Cybersecurity
Bachelor of Science
Solving the challenges of today
and providing security for tomorrow.
Cybersecurity Bachelor of Science
Solving the challenges of today and providing security for tomorrow.
Zum deutschsprachigen Bachelorstudiengang Cybersecurity geht's hier!
Cybersecurity (B.Sc.) at Saarland University
- taught in English
Taught entirely in English. Starting every winter semester. Apply now!
Why Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity threats have become prevalent in our daily lives. Vulnerabilites in computer systems are exploited to spy on users and sabotage even the most security-critical infrastructure (e.g. energy and water supplies, healthcare systems or transport networks). The abundance of readily available, large-scale, privacy-sensitive datasets poses unprecedented risks to user privacy. Consequently, there is an almost unlimited demand for cybersecurity professionals, both from the academic sector and from industry.
This is why Saarland University has teamed up with the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security to offer a unique B.Sc. course in Cybersecurity that teaches the essentials from the very start. CISPA is the world's no. 1 research institute for Cybersecurity, which attests to its high scientific standards and the broad range of topics investigated in CISPA's cutting-edge research. And best of all: courses in this program are taught entirely in English, making them accessible to international students.
and providing security for tomorrow.
What our lecturers say
Course details
Cybersecurity:
a field of study with a (secure) future
The course lasts six semesters and you will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)”. Lectures and seminars fueled by pioneering research in Cybersecurity are complemented by elements of a regular Computer Science course. Students will be able to specialize early on by choosing their elective subjects from a broad range of topics, driven by state-of-the-art research in Cybersecurity at CISPA. Additionally, students attend language courses and Computer Science courses taught in cooperation with other excellent local Computer Science institutions.
Prof. Dr. Christian Rossow: 3 reasons for your Bachelor studies in Cybersecurity
Course details and examples of curriculum
Example Schedules
Admission Requirements
Students have to submit their application documents via an online application portal. The best candidates will then be selected by our admissions panel. Please find detailed information about requirements on the bachelor's website of Saarland University.
Three Steps to Admission
Application Deadlines
Admission
by April 01
by June 15
Admission
The Cybersecurity Course starts every winter semester. Students are admitted four times per year: early admission (apply by January 15, April 01 or June 15) and regular admission (by July 15). Please apply via the online application portal for Cybersecurity and Computer Science. Our admissions panel will then select the best- qualified students. Successful candidates will be notified during the month following the application deadline.
Saarland University
Cutting-Edge Research
Saarland University enjoys close cooperation with other research institutes on campus, giving it a strong competitive edge in the fields of Computer Science and Nanoscience and in European Studies.
Academic excellence of our
degree courses and our teaching
Top CHE university rankings, high-quality supervision and a modern infrastructure on a well-connected campus.
International city
University life here is international, not just because we are very close to the borders with France and Luxembourg but also because of our degree courses taught in English and collaboration with international institutions.
Campus Life
With good public transport connections to the city center, the University is also close to the forest and offers a variety of sports and leisure activitites on campus.
Cutting-Edge Research
Strong key profiles in Computer Science, Nano Science, and Europe create a competitive profile of Saarland University in collaboration with adjacent Research Centers on Campus.
Quality
of Study Programs and Teaching
One of the leading locations for Computer Science, excellent supervision modern infrastructure on a well-connected Campus.
Internationality
Your studies are international, not just because we are very close to the border with France and Luxemburg, but also because of our English Study Programs and our international Collaborations.
Campus Life
Well-connected to the city center by public transport, the University is situated close to the forest offering various options for sports and leisure activitites on campus.
Prepare your stay at Saarland University
© Stephanie Bermerich
© Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
© Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
© Photo by Le Wagon on Unsplash
© CISPA
© CISPA
Why Saarbruecken?
Financial support
Coping with COVID-19!
Services & Assistance
Arrival & Settling In
Useful links & Information
Situated in the region where the borders of France, Luxembourg, and Germany meet, everyday life in Saarland has traditionally been international in character. Investigate our Center for International Students.
Five more reasons to live and study in Saarbruecken or its surroundings:
- The open and down-to-earth nature of the people from Saarland (the Saarländers) has always made it easy for newcomers to settle in quickly. Whether you come from Germany, an EU country or other regions of the world - you are always welcome in Saarland!
