Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September |
Whether your interest is in complex algorithms, machine learning, IT and cyber security, logic and semantics, pervasive computing, or something completely different within the field of computer science, this programme will allow you to specialise in areas of your choice. For more information regarding research in computer science at Aarhus University, visit www.cs.au.dk/research.
The Master's programme in Computer Science is dedicated to the highest-quality teaching in an informal learning environment. Our high-profile international teaching staff expect students to take an active part in the teaching, and staff-student consultation is always encouraged. The teaching is a mix of lectures and classes, with preparatory work in study groups. The Master's programme is taught in English, but classes have a mix of Danish and international students.
For those interested in studying computer science at Aarhus University find more information below or at www.cs.au.dk/international.
The following degree programmes gives access to the Master’s degree program in Computer Science:
At the university's assessment of whether a bachelor's degree gives access to the Master's degree program in Computer Science, emphasis is placed on:
The course basis for admission must reflect contemporary theory and practice.
Since English is the language of instruction in all subjects, all applicants are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
The Master's degree programme for working professionals:
To be admitted to the Master's degree programme for working professionals, the applicant must meet one of the following two conditions:
In all cases, the complexity and difficulty of the tasks must match what you can expect from a student on the level in question.
The student is obligated to notify AU of significant changes in their employment during the entire time of study. If the student no longer meets the employment requirement during their studies, he or she must be transferred to the full-time Master’s degree programme - if possible from the start of the next semester.
Download appendix for your application
If you apply for admission with an international Bachelor's degree, you must fill in this appendix and upload it in the application portal. The appendix serves to help the Admission Board assess your Bachelor’s degree in regard to the admission requirements.
Language Requirements
Since English is the language of instruction in all subjects, all applicants are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
Read how to document your language qualifications
Documentation
Please see the general admission requirements
Legal right of admission
Students with a Bachelor's degree programme in Computer Science at Aarhus University have the right to be admitted to the Master's degree programme in Computer Science on the condition that application is made for admission to the Master’s degree programme no later than three years after completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme. The legal right of admission requires receipt of the application by Aarhus University within the appropriate period of time.
As the Master’s programme only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme.
Allocation of student places is based on an overall assessment. In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assess applicants on the basis of the following criteria:
Academic background
* Relevant courses include core courses within the subject areas of Computer Science, Mathematics, Probability Theory and Statistics.
Please note that grades obtained after the time of application cannot be included in the assessment of grade level.
The admissions committee assess each applicant on the basis of the information provided in diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions.
The master’s programme runs over two years with four semesters. Three semesters are dedicated to specialisations or electives. The last semester is for your master’s thesis, which some choose to write in collaboration with a company. Once enrolled, our study programme manager will help you comprise your master’s programme based on your interests.
Currently, Aarhus University offers the following specialisations in Computer Science:
The teaching style is a mix of lectures and classes all taught in English, with preparatory work in study groups. If you have questions or need help with an assignment, you can meet with the professor or the teaching assistants assigned to the course. The workload is estimated at 45 hours per week – including classes, assignments, and group work. Still, most of our students find time for a student job. For more info on student jobs, check the career section below.
Additionally, you can pursue the master’s degree programme in Computer Science for working professionals. The professional candidate programme is a part-time master’s program spanning four years, designed for individuals concurrently employed. Students enrolled in the degree programme for working professionals are not eligible The Danish students' Grants and Loans Scheme (SU).
The degree programme for working professionals mirrors the content of the two-year full-time master’s programme, with courses taken alongside other full-time students. The programme consists of 90 ECTS specialization and elective courses, as well as a thesis with a scope of 30 ECTS.
Students can customize their study plan to align with their professional commitments, ensuring compliance with study regulations regarding the maximum study duration.
To be admitted to the master's degree programme for working professionals, the applicant must meet one of the following two conditions:
In all cases, the complexity and difficulty of the tasks must match what you can expect from a student on the level in question.
The student is obligated to notify AU of significant changes in their employment during the entire time of study. If the student no longer meets the employment requirement during their studies, he or she must be transferred to the full-time master’s degree programme - if possible, from the start of the next semester.
