General Information

Information and communication systems are chiefly composed of computers and software. Nevertheless, machines, technical facilities, vehicles, and aircraft also function only with the help of embedded computer components. In this way, electronics, computers, and software not only drive information and communication aspects, but numerous areas of technology as well. The IMT Master programme offers student basic training in design technology with respect to complex hardware and/or software systems, but also imparts more advance instruction in special technologies such as Web-based information systems, mobile communications systems or audio/video technology, and speech processing.

Master courses delve much more deeply into scientific and methodological learning than do Bachelor-level courses, thereby introducing students to more demanding R&D challenges.

Students choose a specialist area from among the topics:

• Computer-Based Systems
• Information Systems and Content Management
• Communications and Media Technology.

Other courses dealing with media-related topics serve to even further enhance the programme.

Students are invited to actively participate in joint research projects that involve the university, private companies, and research institutes. Here, students invariably make important contacts with possible future employers. The programme’s exceptional organisation structure ensures that students will have excellent career prospects. In addition to developing structural components and systems, graduates are also active in media and consulting firms, as well as the technological areas of radio and television networks.

Acceptance prerequisites:

• Bachelor degree and examination to determine suitability (can be waived under certain circumstances)
• International students must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency
• Begins in summer or winter semester.

Course Structure

The Information and Media Technology Master programme is a two-year course of study concluding with a Master’s Thesis.

Each incoming student chooses a university teacher as their personal mentor. The task of the mentor is to help students put together an individualised course schedule, which best corresponds to the interests and abilities of the student, but that also optimises the curriculum in terms of career prospects. Special personal interests can also be taken into consideration. The mentor remains the student’s personal contact person for all curriculum-related questions and usually guides the student through the Master’s Thesis as well.

This degree course features an internship in industry of at least two months duration, which is often organised in cooperation between the Chair and the company in question. The internship serves to introduce students to practical work in industry. A portion of the study programme can be completed at international partner universities.

Professional fields of activity

On the basis of their advanced knowledge of hardware, IMT Master graduates are ready to assume the professional tasks of a computer scientist, or with their knowledge of software and system technology with a dash of media science, the tasks of an engineer. They work for computer companies and electronics manufacturers, but also in the automobile industry, and of course in the information and communications sector. They also tackle technical tasks in media companies or become consultants. Their training in media-related subjects and in law and economics also prepares them to start their own companies. Students can elect to conduct research or to pursue a doctorate in computer science or electrical engineering, thereby achieving the best possible career opportunities for themselves.

Special features

Although IMT is a well-established and popular university programme, our students still receive individual attention from our teachers and staff.

The BTU Cottbus offers a number of advantages that should not be underestimated:

• We are a down-to-earth university, where teachers and students can easily meet and interact. Overcrowded, impersonal study conditions are unknown at the BTU!
• Working in small groups promotes good communications and team skills.
• As a young, growing university, the BTU Cottbus possesses impressive, state-of-the-art technical facilities (e.g. broad W-LAN coverage) and exceptionally well-equipped libraries (e.g. direct access to electronic magazines or conference reports).
• It is natural that our students be actively involved in the research activities of the various Chairs, which assists them in finding employment as student research assistants and contributes substantially to defraying costs associated with university studies. Students not only get to work on cutting-edge research projects, but they get paid as well!
• The BTU promotes hands-on training methods: by participating in projects and professional internships, students often make contacts that turn into real jobs.
• With the many international relationships maintained by the BTU, students have excellent opportunities to gain experience abroad, an important advantage in our globalised world.