- Saarland is located in the heart of Europe. In only 1h and 50 minutes, you can reach Paris by train and we have 4 international airports within easy reach. (Saarbrücken, Luxembourg, Frankfurt-Main, and Frankfurt-Hahn)
- Saarland is green! It has the highest proportion of public forest with over 70% and the most natural forest in Germany. It can come up with no less than 3,545 kilometres of rivers and creeks. So: go out into nature, recharge your batteries, and simply leave the stress of everyday life behind you. With its varied landscapes and extensive forests, Saarland is the number one address for health-conscious people from everywhere.
- We love festivals and one event follows another, no matter if you are looking for street food, French-German theater, rock music or classical music: everyone finds an event matching his or her own taste. The festival year begins in Saarbrücken with the Max Ophüls festival for talented German-language filmmakers, which marks the discovery of young talents from Austria, Germany and Switzerland for 36 years. It is followed in early summer by the PERSPECTIVES festival with theatre, acrobatics, dance and performance and in summer, there are several open-air events.
- We are enthusiastic about sports! No surprise, because there could not be a better framework. More than 390,000 people take part in sports in app. 2,200 Saarland clubs. With 40 percent of the population, the state is the absolute leader in a nationwide comparison. Popular sports include hiking, cycling, running, tennis, horseback riding, etc.
Stipends:
Work as a student helper or tutor:
Read More
Accommodation Services:
Language Services:
Have a look at Saarland Unversity's Welcome Center. helping your with planning your arrival and initial formalities. They will be happy to assist you. Just send them an e-mail at welcome@uni-saarland.de.
Upon your arrival in Saarbruecken, you can look forward to your Welcome Week.
In Strategic Collaboration with CISPA
CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is a German national Big Science Institution within
the
Helmholtz Association. Our research encompasses all aspects of Information Security.
Research at CISPA feeds into the curriculum of the degree programs in Cybersecurity at Saarland
University,
ensuring that
seminars and lectures will cover the very latest research topics.
Cybersecurity is a young and fast-developing field.
As a Helmholtz Center for Information Security, CISPA is dedicated to cutting-edge
foundational research combined with innovative application-oriented research in the fields of
Cybersecurity
and Privacy.
We are committed to the highest international academic standards. Our world-class
research environment offers extensive resources to a wide range of researchers, thus providing an
attractive destination for talented academics and top scientists from around the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not have your university entrance qualification yet, you can apply with your most recent certificates (e.g. transcripts). All other documents, i.e. aptitude or English tests need to final when applying.
All documents have to have to be uploaded prior to this deadline. If your documents arrive after this deadline, we are encouraging you to apply for the next winter semester.
There is no specific cut-off point for test results, as they also vary per application year. Furthermore, the number of admitted students is capped, whereas we cannot foresee the number of applications. We rank candidates according to their test results and thereby give preference to better test results.
Required qualifications are limited to the ones listed on our website.
Yes. You can also apply for both.
No, this is not sufficient.
It depends. Please refer to the ANABIN database for that. Note that we can only check this after you applied and not before. Please also do not inquire about this because we can only assess the documents after you applied.
No, application via our online form is mandatory. We cannot accept applications via e-mail or any hard-copy applications.
No, it is not. However, some high-school diplomas of other countries are considered to be equivalent to a German university entrance qualification. See question "How can I check if I have a German University Entrance Qualification"
There is no NC (numerus clausus) however, since the programs have a limited number of seats, admittance is based on a ranking of the applicants
No, this is not possible.
There is no need to attend a preparatory school or similar. If you are admitted, you can directly start your studies.
The students can use a work placement or internship in industry (maximum of 6 credits) for the ungraded section of mandatory elective courses.
No. The ranking data is internal information.
Yes
We recommend students to be in Saarbrücken about one week before the lectures start. You should join the welcome events and you need a few days for formal steps at university, town hall, etc.
If you want to prepare for the interview, the best you can do is to recap your mathematical skills at high school level. We can however not go into details which particular topics will be subject to discussion in the interviews.
No, that is not necessary.
Unfortunately, no. German law enforces that all required documents (such as a high school diploma) have to be submitted by the application deadline; intermediate certificates and/or grades cannot be accepted.
You may be notified earlier. Note that it does not increase your chances of being accepted.
No, you don't require any previous knowledge of German. Our courses are taught entirely in English. At Saarland University and CISPA we are used to working with with international students and staff on a daily basis. We are providing the best conditions to make you feel welcome at Saarland University. Additionally, we offer German courses for beginners and intermediate students if you are interested in improving your every-day language skills.
