Application & Admission

According to section 5.1.1 of the qualification procedure, the subject-specific requirements for the Master's degree program in Data Science include the following knowledge and skills:

• Data Science / Statistics / Machine Learning (at least 18 ECTS required)
• Mathematics: Probability, Linear Algebra, Analysis, Numerical Mathematics (at least 18 ECTS credits required)
• Programming (at least 6 ECTS required)
• Further modules from the fields of data science, mathematics, and computer science and from their areas of application (at least 12 ECTS credits required)

---

As part of the aptitude assessment procedure, we will check whether you fulfil these subject requirements. The basis for this is the curricular analysis form (external link, opens in a new window) you have completed and the module catalog of the BSc degree program in Data Science (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible) at the University of Regensburg.

The following applies:

• A maximum of 54 ECTS can be recognised.
• Admission is possible from 30 ECTS - in this case, the "missing" 24 ECTS must be made up in the Master's program.

In addition to the required professional qualification, you also need

• A university degree with at least six semesters of standard study time (180 credit points) and an average grade of at least 2.5. (For foreign degrees, the grade is converted according to the modified Bavarian formula)
  If you do not yet have your degree certificate at the time of application, you can still apply if you have already achieved at least 138 ECTS in your degree programme. Important: Your transcript must then show a provisional overall grade of at least 2.5.
• English language skills at level B2 (CEFR). You must prove your language level by taking an official language test (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc.). If you wrote your final thesis (e.g., bachelor's thesis) in English, this is sufficient proof.
  If your degree program was in English but you did not write your thesis in English, you still need a language certificate.
  Only if English is your native language do you not need to provide proof. In this case, a copy of your passport is sufficient.
• If you did not obtain your higher education entrance qualification and/or your first degree (e.g., Bachelor's degree) in Germany, you will need a preliminary examination documentation (VPD) from uni-assist in addition to your application to the University of Regensburg.
• If you did not obtain your first degree (Bachelor) in a country that has signed the so-called Lisbon Convention (Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region of April 11, 1997), you must also take the "Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test" - with the following minimum scores:
  • Analytical Writing (AW): at least 4.0

  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR): at least 164

    
    Register for the test with the Institutional Code 1651.

You must submit the following documents for your application (the documents required may vary depending on the applicant)

• a copy of your passport
• your CV (in English)
• an essay of approx. 1,500 words on a given topic (only required for the second stage of the aptitude assessment procedure)
• a declaration of independence for the essay
• your Bachelor's certificate including an overview of the courses taken and grades OR an official transcript of records. Documents that are not issued in German or English must be translated by a sworn translator and notarized.
• curriculum of the underlying degree program (module descriptions, course catalogues or curriculum) (this information is very important for checking your professional qualifications)
• the curricular analysis form
• proof of your English language skills at level B2 (CEFR) or higher. The language level must be proven by a certified language test. If the final thesis (e.g., bachelor's thesis) was written in English, this also counts as proof. If the language of instruction for your degree programme was English, you will still need proof (language certificate or thesis). Only applicants with English as their mother tongue are exempt from providing proof. In this case, a copy of your passport is sufficient.
• GRE results (if you did not obtain your first university degree in a signatory state of the so-called Lisbon Convention )
• Preliminary examination documentation (VPD) from uni-assist for all applicants with a university entrance qualification or a Bachelor's degree from outside Germany
• APS certificate (if you have a Bachelor's degree from China, India or Vietnam)
• Proof of professional training or continuing education relevant to the Master's program (e.g., participation in research cups, internships, etc.) (voluntary)

You must apply for the Master's degree program "Data Science" via the campus portal of the University of Regensburg (UR) (external link, opens in a new window). Once you have created an account, you enter your contact details and information about your education and upload the required documents. The application is completely electronic.

Prospective students with a higher education entrance qualification or a first degree (Bachelor) from outside Germany must apply for a preliminary examination documentation (VPD) from uni-assist (external link, opens in a new window) in advance.

Applicants who have not obtained their Bachelor's degree in a signatory state of the so-called Lisbon Convention (external link, opens in a new window) require the "Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (external link, opens in a new window)" with the following minimum scores:

• Analytical Writing (AW): at least 4.0
• Quantitative Reasoning (QR ): at least 164

Register for the test using the Institutional Code 1651 . (external link, opens in a new window)

International applicants - regardless of their nationality - are all those who have obtained their higher education entrance qualification and/or their first university degree (Bachelor) outside Germany.

