Computer Science

In your first year, you’ll get hands-on with the basics of computer science. You’ll learn how computers actually work and how to program them yourself. Since computers follow maths and logic, you’ll also do some extra maths courses.

Everyone in your year takes the same core courses, but you’ll also dive into two group projects that last a whole semester each. These projects are all about putting what you’ve learnt into real practice. At first, you’ll work on them alongside your courses, and later, you get a full period just to focus on finishing your project.

In your second year, you’ll continue building your core knowledge with a few essential courses. These will deepen your understanding and give you a solid foundation in related areas, like human-computer interaction.

Now it’s time to make your curriculum your own! Choose one module per semester that matches your interests and career goals:

Semester 3

• Intelligent Interaction - Discover how humans and computers communicate and collaborate.
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning - Learn how machines can “think” and make decisions.

Semester 4

• High Performance Computing - Explore super-fast computing systems that tackle complex problems.
• Cybersecurity - Understand how to protect digital systems and connect systems safely.

Year 3 is the most flexible year of the programme. It’s up to you to either deepen or broaden your knowledge, including with topics from other fields.

In Semester 5 you can choose between one of three options:

• 6 elective courses with a Brightlands Campus Project
  Want to take your skills to the next level? You can choose from over 10 exciting courses to expand your knowledge. On top of that, the Faculty of Science and Engineering also offers courses in related areas, like physics, that you can explore.
   
• Minor
  Minors are a mix of courses, projects and hands-on experiences. They give you the chance to explore a totally different subject and broaden your skills beyond your main area of study. Dutch-speaking students can also participate in the Educational Minor that prepares you to become a high school maths or computer science teacher.
   
• Semester abroad
  We offer a limited number of places to study abroad at one of our European partner universities. Options, for instance, include Denmark, Italy, and Iceland. 

If you pick elective courses in semester 5, there’s a special opportunity waiting for you: a real-world project with the Brightlands Smart Services Campus. You and your group will tackle a business challenge proposed by a local company or organisation. Perfect for putting your skills to the test! 

In Semester 6, you’ll wrap up your last core courses and dive into your bachelor’s thesis. This is your chance to pick a topic that excites you, work closely with a supervisor, and run your own research project. You’ll analyse your results and put them together in a thesis, your very own showcase of what you’ve learnt and what you can create as an up-and-coming computer scientist.