FAQ
Welcome to the FAQ page for the Philosophy & Computer Science Master's program. Here, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about the program, including information on admission requirements, course structure, interdisciplinary opportunities, and career prospects. Whether you're a prospective student, a current applicant, or simply curious about the program, we hope this page helps clarify key details and supports your decision-making process.
General Information
This program can be started exclusively in the winter semester (mid of October). The exact date can be found hereand will be stated in your admission letter.
There are no tuition fees for this study program. However, in Germany, students at all higher education institutions must pay a semester fee. This payment (at the University of Bayreuth: about 170 EUR per semester) has nothing to do with tuition fees; rather, it covers your contributions to student services and the student government. At the University of Bayreuth, it includes a "semester ticket" that allows you to use public transport in the region and entitles you to eat at reduced prices in the university canteen.
Detailed information about the course contents and semester schedule can be found in the Module Handbook. A description of the program structure is provided here. We give an overview of job perspectives here.
Internships can be credited as part of this program. Studying abroad for up to a semester is also possible. Students are responsible to find and apply for a suitable internship place or place at a university abroad independently. In both cases, students should discuss their plans with the program coordination well in advance.
P&CS offers many lectures, workshops, and conferences that are open to the public. You are welcome to visit anytime. For more information see here.
In addition, we offer information session so on the program that include a Q&A session. For details see here.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer any funds to support your visit.
P&CS differs from a general master’s program in philosophy in very important ways. First, basic training in computer science is included. Second, the philosophy classes focus primarily on topics connected to computer science. The shared foundational courses are designed to link discussions about philosophical questions with those about technical developments. Given this specific focus, several areas of philosophy will not be covered within the P&CS curriculum or only insofar as they touch computer science, e.g. historical positions in philosophy, metaphysics, aesthetics, etc. Some of these topics are taught at UBT in other programs and classes might be creditable in the specialization modules. However, for students whose philosophical interests lie primarily in a field unrelated to technology, computers, and AI, a general philosophy program might be better suited. Similarly, the P&CS program is not a good fit for students who are unwilling to take computer science classes and acquire basic mathematics and programming skills.
P&CS differs from a general master’s program in computer science. First, it includes basic philosophy training requiring students to not only engage with philosophical content and ideas but also to produce philosophical essays. The shared foundational courses are designed to link discussions about technical issues with philosophical debates. Second, the computer science classes included in the program are focused on acquiring skills that will be useful for working at the intersection between philosophy and computer science. That means students of P&CS do not gather the same depth of technical expertise as those in a traditional computer science or software engineering program. For students with the required background knowledge, advanced computer science courses taught at UBT outside the P&CS curriculum might be creditable in the specialization module. Yet, it is important to be aware that students entering P&CS with a B.Sc. in computer science will have to take several compulsory philosophy classes designed to help them acquire basic philosophical knowledge and skills. This includes philosophical argumentation skills as well as knowledge about areas such as ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, etc. Therefore, the program is not a good fit for students who are interested only in the technical aspects of technology development.
Admission Requirements
All courses are taught exclusively in English. In addition to your knowledge of English (level B2), you must also prove your knowledge of German for daily life (level A1). If you have no knowledge of German at the time of your application, you are required to provide proof (German level A1) by the end of the 2nd semester. German courses are offered at the University of Bayreuth’s Language Centre. More language courses in Bayreuth can be found through the IIK or the Volkshochschule.
Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, computer science, or a related field. You need to prove that your degree contained either 60 ETCS in philosophy and/or computer science covering at least 3 of the six basic modules (see module hand book).
Some other B.A./B.Sc. programs that might fulfill these criteria are:
Cognitive Science
Computational Linguistics
Business InformaticsIf you are unsure whether your BA will be accepted, please use your essay to argue why your degree qualifies you for the program.
