Admission (will be updated in March 2026)

Application and Admission

Aptitude Assessment Procedure

Scholarships

Prerequisites

The following requirements for admission are applicable as stated in the Regulations for determining the suitability for CMS

First university degree qualifying for professional activity in Computer Science, Mathematics, Natural Science, Economics/Finance, or Engineering (BSc or higher, including MSc, German "Diplom", BSc [Hons], etc.)
Knowledge of English corresponding to at least level B2 of the European Frame of Reference for Language
Proficiency in computer programming in (at least one) compiled programming language
Calculus of functions in one and multiple variables (partial derivatives, integrals, etc.)
Basics of linear algebra (matrix and vector operations, matrix inversion, decomposition)
Basics of probability (distributions, elementary probabilities, axioms)
Basics of algorithms and data structures (arrays, lists, search and sorting, complexity)
BSc-level knowledge in the application domain of the elected track

The CMS programme focuses on teaching the computer science and mathematics foundations of modelling and simulation and assumes familiarity with the above basic concepts of the respective disciplines. Lectures completed on one or several of the following topics would be helpful, but not strictly required:

Parallel Programming / High-Performance Computing
Numerical Methods / Numerical Algorithms / Numerical Analysis
Stochastics / Probability / Stochastic Algorithms
Data Visualisation / Information Visualisation / Scientific Visualisation
Statistics / Experimental Design / Inference Methods
Theoretical Computer Science / Formal Languages / Complexity and Computability
Logical Deduction / Intelligent Agents / Knowledge Systems
Software Engineering / Design Patterns / Scientific Code Development
Database Management / Relational Data Models / Big Data Platforms
Machine Learning / Data Mining / Computational Statistics

Application Time Windows

For (prospective) degree holders from non-German institutions of higher education

1 April - 31 May: non-EU-nationals

1 April - 15 July: German or EU-nationals

For all other applicants

1 June - 15 July: (prospective) graduates from TU Dresden or other German institutions of higher education

1 April - 15 July: Applicants who already received an admission to the CMS program

Application Documents

1. Applicants with a non-German degree must apply via "uni-assist" (see below) and submit the following documents online (only).

a formal application for aptitude assessment for the Master's degree program (will be updated in February 2026)
Curriculum Vitae, in particular describing your academic career to date,
Motivation letter (informal), which provides evidence of your desire to study and your particular aptitude,
Graduated Record Examination (optional)
GRE Test is not requqired but will be positively considered if submitted,
Copy of the first professionally qualifying university degree certificate or confirmation from the responsible office at your university that at least 80 % of the credit points required for the university degree have been achieved (so-called 80 % certificate),
Proof of the required English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) based on the result of an internationally offered test. For detailed information see the Regulations for determining the suitability for CMS paragraph 4 XXX - will be updated in February / March 2026.

Students of some countries must submit the original APS certificate

A simple copy of the original documents and the corresponding official translation into German or English is sufficient (including higher secondary school certificate, „Abiturzeugnis“).

2. Applicants with a German degree must register via the TUD online portal and follow these steps:

Login to the relevant TUD online portal (see below)
Print out and sign the TUD application form (each page!)
Send this form along with the above-mentioned documents (see subject 1) by post to the TUD International Office (if requested by the SELMA-portal for international applicants, only) or to: CMS-Admission committee, TU Dresden, Fakultät Informatik, Institut für Künstliche Intelligenz, 01062 Dresden before 15 July
and
by email to cms-admin@mailbox.tu-dresden.de by the end of June.

A simple copy of the original documents and the corresponding official translation into German or English is sufficient (including higher secondary school certificate, „Abiturzeugnis“).

Application Portals

Nationality	Degree from	Apply to
All	non-German institutions of higher education	uni-assist
All	any German institutions of higher education	TUD online Portal
Applicants who previously received an admission (repeat application)	non German or German institutions of higher education	TUD online Portal

Aptitude Assessment Procedure

The Admission Committee will evaluate applications (Aptitude Assesssment Procedure). Afterwards, the applicants will be notified of the acceptance or rejection of the application by email by the end of July. Additionally, international students will receive an email from the TUD International Office informing them on the availability of the official admission letter ("Zulassungsbescheid"). This letter can be downloaded from the TUD online portal and is important for the student visa application to the German Embassy in the student's home country.
We cannot confirm your eligibility or offer any counseling ahead of your application. Admission is decided by a central admission committee based on officially submitted documents only. However, if you are in doubt, you can still apply and let the admission committee assess your eligibility.

Scholarships
In addition to their application for admission to the tracks Computational Life Science or Applied Artificial Intelligence, eligible students can apply for a scholarship of the DAAD Zuse School of Excellence in AI SECAI to support their studies.
Further information about eligibility criteria, the application process, selection criteria, and deadlines are available on the SECAI website about scholarships.