Charles University and Passau Launch Joint Master's
Students earn dual degrees in computer science through a collaborative program between the two European institutions.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Distance Learning
Live Poll
Do you believe international joint degree programs provide a better educational experience than traditional local degrees?
Starting in the 2025/2026 academic year, Charles University and the University of Passau established a joint master's degree programme in computer science. The double-degree initiative allows students to complete their studies by splitting time between Prague and Passau.
Why it matters
This partnership leverages the geographic proximity and existing research ties of the two universities to increase student mobility and academic collaboration. The institutions view this joint effort as a foundation to expand cooperation into additional fields of study.
The Computer Science - Software and Data Engineering programme requires two years of total study, with one year completed at each university. The partnership is supported by funding from the Bavarian-Czech Academic Agency and Erasmus+.
The players
Charles University
Located in Prague, this is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Central Europe.
University of Passau
This German university is known for its strong focus on computer science, law, and social sciences.
Prof. Jiří Zima
He is the Rector of Charles University and took office in early 2026.
Prof. Jan Hendrik Schumann
He began his tenure as President of the University of Passau in April 2026.
The details
The curriculum is designed so that students take courses at both universities to satisfy the requirements for two degrees upon graduation. Leadership from both schools met in October 2026 to discuss extending this model to include mathematics, computational linguistics, language studies, and teacher education.
Timeline
Academic cooperation between the institutions dates back to May 2023.
The first students enrolled in the joint programme during the 2025/2026 academic year.
Prof. Jiří Zima took office as Rector of Charles University in February 2026.
Prof. Jan Hendrik Schumann began heading the University of Passau in April 2026.
University leadership met in Prague to discuss expansion on October 7-8, 2026.
Culture Shift
The joint programme aligns with the broader European trend of fostering cross-border academic integration through initiatives like the Erasmus+ framework. This move reflects a shift toward institutional partnerships that break down national barriers to specialized higher education.
Students interested in the program must be prepared to manage the logistical transition between the Prague and Passau campuses over their two-year course of study. Participation requires meeting the specific curriculum requirements established by both universities to qualify for the dual degree.
The takeaway
Collaborative degrees allow students to gain a broader international perspective by utilizing the specific academic strengths of two different institutions. Prospective students should check individual university requirements to ensure they meet the criteria for these dual-degree tracks.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving educational models in our Distance Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Science Business.
Live Poll
Do you believe international joint degree programs provide a better educational experience than traditional local degrees?
