M.Sc. in Computer Science (Joint Degree UvA-VU): Software Engineering and Green IT

Master

In Amsterdam (Netherlands)

£ 11,995.74 VAT inc.

*Indicative price

Original amount in EUR:

14,026 €

Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Shape our connected future
Technology has become ubiquitous in our global, connected society. Globally distributed information processing services have taken centre stage, with the internet connecting a variety of information processing devices, ranging from embedded sensors to data centres operated by world-leading companies.

The Computer Science programme is a joint degree between VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam (UvA). It’s structured according to six specialisations, of which you’ll choose one depending on your own area of interest:

Big Data Engineering
Computer Systems Security
Foundations of Computing and Concurrency
Internet and Web Technology
Parallel Computing Systems
Software Engineering and Green IT
As a Computer Science Master’s student in Amsterdam, you’ll benefit from the expertise, networks and research projects at both VU Amsterdam and the UvA, as well as affiliated research institutes. Courses are taught at locations of both universities, and you’ll receive a joint degree certificate on graduation. Not only is the programme unique in that it offers a joint degree – it also allows you to specialise in one of six distinct tracks.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Amsterdam (Netherlands)
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Start date

SeptemberEnrolment now open
SeptemberEnrolment now open

About this course


Having completed the Master’s in Computer Science, you’ll understand and speak the language of computers.
Depending on which track you follow, you’ll have expert knowledge in big data engineering, computer systems security, computing and concurrency, Internet and web technologies, parallel computing systems, or software engineering and green IT. You’ll also be able to translate that knowledge creatively, into something that other project team members will understand.




Around 90 percent of graduates embark on careers in areas like consultancy, software, other private-sector businesses or government. Computer scientists are in high demand for a variety of roles, including software-, web- or systems engineer, data warehouse consultant, user interface designer, systems manager, IT project manager, IT consultant, information analyst and policy advisor.

Many alumni now work at companies like Philips, Deloitte, IBM and the Royal Dutch Navy. Others have formed their own startup companies.

Graduates with excellent grades are encouraged to apply for a PhD position, which can lead to a career in business or research. These are normally awarded for four years, during which time you’re expected to finish your PhD thesis. Some of our recent PhD graduates now work as researchers or engineers at companies like Google or Amazon. Others have embarked on academic careers, either at VU Amsterdam or other prestigious universities such as MIT, Cornell University and ETH Zurich.



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This centre's achievements

2020

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 6 years

Subjects

  • Computing
  • Software Engineering
  • Networks
  • Internet
  • Design
  • Web
  • International
  • Global
  • University
  • Green
  • Systems
  • Technology
  • Engineering
  • Joint

Course programme

Curriculum

Build technology for the information society

The Master’s in Computer Science covers this fascinating and hyper-relevant discipline from multiple angles. The technical side of Computer Science deals with computer operations, like system software, computer networks and programming environments. The theoretical foundations cover the limits of what can be computed, computational efficiency, correctness, and the intricacies of concurrent execution. Software engineering studies construction and maintenance of large and often mission-critical software systems that need to be maintained by large teams of people. Because of its prominent role in everyday life, non-functional aspects of information technology are gaining importance in Computer Science, most notably the energy efficiency of data centres and the security of computer systems.

The start dates of this programme are September 1st and February 1st.

Note: the track Computer Systems and Security will no longer be available as part of this master’s programme from September 2021 onwards.

Tracks

The Master's in Computer Science is a two-year programme that currently offers six distinct tracks:

  • Big Data Engineering
  • Computer Systems Security*
  • Foundations of Computing and Concurrency
  • Internet and Web Technology
  • Parallel Computing Systems
  • Software Engineering and Green IT

Each track comprises five mandatory core courses – relating to Computer Science in general and your track specifically – plus certain restricted choices and electives. You’ll also carry out your Master’s project and write your thesis in the second half of your second year.

*The track Computer Systems and Security will no longer be available as part of this master’s programme from September 2021 onwards.

Big Data Engineering

Summary

Study the technology of data infrastructure

In the internet era, data plays centre stage. We all continuously communicate via social networks; we expect all information to be accessible online; and world economies thrive on data-processing services where revenue is created by generating insights from raw data. These developments are enabled by a global data processing infrastructure, connecting the full range from small company computer clusters to data centres run by the world-leading IT giants.

In the Big Data Engineering track, you’ll study the technology behind these infrastructures, allowing you to design and operate solutions for processing, analysing and managing large quantities of data. This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, in which renowned researchers from both VU and UvA contribute their varied expertise in one of the strongest Computer Science programmes available in Europe.

