Bilingual Bachelor's (BiBa) in Computer Science Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Our goal is to prepare you for a career in Computer Science, in particular to be able to work on topics of utmost importance to humanity and society in multinational teams.

• You will be proficient in German and English, both for your professional life and your integration into German society and its industry. Our aim is that you will have a command of both languages and will even be able to switch between them mid-sentence! COMMUNICATION IS KEY – GO FOR IT!

• You will have taken the same mandatory courses in BiBa as those required in a regular computer science programme. Your "minor“ subject will typically be German. Furthermore, you will take a couple of elective courses and thus be prepared for working in your profession as a computer scientist. You will be able to attain a good livelihood – COMPUTING PAYS!

• You are going to work on the truly important "grand challenges“ of our time. As these are not confined to a single country, they can only be tackled through multinational teams. In general, those work in English, while the all-important small talk is done in the regional / national language. Examples of the topics of such "grand challenges" include the environment (global warming), cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This is COMPUTING WITHOUT BORDERS!

You will be able to work within Germany or abroad in collaboration with German partners. Alternatively, you will be able to continue your education in a Master’s degree or even a doctorate in Germany or abroad.

Starting in the BiBa English Track is the most common choice for international applicants. For four semesters, students will take all computer science and maths courses in English. Among others, this includes:

• Introduction to Computer Science

• Algorithms and Data Structures

• Soft Skills

• Databases

• Technical Computer Science

• Theoretical Computer Science

In addition to the technical part of the studies, you will learn German up to at least level B2.

This will enable you to take computer science classes in semesters five and six both in German and in English. In these two semesters, you will have the opportunity to take some elective courses from the broad variety offered at the faculty, e.g. courses in the areas of:

• Visualisation

• Simulation

• IT Security

• Wireless Networks

• Computational Intelligence

• Business Intelligence

The most current study plans and module handbook can be found on the programme homepage: https://www.inf.ovgu.de/en/biba.

In our new programme, students can start if they fulfil the following three prerequisites:

1. You are proficient in either German or English (this is the new and special aspect of our programme). "Proficient" means you must have attained at least the level of B2 in the European Reference Framework for languages in your stronger language.

2. You have general admission for German university study programmes, such as the German Abitur or another qualification, sometimes involving a year of university study in your home country or a preparatory year in a Studienkolleg.

3. Since this is a special study course, we want to find the students who fit best into our programme. Therefore, we have included an eligibility test, which you will have to pass in order to be admitted. In the eligibility process, you have to earn eight points by submitting proof of your special interest in the programme. This includes:

   • Optional TestAS results for students with a university entrance qualification acquired outside of Germany

   • Optional proof of specific skills: internships, working experience, certificates, participation in competitions

   • Optional proof of German language skills beyond A1

Please find detailed information on the admission criteria in our study and examination regulations.
More information on the application process as well as formal requirements for Bachelor's admission on the university website

Currently, the semester fee is 311.30 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschlandsemesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria and more.

A minimum of 992 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

The university provides a limited number of excellence scholarships. Eligible candidates are students in advanced semesters who clearly show above-average results. Scholarships cannot be provided for new students. 

Additionally, you may check the following overview:
Scholarships and funding opportunities for international students.

https://www.ovgu.de/en/careerservice.html

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 200 EUR to 500 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of Germany's youngest universities. It was formed by a merger of the existing technical university, the teacher training college, and the medical school. The university now comprises nine faculties and about 12,600 students and is becoming increasingly more important as a centre for education and research. It plays an important role in the regional capital of Magdeburg, which is developing into a centre for business, scholarship, and culture. The university is a member of many organisations and committees. It is named after Otto von Guericke (1602 to 1686), Magdeburg's famous citizen, whose pioneering research into the vacuum brought him renown well beyond Germany's borders. The university aspires to teach and research in the tradition of this great scientist, philosopher, and engineer and to continue with his humanist work.

At the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, students can choose from more than 100 study programmes in various areas of study and specialisation. There are also many possibilities to combine different subjects across faculties. To open up to qualified students from all over the world, the Otto von Guericke University is vastly expanding its offers of programmes taught in English. The conditions for students are ideal, with modern laboratories, experimental workshops, and clinics equipped with high-performance computers and an excellent staff-student ratio. The offer of a sound, thorough education, combining a high level of theoretical expertise with practical experience, makes Magdeburg an attractive choice.

In recent years, research at the university has gone through a decisive change, from applied research to innovative, fundamental research. Among the many areas represented, the neurosciences, immunology, non-linear systems, new materials, processes and products, computational visualistics, social transformation, communication, and culture deserve a special mention. The university hopes to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in Magdeburg and the surrounding area through its research. Equally, disciplines such as humanities, economics, and management, which have been established more recently at the university, have already made their mark on our research profile. Special emphasis is placed on close cooperation between teaching staff and students.

The Otto von Guericke University is a proud member of the European University Alliance EU GREEN, which is aiming to be your gateway to sustainability. Together, we aim to be a broad European hub for education, research and innovation in sustainability that goes beyond the consortium borders and acts globally to provide solutions to local or regional challenges, which can be replicated at a global level.

Magdeburg also attracts students because it offers accommodation with either a single bed or twin beds in its halls of residence.

Take a virtual trip through our international campus!

As the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg is the seat of the state parliament and administration. The town is more than 1,200 years old and has about 242,000 inhabitants. Its excellent location on the River Elbe and its proximity to Berlin, Hanover, and Leipzig have proven to be a significant asset to the city. In the 19th century, the town developed into an important industrial and trade centre. Nowadays, another quite distinctive feature of Magdeburg is its considerable research and innovation potential at the university, the Max Planck and Fraunhofer research institutes, and the university of applied sciences, which are all located in close proximity to each other. Magdeburg offers an extensive park and garden landscape, a rich cultural and sports life, and an ideal atmosphere for being a student. Please visit the website: www.magdeburg.de.