Master of Science Distributed Software Systems
Preliminary remark
To successfully finish your master study program you have to achieve at least 120 Credit Points in accordance with the implementation terms. You also have to pass every imposed condition within your first year of studies. After your graduation you receive the academic title Master of Science (M. Sc.).
The goals of your studies
The Master in Distributed Software Systems is designed to enable you to develop high-quality business applications that are scalable, flexible, secure and liable. This study program will also enable you to autonomously develop software and work on a scientific basis.
Plan of studies
The plan of studies regulates the courses that you can take. It consists of four areas of mandatory choice and the Master Thesis. The first area is Distributed Systems. It focuses on specific knowledge needed to build distributed applications. You have achieve at least 18 Credit Points in this area. The second area is Networking and Systems Software, where you learn about the foundations of distributed applications. Here you need at least 18 Credit Points too. The third area is Formal Methods, Programming Languages and Software engineering. This will enable you to create software for high quality requirements. You have to get at leats 18 Credit Points in this area as well. In these three areas exams will be used for grading. The fourth area is Achievements in parallel to studies. These are mostly seminars or practical labs. You have to take at least one, at most two seminars. Also at least one of the forms practical lab, project and similiar forms has to be chosen. In this are you must achieve 12 to 15 Credit Points. The remaining 21 to 24 Credit Points you can achieve with courses from the first three areas.
Master Thesis
The Master Thesis is the final part of your study program. This Thesis is worth 30 Credit Points which means 900 hours of work you will have to invest during one semester. Although you can start your Master Thesis anytime during your studies it is highly recommended to write it at the end of your studies when you have finished every other course and you already know all the research topics so that you can choose a good topic for your thesis. The Master Thesis is normally worked on alone. It is supposed to show that you can autonomously work an a problem of computer science. But of course you have an advisor for your task.
Coursework
Courseworks ("Studienleistungen") can be repeated until they are passed. This often applies to practical labs or seminars. Courseworks are in Area of mandatory choice D of the plan of studies.
Exams
Exams can be repeated only a limited number of times. You have a maximum of three attempts per exam. If you fail two times at an exam you will be invited to an advisory appointment where you will get help in analysing why you failed two times and how to pass the final attempt. Exams can be written or oral. This normally depends on the number of students attending the course. For every exam you have to register in TUCaN during the exam registration phase.
Grades
The grades at German universities are the following with 1.0 being the best achievable grade and 5.0 meaning you failed the course:
- 1.0, 1.3 (excellent)
- 1.7, 2.0, 2.3 (good)
- 2.7, 3.0, 3.3 (satisfactory)
- 3.7, 4.0 (sufficient)
- 5.0 (fail)
Imposed conditions
For your studies at TU Darmstadt you may have received some imposed conditions. Here you will learn what they are and what their influence is.
What are imposed conditions?
Te begin a Master study program of computer science at TU Darmstadt you are required to already have knowledge on all major areas of computer science. When you apply with your Bachelor Degree then the contents of your courses are checked if you have all the knowledge that you need for our study program. If you are missing knowledge of certain areas we require you to pass certain courses after which you will have this knowledge. Those courses are the imposed conditions.
What is their relevance to me?
All imposed conditions have to be passed in your first year of studies. If you don't pass all of these courses you get de-registered from the study program. So try to pass these courses as soon as possible.
I think I already have that knowledge.
If you think that you have been given an imposed condition although you acquired that knowledge in your previous study program then the talk to the Student Advisory Service for further information.
How to pass these courses.
First of all you must register for theses courses in TUCaN. There you can find theses courses under "zusätzliche Leistungen"→"Gesamtkatalog aller Module an der TU Darmstadt" → "Gesamtkatalog aller Module FB 20 Informatik". The modules should then be under "Grundlagenveranstaltungen" or "Kanonische Einführungsveranstaltungen". If you have problems with registering for these courses please contact the Examination Office. Some of these courses are only available in German. The exams will be in English.