Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	May 13, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Entity Registrant Name	COMPUWARE CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000859014
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,409,105,820
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		218,250,062
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2011