Information for
Quick links
Faculties
Academic excellence, outstanding teaching and a state-of-the-art research environment: the Department of Computer Science at Saarland University is one of the world's leading research centres for computer science. The Saarbrücken campus is also home to no fewer than four internationally renowned research institutes – creating an environment in which tomorrow's top talent can develop and thrive.
At the heart of this success story are the university's internationally renowned professors, a closely-knit research community and a portfolio of innovative and interdisciplinary study programmes covering almost the entire spectrum of computer science research. The Department of Computer Science regularly achieves top positions in university rankings such as the CHE University Ranking and the computer science-specific CS Rankings. Throughout its 50-year history, the department has received numerous accolades for its excellence in research and teaching.
By launching the newly developed Honors Program, Saarland University aims to provide targeted and personalized support to particularly high-achieving national and international students on its Bachelor's degree programmes.
The Honors Program at Saarland University
What is the Honors Program and who is it for?
The Honors Program is not a degree programme in its own right. It is an exclusive certificate programme for outstanding national and international students enrolled in Bachelor's degree programmes in computer science who wish to enrich their studies with research-oriented and advanced academic components. Admission to the Honors Program is performance-based and highly competitive. Applicants are expected to have an exceptional academic record – either at school or university – and a keen interest in research and academic questions. You should also be prepared to engage with your subject well beyond the standard curriculum.
As an Honors Program student, you will receive a special Honors Certificate and a corresponding entry in your transcript of records.
As an Honors Program student, you're part of an exclusive community that brings people together to support and inspire each other. The Honors Program has been designed to create opportunities for exchange, collaboration and genuine connections. In addition to your scheduled lectures, you will be invited to take part in a range of regular Honors Program events.
Personal support that helps you get ahead
Personal mentoring
You will be assigned a professor as your personal mentor. In regular meetings, you'll receive individual feedback and plan your next steps together with your mentor.
Support in finding internships and student assistant positions
Whether you are looking for an internship with our industry partners or an exciting student assistant position in one of the SIC research groups, the Honors Program will help you find the right position for your profile. You'll benefit from our exceptionally strong network in research and industry, enabling you to gain valuable practical experience at an early stage.
Your place to study and connect
As an Honors Program student, you will have access to the Graduate School's workspace where you can study, work and make progress on your projects in a quiet and focused atmosphere.
The workspace is also a place where academic exchange can develop naturally – with other motivated students and members of the campus community. The Graduate School's workspace is a place on campus where you can focus, network and feel at home.
Experience a real sense of community at regular meetings
As well as developing academically, as a student on the Honors Program you'll also quickly become part of a strong community. During regular knowledge-sharing sessions, you'll have the chance to get to know other students, ask questions, share experiences and move forward together.
Networking events, guest lectures and excursions to companies or research institutes will give you insights into current research and potential career paths. Discussions with leading figures from academia, industry and politics can also open up new perspectives.
And because community is about more than just learning together, there are lots of opportunities for group excursions, barbecues, hikes and games evenings. Event formats such as an 'Honors Retreat', discussions with professors, and soft-skills workshops can also help foster your academic and personal development.
This creates a community where you can connect with fellow students, network and grow together.
Early involvement in world-class research
At Saarland Informatics Campus (SIC), Saarland University, the Max Planck Institutes, CISPA and DFKI all work in close collaboration. The Honors Program builds on this collaborative infrastructure, giving you direct access to cutting-edge research with international reach right from the start.
The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) is an international leader in AI research. For more than 35 years, DFKI has stood at the interface of scientific excellence, real-world applications and social responsibility. With an international team of around 1,500 employees from over 70 countries, DFKI develops trailblazing solutions to today’s problems. DFKI's research covers a very broad spectrum, from fundamental academic research to market-focused product development. DFKI's size and the volume of external funding that it acquires makes it one of the world's most important centres of excellence in its field.
Learn more
For over two decades, the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS) has been conducting groundbreaking basic research in the development, analysis, modelling and implementation of software systems. The institute also focuses on evaluating complex software architectures. The goal is to develop and improve computer systems that are efficient, reliable, safe and user-friendly. The two Max Planck Institutes on the Saarland Informatics Campus are Germany’s only Max Planck Society research centres for fundamental research in computer science and are recognized as top destinations for computer scientists.
