Entrance Requirements

For the master program Distributed Software Systems

The entrance requirement for the master program Distributed Software Systems is a
bachelor degree in the field of “Computer Science” at TU Darmstadt (reference study
program) or a study program that essentially provides the same competences (comparable
study program).

Entrance Examination
For the admission to the master program Distributed Software Systems

Whether the completed study program is suitable for an admission (with or without imposed
conditions) to the master program Distributed Software Systems at TU Darmstadt is
determined on the basis of a multiple-stage entrance examination.

1. Stage: Subject-specific examination based on the submitted documents

At first, we will verify, based on the submitted documents, whether the complete study
program differs essentially in quality, level, learning outcome, workload or profile from the
above stated reference study program.

If the completed study program provides essentially the same competences, an applicant
will be admitted to the master program Distributed Software Systems if the applicant fulfills
also the formal requirements defined in Stage 3. The admission might be combined with
imposed conditions that have to be met within the first academic year, enabling the
applicant to compensate missing knowledge, abilities and skills. If the imposed conditions
are not met within the first academic year, the admission will be withdrawn. If the imposed
condition would exceed the total workload of 30 credit-points (ECTS), an admission to the
master program is not possible.

If the absolved study program differs essentially from the reference study program, an
admission to the master program is not possible.

If a final decision cannot be made based only on the submitted documents, the respective
applicant will be invited to an entrance exam.

2. Stage: Entrance exam

The entrance exam is a written exam with a duration of 90 minutes that will take place at TU
Darmstadt.

The exam consists of questions that cover entrance competences defined in the
implementation terms for the master program Distributed Software Systems at TU
Darmstadt.
The examination board of the department decides, based on the results of the exam,
whether the applicant has the required competences for an admission to the study program.

The admission might be combined with imposed conditions that have to be met within the
first academic year, enabling the applicants to compensate missing knowledge, abilities and
skills. If the imposed conditions are not met within the first academic year, the admission
will be withdrawn. If the imposed condition would exceed the total workload of 30 credit-
points (ECTS), an admission to the master program is impossible.

The entrance exam can be taken only once within an application period.

It is possible to get exempted from the entrance exam by proving sufficient scores in the
„GRE revised General Test“. To speed up the application process, we highly suggest that
applicants directly submit scores of the GRE revised General Test (if available) together
with the required documents for the application. Please always use the Institutional Code
2249 (Technical University Darmstadt) for the submission of your results. Applicants are
required to show the original GRE statement during enrolment. If this is not provided, the
admission will be withdrawn.

The examination board of the department has defined the scores required for an exemption
from the entrance exam for the summer semester 2018 as follows:

Verbal Reasoning: at least 153 and

Quantitative Reasoning: at least 159 and
Analytic Writing: at least 3.0

An exemption is also possible if the applicant submits a "Graduate Aptitude Test in

Engineering (GATE)" result for Computer Science of 860 points or higher.

3. Stage: Examination of the formal prerequisites

Besides the subject-specific suitability, some formal prerequisites have to be met for taking
up the studies (e.g. a degree that is officially recognized in Germany, sufficient language
skills). Only applicants fulfilling the formal prerequisites are allowed to take up their studies
after passing the entrance examination.

A subject-specific admission is also valid for the following semesters.

Important Dates

Application Deadlines (limitation period):

 15. July for the following winter semester

 15.January for the following summer semester

If you submit your application later than the above stated deadlines, a participation in the
entrance examination for the following semester is impossible.

Dates for the written entrance exam:

  Mid-August for the following winter semester
 Mid-February for the following summer semester

We highly recommend to submit the application and the required documents as soon as
possible in order to allow for ample time for processing as well as visa and travel
arrangements. Note that it is even possible to apply for an earlier deadline and defer
enrolment to ensure ample time for visa and travel arrangements after admission.