Computer Science

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.

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.

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.

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: Software Engineers for Green Deal

Note: This programme has no intake in 2025. We aim to continue again in 2026.

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.