Learn more
The Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI-INF) aims to advance foundational research and drive innovation in key areas of computer science. Its research covers a broad spectrum, ranging from the study of the fundamental principles of algorithms and logic to the study of systems such as the internet and of multimodal domains such as computer vision, computer graphics, databases and information systems, machine learning and artificial intelligence. By bringing together expertise from across these diverse fields and fostering a strong culture of collaboration, the institute conducts world-class research and helps shape the future of computer science.
Learn more
The CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is one of Germany's federally funded 'big science' institutions within the Helmholtz Association. Its research covers all aspects of information security. With its continuously growing number of researchers, CISPA is now in a position to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence facing society in the digital age.
Major research projects
Another highlight of the Saarland Informatics Campus is the major interdisciplinary research projects initiated here. These projects are funded by numerous organizations, including the German Research Foundation (DFG), Google and the Volkswagen Foundation. To learn more about our ongoing large-scale research projects, visit the Saarland Informatics Campus website where you will find information on current research topics, time frames, funding sources and much more.
Learn more
The full spectrum of computer science
Bachelor's degree programmes at Saarland University
With 2,600 students from more than 80 countries, Saarland Informatics Campus is an international hotspot for computer science. The Bachelor's degree programmes cover almost the entire spectrum of computer science – from mathematics and computer science to data science, AI, bioinformatics and cybersecurity. Students learn from leading researchers who teach at the forefront of their fields.
Find out all about our Bachelor's degree programmes!
Learn more
Application route
Choose your application route
The Honors Program in Computer Science is an additional selective track within eligible Bachelor’s programmes at Saarland University. Your application path depends on whether you choose an English-taught or a German-taught Bachelor’s programme.
If you want to study in an English-taught Bachelor’s programmes, you first apply for the Bachelor’s programme.
Your steps:
- Apply for Computer Science B.Sc. English or Cybersecurity B.Sc. English by 15 July.
- Once you have received your Bachelor admission, apply for the Honors Program by 31 August.
- Invitation to an Online Interview.
- You will receive the results of the Honors selection process by 18 September.
- Complete your enrollment in your chosen Bachelor’s programmes by 30 September.
If you want to study in a German-taught Bachelor’s programme, you usually enroll directly at Saarland University during the enrollment period. For the Honors Program, however, you apply before completing your Bachelor enrollment.
Your steps:
- Choose an eligible German-taught Bachelor’s programme and apply for the Honors Program by 31 August.
- Invitation to an Online Interview.
- You will receive the results of the Honors selection process by 18 September.
- Complete your enrollment in your chosen Bachelor’s programme by 30 September.
Important: The order is different depending on your route
English-taught Bachelor’s programmes:
Apply for the Bachelor’s programme first. Then apply for the Honors Program.
German-taught Bachelor’s programmes:
Apply for the Honors Program first. Then complete your Bachelor enrollment.
Honors Program FAQ
Yes. Saarland Informatics Campus is strongly international in outlook and offers a globally connected, world-class research environment. Campus life is also highly international, too: around 25 percent of Bachelor's students come from outside Germany. At Master’s level, the proportion of international students is even higher, at more than 60 percent.
Living and studying in Saarland
Welcome home
Saarbrücken is a vibrant, outward-looking university city and also the political, economic and cultural centre of Saarland. With a population of around 180,000, including over 30,000 students, the city offers an ideal environment for a varied and rewarding university experience. A wide range of events, a thriving culinary scene and excellent recreational, sporting and cultural activities as well as the city's exciting nightlife all contribute to a high quality of life. The open and friendly nature of the people as well as Saarbrücken's proximity to France and Luxembourg gives the city its distinctive charm.
Another advantage is the comparatively low cost of living. While rents are rising in many university cities, Saarbrücken remains affordable, with moderate average costs for student accommodation. Besides the apartments and house shares available on the private market, there are attractive halls of residence available that are a particularly good choice for first-year students as they offer a range of communal activities. Thanks to the semester travel ticket that grants you unlimited travel on all local and regional public transport services across Germany, and the excellent bus connections to campus, it's easy to get around, even without your own car. International students are also supported by the Welcome Center, which helps with finding accommodation and provides comprehensive information to ensure a successful start in Saarbrücken.
Learn more