Work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years)
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (See if this programme also offers a January/February start for international applicants). Programme type: Flexible work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years) |
The Master of Science in Computer Engineering at Aarhus University is offered both as a traditional full-time programme and as a flexible work-integrated Master’s degree, where you study while gaining professional experience in a relevant job.
In this model, the programme takes four years to complete, as you work 25 hours per week on average a year alongside your studies. This is a truly unique opportunity in an international context, since only few universities worldwide allow you to integrate paid employment with a full master’s degree.
Instead of applying for a student grant, you receive a salary typically based on the recommended entry-level rates for engineers in Denmark.
This will give you both financial independence and valuable industry experience, while enabling you to apply your academic knowledge directly in the workplace.
Despite the extended duration, you graduate with the exact same degree and academic level (cand.polyt.) as students enrolled in the ordinary full-time Master’s programme.
Aarhus University offers a dedicated matchmaking service that helps connect students with companies. This ensures that you can find a workplace that aligns with your academic interests and career goals, and that your employment tasks are relevant to your studies.
On the Master of Science in Computer Engineering you will learn to work with the technologies that drive digitalisation and global progress. Building on the knowledge from your undergraduate degree, you will deepen your expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, wireless communication, big data, advanced software design, robotics, and computer vision. At the same time, you will be challenged to work with complex computer systems, where many different components must interact seamlessly.
From your very first semester, you will be encouraged to see opportunities where others see obstacles and to explore innovative solutions to problems that have not yet been solved. This could mean developing renewable energy solutions, creating life-saving AI-powered diagnostics, or strengthening cybersecurity infrastructures that protect nations and industries. These are examples of challenges you may work with as a master’s student in Computer Engineering.
Throughout the programme, you will learn to think critically and analytically about technology, and to develop methods that push the boundaries of what is possible. This prepares you to lead innovation projects in both research and industry.
You can choose between 11 different specialisations, each allowing you to shape your degree according to your specifik job challenges, interests and career goals. (Click on the links below to read more about each specialisation.)
You can choose from the following specialisations:
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the flexible work-integrated Master's degree programme in Computer Engineering. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the employment requirement and the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| You can meet the admission requirement with Bachelor’s degree programme (BSc) or professional Bachelor's degree programme (BEng) if you have the following subject areas: | Number of ECTS |
Bachelor courses in Mathematics In the following subject areas:
| 20 |
Computer technology Topics within the field of Computer technology are for example; programming and modelling, algorithms and data structures and computer architecture. | 30 |
Additionally, bachelor courses in within at least one of the following topics:
| 10 |
| Total | 60 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
No Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles applicants to an offer of admission to the flexible work-integrated Master's degree programme in Computer Engineering.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this work-integrated Master's degree programme in Computer Engineering:
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Computer Engineering from Aarhus University
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Computer Engineering from Technical University of Denmark
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Computer Science from Aarhus University, Aalborg University, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University and University of Southern Denmark
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Computer Engineering from Aalborg University
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Cyber Technology from Technical University of Denmark
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Cyber and Computer Engineering from Aalborg University
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Robot Technology from Aalborg University and University of Southern Denmark
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Software from Aalborg University
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Software Development from the IT University of Copenhagen
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Software Engineering from University of Southern Denmark and the University of the Faroe Islands
Bachelor's degree programme (B.Sc.) in Software Technology from Technical University of Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Electronics from Aarhus University
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in IT and economics from Technical University of Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in IT electronics from Technical University of Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Robot Technology from University of Southern Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Software from Aalborg University
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Healthcare Technology from Aarhus University
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Software Engineering from University of Southern Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Software Technology from Technical University of Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme (B.Eng.) in Software Technology from Aarhus University and University of Southern Denmark
Professional Bachelor's degree programme in Electrical Energy Technology from University of Southern Denmark
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from a non-Danish university, you must complete the appendix below and upload it to the application portal. The appendix helps the academic assessors with the assessment of your application.
Download appendix
When applying for a work-integrated Master’s degree programme, you must meet the requirement of being in relevant employment.
“Relevant employment” means that you work at least 25 hours per week in a public or private company, or as an entrepreneur, and that your work tasks are professionally related to both your qualifying education and the education you are applying for.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
Grades from the qualifying degree
Relevant subject fields (measured in ECTS):
Free project work
Mathematics
Programming
Data structures and algorithms
Computer architecture
Signal processing
Machine learning
Employment form (see "Employment requirement")
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
The programme is divided into 30 ECTS credits per year and lasts 4 years. You put together your individual study programme under academic guidance and based on your areas of interest.
You can choose from the following specialisations:
In the specialisation, you combine Level I (fundamental) and Level II (advanced), courses to earn at least 15 ECTS at Level II.
When you choose electives, you can choose from a wide range of courses from Aarhus University.
For further information on the structure of the programme please see the academic regulations for Computer Engineering.
If you choose the flexible work-integrated Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, your student life will extend over four years. Throughout the entire programme, you combine part-time studies with part-time work in a company or as an entrepreneur, typically around 25 hours per week. This means that instead of separating theory and practice, you continuously bring academic knowledge into your workplace while also drawing on real-life challenges in your studies.
Alongside your professional life, you remain an active part of the student community. Your courses are structured with flexibility in mind. n this way, you gain colleagues and a professional network, while still experiencing the social life at university.
Daily life on campus is shaped by a dynamic mix of lectures, small-group classes, and project-based learning. You will take a scientific and experimental approach, working hands-on with prototypes, testing ideas, and developing solutions in practice. Much of the teaching is research-based, and you will be taught by active researchers who bring the newest knowledge into the classroom. You will also have the opportunity to participate in research projects yourself and experience how science is created.
You will be based at Katrinebjerg – the “IT city” of Aarhus – located close to the unique main campus of Aarhus University and the city center. Here, you will find a wide range of student accommodation and a rich cultural life, offering everything from running clubs and the annual regatta on the lake to guest lectures and film screenings. To ensure student well-being, counselling services and support networks are always available.
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Graduates of the MSc in Computer Engineering step into a job market with almost unlimited opportunities – and with very low unemployment. Your expertise in IT, combined with your ability to analyse complex systems, generate new knowledge, and think critically and holistically about technology, makes you highly sought after in Denmark and internationally.
You might design advanced software systems, lead innovation projects, or work at the forefront of artificial intelligence and robotics. Typical career paths include positions as software developer, project manager, research engineer, innovation manager, technical specialist, or chief technology officer (CTO). Your skills are relevant in a wide range of industries – from energy, healthcare, and finance to culture, defence, and beyond.
If you choose the flexible work-integrated Master’s degree, your employment during the programme often leads directly to a full-time position in the same company once you graduate. This gives you a unique opportunity to build a career while you study, establish strong professional networks, and step seamlessly into the job market.
The degree also provides an excellent foundation for pursuing a research career through a PhD programme, allowing you to dive even deeper into your field and contribute to groundbreaking developments.
You can read more about the PhD programme at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences.
