Build tomorrow’s hacker-proof computer systems
And do you get a kick out of solving tough experimental computer science problems and understanding the many security issues that plague the modern hardware/software stack? Then our Master in computer security is the programme for you.
Our Master’s programme is open to both Dutch and international students and attracts excellent students from the field of Computer Science. The Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. This is a specialised Master’s programme, consisting mainly of classes, practicals, and research projects in computer security with a strong computer systems focus. Students preferring to take a wide-ranging Master’s programme are advised to opt for a standard programme such as Computer Science.
Specific requirements for the Master’s programme in Computer Security
In order to gain admission to the Master’s programme in Computer Security, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. A background in Computer Science and a demonstrable, highly advanced knowledge of computer systems is required (experience in Security is a plus). As evidence of such knowledge, we expect good academic performance in systems courses on a university Bachelor's level, such as C/C++ programming, operating systems, and computer architecture. Alternatively, your knowledge could be demonstrated with nontrivial projects in systems programming languages such as C/C++ or similar experiences.
The programme is open to both Dutch and international students and widely advertised. All students undergo a strict selection procedure to gain admission. Standards will be very high indeed.
General language proficiency requirements
VU Amsterdam requires all international applicants to take an English test. If you have a Dutch bachelor's degree you are exempt from this requirement.
A Bachelor's degree obtained at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO) is normally insufficient to be admitted into the programme. The same applies to international students who obtained an international equivalent of the Dutch HBO Bachelor's degree. However, HBO (or equivalent) degree holders may apply if they believe they fulfil the specific requirements for the Master's programme in Computer Security, as mentioned for WO degree holders. In such cases, the application should explicitly outline how the applicant has fulfilled such requirements (in particular 'advanced knowledge of computer systems') through curricular or extracurricular WO-level activities.
The Computer Security programme is open to both Dutch and International Students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. You find all information about the general application procedure with a Dutch degree on the application page.
Use this form to apply for the Master’s: Application form Master's Computer Security.
The application deadline is:
1 June for holders of a Dutch bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality).
Your application will be rejected in case you didn’t upload the required documents in ‘your dashboard’ within 6 weeks after your enrolment in Studielink, OR in case you’ve uploaded (one or more) of the required documents after 1 June. Applications and documents submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Required documents (deadline 1 June)
This Master’s programme requires students with a Dutch bachelor's degree to upload the following documents as soon as possible and in any case 6 weeks after your enrolment and before 1 June.
Your online dashboard gives you an overview of the submitted and missing documents. Check your dashboard regularly.
Students must meet the following admission requirements:
Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years). Please find more information about your admissibility with a non-Dutch degree here. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.
A background in Computer Science and a demonstrable, highly advanced knowledge of Computer Systems is required (experience in Security is a plus). As evidence of such knowledge, we expect good academic performance in systems courses on a university Bachelor's level, such as C/C++ programming, operating systems, and computer architecture. Alternatively, your knowledge could be demonstrated with nontrivial projects in systems programming languages such as C/C++ or similar experiences. Academic writing skill is to be demonstrated by submitting a thesis.
How to demonstrate that you meet the above requirements
You are required to indicate how you meet the programme specific admission requirements in your Application Form. The Admission Board will evaluate your Application Form and decide if your academic background is sufficient to gain admission to the programme.
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.
To apply you are required to provide the following documents:
After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure.
All students seeking admission to an international Master’s programme with an international degree are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the evaluation of your application file. If you are applying for more than one programme, you will only need to pay the application fee once. Your application fee payment is valid for two years.
Information on how to apply with an international university degree and deadlines can be found here.
As an international student planning to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Detailed information about scholarships and deadlines can be found on www.vu.nl/scholarships or www.grantfinder.nl.
Our International Student and Alumni Ambassadors are happy to tell you all about their experiences with studying at VU Amsterdam and living in Amsterdam.
You will find the full overview of our Ambassadors here: vu.nl/ambassadors. There you can chat with them directly.
Master students Computer Security will have to spend approximately 200 euro per year on buying books. Students are expected to possess a laptop computer, running either Windows 10 or mac OSX, for participating in educational activities (which comes down to approx. 300 euro per academic year).
VU Amsterdam scholarships
International students planning to apply for the Computer Security Master can apply for a variety of university-wide grants and bursaries. Detailed information about scholarships and deadlines can be found on www.vu.nl/scholarships or www.grantfinder.nl.
Teaching assistantships
Both national and international students who have already applied and have been selected for the Computer Security Master can apply for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) to provide financial aid during their studies.
Overview
The TA position is normally for 0.2 FTE (but can be negotiated up to 0.4 FTE), with the expectation to serve as a teaching assistant for one programming or systems-oriented course in each period of the Computer Science Bachelor (BSc). This translates to an effort of normally around 1 day/week (or up to 2 days/week for 0.4 FTE) during your studies, with a salary of approximately 500 EUR/month for 0.2 FTE (or up to approximately 1000 EUR/month for 0.4 FTE). The salaries are set according to the standard university scales. Each position is renewable every 6 months and available for the entire duration of your Master studies (typically 2 years).
The position is typically concerned with helping students with practical assignments, preparing/grading assignments, etc. The tentative lineup of BSc courses for the TA position is as follows (you can check details for each course in the study guide for the Bachelor Computer Science:
How to apply
If you wish to apply (only after being notified you have been selected for the CSec Master), you need to submit a teaching statement detailing your approach and experience in teaching & support and how your experience is a good match to supervise/prepare/grade practical assignments in each one of the courses in the tentative lineup. You can also comment on other matching courses in the BSc curriculum (which may later require TAs). You can find the complete list of courses in the study guide at https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/bachelor.
You can send your teaching statement, along with your existing CSec application (CV, transcript, etc.), to csec-tas@vucompsys.net. Feel free to contact csec-tas@vucompsys.net with any questions about the process and the application as well.
Process
Selected candidates will be notified shortly after, assigned a mentor, and invited to a welcome meeting. The welcome meeting for non-EU students (and other students interested in starting early) who want to start their TA position in the first period (September) rather than the second period (November) will be scheduled in June. For all the other students, the welcome meeting will be scheduled in late August.
Note: students must have completed enrollment procedures before the welcome meeting. Non-EU students must have also received their residency permit at least two months before their contract starts. At the meeting they will be informed of the procedures and assigned to courses for the first semester. There will be another meeting before the end of each semester (e.g., in December for the first semester) to decide whether to continue to position and assign them to courses in the next semester.
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