grading system (see grade conversion tool below under "Links").

A curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of motivation are required for the application, see information on the requirements for the letter of motivation below under "Application documents".

English language skills must be at least B2+ level (CEFR), see recognised English language certificates below under "Application documents". No German language certificates are required.

If all admission requirements are met, the selection committee will compile a qualified list based on the uploaded application documents. The qualification takes into account the scope and relevance of the computer science-related content as well as the grades of the qualifying entrance qualification. The first-ranked applicants will be admitted to the available places with an internship.

We appreciate your understanding for not being able to evaluate your certificates beforehand.

Application deadlines

The Master's degree programme Autonomous Systems (M.Sc.) can be started both in the summer semester and in the winter semester.

For applicants with a visa requirement with a Bachelor's degree from abroad who do not yet have a visa for Germany:

• 15 May to 15 July for the summer semester of the following year exclusively via uni-assist.
• 15 November to 15 January  for the winter semester of the respective year exclusively via uni-assist.

Detailed information on visa requirements can be found in the overview from the Federal Foreign Office.

For Germans, applicants without a visa requirement or who already have a visa for Germany (with a Bachelor's degree from Germany or abroad):

• 15 May to 15 December for the summer semester of the following year via the application portal Apollo.
• 15 November to 15 June for the winter semester of the respective year via the application portal Apollo.

Application documents

Before you start your online application, please check that you have all the documents you need and that have to be uploaded  in your online application:

• University degree certificate including final transcripts (foreign certificates in original language and German or English translation). The transcripts must show the exact module names and the credits or workload earned (module handbooks are not accepted).

  Transcripts up to one semester before you graduate may replace the degree certificate and final transcripts until you graduate. (In this case and provided the access requirements are met, a conditional admission letter will be issued upon your admission to the programme and the hardcopies of your final certificates must be presented for enrolment.)

• Grading system of the university;
• Certificate of the APS, if you have obtained your university degree in China, India or Vietnam;
• CV (current and in tabular form);
• Letter of Motivation (self-written, maximum 2 pages, font size 12, approx. 1,200-1,400 words): please describe your programming experience (programming languages, major programming projects) and, if available, your robotics experience. Describe a research and development project you would like to work on during your studies if you are admitted.
• Proof of English language proficiency at B2+ level (CEFR):
  • A recognised English language certificate with the specified minimum score is mandatory. A confirmation of registration for a recognised English language test with test date is sufficient for the application.
  • Exemptions are given only to  applicants with a secondary school or (academic) university degree certificate from Australia, Ireland, Canada (except the Province of Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the USA.
  • If you are not exempt by the these conditions, you are required to enclose an English language certificate, even if you have started or completed an English-taught degree programme in Germany or abroad. A medium of instruction letter does not exempt you from providing proof of an official English language certificate.

Please read the following instructions

• The fields marked with * are mandatory and must be completed in any case.
• Upload the required documents as contiguous PDFs.
• It is essential that you provide correct and truthful information! Incorrect information may lead to exclusion from the procedure or cancellation of an admission already granted.
• Missing documents will be requested by us via the comments in your online application on the Apollo application portal or from uni-assist.
• Applicants applying via uni-assist are recommended to submit their application as early as possible. Due to the pre-screening period, applications will be forwarded to us with a delay of at least 3 or 4 weeks. If you have any questions about the status or assessment of your application at uni-assist, please contact directly uni-assist.
• Please be sure to observe the relevant application and enrolment deadlines. Unfortunately, no application or enrolment that is received after the deadline or is incomplete can be considered.
• Please check the status of your online application regularly.

Admission

The results of the admission procedure will be announced via the application portal Apollo from the following dates:

• Winter semester: from 15 March
• Summer semester: from 15 September

In case of admission:

•  Non EU/EEA applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Non EU/EEA countries, must send in their application documents in paper form by post. Please note that all copies of the documents you submit must be officially notarised to confirm that they match the original documents. If your documents are not issued in German or English, you must also submit officially certified translations into English or German (see information on certifications and translations below under "Links"). Official admission can only be granted after examining the certified application documents received.
• Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Germany and other EU/EEA countries do not need to send in paper application documents.

