Info Session MSc Computer Science & MSc Applied Informatics
Info session for potential international students about the Master of Applied Science & Engineering: Computer Science and Master of Science in Applied Informatics programmes of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Science Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2025–2026 Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2025–2026 Mail your questions to: [email protected] Mail your questions to: [email protected] Master of Science in Applied Informatics
13, 2025 Why Study Computer Science at VUB? ▪ High-quality English-taught programmes supported by world-class research ▪ Teaching in small groups and easy access to academic staff and research ▪ excellent student/staff ratio ▪ Open atmosphere of tolerance and diversity ▪ around 50% international students in our Master programmes ▪ Student-friendly green campus in the cosmopolitan city of Brussels ▪ great opportunity for internships in multinational companies
13, 2025 CS Master’s Programmes ▪ Master of Science in Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science (2 years, 120 ECTS) ▪ advanced CS programme, in-depth scientific study of the field and one of four specialisations in particular ▪ strongly embedded in ongoing research activities of labs ▪ prepares for active role in CS research and development in academia as well as in the ICT industry ▪ Master of Science in Applied Informatics (1Year,60ECTS) ▪ more application-oriented than 2-year Master programme ▪ also offered through evening classes for working students ▪ two major themes (AI and Big Data Technology) ▪ Both programmes in a truly international context
13, 2025 CS Research Labs at VUB ▪ Artificial Intelligence (DINF-AI Lab) ▪ ai.vub.ac.be ▪ Web & Information Systems (DINF-WISE Lab) ▪ wise.vub.ac.be ▪ Software Languages and Software Engineering (DINF-SOFT) ▪ soft.vub.ac.be ▪ Multimedia (ETRO) ▪ www.etrovub.be Professors of these research labs teach the courses + You will normally do your thesis work in one of these labs
13, 2025 Structure of the MSc in Computer Science ▪ 120 ECTS (~ 2 academic years), official programme ▪ Exam schedules might play a role in your choice ▪ You can graduate in ((January xor July) or September) special registration for January! Courses Year ECTS 7 mandatory courses 1 * 30 research training & thesis 2 30 mandatory courses from specialisation 1 + 2 30 or more electives from specialisation electives from other specialisations, other electives 1 + 2 rest * You can postpone some of these until year 2 ** If you wish to do more than 120 ECTS, you have to pay more and must pass all courses
13, 2025 30 ECTS Thesis in Specialisation 30 ECTS Electives 30 ECTS Compulsory Structure of the MSc in Computer Science... Methods for Scientific Research (3 ECTS) Declarative Programming (6 ECTS) Philosophy of Science (3 ECTS) Software Architectures (6 ECTS) Data & Information Management (6 ECTS) Theory of Computation (3 ECTS) Information Theory (3 ECTS) 30 ECTS Specialisation Mandatory and elective courses of a given specialisation Electives Research Training (6 ECTS) and Master’s Thesis (24 ECTS) in a given specialisation Mobility Window
13, 2025 Multimedia Software Languages&Software Engineering Artificial Intelligence Four Specialisations Machine Learning Game Theory Computational Biology Natural Language Processing Computational Intelligence Data Management and Analytics Big Data Management Scalable Big Data Analytics Deep Learning and Recommendation Human-Data Interaction Information Visualisation Language Design and Implementation Development Tools and Methods Abstraction and Composition Program Analysis Program Evolution Image Processing Data Compression Computer Vision Speech Synthesis and Coding Video Technology AI Lab WISE Lab, AI Lab and SOFT SOFT ETRO
13, 2025 Four Specialisations … ▪ study and apply state-of-the-art techniques ▪ logic-based, statistical, probabilistic, neural inference systems ▪ multi-agent systems with emergent intelligence ▪ language processing and computational intelligence ▪ rigorous mathematical and scientific context ▪ supported by oldest AI group on the European continent (1982) Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Game Theory Computational Biology Natural Language Processing Computational Intelligence AI Lab
13, 2025 Four Specialisations … ▪ at the confluence of Big Data and Interactive Data Science ▪ data management, data processing and discovery, and human-data interaction ▪ study and apply algorithms, techniques, architectures ▪ big data management, mining, visualisation, interaction ▪ supported by all research groups of the department Data Management and Analytics Big Data Management Scalable Big Data Analytics Deep Learning and Recommendation Human-Data Interaction Information Visualisation WISE Lab, AI Lab and SOFT
13, 2025 Four Specialisations … ▪ the art, science, and engineering of software construction ▪ theoretical foundations: type theory, formal proofs, program analysis ▪ language design: paradigms for distribution and concurrency ▪ language implementation: compilers and interpreters ▪ software engineering: software quality, meta-programming ▪ supported by a leading research group in PL and SE Software Languages&Software Engineering Language Design and Implementation Development Tools and Methods Abstraction and Composition Program Analysis Program Evolution SOFT
13, 2025 Four Specialisations … ▪ study signal processing and transmission for multimedia content ▪ supported by a leading research group in electronics and holography Multimedia Image Processing Data Compression Computer Vision Speech Synthesis and Coding Video Technology ETRO
13, 2025 Composing Your Master Programme ▪ Requirements for obtaining the diploma (verified at the end of 2nd year) ▪ you need to pass for 120 ECTS (deliberation rules allow for some failed courses up to the weighted point deficit (WPD)) ▪ all mandatory courses (30 ECTS) ▪ all mandatory courses of your specialisation ▪ at least 30 ECTS in your specialisation (including mandatory ones) ▪ thesis & research training (6+24 ECTS) in your specialisation ▪ Typical first year ▪ take all/most mandatory courses (30 ECTS) ▪ other courses, within and/or outside your specialisation (30 ECTS) ▪ choice of specialisation is preliminary (final decision in second year)
13, 2025 Internship ▪ Internship Computer Science (4016125ENR) (6 ECTS) ▪ current offers: https://dinf.vub.ac.be/internships/ ▪ Duration: at least 18 working days ▪ Often taken during the summer period between the first and second year
13, 2025 Received Student Feedback ▪ Demanding but high-quality level of the programme ▪ Diverse and good specialisation options ▪ Many interesting courses, freedom to compose programme ▪ Lecturers and assistants very approachable and helpful ▪ Many lectures work with recent research papers ▪ Good selection of Master thesis topics, good support for the Master thesis ▪ Good mix of assessment methods including oral exams ▪ Timely exam schedules ▪ All communication is available in English ▪ Prepares well for the job market ▪ All surveyed students would choose the programme again!
