International Programmes 2024/2025

Master's Degree in Data & Knowledge Engineering (MDKE) MSc in Data & Knowledge Engineering

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg • Magdeburg

Degree
Master of Science
Teaching language
  • English
  • German
Languages

English, German

The degree can be studied in both languages, i.e. a student who is proficient in only one of these two languages can study in the degree programme. Students are not expected to be proficient in both languages.

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter and summer semester
Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study

There is an introductory week/event before the actual lecture period starts – make sure to be here in time to attend it.

Additional information for incoming students can be found here:
https://www.inf.ovgu.de/inf/en/Study/Being+a+student/Incoming.html

Application deadline

Winter semester: 15 May (international applicants)
Summer semester: 15 November (international applicants)

Dates may differ for the current semester; please check the programme website.

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The MDKE Data Science Master's programme delivers in-depth knowledge and competences in data science, one of the most promising career areas for ambitious Bachelor's graduates. Its subject area is "engineering" for data and for knowledge, aiming to turn passive data into exploitable knowledge.

It focusses on the representation, management, and understanding of data and knowledge assets. It encompasses technologies for the design and development of advanced databases, knowledge bases and expert systems, methods for the extraction of models and patterns from conventional data, texts and multimedia, and modelling instruments for the representation and updating of extracted knowledge. The MDKE programme can be studied in German or English, and is thus open to students who are proficient in either of the two languages.

MDKE spans application areas ranging from business intelligence and industry to life sciences, biotechnology, and security. The management and analysis of data is essential; the maintenance and understanding of knowledge assets are of major importance in business venues, in governmental authorities, and in non-profit organisations.

Course organisation

The MDKE Data Science Master's programme is organised across four thematic areas. Students must acquire credit points (ECTS) in each area as follows:

  1. Fundamentals of Data Science (12–18 ECTS)
  2. Learning Methods and Models (18–36 ECTS)
  3. Data Processing and Data Science (18–30 ECTS)
  4. Applied Data Science (18–24 ECTS), this 4th area includes applications of data science in business, industry, medicine and healthcare, engineering, and core computer science (such as security or software engineering)

In each thematic area, there are enough courses available in English and in German, so that the degree programme can be studied by students who are proficient in only one of the two languages.

Each student must participate in at least one team project (6 ECTS) in Applied Data Science.

After three semesters of study, students must write a Master's thesis (fourth semester).

Further details regarding the degree statutes can be found on the website of the study regulations for the degree. The most recent document at the top of the website is the one that applies to new applicants:
https://www.inf.ovgu.de/Studium
/Während+des+Studiums/Prüfungsamt/Studiendokumente/SPO/Studien_+und+Prüfungsordnungen+Master+(Eng).html

A Diploma supplement will be issued
Yes
International elements
  • Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
  • International guest lecturers
Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

Currently, the semester fee is 277.90 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschland-Semesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria, and more.

Costs of living

A minimum of 934 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

Funding opportunities within the university
No
Academic admission requirements

General admission requirements and information regarding the application procedure for international students can be found at:
www.ovgu.de/unimagdeburg/en/Study/Full_Time+Studies.html

Degree-specific admission requirements and deadlines can be found at:
http://www.ovgu.de/en/Study/Study+Programmes/Master/Data+and+Knowledge+Engineering.html

Language requirements

Applicants must provide proof of their language skills for either German or English: the level is C1 (CEFR).

Application deadline

Winter semester: 15 May (international applicants)
Summer semester: 15 November (international applicants)

Dates may differ for the current semester; please check the programme website.

Submit application to

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
c/o uni-assist e.V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

www.uni-assist.de

Possibility of finding part-time employment

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

Accommodation

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 178 EUR to 421 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

Career advisory service

https://www.ovgu.de/en/careerservice.html

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
  • Specialist counselling
  • Cultural and linguistic preparation

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Content Bild

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of Germany's youngest universities. It was formed by a merger of the existing technical university, the teacher training college, and the medical school. The university now comprises nine faculties and about 13,000 students and is becoming increasingly more important as a centre for education and research. It plays an important role in the regional capital of Magdeburg, which is developing into a centre for business, scholarship, and culture. The university is a member of many organisations and committees. It is named after Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), Magdeburg's famous citizen, whose pioneering research into the vacuum brought him renown well beyond Germany's borders. The university aspires to teach and research in the tradition of this great scientist, philosopher, and engineer and to continue with his humanist work.

At the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, students can choose from more than 90 degree courses in various areas of study and specialisation. In addition to these, a range of postgraduate courses are offered. There are also many possibilities to combine different subjects across faculties. The conditions for students are ideal, with modern laboratories, experimental workshops, and clinics equipped with high-performance computers and an excellent staff-student ratio. The offer of a sound, thorough education, combining a high level of theoretical expertise with practical experience, makes Magdeburg an attractive choice.

In recent years, research at the university has gone through a decisive change, from applied research to innovative, fundamental research. Among the many areas represented, the neurosciences, immunology, non-linear systems, new materials, processes and products, computational visualistics, social transformation, communication, and culture deserve a special mention. The university hopes to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in Magdeburg and the surrounding area through its research. Equally, disciplines such as humanities, economics, and management, which have been established more recently at the university, have already made their mark on our research profile. Special emphasis is placed on close cooperation between teaching staff and students.

Magdeburg also attracts students because it offers accommodation with either a single bed or twin beds in its halls of residence.

Take a virtual trip through our international campus!

University location

As the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg is the seat of the state parliament and administration. The town is more than 1,200 years old and has about 236,000 inhabitants. Its excellent location on the River Elbe and its proximity to Berlin, Hanover, and Leipzig have proven to be a significant asset to the city. In the 19th century, the town developed into an important industrial and trade centre. Nowadays, another quite distinctive feature of Magdeburg is its considerable research and innovation potential at the university, the Max Planck and Fraunhofer research institutes, and the university of applied sciences, which are all located in close proximity to each other. Magdeburg offers an extensive park and garden landscape, a rich cultural and sports life, and an ideal atmosphere for being a student. Please visit the website: www.magdeburg.de.

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