Informatik
HAW Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
In the Master’s programme Informatik at HAW Hamburg, you expand your practical and methodological skills to design, analyze, and actively shape complex IT systems. The focus is on demanding project work, current research topics, and building specialized competences in areas such as Data Science, IT security, and distributed systems.
You study in a consecutive structure over four semesters with a strong project emphasis and close links to the faculty’s research activities. The programme includes projects and research workshops, supporting you in developing a research-based Master’s thesis.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Develop your foundation with modules covering research and scientific working skills such as Forschungswerkstatt I.
- Build advanced technical knowledge through specialisation areas including Data Science, verteilte (distributed) and autonome systems.
- Strengthen software and systems engineering through modules such as Softwarearchitektur and Advanced Software Engineering.
- Study security, reliability and cyber-physical topics through modules like Sicherheit und Zuverlässigkeit and Ausgewählte Aspekte cyber-physischer Systeme.
- Work on substantial project modules such as Grundprojekt and Hauptprojekt that apply techniques to a focus topic.
- Continue building research methods with Forschungswerkstatt II.
- Deepen your technical focus using elective modules in areas such as Künstliche Intelligenz, Machine Learning, Netzbasierte und zeitkritische Systeme and Sсurity-related modules.
- Complete your Masterthesis and Kolloquium in the final semester.
- Use informatics methods to address complex problems and produce a written scientific thesis.
- Defend your work in the required final assessment including the colloquium.
Curriculum
Master of Science Informatik at HAW Hamburg; ECTS/CP credits (CP) taken from the official Modulhandbuch. Total credits follow the master curriculum structure (core modules, elective modules, projects, and thesis).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Pflichtmodule | Forschungswerkstatt I | 10 | 35 |
| Grundprojekt | 10 | |||
| Softwarearchitektur | 5 | |||
| Digitale Transformation | 5 | |||
| Data Analytics | 5 | |||
| Semester 2 | Wahlpflichtmodule | Künstliche Intelligenz | 5 | 30 |
| Machine Learning | 5 | |||
| Predictive Analytics und Decision Support | 5 | |||
| Ausgewählte Aspekte cyber-physischer Systeme | 5 | |||
| Fortgeschrittene Technologien im Internet/IoT | 5 | |||
| Netzbasierte und zeitkritische Systeme (elective block) | 0 | |||
| Semester 3 | Wahlpflichtmodule und Pflichtprojekt | Autonomes Fahren und Robotik | 5 | 30 |
| Autonome und Intelligente Systeme (elective block) | 5 | |||
| Sicherheit und Zuverlässigkeit (elective block) | 10 | |||
| Hauptprojekt | 10 | |||
| Semester 4 | Pflichtmodule | Forschungswerkstatt II | 10 | 40 |
| Masterthesis und Kolloquium | 30 | |||
| Total | Pflichtmodule (Forschungswerkstatt I/II, Projekte, Masterthesis) plus Wahlpflichtmodule | 120 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with applied and research-oriented expertise in modern informatics areas such as data science, distributed systems, IT security, autonomous systems and software architecture, giving you strong alignment to roles in software and technology companies.
- Your project-oriented coursework (Grundprojekt and Hauptprojekt) helps you build job-relevant experience by working on development and implementation tasks in a defined focus area.
- By completing Forschungswerkstatt I and II, you gain practical skills in scientific work, literature research, documentation and presentation—useful for R&D teams, engineering leads, and technical roles that require evidence-based problem solving.
- The Masterthesis and Kolloquium prepare you for specialist responsibility by demonstrating that you can independently handle complex, research- or application-driven informatics problems using scientific methods.
- You can position yourself for careers in sectors that rely on reliable software, secure systems, and data-driven decision-making, including industries that increasingly adopt AI, IoT and cyber-physical systems.
Employability rate
Master Informatics graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 90% and an unemployment rate of about 10%, reflecting sustained hiring demand for skilled software, data, and security engineers.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook with strong opportunities across technology and digitalization-focused sectors.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree (computing-related) | International applicants need a first degree that qualifies them professionally as a Bachelor in Computer Science or a comparable programme with at least 3 years of duration, plus a Diploma Supplement and Transcript of Records. |
| Additional international application documents | For international applicants, HAW Hamburg requires submission of additional application documents such as a motivation letter and a CV. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, the Master Informatik at HAW Hamburg requires proof of English proficiency at B2 level. In addition, German language knowledge (C1) is required for admission to the Master programme.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semester fee | EUR 397 / per semester | Semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) for winter semester 2026/27: 397.00 EUR. This includes Studierendenwerk, Students' Union (AStA), semester ticket for public transport, contribution to the semester-ticket hardship fund, and an administrative fee. |
Proof of financial resources
International students must be able to cover their living costs in Germany. HAW Hamburg typically follows the German residence-permit guidance for proving sufficient funds for study (for example via a blocked account or other acceptable financial evidence).
- Blocked account or equivalent proof of funds for living costs, as required for a student residence permit in Germany
- Any additional financial evidence requested by the German immigration/residence-permit process
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone |
|---|
| Application portal opens |
| Application deadline (final submit) |
| Application deadline (EU students) |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) |
| Recommended apply-by |
| Semester begins |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone |
|---|
| VPD request - recommended |
| VPD result expected |
| APS - recommended |
| Start eligibility check |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone |
|---|
| Application submission deadline |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) |
| Language certificate deadline |
| Official transcripts deadline |
| Certified translations deadline |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline |
| Missing documents (if requested) |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your international documents
Before you apply, check that your Bachelor degree is in Computer Science or a comparable computing-related programme with at least 3 years of duration. Collect your Diploma Supplement and Transcript of Records, and prepare your motivation letter and CV. Also plan language proof preparation because English B2 and German C1 are required for this Master programme.
Submit your application online in the correct intake window
For Informatik, you can apply online for both the Summer and Winter intake. The Summer intake application window is 1 December to 15 January, and the Winter intake application window is 1 June to 15 July. Submit your documents through the official process used for Master applications at HAW Hamburg and ensure you complete the application fields fully before the deadline.
Complete any preliminary document checks required for international qualifications
For international applicants, HAW Hamburg requests that you send your school and study certificates for review in advance. This is part of the international qualification assessment process for applications to the Master programme. If your admission depends on meeting the specified language and qualification conditions, address any missing items as soon as possible after feedback.
Follow the admissions outcome and finalise enrolment
After submission, the admissions decision is handled by the responsible office at HAW Hamburg. If you are admitted, follow the university’s next steps to complete enrolment for the start of studies. Keep your language proofs and degree documentation ready for any final verification steps during enrolment.