What is the program about? 

The Master in Visual Computing at Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg provides you with a world class education in visual computing, with a particular emphasis on visualization, computer graphics and computer vision. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad and research oriented curriculum and a small number of students the program provides you with an excellent preparation for your a career in visual computing in both industry and academia.

Your career options include: 

• special effects for films
• computer games
• autonomous driving
• medical imaging
• augmented and virtual reality

For whom is the program?

The program is aimed at students who want to pursue a career in visual computing and have prior experience in the area. You will typically already have taken multiple courses in the field and now want to obtain in depth knowledge. You also have to hold a bachelor degree (or equivalent) in computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics or a related discipline. 

How does the program look like?

The program consists of four semesters of in-class teaching and project work. The first semester lays the ground work by ensuring that you have the required breadth and depth for the remainder of the program. For this, you will take foundational courses on areas of visual computing that you haven't been exposed so far. In the second semester you will deepen your knowledge of visual computing by taking more specialized courses, for example on flow visualization, medical imaging, augmented and virtual reality, flow simulation, or object recognition. This is continued in the third semester and complemented by a research oriented project, typically taken in small groups, where you can demonstrate your ability to apply the tools of visual computing creatively to solve open ended problems. In the fourth semester your focus will be on the research for your master thesis.  

For more details and a list of courses offered please see the example study plan. Students can also take courses from other departments, for example on fluid simulation, mathematics, or medical imaging subject to approval by the study program coordinator.

How can I apply (international students)?

The application consists of two parts and has to be submitted until 15 May. The first part are formal requirements and the second one is to demonstrate your particular qualification for the program.

Formal requirements:

• Average grade of 2.5 (in Bachelor degree adjusted to German grading scheme)
• English language certificate (C1 or equivalent)

 Application documents:

• GRE test score
• Letter of recommendation 
• Motivation letter

After your formal qualifications have been verified, the admission committee for the program will assess your application documents according to the admission regulations. Based on its assessment, a final decision is then reached. Some guidelines for the letter of recommendation and the motivation letter can be found on the  application documents page .

The documents are submitted through UniAssist .  The application deadline is 15 May. 

How can I apply (students already studing in Germany)?

For German students the same application requirements as for international ones apply (see above). However, the application phase is 1.6.2023 - 15.7. and documents are submitted through https://myovgu.ovgu.de .

What happens when I get admitted?

Notifications of acceptance for the program will be send to you approximately 8 to 10 weeks after you submitted your application. With the admission you need to obtain a visa (for more information see here)  and organize your relocation (for more information see here ) to Magdeburg. Classes start in early October and an orientation week will take place a week before the official start of classes.

FAQ

• Do I have to pay tuition? No, there is just an administrative fee of 155.20 € (about 150 USD) per semester which includes a public transport ticket for Magdeburg.
• Do I get paid for the program? No, the program is free but we are not able to provide scholarships or any other kind of funding.
• Is there a possibility to earn money? Yes, there are different possibilities for part-time jobs, for example as a programmer in one of the local companies (ranging from medium size business to giants like IBM or SAP) but also in an unrelated domain depending on your prior experience. 
• Can I apply before I finished my degree? Yes, you can apply with a sufficient number of credits. An acceptance will be conditional until your finish the formal requirements.
• I am highly proficient in English but I don't have the certificate, can I still apply? No, we need the formal proof of language proficiency.
• My university (or country) uses a different grading scheme than Germany, how do I know if I meet the requirements? A good rule of thumb is the modified Bavarian formula,  see here  .
• Can you check my application for feedback? We are, unfortunately, not able to provide feedback on applications before these are submitted. In case you are not admitted, some information about the reason might be provided. 
• I don't have all application documents, can I still apply? Yes, you can still apply. Your acceptance will be determined based on the documents in accordance with the official study regulations. It is certainly more difficult with a missing document but not excluded.
• Is there a fixed curriculum? The first semester has some required courses (unless you already took them previously). Afterwards there are very few requirements.
• Where can I find more information about Magdeburg and living there as a student? Please see here .
• What language certificates are accepted? Please see here.
• What GRE score do I need to get admitted? The admission is based on a combination of GRE, letter of motivation, and letter of recommendation and there is formally no minimum GRE score. Please see the section on admission requirements for details.
• Are there differences in the application process when I already study in Germany? The admission requirements are the same but a different deadline applies and applications have to be submitted through a different website. See the section for applications for students already studying in Germany above. 
• My undergradute degree took more than 6 semesters and I earned more than 180 CP for it. Can I complete the Master in Visual Computing in less than 4 semester then? All students, irrespective of the CPs earned for their undergraduate degree, have to complete 120 CP (90 CP by taking courses and 30 CP for the M.Sc. thesis).
• Can I continue with a Ph.D. after the master? The program provides a good basis for a Ph.D. However, we only have a limited number of spots in Magdeburg and you might have to move to a different research group to pursue a Ph.D. (and we cannot guarantee that you will find a position).
• Can I talk to students who already finished the program? Well, the program is brand new and there are no graduates yet. However, you can get in touch with students in other programs at the department through the student association FaRaFIN . 
  
• Who should I ask for the letter of recommendation? Ideally, somebody with whom you took more than one course in an area related to visual computing. Some guideline for the recommendation letter can be found here.
• I have no experience in visual computing but find the area really cool, can I still apply? The program is aimed at students with prior experience and most likely you will not be accepted.
• I have trouble finding a faculty member who is willing to write a letter of recommendation, can I take a supervisor from work? No, we only accept letters of recommendation from faculty members or other academic supervisors (academic supervisors include, for example, group leaders at research insitutes such as Max-Planck Institutes, Fraunhofer Institutes or equivalent).
• When is the application deadline? 15 May.
  
• Can you help me with the visa application? Visa requirements differ from country to country and we are therefore not able to provide assistance. General information can be found here .
• What happens if I cannot get my Visa in time? Your acceptance is valid for a year so you can come the next year if necessary.
• Which courses can I take? See the following page .
• Who can I contact if I still have questions? Please contact