Study programme
Programme structure
The track consists of 120 ECTS over two years. It includes:
- At least 4 core track-specific courses and a set of restricted electives
- A wide selection of electives in theoretical and applied topics
- Research methods and a Master's thesis
Courses may be offered by staff at both UvA and VU.
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Core courses (select at least 4)
- Term of Rewriting Systems
- Logical Verification
- Distributed Algorithms
- Foundations of Cryptography
- Advanced Algorithms
- Advanced Logic
- Information Theoretic Learning
- Advanced Topics in Algorithms
These courses provide the tools for rigorous analysis of computation, communication and security protocols.
Electives and interdisciplinary options
You may choose electives across the Computer Science programme or from related Master’s programmes such as Artificial Intelligence, Logic, or Software Engineering. This enables you to customise your academic path.
Research project and thesis
The final part of the programme consists of an individual research project (30 ECTS), often linked to one of the theoretical computer science research groups at UvA or VU. Projects may also have connections to national or international research collaborations.
Learning approach
Expect a combination of lectures, seminars, and research-oriented assignments. This track is academically demanding and well-suited to students with strong mathematical or formal backgrounds.
Explore the study guide for course details or visit the programme overview page for general structure.