Admission to the master programme Computer Science/Media Informatics (degree from the University of Vienna)
Detailed information on the admission to the master programmes Computer Science and Media Informatics for prospective students who
- have completed a bachelor/diploma programme
- at the University of Vienna.
Your steps in the admission procedure depend on whether you completed the bachelor programme in Computer Science/Business Informatics or another degree programme.
© Alex Schuppich
Graduates of the bachelor programme in Computer Science/Business Informatics
- Make sure that your SSC has registered your bachelor's degree.
- Log in to u:space within the application period.
- Under Studies > Apply for consecutive master programmes, you can see the degree programmes for which automatic admission is possible.
- Select the degree programme Computer Science/ Media Informatics and use the "Admit" button. You will be preliminarily admitted to this degree programme for the relevant semester.
- Pay the tuition fee/Student's Union fee during the admission period. The admission is complete as soon as it appears in u:space as "received on".
- Check if everything was correctly processed in u:space > Studies > Study overview.
Please contact us via the Servicedesk, if you cannot choose the programme at "apply for consecutive master programmes".
Note: Under certain conditions, graduates of the Bachelor's degree programmes in Computer Science or Business Informatics at the University of Vienna can be admitted to Master's degree programmes with the same subject on a daily basis (only available in German).
Deadlines
Deadlines for graduates of the bachelor programme in Computer Science or Business Informatics at the University of Vienna
Winter semester 2025/26:
- Application period: from 23 June to 31 October 2025
- Admission period: from 14 July to 31 October 2025
- Semester start: 1 October
Summer semester 2026:
- Application period: from 13 November 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Admission period: 7 January to 31 March 2026
- Semester start: 1 March
Non-consecutive degree programmes
You have completed a different bachelor programme than Computer Science/Business Informatics at the University of Vienna? In this case you have to participate in the selection procedure to receive a study place.
Deadlines and overview
- Application period for the academic year 2025/26: from 3 March to 7 April 2025
- Available university places: 85 (in total)
- Entrance exam: 7 July 2025
- Administration fee: none
- Exam language: German
- Exam duration: 90 minutes
- Admission period winter semester 2025/26: after the announcement of results to 31 October 2025
- Admission period summer semester 2026: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
- Semester start: 1 October (winter semester), 1 March (summer semester)
You can only be admitted to the Mater's degree programme in Computer Science or Media Informatics, if you have succesfully participated in the selection procedure and fulfill all admission requirements.
Required documents
For the registration in u:space
- your valid passport or personal ID card (front and back) as JPEG or PNG file
For the application for admission
- Higher education degree certificate and transcripts/diploma supplement (at least 150 ECTS for a bachelor degree with 180 ECTS) merged into one PDF file
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Letter of motivation
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Proof of other requirements prescribed in the curriculum
You can find detailed information regarding the content and structure of your letter of motivation and further documents on the overview page of the individual degree programme. Choose the appropriate degree programme at Admission > Master programmes.
You do not need a proof of German language proficiency.
Your steps in the admission procedure
Step 1: Apply for admission in u:space
Log in to u:space and select the desired degree programme under Studies > Apply for admission. Documents that have already been confirmed by the Admission Office (status: "confirmed") do not need to be uploaded again. Upload any documents required by the curriculum as individual PDF files (proof of English language proficiency, letter of motivation). Then select "Submit application".
As soon as the status of your application is "submitted" in u:space under "My applications", the Admission Office can process your application.
Missing documents will delay the processing of your application! So make sure, that you have uploaded all required documents in your application.
Step 2: Waiting for the invitation to the written exam
After the end of the application period, it will be decided who gets invited to the written test. Together with the invitation, you will also receive your permission to attend and detailed information about the time and place of the written exam.
Step 3: Preparation for the exam
To prepare for the exam for the academic year 2025/26, the following topics from the bachelor programme Computer Science at the University of Vienna are recommended. These serve as the basis for the master programmes Computer Science and Media Informatics. They are tested in a multiple-choice test.
Please note:
- All topics are equally important.
- The non-binding literature references are provided for orientation purposes only.
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Technical Foundations of Informatics
- Integer arithmetic
- Boolean algebra
- CMOS technology
- Logic gates
- Memory and Storage technologies
- Caching
- Scalar and superscalar computer architectures
- Basics of quantum computing
Literature for reference: John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson: Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach. Elsevier. -
Theoretical Computer Science
- Propositional logic: Syntax: variables, logical connectives, formulas, conjunctive and disjunctive normal forms. Semantic: truth table, satisfiability of a formula, consistency of a set of formulas, tautology, logical implication (logical consequence). Proof of consistency of a set of formulas. Proof of correctness of logical consequence.
- First order predicate logic: Syntax: function and predicate symbols, terms, atomic formulas, free and bound variables, formulas, prenex normal form. Semantic: structures, models, satisfiability and validity of a first order formula.
- Formal grammars: regular grammar, context-free grammar, context-sensitive grammar, unrestricted grammar.
- Automata theory: finite-state automaton, pushdown automaton, Turing machine, deterministic and nondeterministic automata.
