Future Analytics: AI & Audio Worlds (M.Sc. or M.A.)

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Sound Studies, Music, Musicology, Cultural Studies, Anthropology (with a focus on music/audio), (Music) Sociology, or related fields (see also the “Application and Admission” section)

• Sufficient English proficiency (at least B2 level) is required for the programme. Proof of proficiency may be provided by a recognised language certificate, such as the TOEFL iBT (minimum points of 61), IELTS (minimum band 5), or the Cambridge exams FCE (minimum grade B) or CAE (minimum grade C), or an equivalent certificate. 

  Alternatively, a degree programme previously completed entirely in English is also accepted as proof of sufficient English language proficiency. In this case, an official certificate from the respective university is required, confirming that the programme was conducted entirely in English. The certificate must be signed and stamped by the institution.

Further information on admission to the Master’s programme Future Analytics: AI & Audio Worlds (M.A. or M.Sc.) can be found soon at the following link (electronic notice board): LINK

Application for a study place
The international Master’s programme Future Analytics: AI & Audio Worlds (M.A. or M.Sc.) is currently subject to admission restrictions, with a maximum of 30 places available. Applications and admissions are handled exclusively through the Faculty 4 application portal at the following link: Faculty 4 application portal

Admission is based on the following criteria:

• Bachelor´s degree final grade or grade point average 

• Relevant academic achievements in one or more of the following areas: 

  Sound Studies; Sound Design; Media Design and Research (focus on music/audio);
  Music: instrumental/artistic training, musicology/history/mediation/pedagogy;
  Gender/Queer/Postcolonial/Critical Disability/Science and Technology Studies; Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Transdisciplinary Studies; (Music) Sociology: Quantitative Social Research and Statistics, Qualitative Social Research, Social Analysis;
  Data Analytics, AI, Mathematics, Programming, Computer Science
  as evidenced by the Transcript of Records

• Relevant skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Audio recording (digital or analog); audio or sound design (for tracks, theater, film, gaming, etc.); composition; sound engineering; instrumental performance; digital or analog music production; performing arts; experience with artistic or academic (student) research projects; basic or advanced knowledge of (music) programming; basic or advanced knowledge of music production with DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations);
  • Programming/software development; data structures and algorithms; software engineering; data analysis and data visualization; fundamentals of machine learning; fundamentals of deep learning; fundamentals of artificial intelligence; fundamentals of computer vision; statistics; probability and statistics; fundamentals of linear algebra and calculus; research methodology and academic writing; experience with scientific or engineering projects; problem-solving skills and analytical thinking; interdisciplinary teamwork and communication—demonstrated by the CV and/or references, certificates, the Transcript of Records, or similar documents.

Admission documents 

The following documents are required when applying for admission to the international Master’s programme Future Analytics: AI & Audio Worlds (if the original documents are not in German or English, certified translations into German or English must also be submitted):

• A copy of your Bachelor’s degree certificate or – if this is not yet available – a certificate of academic achievement to date, including the credits earned and your average grade (including a Transcript of Records) 
• A tabular CV, as well as certificates, diplomas or similar documents to demonstrate relevant skills (see above)
• Proof of English language proficiency and, where applicable, an APS certificate (for applications from China, India, Vietnam and Mongolia)

Important: You will need to provide your application number in all correspondence.

Once you have received your letter of admission, there are just a few more steps to complete before you can successfully enrol. The letter contains all the important information, including the enrolment deadline, a list of the documents you need to submit, bank details for paying the semester fee, and contact details for any questions you may have.

Further information on enrolment can be found at the following link on the Faculty 4 website: Further information on enrolment and the enrolment process
 

CampusCenter

The CampusCenter is the first point of contact for students and prospective students regarding all aspects of the university and studying. You can find the student assistants´staff at the CampusCenter on the main campus of the University of Hildesheim in the Forum, 1st floor. 

Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB)

The Central Student Advisory Service offers a wide range of information and events relating to our degree programmes, as well as academic guidance. 

