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Build tomorrow’s technology

Computer Science

Big Data Engineering

Apply now
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 date of this programme is September 1st.

Note: the track Computer Systems and Security is no longer available as part of this Master’s programme since September 2021. We offer a new Master’s programme Computer Security. For more information go to www.vu.nl/csec.

See also the study guide for a complete overview of the study programme. Or download the year schedule directly. 

VU Master's Event

Saturday 8 March 2025

More information

Tracks

The Master's in Computer Science is a two-year programme that currently offers four regular, and two international tracks, the latter being variants on the regular SEG track. 

  • Big Data Engineering (BDE)
  • Computer Systems and Infrastructure (CSI)
  • Foundations of Computing and Concurrency (FCC)
  • Software Engineering and Green IT (SEG)
  • International track: Software Engineers for Green Deal (SE4GD)

Starting 2024, all tracks exclusively consist of the following constrained choices:

  • Big Data Engineering
  • Computer Systems and Infrastructure
  • Foundations of Computing and Concurrency
  • Software Engineering and Green IT
  • Computer Security
  • Mathematics
  • Societal Perspectives of Computer Science
  • Research Skills

All students select one course from each of these constrained choices. For the track you follow, you select at least four courses from the respective constrained choice. This leaves room for four electives. You’ll carry out your Master’s project and write your thesis in the second half of your second year.

Summary

Study the technology of data processing
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 that allows 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.

Example courses

  • Data Preparation
  • Data Mining Techniques
  • Web Data Processing Systems
  • Data Protection Technologies
  • Web Services and Cloud-based Systems

Summary

Understand computer systems and build with them tomorrow’s digital infrastructure

Computer systems and networks are the core components of all distributed data and information processing systems. Our modern society depends on them. Many computer systems are even not recognizable as such, because they are embedded in larger devices such as cars, airplanes, medical equipment, smart buildings, robotics, etc. 

The realization of modern computer systems is greatly complicated by their increasing complexity: these computer systems integrate increasingly more processors, often heterogeneous, sometimes in a distributed context, and possibly also resulting in complex systems-of-systems (such as can be found, e.g., in the Edge-to-Cloud computing continuum and in the high-performance memory-storage system). Meanwhile, computer networks interconnecting these systems are evolving with significantly increased customizability in addition to higher speeds. The energy consumption, sustainability, dependability, and security and privacy of these computer systems and networks also require increasing attention.

This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, aimed at students with an interest in computer systems and infrastructure.

Example courses

  • Advanced Operating Systems
  • Storage Systems
  • Energy-efficient Edge Computing
  • Multi-core Processor Systems
  • Programming Large-scale Parallel Systems

Summary

Explore formal methods for system design

This track focuses on the foundations of computer science and models of computation. Theoretical computer science studies how to formally describe and analyse various aspects of computation and computing systems.

Students can choose courses from a variety of topics, such as:

  • Formal methods and logic; how to reason about properties of a system and automate this reasoning
  • Algorithms and complexity; techniques for solving computational tasks and formally analysing the use of computational resources such as running time, memory, etc
  • Foundations of security; theoretical aspects of making systems robust against adversarial behaviour

Graduates of this track are trained in solving complex computational problems and formal reasoning skills. This will prepare them for more analytical industry jobs, as well as a research career.

Example courses

  • Term Rewriting Systems
  • Logical Verification
  • Distributed Algorithms
  • Cryptography
  • Secure Computation

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.

Example courses

  • Service Oriented Design
  • Digital Architecture
  • Fundamentals of Adaptive Software
  • Software Testing
  • Green Lab

Summary

International track: Software Engineers for Green Deal

The Software Engineers for Green Deal (SE4GD) is an International Master’s programme for students in Computer Science, specializing in Software Engineering. The SE4GD aims at educating software engineers with a sustainability mindset to improve the well-being of people through software solutions. Admitted students spend one semester at each host university (respectively, semester 1 at University of L’Aquila in Italy, semester 2 at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland, and semester 3 at VU Amsterdam. Finally, semester 4 is dedicated to the Master's project which can be carried out at one of the host universities or one of the SE4GD associated partners.