Please submit your official transcript of records showing that you have completed at least 150 ECTS credits. If you can obtain a written confirmation from your university that you have completed your coursework and are waiting for your certificate, you may also submit this as an additional document. The Bachelor certificate must be handed in at the latest at the end of the second semester.
Applicants must hold an official transcript of records (including subjects and grades) showing that they have completed at least 150 ECTS credits.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to consider your application. The University of Bayreuth follows the recommendation of the German Central Office for Foreign Education which has found that 3-year bachelor's degrees from India are not formally equivalent to 3-year bachelor's degrees from Germany. Therefore, they recommend only accepting students with four years of higher education from India for German master's programs. If you are very ambitious about our master's program, we would recommend waiting one more year and using this time to do a Postgraduate Diploma or to successfully complete 1 year of master's studies in an accredited institution of higher education in India, ideally in a program related to philosophy and/or computer science.
English skills must be proven at the level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), Ideally, proof is provided by submitting a recognized language test:
- UNIcert II: Pass or better
- Cambridge Proficiency: Pass or better
- Cambridge Advanced: Grade C or better
- Cambridge First: Grade B or better
- IELTS: Band 6.5 or better
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- TOEFL IPT: 543
If your first study program or your high school diploma was completed in English, an official certificate/ English proficiency letter from your university stating that English was the medium of instruction is also sufficient evidence.
For applicants with the German Abitur: Your "Abiturzeugnis" is considered proof if it lists language level B2 or better.
In order to change subjects, you need to be admitted to the program to which you want to switch. In case of P&CS, this means you need to apply for a spot via the regular application process on CampusOnline. The application periods and deadlines are the same as for external applicants, i.e., applications can be submitted from March 1 to July 15 to start in the subsequent winter term. Once you are admitted, you can apply for a change of subject here.
If you are currently enrolled in a Master's program sharing classes with P&CS (e.g., Computer Science or Philosophy & Economics), credit transfer is possible but will require individual review by the examination board after admission.
Two conditions need to be met for a credit transfer: First, you can only transfer credits that have not yet contributed to a finished degree (neither Bachelor's nor Master's). This will usually only be the case if you quit your previous program without earning a degree or if you acquired more credits than necessary for your previous degree. Second, the classes you want to transfer need to be equivalent to classes within the P&CS Master. This is trivially true if you have acquired credits in UBT classes that are also part of the P&CS Master (e.g., if you want to switch to P&CS from the M.A. Philosophy & Economics). For all other classes, decisions about equivalency will be made by the examination board after admission. Please understand that we cannot review your previous records for equivalency before admission.
Information for Newly Admitted Students
Please open your CAMPUSonline account and accept the study place. After accepting the study place, you will find in the self-service portal the application for enrolment and a list of documents that need to be submitted for enrolment. Please note that students must be registered for compulsory insurance in the German public health insurance system or present an equivalent private German health insurance. You can find more information about compulsory insurance here. As a non-EU citizen, we advise you to start taking care of your visa documents as early as possible in order to ensure a smooth start in Bayreuth.
If you have specific questions regarding your admission, please use the Team Incoming Degree - FAQ and contact form.
The enrollment deadline is 01 October 2026, but we recommend enrolling as quickly as possible as you need access to the online services and classes before the start of the lectures.
We are sorry, but this is not possible. Please send all required documents by post to the address provided on the enrolment application form or drop your documents in the mailbox at the office door of the Student Administration Office (room 1.09, ZUV building, room 1.09, ZUV building, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth). Detailed information on the enrolment process can be found on the website of the student administration office.
Click here to find detailed information about visa requirements for your country and tips on applying for a visa.
Yes, it is possible to defer your start of studies for one year. After that, you’d have to send a new application. If you decide to take up the offered place at a later time point, please inform us as soon as possible.
Once the application portal for your preferred study start opens, you only have to upload your admission letter again in CampusOnline at the section:
“Admission from the University of Bayreuth for this course of study from a previous semester (and possibly a letter of requirements)”.
