Master in Computer Science

Master in Computer Science is one of 10 English-taught Computer Science programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 6,700 to EUR 17,300; this programme lists EUR 16,300 a year. 8 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students. The same programme title is offered at 5 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

The Master's in Computer Science at Aarhus University is a two-year, full-time degree taught entirely in English. It builds on what you learned in a computer science bachelor's degree and lets you shape the programme around what you want to do next.

What you study

The programme has four specialisations: Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, and Software Foundations and Technology. Picking one is optional. You can also combine courses across them to make your own profile. The first three semesters are made up of elective courses, so you decide the direction. The final semester is your master's thesis, which you can write with a company or as part of a research project.

The Department of Computer Science is known for research in cryptography and programming languages, and also works in artificial intelligence, algorithms, human-computer interaction and cybersecurity. That research feeds into the teaching.

How the programme is organised

Four semesters, full time. Teaching mixes lectures and classes, all in English, with preparatory work in study groups. You can meet the professor or teaching assistants assigned to a course if you need help with an assignment. The workload is estimated at 45 hours a week, including classes, assignments and group work. Most students still find time for a student job.

Academic advisors help you put together a coherent study plan, so you do not have to decide everything before you start. The department sits in IT City Katrinebjerg, where Aarhus University has gathered its IT programmes and research. There is a Friday bar, student associations, tech talks with companies, and the annual hackathon AUHack.

Who it suits

You should have a bachelor's degree with at least 20 ECTS in programming, 20 ECTS in computer systems, 20 ECTS in theoretical computer science and/or human-computer interaction, and 20 ECTS in basic mathematics, probability theory and statistics. That is 80 ECTS in total across the four areas. The programme suits someone who wants room to specialise rather than a fixed set of modules, and who is comfortable planning their own path with an advisor.

Admission, language and next steps

If you hold a Bachelor's in Computer Science from Aarhus University, you have a legal right of admission, provided you apply within three years of finishing. Certain Danish bachelor's degrees in computer science (from Aarhus University, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Southern Denmark) meet the direct admission requirements. Everyone else is assessed on the general requirement (a bachelor's degree comparable to a Danish one, 180 ECTS) and the specific subject requirements above.

If your degree is from outside Denmark, you complete an appendix listing the courses that cover the required subject areas; the link comes in the confirmation message from the application portal (DANS). Intake is limited, so meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee a place. Applicants are ranked on grades from the qualifying degree, grades in the relevant subject fields, and the share of your degree that falls within those fields. Grades earned after the application deadline are not counted. You must also meet the university's English language requirements, though legal right of admission students from Aarhus University are exempt.

Applications for master's programmes go straight to the institution. The programme starts in August or September. From 2027, it is planned to be offered as both a one-year and a two-year master's, and legal right of admission is expected to apply to the one-year version. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution.

Master’s applications go straight to Aarhus University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.