The understanding of phenomena and processes from science and engineering is, today, no longer merely based on theory and experiment, but more and more on computations, as well. Numerical simulations supplement experiments, and sometimes even allow the study of technical systems and natural phenomena that would be too time-consuming, expensive, or dangerous (if possible at all) to study by experiment alone.

The increasing quest for higher levels of detail and realism in such simulations requires enormous computational capacity, advanced programming skills, and sophisticated models and algorithms. Due to the progresses in each of these fields, computational scientists and engineers can now solve large-scale problems that were once thought to be intractable.

Thus, the importance of the multi-disciplinary field Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) in academic and industrial research is rapidly growing. CSE is based upon the three columns applied mathematics (esp. numerical analysis), computer science, and scientific or engineering applications. CSE focuses on the development of problem-solving methodologies and powerful and robust tools for numerical simulation in general.

The successful way from some application area to useful computational results requires domain expertise as well as skills in mathematical modelling, numerical analysis, efficient algorithms, computer architecture, software design and implementation, validation, and visualization of results. The fact that CSE involves all of this shows the need for an education that meets these demands.

Since winter term 2001, TUM runs an international Master's Program on Computational Science and Engineering. It offers students with a basic education in some discipline from science or engineering a curriculum that provides the basis of a successful professional or academic career in CSE. Within the two years of the program, all of the above-mentioned topics are dealt with, and the basics learned can be experienced in two fields of application.

The participating institutes - most of them at TUM, some at partner universities (esp. for the Master's Thesis) - have been carefully selected in order to ensure a broad spectrum of topics as well as an excellent expertise in each field. Most of these departments have co-operated for years within  FORTWIHR, one of Germany's leading programs for high-performance scientific and engineering computing, and are partners today in  KONWIHR, the competence network for high-performance scientific and engineering computing in Bavaria.

Together with the Master's programs in  Computational Mechanics (COME) and  Computational Engineering (CE), the CSE program forms the  Bavarian Graduate School of Computational Engineering (BGCE). The BGCE is an elite study program with the  Elite Network of Bavaria (ENB).

Students in CSE can apply for this honours program after the first semester. The BGCE then offers additional scientific courses, soft skill seminars, and a so-called honours project, which combined with the completion of the regular Master's program, lead to a Master of Science degree with Honours in CSE.

Further details about the Honours Program can be found  here.