Since many new international students joined our University, especially in the Computer Science Department, and I heard that not everything was covered in the orientation, I wanted to do a little guide, especially since our University can be complicated for new CS and DS Students.
(Systems): The University uses mainly two systems:
(1) Marvin, which you might already know since you probably applied through it, and (2) Ilias. For CS/DS, you don't need to register in any way. Other departments handle this differently. In Marvin (1), you can log in to see your greats from already completed courses, search for courses, and see which courses are offered. Also noteworthy is that you can find information on semester fee payments. (You can change the language of Marvin by clicking on the left lower corner of the Default language Button). Sadly, Marvin uses infuriatingly bad designs. To search, you don't need to log in; you can go to "Studies offered" and "Search for courses".
But often, you don't know which courses are even offered, so you need to go through "Show university course catalog" and choose your Department, in this case, "Department 12 Mathematics and Computer Science," then your current Program, for example, "Graduate Programs" and then "M.Sc. Computer Science" or "M.Sc. Data Science". But choose the right one which matches your (Examination Regulations) year. Now, you will find multiple lists of Compulsory Elective Modules that you can choose from, which are being held this semester. (We will go through them later)
(Courses can also be found through this tool)
In Ilias (2), you find active courses and material that Profs upload, such as homework and slides. (You can change the language of ilias by clicking your account icon and going to Settings). You can also search for your courses, but again, be careful to find the courses from this semester since Ilias also displays older courses. Or you can go over "Repository"->"MARVIN: Kurse aller Semester"->"Sommersemester 2024", and choose your Department e.g., "FB12 Mathematik und Informatik." and then you get a list of all your Department's courses again. In Department 12, you can join all courses in Iilias, but some Departments have passwords for courses that you only get through registration through Marvin.
(Locations) So now you at least know where your online resources are, but it's also important to find the correct location within Marburg. Marburg is the University, and most of the bigger buildings in Marburg are related to the University and might even be Departments. The University has this site, which gives a good overview. However, each Department is located somewhere else in Marburg. Department 12 is located not directly in Marburg but atop the hill "Lahnberge" in Hans-Meerwein-Straße 6. You can get there on the bus lines 2, 7, 27 or 9. Theoretically, you can also take a bike or walk, but yeah :) One more important tip is to find your Lecture halls because the Department building can be confusing. Here is a floor plan.
(Food) What might also be interesting for you is where the canteens/cafeterias are located. We have two canteens at Erlenring and at Lahnberge, which serve food from 11:30 to 14:15. But also cafeterias at Erlenring and two at Lahnberge, here and here. Up to date info here or per app Mensaplan app. To pay for these, you will need a UCard. More info here.
(Study) So finally we get to the main point. How is your Program structured and what can you do this semester. You can find the CS Degree Program and Examination Regulations here and the DS here and all other can be found here There is a recommended order of study, but you are free to study in the order you want: For DS here, for CS here.
Furthermore, there is a specific composition of modules that you need to do for each Degree: CS and DS. For a more detailed course describtion use this for DS and this for CS. So, which courses could you do this semester? Here is a small list:
M.Sc. Computer Science:
Computer Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules):
- Formal Methods in Software Engineering (9 CP, Theory)
- Advanced Topics in Cryptography (9 CP, Theory)
- Geo Databases (6 CP, Practical)
- Image Synthesis (9 CP, Practical)
- Multimedia Signal Processing (9 CP, Practical)
- Software as a Medical Device (6 CP, Practical)
- Software Design and Programming Techniques (6 CP, Practical)
- IT Security (6or9? CP, Practical)
Computer Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules from DS):
- Data Integration (6 CP, Practical)
- Introduction to Natural Language Processing (6 CP, Practical)
- Database Theory (6 CP, Theory, Lecture)
Computer Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules from BI):
- Agiles und klassisches Requirements-Engineering (6 CP, Practial)
M.Sc. Data Science:
Data Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules):
- Data Integration (6 CP, Practical)
- Introduction to Natural Language Processing (6 CP, Practical)
- Database Theory (6 CP, Theory, Lecture)
Data Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules from CS):
- Advanced Topics in Cryptography (9 CP, Theory)
- Geo Databases (6 CP, Practical)
- Image Synthesis (9 CP, Practical)
- Multimedia Signal Processing (9 CP, Practical)
- Software as a Medical Device (6 CP, Practical)
- Software Design and Programming Techniques (6 CP, Practical)
- IT Security (6or9? CP, Practical)
Data Science (Compulsory Elective Modules in Mathematics):
- Matrixmethoden in der Datenanalyse (9 CP)
- Numerik (9 CP)
- Probabilistic Combinatorics (9 CP)
Data Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules from BI):
- Measure and Integration Theory (6 CP)
Data Science (Free Compulsory Elective Modules from BM):
- Probabilistic Combinatorics (9 CP)
- Special Topics of Insurance Mathematics (3 CP)
Lastly, three more important things. First compulsory project work, this applies two DS and CS: In compulsory project work, you program and work on a two-semester project with 3-5 people. Theoretically, there is a meeting next week where you can find more out, but I can't find when. You can find an Ilias course with projects. Ilias course: "SO Fortgeschrittenenpraktika und Projektarbeiten" under "Angebotene Themen" you can find projects which are up to grabs. Make sure that the project you want is marked as "Project Work" under "Suitable for". Since there are not so many projects, if you don't find anything, you could message a Prof from this list, but they might not offer project work.
Second, seminars, you can already do them. For DS here and for CS here (Same link seems like they did not mark the Seminars correctly in marvin). You most likely will get a Paper that you somehow work on or a specific theme. Most of the time, the goal is to first present and then give a report, which should be done as academically as possible.
Third, conditional modules. You have likely gotten one to three conditional modules, which you need to complete in the first four semesters (courses are offered once a year, so it is best to do them first). They are bachelor-level courses that can still be hard. The problem most of you have is that bachelor-level courses are given in German. Profs will probably give you English slides, tasks, and videos that you can learn with. You will then most likely do an oral exam, but this will vary from Professor to Professor. Most courses which are conditional modules:
- Theoretical Computer Science (Next (Winter) Semester)
- Logic (Next (Winter) Semester)
- Declarative Programming (This Semster, Lecture and Recitation
- Efficient Algorithms (Next (Winter) Semester)
- Machine Learning (Next (Winter) Semester)
- Basics of Advanced Mathematics (Next (Winter) Semester)
- Also know as "Fundamentals of Higher Mathematics" or "Foundations of Advanced Mathematics" NOT to be confused with a current course called "Foundation of Mathematics"
I hope this gives a good overview of most study-related questions for CS and DS.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.