- Chomsky hierarchy: relationship languages/grammars/automata.
- Computability theory. Computable functions, decidable sets and problems. Undecidable problems. Halting problem.
- Complexity theory. Complexity classes P and NP. SAT problem.
Literature for reference: John E. Hopcroft, Rajeev Motwani, Jeffrey Ullman: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages and Computation. Addison-Wesley. -
Mathematical Foundations
- Power set, operations with sets, cartesian product of sets, proof by mathematical induction
- N-ary, equivalence, and partial order relations
- Mappings and functions: injective, surjective, bijective
- Groups and rings as algebraic structures and their properties
- Vectors and matrices: basic operations, unit matrix, inverse matrix, rank
- Linear independence of vectors, basis and dimension of a vector space, coordinates in a vector space
- Linear systems of equations, Gauss algorithm and various uses of it
- Determinants, eigenvalues/vectors, characteristic polynomial of a matrix, similar matrices
- Scalar product, orthogonal vectors, orthogonal matrices, vector norms
- Graphs: directed, undirected, complete, planar, adjacency matrix, degree of a node, paths in graphs
- Trees and their characterization, properties of (regular) binary trees, Huffman codes
- Fundamentals: complex numbers, fundamental theorem of algebra, linear factors, Euler's formula, properties of different types of functions, exponential function incl. complex exponential
- Differentiation: limits, derivative, sign of derivative, critical points, implicit differentiation, logarithmic differentiation
- Integration: fundamental theorem of calculus, antiderivative, Riemann integral, integration by substitution incl. trigonometric substitution, integration by parts, improper integrals
- Sequences of Functions: uniform convergence, power series, Taylor series, Taylor series in several variables
- Differentiation in Higher Dimensions: vector-valued functions, Frenet–Serret formulas, partial derivative, tangent planes, directional derivative, total derivative, Jacobian, gradient, divergence, curl, Hessian matrix, definite quadratic forms, critical points
- Integration in Higher Dimensions: multiple integral, substitution for multiple variables, Jacobian determinant, polar coordinate system, cylindrical coordinate system, spherical coordinate system
Literature for reference: Kenneth L Kuttler: Calculus of One and Many Variables https://klkuttler.com/ -
Programming
- Programming Language Paradigms
- Imperative Programming, Variables, Assignment, Selection, Iteration, Sequence
- Algorithm Definition (Unambiguous, Effective, Deterministic, Finite, Complete, Correct)
- Recursion
- Object Oriented Programming, Data Hiding, Polymorphism, Inheritance
- Generic Programming, Templates (C++), Generics (Java)
- Lambda Expressions
- STL, Container, Algorithms (C++), Collections (Java)
Literature for reference: Bjarne Stroustrup: Programming Principles and Practice Using C++, Addison-Wesley. -
Database Systems
- Relational Model (Definition of Relation, Key, Superkey, Data Definition Language of SQL)
- Normal Forms (Functional and Multivalued Dependencies, 1.-4. Normal Form, Boyce-Codd-Normal Form, Decomposition- and Synthesis Algorithm)
- Relational Algebra (select, project, cartesian product, union, difference, intersection, division, join including inner, outer, equi-, and natural join)
- Tuple and Domain Calculus (formulas and expressions, quantors)
- SQL (select, from, where, set operations, aggregation, grouping, ordering, views)
- Transactions, (Concurrency and Recovery including schedules, locking, logging)
- Index Structures (B-trees and hashing methods)
- Relational Query Optimization (push projection, push selection, cost estimation)
Literature for reference: Ramez Elmasri, Shamkant B. Navathe: Fundamentals of Database Systems. Pearson. -
Algorithms and Data Structures
- Algorithm Paradigms, Greedy, Divide and Conquer, Dynamic Programming
- Asymptotic Computational Complexity (O, Omega, Theta, o, omega, ~)
- Data Structures (List, Trees, Graphs)
- Sorting Algorithm Properties (Insitu, Exsitu, Stable, Unstable, O(n ln n) Limit for Comparison Sort)
- Sorting Algorithms (Selection Sort, Insertion Sort, Bubble Sort, Quicksort, Mergesort, Heapsort)
- Linear Time Sorting Algorithms (Counting Sort, Radix Sort, Bucket Sort)
- Hashing Principles (Hash Function, Static, Dynamic, Collision Resolution)
- Hashing Methods (Double Hashing, Separate Chaining, Linear Hashing, Extendible Hashing, BISEH, Coalesced Hashing, Cuckoo Hashing)
- Search Trees (BST, Multiway Trees, B+ Tree)
- Graphs (Internal Representation, Traversal, Shortest Paths Algorithms)
Literature for reference: Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest: Introduction to Algorithms. MIT Press and McGraw-Hill. -
Software Engineering
- Software Requirements Specification
- Software Verification and Validation
- Software Rollout and Maintenance
- Software Quality and Code Quality
- Software Design and Architecture
- Design Patterns
Literature for reference: Ian Sommerville: Software Engineering. Pearson. -
Modelling
- UML: Unified Modelling Language (UseCase, Class, Object, Activitiy, State, Sequence, Package, Component, and Deployment Diagrams)
- Entity Relationship Model
- BPMN: Business Process Model and Notation
- DMN: Decision Model and Notation
- Petri Nets
- Event-driven process Chain (EPC)
Literature for reference: Martin Fowler: UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modelling Language. Addison Wesley. -
Computer Networks
- Physical Layer: Guided Transmission Media, Wireless Transmission, Spectra and Waveforms
- Data Link Layer: Framing, Error Control, Flow Control, Media Access Control, Ethernet, WLAN
- Network Layer: Internet Protocol, Routing Algorithms and Protocols, Traffic Management and Quality of Service
- Transport Layer: UDP and TCP
- Application Layer: Domain Name System, Electronic Mail, World Wide Web
- Fundamentals of Network Security: Attacks, Symmetric-Key and Public-Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures
Literature for reference: James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross: Computer Networking. A Top-Down Approach. Pearson. -
Human Computer Interaction
- Human-Centered Design (User research)
- Usability and User Experience
- Interaction Design Principles
- Accessibility and Inclusive Design
- Emerging Technologies in HCI (GenAI)
- Perception and Cognition
- Prototyping
Literature for reference: Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory Abowd, Russell Beale: Human-Computer Interaction. Prentice Hall.