Computer Systems Security

Summary

Defend computers under attack!

In this track, you’ll focus on system and security issues related to operating systems, hardware and applications – topics like hacking, malware, reverse engineering and vulnerabilities. On graduating from the programme, you’ll have knowledge of security issues in system-level software, including weaknesses and defences; static and dynamic analysis techniques for software (benign and malicious); modern scalable computer and network architecture; and secure software development for modern, highly parallel computer systems. The emphasis on system-related issues is what sets this track apart from other Master’s programmes on security, which tend to focus on formal methods or the mathematics behind cryptography.

This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, in which you’ll be taught by leading researchers in the field of computer security. Plus, many of the courses are very hands-on, meaning you’ll get practical experience in security as well.

Foundations of Computing and Concurrency

Summary

Explore formal methods for system design

Computing is a fundamental phenomenon in computer science. Concurrency naturally occurs in the specification of distributed systems; their analysis, verification and implementation require a systematic approach, aided by formal methods. In the Foundations of Computing and Concurrency track, you’ll take courses ranging from distributed algorithms to protocol validation, and from term rewriting to logical verification, as well as some general courses in logic and mathematics.

This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, aimed at students with an interest in computing and concurrency, and the application of formal methods for system design.

Internet & Web Technology

Summary

Work in a complex, dynamic and distributed environment

The internet plays a central role in our society, and has changed the way software systems are engineered and provisioned. Recent advances in virtualisation techniques as well as the emergence of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and cloud-based paradigms have enabled new ways of providing and exploiting computing and IT resources over the internet.

The Internet and Web Technology track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, aiming specifically to prepare you to work in such a complex, dynamic and distributed environment. It both offers in-depth understanding of the key components in developing distributed software-based and service-based systems over the internet, and equips you with technical and critical-thinking skills for the design and performance evaluation of such systems.

Parallel Computing Systems

Summary

Discover systems that drive the world we live in

From laptops and mobile phones to global-scale infrastructures, parallel computing systems drive the world we live in. Only software explicitly dedicated to parallel architectures can fully exploit today's hardware potential and benefit from future gains in hardware performance. Only software engineers who are true experts in parallel computing systems can make an impact on future software.

This track covers the entire range of parallel computing systems, from laptops to compute servers, GPU accelerators, heterogeneous systems and large-scale, high-performance compute infrastructures. You’ll carry out practical work that uses a unique, world-class infrastructure, the Distributed ASCI Supercomputer (DAS). You’ll also benefit from the local SURFsara supercomputing centre and the Netherlands eScience Center, both involved in numerous real-world applications.

This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, in which leading research groups in the areas of parallel systems architecture, programming parallel systems, and performance optimisation team up to educate the future experts of the many-core age.

Software Engineering and Green IT

Summary

Build green software systems

Software engineering applies a systematic and quantifiable approach to the development, execution and maintenance of complex software. Green IT is the study and practice of environmentally sustainable computing. The combination of Software Engineering and Green IT gives you the tools needed for a holistic understanding of large-scale complex software systems. This will enable you to manage their evolution, assess their quality and environmental impact, quantify their value and sustainability potential, and organise their development in different local and distributed contexts.

Software engineering and green IT is a broad and comprehensive field, in which engineering plays an important role in parallel with social, economic and environmental priorities. The field continually evolves, influenced by development paradigms like outsourcing, global software development, service orientation, smart and pervasive computing, and energy-aware software engineering.

This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, and is a combination that’s unique in the Netherlands.

International track: Global Software Engineering European Master

Summary

International track: Global Software Engineering European Master

The Global Software Engineering European Master (GSEEM) is an international double degree Master’s programme for students in Computer Science, specialising in Software Engineering. The GSEEM focuses on domains that are strategically important for software-intensive products and services, helping you develop the skills needed to work in companies active in global software engineering. You’ll spend one academic year at the VU Amsterdam and one academic year at the University of L’Aquila in Italy.

Each partner university awards a double degree to all students who are regularly enrolled and have obtained at least 60 ECTS in Master’s modules at both universities (including 30 ECTS for the Master’s thesis in the second year). In addition, students visiting VU Amsterdam must be regularly enrolled at the moment the degree is granted. The degree granted by VU Amsterdam is the Master’s in Computer Science specialising in Software Engineering and Green IT.

Additional information

Tuition fee EU: €1,084

M.Sc. in Computer Science (Joint Degree UvA-VU): Software Engineering and Green IT

£ 11,995.74 VAT inc.

*Indicative price

Original amount in EUR:

14,026 €