Studying computer science at RPTU: "It's a lot of fun"

From A for algorithms to Z for future technologies: The fact that students are very satisfied with computer science at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) is confirmed, among other things, by the ranking of the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE)."It's a lot of fun," says student Sarah Jung: "We learn to familiarize ourselves with complex topics." Surveys of graduates also show that you are perfectly prepared for your future career.

She already loved computer science at school, says Sarah Jung. "The subject was even part of my Abitur exams." She has always been enthusiastic about technical issues. Mathematics and physics were among her advanced courses in the sixth form. "The decision to study in Kaiserslautern was a relatively spontaneous one. I was initially interested in a dual study program." But that didn't work out because of coronavirus. "Then I looked around for alternatives and decided on the Bachelor's degree program in computer science at RPTU. My computer science teacher had also already studied in Kaiserslautern," she laughs.

"We have a good atmosphere in the department"

She has made friends with Kaiserslautern as a university city: "It's not that big. But what I need is there. And the Palatinate Forest means you're close to nature." What does she like at RPTU? "The university in Kaiserslautern is a campus university. Everything is within walking distance. Computer Science is very well organized. There is a strong student council. And the contacts with the lecturers and staff are very good. We have a good atmosphere among ourselves."

Christian Bogner, Study Manager at the Department of Computer Science, can only confirm all of this: "The teaching at RPTU is top-notch and the study conditions are great. Our lecturers are always there to answer questions and everyone can develop individually. Be it through exciting specialization modules or the opportunity to work together in projects and develop innovative solutions."

What advice does he have for prospective students? "To get off to a good start, it's not important to be able to program perfectly. It's much more important to take responsibility for your studies at an early stage and to be conscientious about the content." In the first semesters, exercises accompanying the lectures help you to get to grips with the subject matter, explains Bogner - "and you get to know fellow students during group work and make friends who will carry you through your studies."

The Computer Science degree program at RPTU performs excellently in the CHE ranking

In both the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, the Computer Science degree program is rated outstanding by the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE) - "especially in terms of teaching and individual support," says the study manager. "In addition, our graduates are very satisfied with the computer science education at RPTU and confirm in surveys that they were perfectly prepared for their everyday work."

Independently familiarize yourself with complex content

Programming, modeling software systems, algorithms and data structures or project

project management, for example, are on the curriculum of the Bachelor's degree program. "There are many practice-oriented courses and digital learning formats that make studying easier," says Bogner.

What is the challenge? The independence required, says Sarah Jung. "We set our own priorities and choose our own courses. The content involved in all of this is complex. It's not easy at the beginning." But you shouldn't despair: "If I don't understand something straight away, I work on it."

Setting your own priorities with a computer science degree

She likes the fact that her degree program is interdisciplinary. This is because there is the opportunity - through corresponding minor subjects - to deepen her studies in different directions: "That could be business administration, for example." Sarah Jung herself has decided to concentrate fully on computer science. "Distributed and networked systems" was her specialization in the Bachelor's degree. "For me, it was specifically about the area of security."

Involvement in the department - students support each other

Alongside her own studies, Sarah Jung supports other computer science students: She supervises tutorials and has already provided advice and support to three first-year students as a mentor. She also works with lecturers, staff and students on the Teaching and Learning Committee to ensure the quality of courses.

She is now at the beginning of her Master's degree course and is writing her Bachelor's thesis at the same time. "It's about analyzing radio signals and their propagation. All with a view to aircraft. It's a data analysis project. We have a sensor on the roof of the university. And so we can record data from aircraft over a wide area."

She could well imagine working in science later on. This is possible both in a research institution and in industry: "We learn to familiarize ourselves with complex topics. That's why the career opportunities later on are correspondingly broad."

At a technical university, the content goes into great depth

Computer science is a great subject, summarizes Sarah Jung. But you should be aware: "Studying at a technical university is very in-depth and therefore there is also a lot of theory." What should future students bring with them? An interest in wanting to solve complex problems. Wanting to look at things in depth, she says. "I wasn't sure at the beginning whether it was the right thing for me. But I don't regret the decision."