Continue your mission
Apply for our English-language Master's degree course in Computer Science and specialize your IT knowledge to find solutions to the challenges of our time.
The application periods pertain to applications for the first semester. If you have previously started or completed a related Master’s degree program, additional regulations apply (see below).
- Application period winter semester: April 1 to June 1 (Sending of admission letters: Mid-July)
- Application period summer semester: November 1 to December 1 (Sending of admission letters: Mid-January)
Preparation
You will need various documents for your application. The complete list can be found below. Some require additional preparation and should be completed well in advance of the application period. These include, specifically
- Language proficiency certificate English C1 (for accepted certificates see below)
- VPD, Preliminary Test Documentation (for applications with degrees from outside of Germany)
- GRE, Graduate Record Examination General Test (for applications from outside the EU)
Application Step by Step
- If you do not yet have a Uni Potsdam account, register under “Applicants” on PULS, the campus management system of the University of Potsdam.
- Apply on PULS for the Master’s program in Computer Science and upload the required documents (see below).
- After submitting the online form, you may add and complete documents until the application deadline. The upload time stamp applies. No additional adjustments can be made after the application deadline.
- Your application documents will be checked, a selection procedure will be carried out by an admissions committee and you will be informed whether or not you have been offered a place. You are expected to receive confirmation for the winter semester at the end of July and for the summer semester at the end of January.
Documents Required for the Application
The application procedure and documents required differ between applications within the EU and those from other countries.
You are taking part in the EU application procedure if
- you have obtained your Bachelor’s degree in Germany
- or you are a citizen of a member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
You take part in the international application procedure if
- you did not obtain your Bachelor’s degree in Germany
- and you are not a citizen of one of the above-mentioned countries.
If you are participating in the EU application procedure (as explained above), you must submit the following documents via the online application form on PULS. All documents must be uploaded prior to the application deadline. There is no possibility of submitting documents later.
This must also include your final grade or current average grade.
If you are applying before you received your Bachelor’s degree, you must provide a current transcript of records to prove that you are missing a maximum of 40 ECTS credits points until the completion of your degree at the time of application.
The proof must include all necessary grading and credit point information. If you obtained credits outside of the University of Potsdam, your proof must include information about the form, content, and examination modalities of the credit attainment processes used to gain the credits. Diploma supplements, module catalogs, and study and examination regulations are all examples of possible documents.
This must show the degree programs and semesters. These are, for example, a current certificate of study progress, a current certificate of enrollment or a certificate of exmatriculation. If you were or are already enrolled in a Master’s program, you must also submit your placement certificate (see Change of university).
This must contain full details of your previous periods of study. This contains all ongoing, terminated, and formally completed periods of study.
Proof of English language proficiency must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Please refer to the University of Potsdam website to find out which language certificates are accepted.
A degree from an accredited university with English as the sole language of instruction (MOI, Medium of Instruction) is also acceptable proof.
For example, copy of passport.
The questions of the subject-specific test must be answered on a maximum of two A4 pages.
Internships completed in Germany and abroad, vocational training, or professional activities are some examples.
Examples include awards, scholarships, prizes in computer science competitions, scientific publications (except theses), and work as a research assistant.
If you are submitting an academic degree or academic certificates from a foreign university, you must also upload a preliminary examination documentation (VPD) before the application deadline. You must have applied for this in advance. Allow sufficient time for this, the average processing time is four to six weeks.
If academic transcripts were issued in a language other than German or English, a translation of these documents by sworn translators must also be uploaded.
If you are participating in the international application procedure (see explanation above), you must submit the following documents for the application via the online application form on PULS. All documents must be uploaded before the application deadline, there is no possibility to submit documents later.
This must also include your final grade or current average grade.
If you are applying before you received your Bachelor’s degree, you must provide a current transcript of records to prove that you are missing a maximum of 40 ECTS credits points until the completion of your degree at the time of application.
The proof must include all necessary grading and credit point information. If you obtained credits outside of the University of Potsdam, your proof must include information about the form, content, and examination modalities of the credit attainment processes used to gain the credits. Diploma supplements, module catalogs, and study and examination regulations are all examples of possible documents.
Before the application deadline, you must upload preliminary examination documentation (VPD) for your academic degree and academic certificates from universities outside of Germany. You must have applied for this in advance. Allow enough time; the normal processing period is four to six weeks.
If you are applying with an Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese school or university degree, you must also provide an APS certificate by the application deadline.
This must show the degree programs and semesters. These are, for example, a current certificate of study progress, a current certificate of enrollment or a certificate of exmatriculation. If you were or are already enrolled in a Master’s program, you must also submit your placement certificate (see Change of university).
This must contain full details of your previous periods of study. This contains all ongoing, terminated, and formally completed periods of study.
Proof of English language proficiency must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Please refer to the University of Potsdam website to find out which language certificates are accepted.
A degree from an accredited university with English as the sole language of instruction (MOI, Medium of Instruction) is also acceptable proof.
For example, copy of passport.
The GRE General Test is optional, but the result is included in the ranking in the application process. Applications without a test result receive the lowest possible grade for this component.
Please submit your test results to the “Hasso Plattner Institute – University of Potsdam” (GRE Designated Institution Code 1868) if possible. You must also upload proof of your test results to PULS during the application process.
Examples include awards, scholarships, prizes in computer science competitions, scientific publications (except theses), and work as a research assistant.
If academic transcripts were issued in a language other than German or English, a translation of these documents by sworn translators must also be uploaded.
Selection Procedure
Applications that meet the admission requirements take part in the selection procedure. Approximately 85 places are allocated each year, divided between the winter and summer semesters. Most places are allocated by ranking based on the weighting below.
Weighting in the EU application procedure
- 51% Average grade of the Bachelor’s degree
- 24% Qualifications acquired outside higher education and special subject-related achievements
- 25% Subject-specific test
Weighting in the international application procedure
- 51% Average grade of the Bachelor’s degree
- 15% Quantitative Reasoning Score of the GRE General Test
- 34% Special subject-related achievements
Scholarships for international students
You have obtained your first academic degree outside of Germany and would like to apply for the Master's program in Computer Science at HPI? We support you with our scholarship to finance your studies abroad!
Learn moreChange of University
Are you or have you already been enrolled in a related Master’s degree program at another university and would now like to change? Then you must apply to the Examination Board for semester placement before applying. Only then can you apply on PULS as described above.
You can find information on changing university and the semester placement process on the University of Potsdam website.
Contact
Alexandra Hemmert
Manager Advisory Services and Admissions
Phone: +49 331 5509-118
Mail: master-info@hpi.de
Dr. Johannes Wolf
Program Manager Computer Science (M.Sc.)
Phone: +49 331 5509-118
Mail: master-info@hpi.de
Important Documents and Links
Last change: 26/05/2026, Patrick Lenz