Next steps

Once you have been admitted, you should start looking for accommodation as soon as possible and, if necessary, apply for a visa. You will receive a welcome pack from us with useful information to help you plan your move. Admitted students will be assigned a "Studdy Buddy": a student enrolled in the Autonomous Systems course who can answer questions about the course or life in Bonn and the Rhine-Sieg area before you arrive. Once you arrive, the "Studdy Buddy" can help with the transition to your new living and study situation.

If your request for admission has been rejected, there may be several reasons for this. For example, insufficient knowledge of computer science from previous studies or unsatisfactory English language skills. It is also possible that the number of applications far exceeds the number of the 15 available places.

There are a number of steps you can take if your application has been rejected. You can appeal the decision so that the committee will reconsider your application. Please note that in the vast majority of cases, the application will be rejected again. If your application has been rejected because the application criteria have not been met, you should work on the relevant points before reapplying for the degree programme. If there were not enough places available for all applicants, you can inform Student Services that you would like to apply for the following semester.

Other frequently asked questions are covered below. If you still have further questions, please contact Student Services.

FAQ

Questions about the degree programme:

F: Does the course content relate exclusively to robotics?

The degree programme deals with all aspects necessary to program, build, design, use and deploy robots. The courses include topics from the fields of embedded systems, machine learning, localisation and navigation, neural networks, sensor technology and reliability of embedded systems. Many of these topics, like robotics, are interdisciplinary and have applications in many other areas. Most of the examples and practical courses are related to robotics, such as in RoboCup: Designing a filter to reliably understand human speech commands.

Questions about admission:

F: What can I do if my TOEFL/IELTS score is below the minimum requirement?

You can take the TOEFL/IELTS test again and reapply after passing it.

F: The requirements state that an internship contract with the Fraunhofer Institute is required. Do I have to apply separately for this internship?

No, the application for the study place includes a request for an internship.

F: How and when will I be informed about admission? (non-EU applicants)

If you are admitted, you will receive an e-mail with confirmation of admission and additional information. All non-European applicants will receive confirmation of admission no later than 4 months after the application deadline. Please do not call or email to enquire about the status of your application before the deadline.

F: Can I receive confirmation of admission before the 4-month deadline? (Non-EU applicants)

Yes, this is possible. You will be informed as soon as the application process has been completed and the decisions have been made. Always follow the staus of your application in the application portal.

F: I have been admitted for the semester but cannot attend this semester. Can I start my studies in the following semester without reapplying?

Yes, it is not possible to defer admission to the following semester. However, you must reapply for the following semester within the advertised application deadlines with the complete application documents. Make sure to upload the admission letter based on which a deferral is based.

F: How do I know if I have to take additional courses?

The letter of admission will list exactly which additional courses must be taken and the number of ECTS credit points required. These credits do not count towards the Autonomous Systems (M.Sc.) degree programme, but are used for basic education.

F: My letter of rejection states that I have not been offered an internship.

In this case, the number of qualified applicants is higher than the number of internships available for the semester. If you are still interested in a place, please apply in the following semester. However, no study place can be guaranteed even then.

Questions about the university:

F: Are there German language courses that I can take part in?

Yes, the university offers free German courses for enrolled students. There are different courses depending on your previous knowledge. Upon admission, you will be asked whether you are interested in such a course and how good your previous knowledge of German is.

F: Where can I get information about the cost of living?

The monthly cost of living for students in Germany is about €992. This includes rent (student accommodation), travel costs, assignments for food, clothing, learning materials, health insurance, telephone, internet, radio and television licence fees and leisure activities.

F: Does the university offer scholarships?

No, the university and the faculty do not offer scholarships. Information on external scholarships can be found at Scholarships for international students and in the Scholarship database of the DAAD.

F: Can I work during my studies?

The degree programme is very demanding and you will probably spend most of your time working on lectures and group projects. Work opportunities within the university are limited and are offered to outstanding students from the second semester onwards. There are laws that regulate working hours for students in Germany. Please inform yourself about the rules for international students if you would like to work alongside your studies in order not to lose your student status.