Application Procedure

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

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.

New: 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. programme 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.

• a copy of your TOEFL (the code of our University, Dept. of Computer Science is 8399) or IELTS score (www.toefl.org, www.ielts.org). Please note: Exceptions are only made for native speakers and those who hold a degree of a University in a country, where English is the mother tongue. A degree from India or Pakistan will not be considered as valid English proficiency proof.
  For German students, it is sufficient if they can prove high school knowledge of English (Grund- oder Leistungskurs in der Oberstufe). If not, they have to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score.
  It is not sufficient to state that English is the language of instruction at your current university.
  
  As a guideline, the following scores are expected:
  TOEFL (internet based): at least 95 out of 120
  TOEFL (computer based): at least 240 out of 300
  TOEFL (paper based): at least 540 out of 677
  IELTS (academic test): at least 6.5 out of 9

• 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.

For applicants from the Peoples's Republic of China and from Mongolia: We will not accept your application without the official certificate of the APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) in China/Mongolia.

We also need two recommendations of professors or employers who know you and your work very well. You can either send us the recommendations in sealed envelopes you get from the referees or we will contact 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. Applications of unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed after one year.

Please note: Admitted applicants automatically apply for a fellowship of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS). There are no further documents needed.