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Lead sustainable digital transformation

Information Sciences

Toekomst
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As demands on software and data systems continue to grow, designing them responsibly has never been more important. This programme equips you with the knowledge, skills and socio-technical perspective to develop sustainable solutions that create lasting impact for organisations and society.

See technology in its wider context 

Today’s digital technologies define how we live and work. That is why this programme takes a socio-technical perspective on information systems. You learn that designing effective digital solutions requires not only technical expertise, but also an understanding of economy, governance, sustainability and human behaviour. 

Translate scientific knowledge to real-world practice 

This Master’s builds on VU Amsterdam's internationally recognised expertise in software and sustainability, user-centred data science and decentralised information society engineering. You apply this knowledge to real-world challenges in collaboration with organisations from the private and public sectors, translating cutting-edge research into practical digital solutions. 

Tailor the programme to your ambitions  
The programme consists of compulsory core courses, elective courses and a Master's project. For your Master’s project, you can choose between conducting academic research or completing an internship with one of our partner organisations. This allows you to specialise in your area of interest while gaining valuable academic or professional experience.

Due to the international character of this programme, courses are taught entirely in English. 

The start date of this programme is August 31st.

For a detailed overview of courses visit the study guide. 

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Thursday 26 November 2026

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Alongside the core courses below and a variety of electives, you complete a Master's thesis. For this project, you get the opportunity to choose between an industry internship or an academic research project, depending on your interests and career ambitions. 

Student journeys

You can tailor the curriculum to meet your interests and ambitions. There are three suggested student journeys that can help you to prepare for various career paths:  

  • IT Consultant/Data Analyst 
    This role bridges context-driven needs and constraints, and technical solutions, often using data visualisation, reporting tools, and statistical analysis to uncover insights and optimise performance. They involve analysing data to help organisations make informed decisions and improve their IT systems. 
  • Digital Architect  
    A digital architect designs and oversees the development of digital systems and platforms, ensuring they align with business goals, societal demands and technological trends. They create scalable, sustainability-aware, secure, and efficient digital solutions, often integrating cloud services and enterprise software. 
  • Digital Sustainability Officer 
    A DSO focuses on ensuring that digital transformation efforts are environmentally and socially sustainable. They assess the carbon footprint of IT operations, promote green technologies, and develop strategies to align digital initiatives also with financial and social sustainability goals and regulatory standards. 

Core courses

  • Master's Project Information Sciences
  • Digitalisation and Sustainability
  • Knowledge Organisation
  • Digital Architecture
  • The Social Web
  • Research Methodology & Thesis Design

Find the complete course overview in the study guide. 

Professional Advisory Board

To ensure you are equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills required in today's labour market, the curriculum is reviewed annually by our Professional Advisory Board. The board consists of experienced professionals, who ensure the programme aligns with the latest developments in professional practice.

Members of the Professional Advisory Board

Jannie Minnema
Managing Director European Operations, FarmTrace
Jannie brings extensive experience at the intersection of technology, education and innovation, gained in both the public and private sectors.

Bas van der Raadt
Enterprise Architect and Founder, Hapsah.org
Bas is an experienced enterprise architect specialising in connecting business and technology, translating complex ideas into practical digital solutions.

Wiebren van der Zee
CIO Domain Expert – Sustainable IT, ABN AMRO
Wiebren has over 25 years of experience in enterprise IT and cloud transformation. Today, he focuses on embedding sustainability into IT strategy and helping organisations build more responsible digital infrastructures.

Floris de Jong
ICT Architect, Dutch Council for Refugees
After graduating from the Master's Information Sciences in 2023, Floris started his career in IT architecture, applying the knowledge and skills gained during the programme to create digital solutions with societal impact.

Part of an interdisciplinary ecosystem

The Master's Information Sciences is embedded in a comprehensive interdisciplinary ecosystem, exemplified by VU Amsterdam’s Network Institute, Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI) and the Digital Sustainability Center (DISC). These connections bring together expertise from computer science, sustainability, business and the social sciences. In this Master’s, you have the opportunity to conduct a research project at one of these partner institutes, enabling you to combine academic excellence, relevance for practice, and societal impact. 

Want to know more about the curriculum?

Please contact the pre-Master's programme coordinator

Zubaria Inayat
z.inayat@vu.nl

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