Registration for the MSc in Computational Linguistics

To officially enroll in our Master's program in Computational Linguistics at CIS, you must first obtain a Bestätigung der fachlichen Qualifikation (Confirmation of Professional Qualification). This requirement applies to both internal applicants (BSc students at CIS) and external applicants.

Your motivation letter and data sheet must clearly state which degree program you are applying for:

• Computerlinguistik mit Nebenfach (recommended for students with a strong computer science background);

• Computerlinguistik mit Profilbereich.

Important: Requirements and deadlines differ slightly for internal and external applicants. A prerequisite for admission to this master's program is proof of a University degree with at least 180 ECTS credits, or an equivalent degree from a domestic or foreign institution, in the field of computational linguistics or a related subject. Your final (expected) grade should be 2.50 or better. For foreign degrees, the conversion is based on the modified Bavarian Formula for converting foreign academic results, with the outcome rounded to the nearest German grade (1.0 - 4.0).

Step 1: Prepare the Required Documents

The following documents can be either in English or in German and should be PDF files (except for the data sheet, which must be in Excel format). Please rename your files as shown below (adding your name and surname), without spaces in the filename.

• Motivation Letter. Explain why you want to study Computational Linguistics at CIS and why you are a good fit for the program. Filename: 1Motivation-Name_Surname.pdf
• Transcript of Records. The most recent official transcript listing exams, dates, and grades from your Bachelor's degree. Filename: 2ToR-Name_Surname.pdf
• Bachelor's Degree Certificate (Optional at this stage). This is required for the official enrolment, but it is optional (even though appreciated) for the Bestätigung. Filename: 3Degree-Name_Surname.pdf
• Data Sheet. Complete this data sheet. Filename: 4Data-Name_Surname.xlsx

Step 2: Upload Your Documents

Once all documents are ready and in the correct format, upload them via this portal. You will receive a confirmation email after a successful upload. Please store this email as proof of submission. Here is a quick guide on how to upload your files.

Important notes for the upload:

• Enter your name, surname, and email exactly as listed in the data sheet. Always use the same email address for all communication with us. Internal applicants should use their official LMU email.
• Each PDF file must be under 5MB.
• If needed, you can update or add files after your initial upload by using the same name, surname, and email address. Re-uploading a file with the same file name will overwrite the previous version. If you do not remember the exact (old) file name, please check it in your confirmation email.

Only complete applications submitted on time via the upload portal will be processed.

Step 3: Deadlines & Requirements

Internal Applicants (CIS BSc students)

If you are an internal applicant, you should submit the compulsory documents by 15.07.2025.

External Applicants

If you are an external applicant, you should submit the compulsory documents by 30.06.2025.

We will review your application and assess whether your background fits the program or whether you should attend extra courses from our BSc program. We expect that at least 30% of your Bachelor's coursework is in programming, mathematics, and linguistics. Please, look at our Bachelor's program to get a clearer idea of the skills we expect you to have for the MSc in Computational Linguistics.

If you lack this knowledge, it will be very difficult to catch up within the Master's program. In such cases, we recommend enrolling in our Bachelor's program first to acquire the necessary background. You have the option to enroll in the Bachelor's program for one year (winter (WiSe) and summer semester (SoSe)). During this year, you must successfully complete the following courses with an average grade of 2.50 or better:​

• P1 Einführung in die Programmierung für Computerlinguistik (WiSe)
• P4 Mathematik Grundlagen (SoSe)
• P5 Symbolische Programmiersprache (WiSe)
• P8.1 und P8.2 Linguistische Anwendung (SoSe)
• Wahlweise P7 Formale Sprachen (WiSe) oder P9 Logik und modelltheoretische Semantik (SoSe)

Students with a degree in Computer Science or similar fields are generally admitted to the Master's program in Computational Linguistics, provided they have a good academic record. While specific coursework is not formally required for admission, we strongly recommend that you complete the following Bachelor's modules and their corresponding exams:

• P2 Einführung in die Computerlinguistik (WiSe)
• P8 Computerlinguistische Anwendungen und Korpusbearbeitung (SoSe)

You should attend these two courses during the first and second semesters of your MSc program.

Note: Before enrolling in these Bachelor's courses (P1-8), please consult with the CIS Student Counsel (Studienberatung) to discuss details and individual circumstances.

Step 4: What Happens Next?

Based on the documents you uploaded, we will determine whether you are qualified. If successful, we will email you the Bestätigung der fachlichen Qualifikation by 18.08.2025.

With this document, you can begin the official registration process at the Studentenkanzlei (Student Office), which makes the final admission decision. For further details, please contact them directly.

Contacts

• Admission Team: mscadmissions@cis.lmu.de
• Student Counsel (Studienberatung): sb@cis.uni-muenchen.de
• Student Office (Studentenkanzlei): webpage

FAQ

• "I'm not sure if Computational Linguistics at CIS is the right program for me." Please contact our Studienberatung.
• "I'm not sure if my academic background is sufficient." Please contact our Studienberatung.
• "I don't know which curriculum option (minor or profile area) to choose." Please contact our Studienberatung.
• "I don't have all my exams listed on my ToR or I'm missing the grade of my final dissertation. Can I still apply to your program?" Yes, you can still apply to our program. However, to officially register, you will need to have all your grades and your Bachelor's degree certificate.
• "I have questions about the Bestätigung der fachlichen Qualifikation process." Only for questions not answered in this FAQ, please contact our admission team.
• "My Transcript of Records or my Degree Certificate is written neither in English nor in German." Please send us the original document (in its original language) together with an English translation. At this stage, you do not need an official or certified translation.
• "I'm having trouble with the upload system." Please contact our admission team.
• "I haven't received the automatic confirmation email." The system may take a few minutes to send the email, please wait a bit. If you still haven not received anything after 5 minutes, something may have gone wrong. In that case, please check the instructions again carefully and re-upload your documents, making sure to use the same name, surname, and email address.
• "Can I ask for an update on the status of my application?" No, please wait until we contact you. We will begin processing all applications only after the deadline.
• "What happens after I receive the Bestätigung?" Contact the Studentenkanzlei for information about the next steps.
• "I forgot to upload a document, and the deadline has passed. What now?" Unfortunately, late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• "Can I submit my documents via email or post?" No, only documents submitted through the upload portal will be accepted.
• "Can I start my courses in the summer semester?" No, you can only start in the winter semester.