[Profile Review] How realistic is my shortlist? Fall 2027 MS in CS (Europe) | 8.1 CGPA (Tier-1 H+), GRE 328 (Q166), dMAT

Goal: Pursue a research-oriented Master’s in Computer Science to explore and finalize my area of interest before committing to a Ph.D. in Europe. Targeting roles in academia or industrial research labs post-Ph.D.

Background:

Education: B.Tech in ECE (with significant CS coursework) from IIITD (Graduated 2025).

CGPA: 8.1 / 10.0.

Standardized Tests:

GRE: 328 (Quant: 166, Verbal: 162, AWA: 4.0)

IELTS: Band 8.5 (R: 9.0, L: 8.5, W: 8.0, S: 8.0)

dMAT: 353 / 400 (Subject Math: 200/200, Core: 153/200)

Work Experience: Systems Software Engineer at a leading semiconductor MNC since 2025 (~2 years by Fall 2027 intake).

Research Experience:

Second author on an IEEE paper currently under review in systems research.

B.Tech Project (undergraduate thesis) in theoretical computer science.

Shortlisted Universities with ECTS requirement analysis:

Germany:

  1) TU Munich (TUM) =M.Sc. Informatics: 24 ECTS deficit (rejection if more than 30 ECTS not fulfilled)

2) Saarland University => M.Sc. Computer Science: 24 ECTS deficit, 30 ECTS allowed as Auflagen

3) RWTH Aachen => M.Sc. Computer Science => 24 ECTS deficit, 42 ECTS allowed as Auflagen 

4) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) => M.Sc. Computer Science => 0 ECTS Deficit

5)University of Bonn => M.Sc. Computer Science: 0 ECTS deficit

6) TU Darmstadt => M.Sc. Computer Science: 24 ECTS deficit, 30 ECTS allowed as Auflagen

France:

1. Universit Paris-Saclay => M1 Computer Science 

2. IP Paris / Tlcom Paris => M1 Informatique 

3. ENS de Lyon => Master Informatique Fondamentale

4. Sorbonne Universit => M1 Informatique 

Switzerland:

1) EPFL:  M.Sc. Computer Science

Major Omissions:

1. TU Berlin: Fails ECTS requirement 

2. TU Dresden: Fails ECTS requirement 

3. ETH Zurich: CGPA < 8.8 (minimum reqired CGPA for Indian students in ETH Zurich)

4. TU Delft:Fails ECTS requirement 

5. KU Leuven: Fails ECTS Requirement

6. TU Wien: Process seems overly bureaucratic, requiring postal document submissions and apostilles

Questions:

1. 1) Given my background and test scores, is this overall shortlist realistic and well-balanced across Reach / Target / Safe?

2. 
   

3. 2) Are there any obvious red flags, omissions, or recommendations for someone using the Master's as a launchpad into Ph.D.

Would be happy to connect with people on the same journey!

Edit: Several folks mentioned about ECTS requirements especially since i am changing my branch from ECE to CSE, so did some research based on that and am updating the shortlist.

Thank you all for the insights!