At the University of Regensburg, the International Office (external link, opens in a new window) is the first point of contact for all international applicants. Above all, it will help you with all questions relating to your application that do not specifically concern the Master's degree program. The International Office is an expert on topics such as university entrance qualifications, visas, health insurance, language certificates and everything to do with studying, e.g., housing or financing.

---

The following applies to international applicants for the MSc Data Science program:

Preliminary examination documentation from uni-assist (VPD)

If you have not obtained your higher education entrance qualification and/or your Bachelor's degree in Germany, you must apply for a Preliminary Examination Documentation (external link, opens in a new window) (VPD ) from uni-assist (external link, opens in a new window) in addition to applying to UR.

Important: The application for the Master's degree program is not made via uni-assist, but via the campus portal of the University of Regensburg (external link, opens in a new window).
This means that you first apply for the VPD at uni-assist, and then you also apply via the campus portal.

As an external partner, uni-assist checks your international certificates and confirms whether they can be recognized in the application process.
You must then upload the VPD certificate to the campus portal as part of your online application.

Our tip: Apply to uni-assist for the VPD as early as possible, as processing can take 4 to 6 weeks.

---

GRE test

If you have not obtained your first university degree in a signatory state of the so-called Lisbon Convention, you must take a GRE General Test.

---

Certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS)

If you have a Bachelor's degree from China, India or Vietnam, you must also submit an APS certificate. The Academic Test Centres (APS) are service facilities of the German embassies.

There are APS centres at the German embassies in Beijing (external link, opens in a new window), Shanghai (external link, opens in a new window), New Delhi (external link, opens in a new window) and Hanoi (external link, opens in a new window).

---

German language skills

You do not need any knowledge of German for admission, as the entire program is taught in English.
However, we recommend that you take German courses (external link, opens in a new window) during the first few semesters - this will help you in everyday life and with integration.

---

Support services

Our International Office (external link, opens in a new window) offers all international students a special program that accompanies you from the start of your studies to everyday life in Regensburg: "Startklar". (external link, opens in a new window)

As part of the iSTEPS (external link, opens in a new window) (International Student Employment and Progress Support) project, the International Office and the Center for Language and Communication (ZSK) offer you various events and counselling services to help you start your career after graduation.

This is how it works:

• Fill out the curricular analysis form (a PDF document is generated here)
• then upload the generated PDF document with your application in the campus portal of the University of Regensburg

Important: Only completed modules/courses may be entered in the form. Modules/courses that have not yet been completed cannot be considered.

An essay is a prerequisite for reaching the second stage of the aptitude assessment procedure. If no essay is submitted in this case, the application must be rejected.

Important: The essay cannot be submitted later once the application assessment has begun. We therefore recommend that all applicants submit the essay at the same time as their application. This applies in particular to applicants with a university degree from outside Germany or a final grade of less than 2.1.

---

The essay should:

• be no longer than 1,500 words
• be written in English
• be uploaded as a PDF file to the UR campus portal

You must also submit a declaration of independence (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible) in which you confirm that you have written the essay independently.

---

For the application for the winter semester 2025/26, the essay should deal with the following topic:

During your studies at the University of Regensburg, you have a lot of freedom to choose the courses that interest you and to specialize in various areas. Please outline a project in the field of data science (research, software development, etc.) that you consider exploring as part of your Master's degree program at the University of Regensburg.

Your essay should be structured as follows

1. Project description and objective
2. Why is the project relevant to Data Science?
3. What knowledge do you already have to successfully implement the project?
   Refer to courses and projects from your Bachelor's degree program.
4. Name modules from our Master's module catalog that are relevant to your project and explain what additional skills they can provide you with for the implementation of your project.

Please note:
The project described must be realistically realisable within the framework of the MSc in Data Science (external link, opens in a new window). The description in the essay does not constitute a claim or obligation to actually carry out this project during your studies.

If your essay is rated with 30 to 35 points, you will reach the third stage of the selection procedure: the personal interview.

We may invite you by email and provide you with further information. If you wish, the interview can also take place online.

The interview will focus on your specialist knowledge and skills in the field of data science as well as your methodological and problem-solving skills - in short, your ability to work scientifically and solve complex problems on your own.

The FIDS and the application office of the University of Regensburg (UR) will review your application as soon as possible. You will then find the official decision as a PDF file in the UR campus portal (external link, opens in a new window).
If you are admitted, you will find all further steps explained in detail in the letter of admission (acceptance of study place, semester fee, enrollment).

The International Office provides additional information on enrollment and the required documents for international applicants (external link, opens in a new window) .