Educational Programs

The informatics program of the Faculty covers both the traditional computer science topics in their full breadth, and a wide range of computer science applications, particularly in the Sciences and in Engineering. The program is directed toward graduate and postgraduate studies:

• a full-time graduate program with a diploma degree in informatics
• special courses for Science and Engineering students with informatics as their minor subject
• a 2-year postgraduate program in informatics leading to a university certificate
• a 3-year postgraduate college with a doctoral program
• various research positions leading to a doctoral degree in informatics

1. Graduate program in informatics

Informatics is one of the liveliest and most attractive programs of the German engineering schools. The Faculty offers a 5-year program that leads to a diploma degree and is divided into two phases: a junior program concentrating on the fundamentals that has to be completed after 2-3 years, and a senior program that emphasizes advanced topics.

During the junior program, students take courses and examinations in:

• mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, statistics, numerical analysis)
• informatics
• microelectronics and computer architecture
• an application discipline (mathematics, economics, or engineering).

The senior program includes 8 basic courses:

• Formal Systems (Formale Systeme)
• Algorithms (Algorithmentechnik)
• Software Engineering (Softwaretechnik)
• Systems Architecture (Systemarchitektur)
• Telecommunications and Database Systems (Kommunikation und Datenhaltung)
• Computer Structures (Rechnerstrukturen)
• Real-Time Systems (Echtzeitsysteme)
• Cognitive Systems (Kognitive Systeme)

These are supplemented by 17 optional programs and laboratory exercises which reflect the major research areas of the Faculty:

• logic and theoretical fundamentals
• deductive systems
• algorithm engineering
• reliable systems architecture
• system structures and user interfaces
• system engineering
• parallel processing
• software engineering and compiler construction
• fault tolerant computer architectures
• systems for process automation
• design and test of integrated circuits
• telematics
• information systems
• computer-aided design systems and robotics
• adaptive systems
• knowledge based systems
• computer graphics

2. Post-graduate program in informatics

For those with an academic diploma degree in informatics or an equivalent, e.g., in the Sciences or in Engineering, a post-graduate program is offered. Currently, close to 30 national and foreign students participate in this program which is organized as a 2-year full-time or a corresponding part-time program.

Within the program, the students are closely integrated into the ongoing work of a research group or a research project supervised by one of the faculty professors. In addition, the curriculum includes courses from three different major research areas of the Faculty.

On successful completion of the program a university certificate is issued although no specific academic degree is conferred.

3. Doctorate in informatics

Since it was founded the Faculty has conferred over 300 doctoral degrees and 20 habilitations.

The Faculty confers the academic degrees of a doctor of natural sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) or a doctor of engineering (Dr.-Ing.) depending on the main topic of the doctoral thesis.

For outstanding graduates in informatics or equivalents, e.g., in electrical engineering or in natural sciences, financial support is offered in form of a limited number of fully funded research positions (with teaching duties) or a smaller number of grants (of a duration of 3 years maximum) in the framework of a so-called Graduiertenkolleg.

These positions offer interested candidates the opportunity to work toward their doctoral theses on promising research topics under the supervision of one or more of the faculty professors. No special courses are offered for doctoral candidates, but a wide range of seminars as well as contacts with other research groups lend support. Foreign students whose academic degree is not fully equivalent to the Karlsruhe one are required to take courses and examinations within the post-graduate program before being admitted as doctoral candidates.

info@ira.uka.de