You can simply skip all other requested documents if they have not changed. You will then receive your “new” admission letter as soon as possible without a further aptitude test.
For further information regarding the application period, please click here.
Lectures usually start between October 14-18. We will organize some welcome events, details to follow. The international office invites all international students to a welcome week via email.
Your campus card (including the semester ticket for public transport) will be sent to you by post. Please make sure that your postal address is entered correctly in your CAMPUSonline account and that your full name can be found on your letterbox. Further information on use and data security can be found on the website of the Student Administration Office.
The Studentenwerk Oberfranken offers affordable rooms in student residences for which you can apply on their website. Other dormitory options are listed here. If you prefer to move into one of the many private shared flats around town, you can find room advertisements on WG-gesucht. We advise you to start looking for accommodation as early as possible.
If you want to travel to Bayreuth to look for accommodation on-site, we recommend you stay in an affordable hotel, hostel, or Airbnb (more information here).
Prices for accommodation, food and leisure activities are moderate compared to other German student cities. Nevertheless, prospective students should consider early on how they will finance their studies. Students in Germany spend an average of €850 on living expenses. Of course, these costs can vary considerably, depending on your lifestyle and the place of residence. The following information provides an initial overview of the costs that students in Bayreuth will definitely have to pay:
- Semester Fee: ca. €170/semester
- Health Insurance (if you do not have a European health insurance policy): ca. €130/month
- License Fee for Public Broadcasting (GEZ-Gebühr): €19/month
- Internet Access: ca. €25/month
- Groceries: starting at €150/month
- Furnished Accommodation (rent including utilities):
- SWO student dorms: €200 - €350/month (depending on dorm and the type of room)
- Private student dorms: €350 - €550/month
- 1-room apartment: starting at €450/month
- Room in a shared apartment: starting at €320/month
The P&CS program itself does not offer any, but there are several scholarships and assistance programs by the German state, the State of Bavaria, the DAAD, as well as private and public foundations, and other organizations. Further information can be found here.
Application
State in English in max. 500 words why you want to study Philosophy and Computer Science at the University of Bayreuth, what qualifies you for the program and what you hope to achieve by studying this program.
In your essay, we are looking at how you present your current knowledge in philosophy and/or computer science, how you motivate your choice to study P&CS, and at the competencies you describe. We are examining what specific topics and questions you raise and how these relate to the program’s content. Apart from that, we asses the clarity and quality of language, structure, and your argumentation skills.
Yes, applications can be handed in from March 1 to July 15 exclusively via CAMPUSonline, the application portal of University Bayreuth. All relevant links can be found at the bottom of the "Application" page under "How to apply". A submission of printed (certified) copies by mail is not necessary.
Please request your VPD (preliminary review documentation) as early as possible (at least 6 to 8 weeks before the application deadline for the desired degree program at the University of Bayreuth). We can only accept your VPD if it has been issued for an application to the University of Bayreuth. You can have your documents reviewed by uni-assist any time of the year. If the portal for the desired semester has not yet been opened at uni-assist, simply select the current semester. It does not matter whether you apply for the summer or the winter semester at uni-assist. Please note, however, that the application deadline at the University of Bayreuth (15 July) must be met.
Your VPD will remain valid for two year as long as there have been no changes to your Master's entrance qualification (in the case of an application for Master's degree programs) or the admission requirements.
If you do not have a final VPD yet and are waiting for uni-assist to process it, you need to provide confirmation that you have applied for a VPD for the University of Bayreuth in due time and with all required documents. Otherwise, your application will not be processed.
You can apply for all programs with a single VPD as long as it is not older than two years and has been issued for an application for the University of Bayreuth.
Most documents need to be submitted before the application deadline (July 15). In case you have not received your Bachelor certificate yet, you can submit an official transcript of records (including subjects and grades) showing that you have completed at least 150 ECTS credits. There exists a grace period for few, select documents (see the application portal, links can be found at the bottom of the "Application" page under "How to apply".) until August 15. However, we strongly advise against relying on the grace period unless absolutely necessary given the rolling admissions procedure and the time required for visa applications etc.
