Media Informatics (M.Sc.)

One of the defining features of Saarland University's M.Sc. programme in Media Informatics is that it combines practical relevance with a firm grounding in the underlying scientific principles. Students acquire the analytical, creative and practical skills that are needed to develop the software and systems used in digital media. Students also receive training in the necessary design skills through a cooperative arrangement with Saarland's University of Art and Design (HBKsaar). Students take courses in media informatics and informatics, they carry out a media art and design project and also spend a practical work experience phase in a company active in the field.

Soft-skill seminars are also offered that allow students to develop their communication, presentation and rhetorical skills while consolidating and applying the theoretical knowledge acquired in the taught courses. During the semester-long work experience phase, students gain insight into and an understanding of the professional world of digital media and multimedia technologies. The project-based curriculum enables students to hone their practical media skills and encourages interdisciplinary teamwork. The M.Sc. programme also provides students with an opportunity to participate in current research projects and thus lay the foundation for a future academic career.

Media informatics graduates are employed to plan, design and implement multimedia digital software systems. Typically, graduates are employed to research, develop and design intelligent methods of man-machine interaction, to provide technology consulting and coordination services to companies, to incorporate new media into projects in the journalism and media sector, and to develop edutainment concepts.

Students on the Master's degree programme 'Media Informatics' must obtain course and examination credits totalling 120 ECTS credits (120 CP).

In the compulsory stage of the curriculum, students must take the following modules:

• Two core lecture courses (each worth 9 credits) and an advanced lecture course (6 credits) in the field of computer science / informatics
• A seminar (7 credits) in the field of media informatics or in computer science / informatics
• A media, art and design project 'MAD project' (8 credits) from the range of courses offered at the Saarland University of Art and Design (HBKsaar)
• A Master's seminar (12 credits) and Master's thesis (30 credits) in the field of media informatics or in computer science / informatics

In the compulsory elective area 'Media, Art and Design' (MAD) students can either select modules worth a total of 8 credits from the range of courses offered at Saarland's University of Art and Design (HBKsaar) or they can complete a 'MAD project' also worth 8 credits.

The M.Sc. programme 'Media Informatics' also includes compulsory electives in the area of soft skills (6 credits) with modules available covering the areas: tutoring, soft skills seminar or language courses, as well as other activities approved by the Examinations Committee.

Summary of programme structure

• Computer Science / Informatics (approx. 26%)
• Media, Art & Design (MAD) / HBKsaar (approx. 13%)
• Work experience phase (21%)
• Soft skills (5%)
• Master's thesis (35%)

Work placement / internship stage

One of the unique features of the 'Media Informatics' programme in Saarbrücken is the compulsory work placement / internship phase (20 credits) and the subsequent work experience seminar (5 credits).

Students normally undertake the work placement / internship phase during the second semester. The work placement or company internship must cover a period of at least 14 weeks and should contain about 600 hours of work experience (1 credit earned for every 30 hours worked). The work placement / internship should be undertaken in a company, organization or research institution that is active in a field of relevance to media informatics. Placements can also be undertaken abroad.

The work placement phase is linked to a work experience seminar where students are required to compile a report on their work placement or internship and to a colloquium in which they document their work experience.

Admission requirements are a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from a German or foreign university in media informatics or a related field (particularly in the area of computer science / informatics), or proof of equivalent academic achievement as well as proof of suitability for the programme. Students will be deemed suitable for the programme if:

1. they have achieved sufficient merit in their previous academic track record, as demonstrated by an overall grade in their Bachelor's degree of at least 'good' (German grading scale: 2.3), or
2. they can demonstrate their particular interest in the subject either by submitting letters of recommendation written by referees who know the applicant academically or by their performance in a personal interview, and
3. they have advanced proficiency in English (level C1 of the Common European Framework).

• Study regulations
• Examination regulations
• Subject-specific provisions of the examination regulations
• Discontinued regulations (in German)
• Module handbook