No, you don't need to have programming skills. We'll teach you all you need to know during your course!
There are two lectures in maths (MFI 1 & 2). However, mathematical reasoning will be required in many other lectures and seminars.
The German program has a minor subject that is taught in German only.
Since there is only a limited number of seats available, it is possible to switch from one study course to the other only at the beginning of a new semester and only after you have submitted a new application. Therefore, you should in any case consider carefully from the beginning which course is the right one for you. So, for example, if you start with Computer Science and realize that you want to switch to Cybersecurity by either applying to the next higher semester by the deadline for the following semester, or by reapplying during your current semester for the first semester in the upcoming winter semester. If you change to the next higher semester, a large part of your credits (e.g. all the above-mentioned courses) can be transferred to the other study program. So in case of properly completed achievements, you will receive a credit certificate from the examination office, which you must present in the course of your application for admission to the higher semester. However, whether an application and thus switching programs will be successful, ultimately depends on the number of available seats and the respective applicant situation. This also applies to a renewed application to the first semester of the respective other degree program.
In principle, this is possible, but requires a detailed evaluation in each individual case. As soon as you are enrolled, you can apply for a transfer and we will check your documents individually.
Unfortunately, no.
Lectures are usually given on site and in presence, if the pandemic allows for it.
In October, the primary introductory event for International CS Bachelor and International Cysec Bachelor students will take place live on YouTube. The CS Students' Council, Professor Sebastian Hack, and Professor Christian Rossow will tell you everything you need to know about your new university, its structure, the support institutions and amenities, how to get around in Saarbrücken, and –if you just arrived from abroad– some quick-start tips for Germany. You can find the stream link and timetables on this website. The International Office is holding a Welcome Week for international students. We strongly recommend you to participate in the Welcome Week in early October. There you will be able to receive a lot of helpful information regarding your stay in Germany.
We have 15 seats/year in each program
Every BSc student can apply for the honors program. Note however that it is very competitive and only the best 5% of students get in.
A German language course program is integral part of our international BSc study programs
see Discord
All rooms are rooms in shared apartments, which means you will have your own private bedroom and share the kitchen and bathroom with other students. Usually 3 or 4 students will share one apartment. The rooms are located in a good distance to the university and you can reach the university campus by bus. The rooms are fully furnished and vary in size, but range between 14m² and 23m². The rental prices range between 300€ and 400€ per month, including utilities. Rental costs are not included in the program and have to be paid by the students themselves. In addition, a refundable security deposit of around 500€ will have to be paid. Details on the specific room that can be offered to you will be made available to you after acceptance.
Students in Saarbrücken should calculate to have about 800 EUR living expenses per month, though this figure will vary individually. This figure includes fixed costs such as the obligatory health insurance and the rent for an apartment. The health insurance is 115 EUR per month and covers all necessary procedures. The rent adds up to about 300-400 EUR per month, which is significantly less than in Munich, Aachen, Berlin or Karlsruhe. If you aren’t already living in Germany, you can apply to rent one of the apartments reserved by the university for its international BSc. programs. These apartments are intended to make it easier for you to settle in and can be rented for one year. By the end of the first year, you’ll need to find new accommodation (either in a university hall of residence or on the private housing market). The university provides assistance with both. It is also very common to share an apartment with fellow students (called Wohngemeinschaft in German, or WG for short). More information.
The academic study programs offered at Saarland University are state-funded. Therefore no tuition fees are charged for all Bachelor’s and consecutive Master’s programs. Instead, students pay an administrative fee, which includes a pass for public transportation and further benefits (no housing!)
There is no tuition fee at Saarland University only an Semester fee
uni-assist is a service to check a priori if your high-school diploma qualifies as a German University Entrance Qualification. We can do such a check only *after* you applied.
It is not required.
uni-assist documents are not necessary. However, appropriate uni-assist documents are one way of proving your German university entrance qualification (HZB). So, if in doubt, submit them if you have them.
VSi MINT is a study program taught in German. It is targeted to international students whose high-school diploma does not qualify as a German University Entrance Qualification and who wish to gain access to Saarland University's Bachelor Plus MINT study program.
We apply the same admission criteria to all students. By graduating from VSi MINT, you acquire a German university entrance qualification. However, the international BSc programs for Computer Science and Cybersecurity require additional qualifications that you have to provide. Please check the relevant section on admission requirements.
Our Collaborators