Every semester, you must document ongoing concurrent employment for at least 25 hours per week on average or maintain the approved entrepreneur status. If your concurrent employment or entrepreneur status ceases, or if concurrent employment is reduced below the required number of hours, you will be transferred to the two-year full-time programme, starting from the next semester. Please be aware that different study regulations and a maximum study duration apply to the full-time programme. A new maximum study duration will be calculated based on the number of courses you have already passed.
Documentation requirements for entrepreneur approval include, at a minimum, a solemn declaration regarding entrepreneurship activities.
Learn more about admission to a professional candidate programme at AU here.
The programme is organized part-time over four years with 30 ECTS per year. It is also possible to complete the thesis in half a year instead of a full year, allowing for programme completion in 3.5 years. Additionally, students have the option to take more than 30 ECTS per year, provided you are aware of course offerings and any recommended sequencing of courses.
The maximum study duration is 4.5 years from the start of the programme.
The Department of Computer Science has many spaces for getting together with fellow students outside class, which form an excellent basis for both study-related and social activities. The department and our student associations organize a variety of events and tech talks in collaboration with local and international companies. There is also a popular Friday bar, and students organize the annual hackathon AUHack.
The Department of Computer Science is in the IT City Katrinebjerg, where Aarhus University has consolidated all its IT programmes and research. As the largest IT education center in Denmark, with more than 3,000 students and 200 researchers, IT City Katrinebjerg is an exciting study environment. This multidisciplinary hub, unique to Aarhus University, provides great opportunities in IT for students, researchers, and businesses to work and interact together.
The IT city Katrinebjerg is close to the unique main campus of Aarhus University. The campus is located near the city center, and student accommodation is readily available as long as you apply on time. There are a range of activities, ranging from running to regatta on the lake, as well as guest lectures, film screenings, and university events taking place throughout the year. To ensure student well-being, counselling services are available for students, to offer support and guidance during their time at Aarhus.
Want to know more about student life in Aarhus? Ask all your questions about courses, workload, student jobs and much more via Unibuddy. Our friendly student ambassadors are here to answer your questions. Find an ambassador from your home country or the subject you want to study.
As the second-largest city in Denmark, Aarhus is a young and dynamic place with plenty of opportunities. The 40,000 students at the university make up almost 20% of the city’s population, which leaves its mark on city life. An attractive feature of Aarhus is that beaches and woods are just a short bike-ride away, as well as many cultural events taking place throughout the year, including the Aarhus Festival in September. The theatres in the city and the ARoS art museum offer many events that enable you to experience the Danish culture.
-experienced, photographed and filmed by the students themselves.
With thousands of pictures #AUInternational, #AarhusUni and #AUDatalogi gives insight into the everyday life as a student at AU; the parties, procrastination, exams and all the other ways you’ll spend your time at university.
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The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.
Computer scientists continue to be in great demand all over the world, and this is also the case in Denmark. Computer science graduates from Aarhus University have an excellent reputation and are in very high demand for exciting and well-paid jobs in and around Aarhus or abroad. Recent graduates have been recruited by leading IT companies in areas such as software development, consultancy work, project management, and research.
Moreover, many Aarhus-based IT companies are on the lookout for student employees for part-time jobs. The department has a close collaboration with the industry network Destination AARhus, who helps international IT talents find student- or full-time jobs. The department also has an online ‘jobwall’, and every year we host a career fair (“Kdag”), where students get a unique opportunity to meet more than 50 IT companies.
If you are interested in staying in academia, the department also has a very popular PhD programme. It is possible to apply for admission during your master studies. The PhD programme is open for admission four times a year. All PhD positions at the department are fully funded.
Harshit Mahapatra from India completed his master in Computer Science at Aarhus University in 2020.
He decided to stay in Aarhus and now works at the Alexandra institute. Read more about his experience.
Many of our students are interested in innovation and starting up new companies. At the Department of Computer Science, one of our goals is to support entrepreneurial activities of our students and recent graduates. Therefore, we have created an experimental innovation lab and incubator environment called HatchIt Lab.
In HatchIT Lab, you can develop a start-up idea in a business-oriented incubation and innovation environment. The lab is located close to the IT research and educational facilities at Aarhus University. Hereby, HatchIT Lab contributes to collaboration between students, researchers, and companies. As an open innovation environment, HatchIT Lab supports the sharing of knowledge and experiences between students, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and well-established companies.