13, 2025 Master of Science in Applied Informatics ▪ English-taught version launched in 2023/2024 Artificial Intelligence Methods for Scientific Research Security in Computing Reinforcement Learning Current Trends in Artificial Intelligence Advanced Topics in NLP Statistical Foundations of Machine Learning Master Thesis (15 ECTS) Information Visualisation Big Data Processing Scalable Data Management Systems Declarative Programming Big Data Technology 48 ECTS Compulsory 12 ECTS Electives Methods for Scientific Research Security in Computing Data and Information Management Information Visualisation Big Data Processing Multicore Programming Master Thesis (15 ECTS) Software Architectures Declarative Programming Scalable Data Management Systems 48 ECTS Compulsory 12 ECTS Electives
13, 2025 Master of Science in Applied Informatics … ▪ Daytime offering as well as evening classes for working students ▪ lecture recordings and 4 to 5 evening classes for each course ▪ Can also be spread over multiple years ▪ e.g.for working students who only want to follow 1–2 courses each semester
13, 2025 Received Student Feedback ▪ Demanding but good diversity of the programme ▪ Content matches the needs of the industry very well ▪ Good mix of assessment methods including oral exams ▪ Detailed information about the Master’s thesis ▪ Many courses with project work ▪ Evening classes for working students are highly appreciated ▪ Exercise sessions for working students also well supported ▪ Lecturers and assistants are very approachable and helpful ▪ All communication is available in English ▪ All surveyed students would choose the programme again!
13, 2025 Exchange Semester Abroad ▪ Possibility to study a semester abroad ▪ best during 3rd semester of Master studies - follow most of the mandatory courses at VUB during first year ▪ top European universities via Erasmus+ programme - University of Warwick, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, CY Cergy Paris University, TU Munich, University of Konstanz, Chalmers University of Technology, Bauhaus University Weimar, Potsdam University, University of Ljubljana, University of Gothenburg, TU Dresden, Babeş-Bolyai University, Ca’Foscari University of Venice University of Warwick, United Kingdom CY Cergy Paris University, France Technische Universität München, Germany Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain University of Potsdam, Germany
13, 2025 Exchange Semester Abroad … ▪ non-EEA destinations - Canada, South Korea, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, Chile and Morocco ▪ General courses or specialisation in areas not offered at the VUB (e.g.security) ▪ Opportunity to widen your horizon ▪ Explicitly mentioned on your final diploma Bauhaus University, Weimar, Germany University of Konstanz, Germany
13, 2025 Admission Criteria ▪ Academic requirement ▪ Bachelor in Computer Science or equivalent degree ▪ Language requirements ▪ diploma of secondary/higher education where English was the language of instruction or ▪ language proficiency tests (corresponding to a minimum level B2); ▪ TOEFL iBT with minimum level: 79; ▪ IELTS with minimum level: academic module 6.5; ▪ ITACE with minimum level: B2; ▪ Cambridge English Qualification Scale (FCE, CAE, CPE) with the following minimal level: 170 ▪ Certificates and other proof of language tests may not pre-date the first enrolment by more than five years
13, 2025 General Information … ▪ Professional orientation year ▪ after successfully finishing their studies, non-EEA students are eligible for a stay of 12 months to search for a job in Belgium or to carry out an independent professional activity ▪ Get the brochures about the two Master programmes as well as the one about studying at the VUB ▪ https://communicatie.vub.be/brochures-international
13, 2025 General Info Sessions ▪ You can register for other general information sessions ▪ general info session for international students by the International Relations Office (IRMO) - Monday 10.2., 10.3., 7.4. and 2.6. ▪ info session on housing - Wednesday 26.2., 9.4. and 28.5. - NOTE: 1.5. is the application deadline for VUB housing! ▪ blocked account - Wednesday 19.2., 19.3., 16.4. and 21.5. ▪ visa formalities for visa-required students - Wednesday 12.2., 12.3., 9.4. and 14.5. ▪ health insurance for international students - Wednesday 26.2., 26.3., 23.4. and 28.5.
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