• Advisory services offered by the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB)
• Events offered by the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) 
• Study Information Portal

International Office

International students can find further information: here

Enrolment and Examinations Office

If you have any questions regarding enrolment or examinations, please contact the relevant departments via the following links:

• Enrolment Office

• Examinations Office

Academic advising and advice on credit transfer:

If you have specific questions regarding the structure, content or credit transfer aspects of the programme, please feel free to email us at: Future-analytics(at)uni-hildesheim.de

As a residential university, Hildesheim offers a personalised learning environment with close academic support, short distances and a supportive community. The city itself, with its wide range of attractions and services, also provides the ideal setting for students. There are many good reasons to study in Hildesheim – here are four of them:

• With around 8,000 students, the university combines a broad range of academic opportunities with the advantage of a smaller institution.

• Hildesheim boasts a diverse range of cultural activities that are recognised beyond the region, which students can enjoy at particularly affordable prices with the Kulturticket.

• More than 170 international partnerships give you the opportunity to look beyond Hildesheim and gain international experience.

• The University of Hildesheim supports you throughout all stages of your studies with a wide range of services and advisory support. When choosing your course, you can take advantage of our trial study programme ‘Studium Live’, organised by the student advisory service Anker-Peers, or the University Information Day. At the start of your studies, you’ll join all first-year students for the induction week.

Further information can be found at the following link: Campus Life
 

Course content
In this English-language programme, you will deepen your specialized knowledge in Sound and Audio Studies, Music and Computer Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence, and develop the skills to analyse complex social and technological issues and reflect on them from a theoretically grounded perspective. In addition to specialist expertise, you will acquire a wide range of skills in orientation, design, and judgment when dealing with open, socially relevant questions about the future; you will work with scientific theories, models, and methods from various disciplines; and combine analytical work, research-oriented project work, and creative practice.

A central element of the Master’s programme is research projects in small teams—sometimes in collaboration with industry partners. Here, you will develop and work on your own research questions and gain experience in transdisciplinary work. You will learn to bring together different perspectives, develop a shared technical language, and work collaboratively on current future-oriented topics. In doing so, you will combine research, analysis, and design: you will develop your own projects, design scenarios, and experiment with new audio formats, including prototypical applications.

The Master’s programme focuses on innovative teaching formats such as portfolio and process-based work, as well as academic mentoring. These enable you to continuously reflect on your development and shape it independently. At the same time, you will be closely supported by faculty and industry partners.

Programme structure
The two-year Master’s programme Future Analytics: AI & Audio Worlds comprises four semesters with a total of 120 ECTS credits. The programme is structured around a Specialisation Area, a Complementary Area, and a Transdisciplinary Area (Core). 

• In the first semester, you will take courses in both your Specialisation Area (Music/Audio/Sound Studies or AI/Machine Learning) and your Complementary Area (AI/Machine Learning or Music/Audio/Sound Studies). The focus is on the Transdisciplinary Area (Core), which primarily includes an introduction to future-oriented topics, inter- and transdisciplinary studies, labs, and academic mentoring.
• In the second semester, you will take courses on theories, models, methods, concepts, and analyses in your Specialisation Area and apply your acquired knowledge in labs. In the Transdisciplinary Area (Core), academic mentoring continues, and you will explore transdisciplinary approaches and designs. This semester also marks the start of the two-semester student research project.
• In the third semester, you will take courses in analysis, creation, and (specialised) communication. Academic mentoring continues in the Transdisciplinary Area. The focus in the Transdisciplinary Area is on continuing the student research project and organizing the student Future Topics Conference. Academic mentoring continues this semester.
• In the fourth semester, the Master’s module (Thesis & Colloquium) worth 30 ECTS credits takes place.

You will soon be able to view our Study and Examination Regulations here.

After completing the programme, you will have a unique skill set at the intersection of AI and auditory cultures, qualifying you for international research and professional opportunities in the fields of sound anthropology, artistic practice and production; technology and development (e.g., AI solutions); the music industry and distribution; research (humanities), public affairs, and governance (e.g., consulting, AI, ethics, and risk assessment).