Artificial Intelligence University of Bonn

The consecutive Master's degree programme in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bonn, a collaboration with the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, is strongly application- and research-oriented, focusing on the mathematical foundations, training, and deployment of advanced AI models to solve complex, real-world problems. A close connection between the specialised courses on offer and the cutting-edge research carried out by our various working groups shapes this degree programme, which is why it is particularly suitable for driven students seeking to deepen their knowledge and develop their technical skills. We also work closely with internationally renowned research institutions and technology companies in and around Bonn. This gives our students the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art AI projects and gives them a wide range of exciting, highly relevant topics for their research and graduation projects – a rapid launchpad into an advanced tech role or a scientific career.

Through interdisciplinary work and projects anchored in the programme, students acquire key interdisciplinary skills, including the assessment of problems in AI ethics and societal implications.

The degree is awarded to students for finishing the minimum required course work (and their final Master's thesis) in five categories: foundations, specialisation, advanced, interdisciplinary modules, and ethical, legal, and social aspects. You can choose freely from the modules available each semester, provided you pass:

• two compulsory modules in foundations
• at least 12 ECTS in specialisation  
• at least 39 ECTS in advanced (including one lab and one seminar)
• at least 10 ECTS in interdisciplinary modules 
• at least 4 ECTS in ethical, legal, and social aspects

The Master's thesis and its presentation amount to 32 ECTS.

Coursework includes lectures with exercises (6-9 ECTS), labs (9-10 ECTS) and seminars (4 or 6 ECTS). A full semester comprises 30 ECTS.

In foundations (first semester), students are required to attend two lectures that provide the basis of modern machine learning approaches.

• Principles of Machine Learning (6 ECTS) 
• Principles of Deep Learning (6 ECTS)

In specialisation (first and second semester), students attend two or three courses to gain a knowledge base for a specialised direction, such as:

• Audio and signal processing
• Computer vision
• Computer graphics and image analysis
• Geometry processing and numerics
• Neuroscience and medicine
• Robot learning
• Natural language processing
• Data science

In advanced (second and third semesters), students perform advanced domain-specific coursework in different specialised areas. This includes a seminar and research-focused lab work in an application domain, for example: 

• explainable AI, alignment, and ethics
• virtual environments
• data science and data mining
• AI in graphics, vision, and audio
• embodied and agentic AI
• AI in biomedical sciences
• Self-supervised and reinforcement learning

In interdisciplinary projects (third semester), students work on an interdisciplinary project of their choosing, a collaborative research project in an adjacent field and a hallmark of the degree. Here, AI is applied to a real-world problem. Possible areas currently include:

• ethics
• geodesy
• life and medical sciences
• physics
• neuroscience
• crop production

Ethical, social and legal aspects implies course work in ethical, social, or legal aspects relating to AI.

Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

There is an application period that is open for everyone, and one for specific European countries.

Check the webpage for the most up to date information.

https://www.informatik.uni-bonn.de/en/studies/examination-office/deadlines-at-a-glance#AdmissionMaster

• University degree (domestic or foreign) in a relevant subject

• Command of English (language level CEFR C1)

• Completed course work in the areas of mathematical foundations (18 ECTS), algorithms and complexity theory and formal languages (14 ECTS), programming, software technology and information systems (20 ECTS)

• Bachelor's thesis worth 12 ECTS
  (When converting credits of other countries' education systems to ECTS, we may apply a different (more generous) conversion factor for graduation projects than for regular courses, as appropriate for the respective country's education system.)

The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the semester fee of about 350 EUR per semester, which covers a Deutschlandsemesterticket (student transit pass for public transport) and statutory accident insurance, among other things.

Students in Bonn can expect to pay around 1,000 EUR a month, with rent accounting for the largest share of their living costs.

An excellent way for students to help fund their studies, gain practical experience at the same time, and meet future employers, is to take on a student job at one of the many information technology companies in the Bonn/Cologne area.

An online job board is available from the University of Bonn, from the "Studentenwerk Bonn" and from the "Fachschaft Informatik" (https://www.fachschaft.info/service/jobangebote/).

Several student research assistantships are also available at our institute and at the cooperating research institutions, such as Fraunhofer Schloss Birlinghoven and Wachtberg.

The University of Bonn has a central Career Service (www.uni-bonn.de/careerservice), which provides a range of advice and support about choosing a career and applying for jobs. International students can also join the iStart career programme (www.uni-bonn.de/istart), which teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany. The programme is geared toward giving students a successful career path both during and after their studies and thus making it easier for them to enter the job market.

Students at the University of Bonn can apply for a room in a dormitory owned by the Studierendenwerk Bonn (see www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/accommodation for more details).

For further information on housing in Bonn, please visit our website at www.uni-bonn.de/living-in-bonn.