Program Overview

The International Max Planck Research School for Computer Science (IMPRS-CS) offers a fully funded graduate program in cooperation with the Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science at Saarland University.

IMPRS-CS PhD Program

The program leads to a doctoral degree (PhD) and is open to students who already hold a research-oriented Master's degree in Computer Science (or an equivalent degree).
Admitted students will receive a scholarship that covers all living expenses and tuition fees. These scholarship recipients are automatically members of the Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science.
Applications should be submitted to the IMPRS-CS.

The IMPRS-CS graduate program is organized in collaboration with the MPI for Informatics, the MPI for Software Systems, and the Department of Computer Science at Saarland University, all three of which rank among the very best scientific research institutions in Computer Science in Europe.

Additional Study Options:

PhD Qualification Program

Students who have a four-year Bachelor's degree in computer science with excellent academic performance and a strong research background or research interest can apply with the Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science to enter the qualification phase of the PhD program. In addition, they can apply for an IMPRS-CS scholarship; the selected students become members of the IMPRS-CS. Interested students should apply for admission and express their interest in an IMPRS-CS scholarship.

Master's Programs

Students who have a very good Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and first want to pursue a Master's degree in Computer Science or Visual Computing can apply with the respective Master's program at Saarland University. A small number of admitted students who show excellent performance and promise are selected for IMPRS-CS scholarships and become members of the IMPRS-CS.
Interested students should apply directly for admission to the Master’s program in Computer Science and for the Master’s program in Visual Computing.

Results of the CHE-Master's Program Ranking 2009/2010

The Master's program at Saarland University was ranked among the three best programs at German universities
The Master's program was ranked in the top group (among the best 25 percent) in all major categories (overall study situation, courses offered, study organization, IT infrastructure and transition to Master's program)
On a scale from 1 to 6, student's opinion was the following:
Support provided by lecturers: 1.8
Contact to other students: 1.7
Courses offered: 1.8
Study organization: 1.6
Research: 1.7
Library: 1.6
IT infrastructure: 1.6
Overall study situation: 1.5

Results of the CHE-University Ranking 2009/2010

Overall study situation: among the four best
Graduates per professor: among the four best
Students' opinion on courses offered: among the four best
Students' opinion on study organization: among the four best
Faculty was considered to be a leading faculty in research by 49.4% of all professors
Faculty was considered to be a leading faculty for academic studies and teaching by 38.7% of all professors

Find more information on ranking.zeit.de.

Further Information:

Research groups at the MPI for Informatics
Research groups at the MPI for Software Systems
Research groups at the Department of Computer Science
MPI for Informatics staff
MPI for Software Systems staff