Each host university awards a triple degree to all students who are regularly enrolled and have successfully completed the study programme which entails at least 30 ECTS in Master’s courses at each host university and a 30 ECTS Master’s thesis. 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 specializing in Software Engineering and Green IT.

Prospective students must apply to the programme. Visit the SE4GD website for more information about the application process (such as scholarships and deadlines) and the curriculum. 

  • Big Data Engineering

    Summary

    Study the technology of data processing
    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 that allows 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.

    Example courses

    • Data Preparation
    • Data Mining Techniques
    • Web Data Processing Systems
    • Data Protection Technologies
    • Web Services and Cloud-based Systems

  • Computer Systems and Infrastructure

    Summary

    Understand computer systems and build with them tomorrow’s digital infrastructure

    Computer systems and networks are the core components of all distributed data and information processing systems. Our modern society depends on them. Many computer systems are even not recognizable as such, because they are embedded in larger devices such as cars, airplanes, medical equipment, smart buildings, robotics, etc. 

    The realization of modern computer systems is greatly complicated by their increasing complexity: these computer systems integrate increasingly more processors, often heterogeneous, sometimes in a distributed context, and possibly also resulting in complex systems-of-systems (such as can be found, e.g., in the Edge-to-Cloud computing continuum and in the high-performance memory-storage system). Meanwhile, computer networks interconnecting these systems are evolving with significantly increased customizability in addition to higher speeds. The energy consumption, sustainability, dependability, and security and privacy of these computer systems and networks also require increasing attention.

    This track is part of the joint Master’s in Computer Science, aimed at students with an interest in computer systems and infrastructure.

    Example courses

    • Advanced Operating Systems
    • Storage Systems
    • Energy-efficient Edge Computing
    • Multi-core Processor Systems
    • Programming Large-scale Parallel Systems

  • Foundations of Computing and Concurrency

    Summary

    Explore formal methods for system design

    This track focuses on the foundations of computer science and models of computation. Theoretical computer science studies how to formally describe and analyse various aspects of computation and computing systems.

    Students can choose courses from a variety of topics, such as:

    • Formal methods and logic; how to reason about properties of a system and automate this reasoning
    • Algorithms and complexity; techniques for solving computational tasks and formally analysing the use of computational resources such as running time, memory, etc
    • Foundations of security; theoretical aspects of making systems robust against adversarial behaviour

    Graduates of this track are trained in solving complex computational problems and formal reasoning skills. This will prepare them for more analytical industry jobs, as well as a research career.

    Example courses

    • Term Rewriting Systems
    • Logical Verification
    • Distributed Algorithms
    • Cryptography
    • Secure Computation

  • 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.

    Example courses

    • Service Oriented Design
    • Digital Architecture
    • Fundamentals of Adaptive Software
    • Software Testing
    • Green Lab

  • International track: Software Engineers for Green Deal

    Summary

    International track: Software Engineers for Green Deal

    The Software Engineers for Green Deal (SE4GD) is an International Master’s programme for students in Computer Science, specializing in Software Engineering. The SE4GD aims at educating software engineers with a sustainability mindset to improve the well-being of people through software solutions. Admitted students spend one semester at each host university (respectively, semester 1 at University of L’Aquila in Italy, semester 2 at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland, and semester 3 at VU Amsterdam. Finally, semester 4 is dedicated to the Master's project which can be carried out at one of the host universities or one of the SE4GD associated partners.

    Each host university awards a triple degree to all students who are regularly enrolled and have successfully completed the study programme which entails at least 30 ECTS in Master’s courses at each host university and a 30 ECTS Master’s thesis. 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 specializing in Software Engineering and Green IT.

    Prospective students must apply to the programme. Visit the SE4GD website for more information about the application process (such as scholarships and deadlines) and the curriculum. 

Fellowships and internships

A limited number of fellowships are available for (partial) funding of this Master’s through the VU Fellowship Programme. The application deadline for the VU Fellowship Programme is 1 February. More information can be found here. 

Change your future with the Computer Science programme

Change your future with the Computer Science programme

On completing this Master’s programme, you can choose from a variety of careers, ranging from software development to system design, at organisations spanning from local companies up to the big multi-national players. As a graduate in Computer Science, you could also found your own startup company and monetise your product idea, or continue your academic career and apply for a PhD position.

Explore your future prospects
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