Master in Software Engineering

Master in Software Engineering is one of 3 English-taught Software Engineering programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 3 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. The same programme title is offered at 2 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

What you study

The Master's in Software Engineering at the University of Innsbruck is taught in English and carries 120 ECTS over four semesters. The register description sets out what the programme is built around: methods and practices for designing, analysing, building, testing, maintaining and operating complex IT systems. That is the whole arc of the software life cycle, not just writing code.

You also learn to question technology critically. The register text names this directly: students should be able to judge technologies, applications and scientific approaches so they can make well-founded, targeted and responsible decisions about how those things get used in practice. Alongside that sits the ability to run innovative and technically demanding software projects, to work responsibly in interdisciplinary teams, and to act as the interface between specialist departments and development teams.

The register lists keywords that point to the surrounding areas: analytics, IT, information security, IT management and data engineering.

Admission, language and next steps

There is no entrance examination for this programme, according to the register. The teaching language is English, so you should check the institution's own page for the exact language requirements and any documents you need to submit.

Applications go straight to the University of Innsbruck, not through a central portal. The university's programme page gives the application period and the steps to follow. As a public university, it charges no tuition to EU/EEA and Swiss students within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. Confirm the details on the university's own page before you apply.

The following key skills are imparted or advanced in the master’s programme in Software Engineering: in-depth knowledge of the methods and practices for the design, analysis, construction, testing, maintenance and operation of complex IT systems; critical questioning of technologies, applications and scientific approaches in order to make well-founded, targeted and responsible decisions about their practical use; ability to implement innovative and technically demanding software projects, to work responsibly in interdisciplinary teams and to act as an interface between specialist departments and development teams

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Innsbruck. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.