Studies

What awaits you in the degree program Information Systems

What does the Master’s program in Information Systems include? What are the specializations? How are research and applied studies linked? What prerequisites should I fulfill to be admitted to the program? When can I do my semester abroad? Here you can get an insight into what you can expect in the Master's program - and see why the University of Hohenheim is the right choice.

Program content | Requirements | Practical elements during your studies | Why the University of Hohenheim? | Lecturers

Program content

Based on science, focused on application, individual

The content of the Master's program in Information Systems is made up of information systems, computer science, and management. The program follows the recommendations of the Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) in terms of content weighting.

The degree program looks at typical fields in information systems with a focus on the research, development, and use of information and communication technologies in corporate and administrative environments. In these fields, you will primarily deal with current issues of digitalization, digital transformation, software development, and artificial intelligence.

As the core area of the program, the entire compulsory area is composed of information systems content. In the first and second semesters, you will learn the necessary applied basics in the areas of inter-company communication, coordination, and cooperation as well as digital management in three modules.

In the semi-elective area you can then look in more depth at specializations of your choice from information systems as well as the two additional pillars of computer science and management. From here you can enhance your profile and specialize according to your interests and strengths.

The semi-elective courses include the following (for details please refer to the curriculum):

Information Systems: 4 modules are to be chosen from the range of modules
Computer Science: 3 modules are to be chosen from the range of modules
Management: 3 modules are to be chosen from the range of modules in the Master’s program in Management (HMM)

The free elective area then adds modules to complement the program. This area allows you to further individualize your profile. Here you can choose modules you have not yet taken from the Master’s program in Information Systems (with the exception of the seminars), from the Master’s program in Management (with the exception of compulsory and seminar modules) or suitable modules from the other faculties. If you would like to study abroad, you can plan a semester abroad at this point and have the coursework and examinations you complete there recognized and integrated into your studies. Another option is to write your Master's thesis abroad in the 4th semester.

Whether in Hohenheim or abroad: You complete your studies with a 6-month Master’s thesis. In your thesis, you will apply the skills you have acquired during your studies to your own scientific work in the field of information systems.

You want to know more?

Detailed information about the course and structure of the degree program can be downloaded here (in German):

Macrostructure (winter semester 2024/25)
Macrostructure (starting in the summer semester 2025)
Curriculum (PDF, 900 kB)

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Requirements

What you should bring with you

The Master's program in Information Systems is an interdisciplinary program for which, in addition to knowledge of information systems, management know-how is just as relevant as knowledge of computer science. You have already completed a relevant Bachelor's degree and perhaps even gained some work experience? If you want to deepen your technological ad management knowledge in a scientifically sound way and learn with an eye on both research as well as practice, this is the right place for you.

The formal requirements for the Master's program are:

Completed Bachelor's degree with a standard period of study of at least 6 semesters (180 ECTS)
Degree in information systems or in a related program
Final grade of 2.9 or better

If you have a Bachelor's degree, but you are still missing relevant content for the Master's program in Information Systems, admission is still possible. The condition for this is that you make up the missing modules in the first year. Details can be found in the admission regulations.

You should have the following interests and knowledge in addition to the formal criteria:

Interest in the research and development, deployment, implementation, and evaluation of digital technologies
Interest in new technologies
Interest in economic issues
Interest in the interplay between information systems, computer science, and management
Analytical and conceptual thinking skills
Good mathematical skills
Good English skills

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Practical elements during your studies

Think scientifically, act practically

As an information systems specialist, you will deal with complex socio-technological challenges on a daily basis. In order for you to be able to analyze these competently and solve them by conceptualizing, modeling, and developing information systems, we provide you with comprehensive theoretical knowledge based on the latest research during your studies. This is combined with a strong hands-on orientation and corresponding teaching components that offer insights into practice in innovative formats. The program optimally prepares you for challenges in everyday professional life.

Expand competences

In the Master's program, you will comprehensively deepen the fundamentals from your Bachelor's degree and place them on a scientifically sound footing. Right from the start, you can set individual specializations in the semi-elective and elective areas and thus develop your own personal profile. In addition to this targeted specialization, the university's F.I.T. continuing education program offers you numerous course options to strengthen soft skills or acquire new ones. The Innovation Greenhouse also supports you in all matters relating to sustainable business start-ups and financing.

Learning from practice

Practical orientation is the key to a smooth transition from studies to the working world. It is important to us that you use your scientific knowledge at an early stage to solve concrete practical problems. For example, you will develop digital solutions for business problems in project work or explore the possible applications of artificial intelligence. Applied modules include Information Systems in Action, Hackathon, and the Applied Project. In addition, we have lecturers who work at the interface of research and practice and share their insights with you.

Strengthening language skills

In an increasingly globalized economy, English language skills are indispensable. The IT world in particular is a field in which there are few linguistic boundaries. But intercultural skills also need to be strengthened if you want to operate internationally in your career. The University of Hohenheim offers you flexible options for integrating a stay abroad into your studies. You would like to acquire language skills before that or learn new languages? For this purpose, the Language Center at the University of Hohenheim offers various semester and intensive courses that you can take individually during your studies.

Research during your studies

Research plays an important role in the Master's program in Information Systems. In teaching, we therefore work in laboratories (e.g. usability lab, negotiation lab) and enable participation in student research projects, among other methods. You can write a scientific paper and present it at an information systems conference at, for example, the University of Oxford. For students who demonstrate a particular aptitude and interest, there is targeted support early in their studies toward further research opportunities. The fast-track doctoral program makes it possible to gain an insight into research while still studying for a Master's degree part-time in the department and even to supervise your own initial scientific projects. You can also start gathering ideas for your dissertation topic here.

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Why study at the University of Hohenheim?

What makes our degree program unique?

There are many universities that offer a Master's degree in Information Systems, so why study here in Hohenheim? What makes our Master’s in Information Systems unique? We have compiled the most important advantages for you at a glance.

The Master’s in Information Systems is a modern degree program that meets the high qualitative standards and recommendations of the Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) and skillfully combines the three pillars of information systems, computer science, and management.

You study on the cutting edge of technology. Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, agile software development, and data analytics are not only on everyone's lips, but are also included in our course content, which is constantly being adapted to the current state of research.

The program offers a research-oriented approach with a high level of practical relevance - a combination that optimally prepares you for professional life. The location in the economic and high-tech region of Stuttgart offers you numerous opportunities to gain practical experience through internships and working student jobs.

Due to the excellent supervision ratio, we offer a particularly intensive exchange with the lecturers and individual advising.

You can specialize specifically and thus enhance your individual profile. The semi-elective and elective areas are structured in such a way that you have a wide range of options and can tailor the study content to your individual needs.

You can organize your studies individually and flexibly. Only 3 modules are compulsory. That means you will have plenty of freedom to integrate a semester abroad, take further education or language courses, or pursue your own start-up idea.
If you have a strong interest in research, you can apply for admission to the fast-track doctoral program with individual scientific support.
You benefit from the wide range of subjects offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.

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Lecturers

Your lecturers in the Master’s degree program Information Systems

In the Master's program in Business Information Systems, the focus is on linking research and practice. Our lecturers are therefore not only active in research, they are also familiar with the applied side and teach theory directly on practical use cases. This allows you to benefit from the best of both worlds - based on the latest research and current practical challenges. Due to the excellent supervision ratio, you also have the opportunity for close exchange and individual support with experts in their field.

In addition, some modules are taught by lecturers from the Hohenheim Management Master (HMM) program.

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