Yes, our master's program is subject to limited admission.
After we receive your application, two members of our selection committee will rate it in a 2-step aptitude assessment process. First, they will evaluate the submitted application documents (step 1). Depending on the outcome of this process you might be directly admitted or rejected. If we cannot make a final decision based on your documents alone, you will be invited to an interview (step 2).
You can find more information about the application here.
Most people will be admitted/rejected directly. Should you require an interview, we will contact you via email about one week in advance. You need to confirm your interview slot for it actually take place. All interviews will be held online.
Applicants do not have to travel to Bayreuth to participate in the interview. Instead, we will arrange an online interview (preferred) or a telephone interview in English. Please note that travel expenses such as travel costs, accommodation or food, which arise because of participation in the selection process, cannot be refunded.
You usually hear from the program coordinators quickly after the interview. However, official notices might take a bit longer. And as things are busy towards the summer, processing may take slightly longer towards the end of the application phase.
It is not mandatory to submit a master's certificate. However, we strongly recommend enclosing it, as it represents a valuable piece of information for our selection committee and might prove the information about your master's study in your CV.
We run a “rolling admissions” policy. That is, we continuously work on processing your applications throughout the entire application period. However, there are many steps involved so we ask you to be a bit patient. If you require a visa, we encourage you to apply as early as possible!
Except for degrees from Germany, the place of your previous studies does not have an effect on the application process. Please choose the link based on your citizenship.
Except for degrees from Germany, the place of your previous studies does not have an effect on the application process. Please choose the link based on your citizenship.
We are sorry, but we can only accept applications through our online portal which is open from March 1 to July 15 (for a start in the winter semester).
We are sorry, but we cannot do any pre-evaluation. Please check out carefully the entry requirements listed on our webpage as well as the assessment procedure. If you think you fulfill all requirements and would like to be admitted to our program, please submit all required documents exclusively through our online portal. E-mail attachments cannot be considered for evaluation.
A brief application guide can be found here. For all other technical problems (unusual error messages, page cannot be loaded, etc.) with CAMPUSonline, please contact the CM Help Team.
If you have specific questions regarding your application, please use the Team Incoming Degree - FAQ and contact form.
You can find all the information on the application for non-EU citizens here. To avoid complications with visas and enrolment, we advise you to apply as early as possible and contact our International Office. Please note that acquiring a visa to enroll into the program requires extensive documentation, such as evidence of health insurance coverage, evidence of sufficient financial funds, and evidence of accommodation. For further information, consult the information for international students and the webpages of Bayreuth’s immigration office.
In general, students from India, Vietnam, and mainland China are required to apply for the APS certificate. If your application for the APS certificate is successful, you will receive the certificate with which you can apply for a German student visa and for German universities. The APS certificate is valid for an unlimited period of time. Please note that the APS certificate is required for the document check by uni-assist. You can find further information about the APS certificate here.
Applicants from outside the EU who have obtained their Bachelor's degree abroad have to upload their application documents via uni-assist and undergo a fee-based special procedure.
You can find the relevant information about the document checking process here.
In the following cases, an application via uni-assist is not necessary:
- You have a German, EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship
- You are already enrolled as a student at the University of Bayreuth
- You have already obtained your entrance qualification for master's programs (usually your first degree) at an accredited university in Germany
If you have acquired your higher education entrance qualification in a non-EU country, you must request a VPD via uni-assist. Since the admission criteria may vary from university to university, it is imperative that the higher education entrance qualification of each applicant be checked, regardless of whether he or she has already been enrolled at a German university.
Exception: A VDP is not required if you have already obtained your entrance qualification for master’s programs (usually your first degree) at an accredited university in Germany.