Step 4: The written exam
It is not possible to participate in the written exam without your permission to attend. Please take the entire day off and make sure to travel to Vienna a day earlier, if necessary.
At the end of the exam, you will receive information regarding the next steps.
The admission to the degree programme is only possible after you have successfully passed the written exam and received your admission letter.
Step 5: Waiting for the exam result and admission letter
Wait for the exam result
Approximately 14 days after the exam, you will receive an e-mail with your results and the next steps.
Wait for the admission letter
As soon as the exam results are announced, your application will be further processed.
You will receive your admission letter via e-mail to the e-mail address you have provided in u:space. The admission letter is only valid for the winter semester you have applied for and the following summer semester. We recommend starting your studies in the winter semester.
Having received the admission letter does not mean that you are already admitted to the degree programme, but rather that you have received a study place and that an admission to the degree programme you have applied for is possible. You still have to complete the admission procedure as described in step 6 and 7.
Step 6: Admission
To complete the admission procedure, write a message via the Servicedesk within the admission period of the semester you have applied for or the following semester. You will receive an e-mail with further information.
In your own interest, complete the admission procedure as early as possible so that you do not miss the registration deadlines for courses!
Step 7: Pay the tuition fee/Students' Union fee and validate the u:card
Pay the tuition fee/Students’ Union fee. The admission is complete as soon as the prescribed fee is "received" in u:space > Financial matters > Tuition fee/Students’ Union fee. Then you can also validate your student ID card, the u:card.
You can also print your study documents (student record sheet and confirmation of enrolment) in u:space > Personal matters > My documents.
After admission you can plan your semester and register for courses. The registration deadlines are available in the course directory u:find as well as in u:space.
FAQ
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I have received an invitation, but I don't live in Austria. How can I participate in the written exam?
We advise everyone to travel to Vienna the day before.
Please note: There are no alternative dates and there is no possibility to take the test online!
Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries are advised to enquire about entry requirements at an Austrian representation as soon as possible.
You can apply for a residence permit/visa with your invitation and the permission to attend the written exam.
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Will I receive an admission letter if I have completed the bachelor programme in Computer Science or Business Informatics at the University of Vienna?
No, in this case you will not receive an admission letter. Follow the steps described above and apply for admission in u:space via Studies > Apply for consecutive master programmes.
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I have received my admission letter, what do I need to do now? Am I already admitted to my degree programme?
No, you still have to complete the admission procedure. Please message us via the Servicedesk within the admission period of the semester you have applied for or the following semester to complete the admission procedure. You will receive an e-mail with further information.
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My bachelor programme is not yet completed. Can I still apply for admission?
Generally speaking you must have completed your degree programme when applying for admission. However, if you are near completion, an individual assessment of your study progress will determine whether you may participate in the selection procedure. No more than 30 ECTS may be left until completion. Please note: you have to submit the official higher education degree certificate by 30 September at the latest. Please merge your transcript of records into one PDF file. Upload this file in your application for admission, so your study progress can be assessed.
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Can I submit the application with a certificate for English that is not in the list of accepted certificates?
No, only language certificates listed as recognised proofs of English language proficiency are accepted.
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When will I know if I can be admitted?
You will receive your admission letter a few weeks after taking the written test. You can only be admitted after successfully participating in the test and receiving a positive admission letter.
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How long is my admission letter valid?
Your admission letter is valid for the winter semester you applied for and the following summer semester. We recommend beginning your studies in the winter semester.
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I can't find my master programme in the list in u:space – why?
Please note that the application periods for admission to master programmes with selection procedure and master programmes without selection procedure differ. Make sure, if the application period for the desired master programme is currently open. Only then will it appear in the drop-down menu.
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How many study places are available each academic year?
A total of 85 places are allocated per academic year for the master programmes in Computer Science and Media Informatics.