The program will educate participants to successfully master the novel technical and economic challenges at the crossroads of computer science, software engineering, next-generation communication systems, and intelligent systems.

It consists of three main blocks:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Human-Centered and Interactive Technologies
• Use and Societal Impact

Two mandatory courses introduce the students to the first two blocks Introduction to Learning Systems and Data Science and Designing Interactive Systems. In the third block, courses like AI-Ethics are going to be offered. Students that what to follow yet another additional interest from general computer science can follow their interest in a small optional fourth block.  

The program  is particularly special in offering a significant proportion of research lab courses embedded in both basic and applied research of the participating Fraunhofer Institutes of Applied Information Technology (FIT) and Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS). A further lab can be done at the university, at the Fraunhofer institutes, or in cooperation with industry.

Major topics covered by courses offered include:

• Data Science
• Advanced Methods of Text Mining
• Advanced Machine Learning 
• Computer Graphics/Animation/Visualization
• Speech/Image/Video Processing and Technology
• Virtual and Augmented Reality
• Designing Interactive Systems
• Management of Information and Knowledge
• Explainable AI and Applications
• Fundamentals of Business Process Management 
• Social Technology and Change

The course of study also includes methodological aspects of designing intelligent interactive systems from the perspectives of software engineering, usability, interaction design, and business requirements.

The standard period of study is four semesters. Per semester, approximately 30 credits have to be achieved in lectures from different areas, seminars, labs, and the Master's thesis in the 4th semester.

The mandatory courses and many other courses are offered at B-IT building in Bonn. The other courses are offered at the collocated University of Bonn or at RWTH Aaachen. All subjects are offered as modules that can be combined flexibly and are fully integrated into the ECTS.

The program is offered by RWTH Aachen University and the University of Bonn in collaboration with the Fraunhofer institutes in St. Augustin within the Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (B-IT) and is distinguished by its international orientation, its focus on IT competence, and its high level of integration of research and teaching

Bridging course "Foundation of Informatics"

This course is a course on the foundations in theoretical computer science and might be mandatory to you. Please check your admission letter, to see if it is mentioned there. If not, you are not required to take it. However, we strongly encourage all students to participate since it covers all necessary theoretical topics required in many elective courses.

The course is held in a blended learning format. It is structured in two blocks of each two weeks. The first block is completely online and can be done in a self-paced manner. Please checkout the course webpage for more details and register to its mailing list and online course room:

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations will be published soon.

If you are required to take the bridging course or any other "Auflagen", you need to pass them before thesis registration (according to general examination regulation §3 para. 6)

Your first examiner needs to be from the CS department of RWTH Aachen University or University of Bonn. They can also be from Fraunhofer FIT or IAIS if they have affiliation with either RWTH or Uni Bonn as well (e.g., Prof. Wrobel, Prof. Rose, Prof. Prinz). The second examiner can be any examiner from a university, but most often is also from the CS department of RWTH or Uni Bonn.

Please note that in many cases you will have a supervisor (e.g., research assistant of the respective examiner), who will supervise you. They have no examiner role and can not be first or second examiner (except if they have examination priviledges by the examination board).

If you found a topic with a examiner, please contact the ZPA and ask for the registration form for your thesis.

Reminder: if the thesis is registered you'll have only 6 months to work on it.

Some examiners allow/require a reading phase before registration where you work up a proposal and present your thesis idea before start to work on it. This can take 2-8 weeks depending on the topic and supervisor.

After collecting the signatures on the registration form, you have to submit the form via https://paperless.rwth-aachen.de. In case of questions, feel free to contact msc-mi@b-it-center.de.